If you started on WordPress.com, you have probably hit its limits: no custom plugins, restricted themes, forced ads on free plans, and a subdomain like yourname.wordpress.com. Migrating to self-hosted WordPress (the version from WordPress.org) gives you complete control over your site - and this guide walks you through the whole move safely.

Table of Contents

Why Make the Move?

Self-hosted WordPress is free software that runs on your own hosting. You can install any of 60,000+ plugins and thousands of themes, sell products, run analytics, and monetise however you like. Most importantly, your content is fully yours - no account can delete it.

What You Need

  1. A self-hosted WordPress hosting plan with a domain you control.
  2. Your WordPress.com login.
  3. About an hour of time - the migration itself is mostly clicking.

Exporting From WordPress.com

  1. In WordPress.com, go to Tools > Export.
  2. Choose All Content and download the XML file.
  3. Download your media separately from the Media Library if needed.

Importing to Self-Hosted WordPress

  1. Install WordPress on your new hosting (usually one click from cPanel).
  2. Go to Tools > Import > WordPress and upload your XML file.
  3. Assign authors and let the importer fetch images from your old site.
  4. Check that your posts, pages, categories and comments all arrived.

After the Move

  1. Install an SSL certificate (free on most plans) and switch to HTTPS.
  2. Set up caching and speed optimisation.
  3. Create proper security - strong passwords, backups, and two-factor login.
  4. Set up a redirect from your old WordPress.com URL if you are changing domains.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will my SEO survive the move?

Yes, if you keep your URLs the same or set up proper redirects. Importing your old permalinks and setting a 301 redirect preserves your search rankings.

Do I have to pay for WordPress?

No - self-hosted WordPress software is free. You only pay for hosting and (if you want) a premium theme. See our WordPress hosting plans.

Migrating from WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress is the moment many bloggers stop feeling like tenants and become owners of their online space. Do it once, and do it right.