Planning to migrate your website from Joomla to WordPress? As experienced WordPress specialists, we've guided countless users through this transition. While Joomla is a capable CMS, WordPress stands out for its unmatched power, flexibility, and ease of use—powering over 40% of the web. In this comprehensive guide, we'll show you how to migrate seamlessly.
Both Joomla and WordPress are open-source platforms built on PHP with MySQL databases and similar hosting needs. However, Joomla's steeper learning curve and limited extensions pale against WordPress's vast ecosystem of plugins and themes. WordPress is the world's leading CMS, renowned for simplicity and customization. For a detailed breakdown, see our Joomla vs WordPress comparison.
Note: We're referring to self-hosted WordPress.org, not the limited WordPress.com. Check our WordPress.com vs WordPress.org comparison for key differences—stick with WordPress.org for full control.
Ready to proceed? Here's what you'll need to migrate successfully.
Joomla and WordPress share similar hosting requirements: a domain and reliable hosting. Reuse your existing setup, or switch to a top provider like Bluehost, an official WordPress-recommended host with excellent performance and support.
WordPress installs in minutes. Most quality hosts offer one-click setup via their dashboard. For detailed steps, follow our complete WordPress installation guide.
Once installed, log into your WordPress dashboard:
With WordPress ready, import your Joomla data using the trusted FG Joomla to WordPress plugin. Install and activate it via our step-by-step plugin guide.
Navigate to Tools » Import and click 'Run Importer' under Joomla Import Tool (FG).
Enter your Joomla site's URL and database details.
Locate database info in Joomla admin at System » Global Configuration » Server tab. Database password is in the root configuration.php file (access via FTP and a text editor).
Test the connection:
Adjust import options if needed, then click 'Start/Resume Importer'.
The process scans and imports content—time varies by site size. Success looks like this:
Fix internal links by scrolling down and clicking 'Modify Internal Links'.
Preview your imported content on the live site.
Fine-tune your new WordPress site for optimal performance and SEO.
Differing URL structures can cause 404 errors. First, configure permalinks: Settings » Permalinks > Select 'Post name' > Save.
Install the Redirection plugin. Go to Tools » Redirection, add: Source URL `https://example.com/index.php/(.*)` to Target `https://example.com/$1`.
Save to redirect old Joomla URLs automatically.
Transform your site's design with thousands of free/paid themes. We've curated top picks:
Installation guide: How to install a WordPress theme.
Extend functionality with plugins for backups, security, caching, and eCommerce. Our ultimate plugin guide and essential plugins list simplify choices.
WPBeginner, the #1 resource for beginners, offers free tutorials from real-world experts:
Search 'wpbeginner [your query]' for instant help. For more, see our tools to grow your site.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel, follow on Twitter and Facebook.
