The Complete Squarespace Migration Checklist
Squarespace is great until it's not. Maybe you've hit the platform's limits, need more flexibility with custom code, want to cut hosting costs, or just feel like your site has outgrown what Squarespace can do. Whatever your reason, migrating off Squarespace doesn't have to be stressful—but it does need to be done right.
This checklist walks you through everything you need to save before you leave, how to move your site smoothly, and the common mistakes that catch people off guard. Let's do this.
Before You Migrate: What to Save
The cardinal rule of any migration: get everything out first, ask questions later. Here's what you need to grab.
Your content: All pages, blog posts, product listings, testimonials, contact form submissions. Export what you can from Squarespace's native tools, but be prepared to manually copy things that aren't easily exportable.
Design details: Template name, custom CSS, font pairings, color hex codes, logo and branding assets. Your new platform won't replicate your design automatically—you need the blueprint.
Media files: All images, videos, PDFs, and downloadables. Export these in bulk rather than relying on the new platform to fetch them later.
SEO and metadata: Page titles, meta descriptions, URL slugs, alt text. If you've spent time optimizing for search, don't leave it behind.
Integrations: E-commerce platforms, email marketing tools, analytics codes, payment processors, custom plugins. Document which third-party services are connected and how.
Domain and DNS: Your domain registrar, current DNS records, SSL certificate details. You'll need this to move your domain smoothly.
Get a Complete Backup First
Before you start moving things around, export everything from your Squarespace site in one go. The easiest way is to use our tool—paste your URL and get a ZIP with all your HTML pages, a complete theme report, and optional pixel-perfect screenshots.
Create Your Backup NowThe Migration Process Step by Step
Step 1: Full Backup of Everything
Before you do anything else, create a complete backup of your entire Squarespace site. Export your HTML, CSS, all media files, and metadata. This is your safety net—if something goes wrong, you've got everything you started with.
Use Squarespace's built-in export tools where available, then supplement with a full HTML export. Having this backup means you can move at your own pace without fear of losing anything.
Step 2: Choose Your New Platform
Where are you headed? WordPress gives you total control and cost flexibility. Webflow is great if you want design freedom without coding. Wix and Shopify work well for e-commerce. A custom-built site gives you unlimited power but requires a developer.
Each platform imports content differently, so check their migration guides. Most have straightforward tools for importing from Squarespace, but manual work is often faster and cleaner than relying on automated imports.
Step 3: Set Up Redirects for All Your Old URLs
This is critical: every old URL on your Squarespace site needs to redirect to its new home. Search engines and your visitors are bookmarking those URLs. Breaking them kills your SEO and frustrates people trying to find your content.
Set up 301 redirects from your old Squarespace domain to the new platform. Most platforms have tools for this built in. If you're keeping the same domain, configure redirects before you switch platforms. If you're changing domains, set them up on your old server before it goes offline.
Step 4: Move Your Domain
Once your new site is live and tested, point your domain to the new platform. This involves updating DNS records or moving your domain registration if you're using a different registrar.
Do this during a low-traffic window if possible. Update your DNS TTL to a low value a day before the switch so changes propagate faster. Most domain moves take 24-48 hours to fully propagate across the internet.
Step 5: Test Everything
Before you consider this done, walk through your site like a visitor. Click every link, test forms, check that images load, play videos if you have them. Verify that redirects work from old URLs. Check on mobile. Monitor search console for crawl errors.
After a few weeks, run a full SEO audit to make sure you haven't lost rankings. Set up monitoring for broken links and 404 errors.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Forgetting to Set Up Redirects
This is the most common one. Old URLs break, visitors hit dead ends, search engines penalize you for 404s. Don't skip redirects.
Losing SEO Data
If you don't carry over your titles, descriptions, and slug structure to your new platform, you'll lose the SEO work you've done. Your rankings won't transfer automatically.
Canceling Before Everything is Tested
Don't close your Squarespace account the day you launch your new site. Keep it running for at least a month while you confirm everything works. It's your emergency backup.
Not Exporting Third-Party Data
Your email subscriber list, customer data, and form submissions live outside your Squarespace site. Export these separately before you cancel. Squarespace won't do it for you.
Underestimating the Manual Work
Automated migration tools exist, but they rarely get everything right. Plan for some manual cleanup, especially with custom layouts and integrations.
Ready to Go?
A smooth migration comes down to preparation. Backup everything first, choose your platform carefully, set up redirects, move your domain, and test thoroughly. Take your time—rushing a migration is how you lose search traffic and frustrate visitors.
Start by exporting your complete Squarespace site. Having everything saved locally gives you peace of mind and makes the rest of the process much easier.
Start With a Full Backup
Don't start migrating without a safety net. Get a complete backup of your Squarespace site—HTML pages, theme details, design assets, and optional screenshots—in minutes.
Create Your Backup