How to Migrate a WordPress Site for Free (No Size Limits, No BS)

Stop using All-in-One WP Migration for large sites unless you have the paid extension. The free version creates a bottleneck with a 512MB upload limit.

We are using WPvivid Backup & Migration. Why?

1. It’s actually free. No hidden “512MB limit” that forces you to buy a $69 extension.
2. Server-to-Server: You don’t need to download a 5GB zip file to your slow laptop and then re-upload it. The servers talk to each other directly.
3. Auto-Migration: It handles the database search-and-replace automatically.

The Step-by-Step Guide

Prerequisites:

• Source Site: The site you want to move (Live).
• Destination Site: A fresh WordPress installation on your new hosting (Empty).

Step 1: Install the Plugin on BOTH Sites

Go to Plugins > Add New on both your Source and Destination sites. Search for WPvivid. Install and Activate “WPvivid Backup & Migration”.

Step 2: Get the “Key” from the Destination

We need to tell the Source site where to send the data.

1. Log in to your Destination Site (the new one).
2. Go to WPvivid Backup > Key tab.
3. Select “12 Hours” (or any duration) and click Generate.
4. Copy the long code it generates.

Step 3: Connect and Transfer from the Source

1. Log in to your Source Site (the old one).
2. Go to WPvivid Backup > Auto-Migration tab.
3. Paste the key you just copied into the box.
4. Click Save.
5. Once the connection is confirmed, select “Database + Files” (usually the default).
6. Click Clone then Transfer.

Now, wait. You will see a progress bar. The Source site is zipping itself up and shooting the files directly to the Destination server. You can close the tab if you want, but I prefer to leave it open to watch for errors.

Step 4: Restore on Destination

1. Once the transfer says “Completed,” go back to your Destination Site.
2. Go to WPvivid Backup > Backup & Restore tab.
3. Scroll down to the “Backups” list. You should see a new backup file there that says “Received.”
4. Click Restore next to that file.
5. Confirm the popup.

Wait again. The plugin is now unzipping the files and overwriting the empty database with your live site’s data.

Step 5: Log In and Cleanup

Once finished, it will log you out.

1. Log in with your OLD credentials (from the Source site). The new site now has the old site’s users and passwords.
2. Crucial Step: Go to Settings > Permalinks and click Save Changes twice. This flushes the .htaccess file and fixes 404 errors on your inner pages.

5 Practical Tips (Don’t Ignore These)

1. The PHP Version Trap: Ensure your new host is running the same or newer PHP version as your old host. If your old site is on PHP 7.4 and you migrate to a host forcing PHP 8.3, your old plugins might crash the site immediately. Check this in your hosting panel before you migrate.
2. Disable Caching Plugins First: Before you start the migration, deactivate LiteSpeed Cache, WP Rocket, or Autoptimize on the Source site. Caching plugins can interfere with the file zipping process.
3. What if the Site is Massive (5GB+)? If WPvivid fails because your site is absolutely massive, use Migrate Guru. It is also free but processes the migration on their external servers, which bypasses your cheap hosting’s timeout limits.
4. Exclude the Junk: In WPvivid settings on the Source site, you can choose to exclude folders. If you have 2GB of “Backup” folders from other plugins, exclude them. Don’t migrate backups of backups.
5. DNS Propagation: After migration, if you are pointing your domain to the new host, remember it can take up to 24 hours for the world to see the new site. Use a tool like whatsmydns.net to track where your domain is pointing.