Recently one of our users asked us how to move a GoDaddy Website Builder site to WordPress. GoDaddy offers a website builder tool that allows users to create websites using simple drag and drop tools. However, many users quickly realize the limitations of using a tool like Godaddy’s website builder and want to move their website to a flexible and powerful platform like WordPress. In this article, we will show you how to move GoDaddy website builder site to WordPress.
Editor’s Note: This article has a lot of manual steps which can be time consuming depending on the size of your website. We didn’t want to write this article at first, but due to repeat requests we have written this for those who’re looking to switch from Godaddy website builder to WordPress.
Step 0: Getting Started
The success of your WordPress site depends on the WordPress hosting you choose. If you already have GoDaddy’s hosting service, then you can use that for your WordPress site.
If you want to move to a new host, then we recommend Bluehost. They are one of the largest hosting companies in the world, and they are an official WordPress hosting partner.
For WPBeginner users, they’re offering 50% off and a free domain name as well.
Step 1: Preparing to Move From GoDaddy Website Builder to WordPress
WordPress has import tools for many services and tools like Blogger, Tumblr, LiveJournal, etc. But it does not have an import tool for Website Builder.
This is why you will need to backup your Website Builder site manually. It can be a little consuming, depending on how much content you have on your website.
Backing up GoDaddy Website Builder Content
If you have just a few pages, then you can backup by simply saving images and copying text into text files on your computer.
You can also visit each page on your website in your browser, and then press CTRL+S (Command+S on Mac) on your keyboard.
This will bring up the save dialog box. Make sure that you select ‘Webpage, Complete’ in the ‘format’ or ‘save as type’ field.
Repeat the process for all pages on your website.
Make sure that you have downloaded all your images and text. Disconnect internet on your computer and then open the files you have downloaded to double-check.
Alternatively, you can use the free HTTrack tool to copy the website on your computer.
HTTrack is a website copier. You can simply enter the URL of your website, and it will make a copy of it on your computer.
The problem is that, GoDaddy website builder and its templates store their files on different CDN servers. The name and addresses of these servers vary from one site to another.
This makes it harder to download all your image files. However, if your website is mainly based on text and you don’t mind losing images, then Httrack is the fastest way to copy your website.
Once you disable website builder, you will not be able to get back to your website. Take your time to make sure that you have a backup of all your website data.
At this time, you’re probably wondering why isn’t there an easier way. Probably because Godaddy doesn’t want you to switch. That’s why choosing the right platform is an important decision, but we’re glad that you have made the right choice to go with WordPress.
Backing up Your Link Structure
You will need to redirect people visiting old URLs of your website to the new URLs in WordPress. To do that, you need to have a list of all URLs on your website.
If you have just a few pages, then you can simply copy and paste the URL of each page on your site in a plain text file.
Alternately, you can use online tools to extract URLs from your site. You can use Klipper, a Google Chrome extension to save URLs in a txt file.
Don’t worry if you miss out a page. We will also show you how to automatically set up alerts for 404 errors in WordPress and redirect users in WordPress.
Step 2: Moving Website Builder Site to GoDaddy Shared Hosting
This step is only for users who will be using GoDaddy’s hosting service to run their WordPress site. If you are using some other WordPress hosting provider like Bluehost, Siteground, Hostgator, etc, then skip this and jump to the next step.
Disable GoDaddy Website Builder
If you want to use GoDaddy’s hosting service for your WordPress website, then you cannot install WordPress on that domain until you deactivate Website Builder service.
Simply login to your GoDaddy account and click on your username on the toolbar at top. This will display a flydown menu where you need to click on ‘Manage Website Builder’.
This will show your Website Builder account. You need to click on the options button next to your domain name.
It will bring you to the Website Builder options page. Under the overview tab, you will find a link to cancel your account. Click on it to deactivate Website Builder on your domain name.
Your website builder account will now be deactivated, and your domain would become available to host your WordPress website. It will take nearly an hour before your Website Builder account is fully deactivated.
Adding Hosting to Your Domain
Now that your domain is free from GoDaddy website builder. You still need to add hosting service to that domain.
Click on web hosting under account manager and then click on manage button next to your account.
This will bring you to the cPanel dashboard of your hosting account. You need to scroll down to the domains section and then click on Add on domains.
Now you can enter your domain name. The subdomain and document root fields will be automatically filled.
You also need to check the box to create an FTP account. Simply select a username and password for your FTP account. Finally, click on the add domain button.
That’s all you have successfully freed up your domain from Website Builder and added web hosting for your domain.
You can now jump to Step 4, to learn how to install WordPress and continue moving your website.
Step 3: Pointing Domain to Other WordPress Hosting Services
This step is for users who have their domain registered with GoDaddy and want to use it with some other WordPress hosting provider like BlueHost or Siteground.
Log in to your GoDaddy account and click on your username on the toolbar at top. This will reveal a flydown menu where you need to click on manage my domains.
Select your domain from the list and click on the Nameservers button on the top and then select set nameservers.
This will bring up a popup where you need to click on custom and then click on the link to enter custom nameserver.
A new popup will appear with two fields. You can add your new WordPress hosts nameservers here. If your WordPress host has more than two nameservers, then you can click on the Add Nameserver button to add another line.
Click on the OK button and then click on the save button to store your settings. Remember that DNS changes may take upto 24 hours to propagate throughout the internet. Although it usually only takes a few hours.
Once your domain starts pointing to your new WordPress host, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 4: Installing WordPress
By now your domain should be pointing to your hosting service and you are ready to install WordPress. Whether you are using GoDaddy or any other hosting service, the process is the same.
WordPress is famous for its 5-minute install. Most hosting companies offer 1-click installers for new WordPress websites, which allows you to install WordPress on your website with just a few clicks.
For more details, see our step by step WordPress installation tutorial for beginners.
Step 5: Importing Website Builder Content in WordPress
As we mentioned earlier that you will have to manually backup your Website Builder content. It is not possible to automatically import content from Website Builder.
By default WordPress comes with two built-in content types called posts and pages. See our guide on the difference between posts and pages.
You need to create new pages or posts on your website and copy paste your GoDaddy website builder content.
Creating posts and pages in WordPress is really simple. See our detailed tutorial on how add a new post in WordPress and utilize all the features.
Step 6: Setting up Redirects
If you have the list of links from old website builder site, then you can go right ahead and setup redirects.
First thing you need to do is install and activate the Simple 301 Redirects plugin. For more details, see our step by step guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, you need to visit Settings » 301 Redirects page. Enter your old URL under the ‘Request’ field and enter the new WordPress URL for that page in the ‘Destination’ field.
Click on save changes button to store this redirect. Repeat the process for all other URLs.
For more detailed instructions and other ways to setup redirects, take a look at our beginner’s guide to creating redirects in WordPress.
Step 7: Customizing Your WordPress Site
WordPress comes with thousands of beautiful themes both paid and free. Take a look at our guide on selecting the perfect theme for WordPress.
However, most powerful feature of WordPress is its extensibility, which comes from plugins. There are thousands of WordPress plugins that allow you to do almost anything imaginable.
Take a look at all the plugins we are using on this site in WPBeginner’s Blueprint or see our expert pick of must have WordPress plugins for business websites
We hope this article helped you move your GoDaddy Website Builder site to WordPress. You may also want to see our comparison of best drag and drop page builders for WordPress.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
If I register with godaddy then can I use wordpress plugins for free? or I have to Buy business plan from wordpress?
If you are hosted on a host other than WordPress.com then you do not need to pay for a plugin. You would want to take a look at our article here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com-infograph/
Hi, but what if you have email hosted with them and ONLY wish to move website hosting to not use their website builder?
So basically, keep their nameservers, just point website to another server.
Can you include that in your article or have another article?
Is it possible to move a wix website to wordpress?
You can, we have an article that shows you how to do just that here: https://www.wpbeginner.com/wp-tutorials/how-to-properly-switch-from-wix-to-wordpress-step-by-step/
I’ve been contemplating taking action while reading your write-up over and over and over for over a month now. I know this is the move I want to make, I just don’t want to completely loose my company’s current website in the process. Now that I am done procrastinating and ready to make the change, I do have a question if you can answer it…
On Step 2, when canceling GoDaddy Website Builder to switch to GoDaddy Shared Hosting, do I need to be prepared to make a new payment for the hosting service?
If so, while steering clear of GoDaddy’s promoted WordPress Managed Hosting, do you have a suggestion on what I should choose? This is for a business with very little web traffic now, but, plans of heavy daily web traffic in the future.
Hello,
If your GoDaddy plan includes hosting, then you wouldn’t need to pay for it. You can also move to another WordPress hosting provider.
I’m really happy to read this article because I got stuck (even though I just signed up today). I wanted to have the domain name of my choice and signed up for godaddy.
You must know I am a complete beginner. I want to start a blog with wordpress. Now I’ve understood so far that WordPress could be my host. I would prefer using WordPress as a host, rather than setting up a different host with again paying money and not knowing what I am exactly doing.
My main question is, how do I keep my domain name, but change everything to WordPress and get totally rid of godaddy? Any tips, advice, how-to’s? Your article is great, I just don’t know how to do the same steps if my host is WordPress.
Many many thanks in advance.
Lindy
Hi Lindy,
You can sign up with another WordPress hosting provider. You own the domain name, so you can use it with your new hosting without leaving GoDaddy. You can also move your domain to another hosting.
Help! I bought a 2 year domain that was on sale and added a 1 month free trile of the website builder thing. I just tried the website builder and like it but found too limited for what I want to do, so I want to create my website in wordpress with the domain I already purchased from godaddy.
So then I found you! I followed step 2 exactly like you wrote and the screenshots, but for some reason my domain doesn’t appear in my account anymore! I can’t manage my domain because it doesnt appear… And yet when I look for it in the domain search it says it’s already used (yeah by me!) But why don’t I see it? You mentioned it would take like an hour for the website builder thing to completely disactivate… So I’m waiting… I even went to my email and clicked on the link from godaddy showing me where to manage my domain and when I clic it it says error…. What happened??? Did I delete my domain along with the website builder?? Doesn’t make sense… HELP!
Hi Koreen,
Please contact GoDaddy support, they will be able to guide you better about the error you are seeing when clicking on manage domains.
I’m kind of confused, I used GoDaddy and bought their “Basic Managed WordPress Website” package. Is this article referencing that?
Hi Benita,
No, this article is about GoDaddy customers who use GoDaddy’s website builder to make their websites instead of WordPress.
I am hosted with GoDaddy, but have my website through WordPress.com. I’d like to switch to WordPress.org so I have more capabilities… Is this the procedure I would be followingto make the switch? Do I have to backup my content to switch from wordpress.com to wordpress.org?
I want to add plugins for Facebook pixels and various other things as well as copy code into the body of my website. I’m not able to add plugins with a free WordPress account I know, but can I copy code into my site without switching?
Hi Sheena,
Please see our guide on how to move your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org.
I need to do it this way too. The linked article says it assumes you have wordpress on the old site. I do not.
I have a website builder page in godaddy that has been active 10 years (example1.com). I also have another domain hosted at godaddy with wordpress already installed on it (example2.com). Example2.com has no content and no traffic. Can I build a new wordpress page for example1.com in the hosted wordpress and then use it to replace the current example1.com? Is it the same as in the linked document about moving a wordpress site?
Hi:
Is this the same procedure for moving a GoDaddy online store? I have to move my store. the store is so oppressive… I have a years worth of products (work)..UGH! I hope I don’t have to start over. as it stands right now, I am not updating it anymore. No point. I can’t even use my merchant account…
Will this affect my GoDaddy email address?
For those of us not tech-savvy, is it possible to hire you (or can you recommend someone) to move my GoDaddy site to WordPress?
Hi Donna,
We don’t do client work anymore. However, you can hire talented experts from freelancing websites like Upwork, Freelancer, Fiverr, etc.
Thanks!
Thank you so much.
Wow what a huge pain! This is exactly why you don’t use a website builder.
I just took a look at the GoDaddy Website Builder a few days ago and recommended the same.
This was helpful. Just one question; will i have to make any payments while this procedure? I bought a godaddy domain and website builder two days back, so now if I switch to wordpress is it going to cost me any additional fee?
No it will not cost you additional fee, contact GoDaddy support just to be safe.
Thanks for this step by step guide about moving website builder to WordPress
But I want to know is it possible to move current Godaddy website builder to WordPress with new own domain?
Thanks again.
Yes it is possible.
Thank you for this great article! Is it possible prebuild a WordPress site first in cPanel, )for example with a .net domain) do all the steps above, and then just change the .net domain to .com through the cPanel before cancelling the website builder hosting? Also, could customers be redirected temporarily to a “maintenance” page during the “transfer”? Thank you for your insight!!
If you own both domains, then yes you can easily build your website on one domain and then move it to another domain.
LOVE your editors note.
thanks, bro its really great post I’m also a blogger but one of my clients asks me for this how to How to Move GoDaddy Website Builder Site to WordPress but I don’t know the real method which helps him but now I suggest this article thanks again