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Moving a website to a new host means copying the site, database, email setup and domain settings carefully. Then test everything before making the new version live. For most Maltese businesses, the hard part is not the file transfer. It is finding who controls the domain, DNS and logins. Nothing customer-facing can be missed.
What a website move normally includes
A proper WordPress migration starts with an audit, not a button click. We need to know where the website is hosted and who owns the domain. We also need to know where email is handled and which accounts connect to the site. Those details decide the move.
For a typical WordPress site, the work includes:
- Taking a current backup of website files and its database.
- Copying the site to the new hosting account.
- Setting up a temporary address or staging copy for checks.
- Updating the site configuration, SSL certificate and DNS records.
- Testing contact forms, menus, search, logins, images and key pages.
- Checking analytics, payment gateways, booking systems and email delivery where they are in use.
- Keeping the old hosting active until the new site has been checked live.
If the website is multilingual, we also test both English and Maltese content. A language switcher may look fine on the homepage. It can still lead to broken pages deeper in the site after a migration.
The first things I would ask you for
Before agreeing to move anything, I would ask for access to the current host, WordPress administrator account and domain registrar. I would also ask where your business email lives. Many owners assume email and website hosting are one thing. Often they are not, and the wrong DNS record can interrupt email.
A common mess after a site changes hands is that nobody knows who has the domain login. The previous developer may have registered it, or an old staff member may hold the recovery email. It may also be attached to a personal account. Sort that out before cancelling the existing hosting. The domain is a business asset, not a technical afterthought.
If you use a .mt or .com.mt domain, the registrar details deserve the same care as the website transfer. We check the account holder, renewal contact and DNS control. We do not assume a hosting login gives us all of them.
What can make a migration more involved
A small brochure site with a contact form is usually clean work. Older WordPress sites can be another matter. We regularly find outdated plugins and custom email settings hidden in a form plugin. We also find old redirect rules and oversized backups. Page-builder settings may only reveal themselves after the site is copied.
Online shops need more attention. Orders, stock and customer accounts can change while a migration is under way. The launch needs careful timing and checking. The same is true for booking sites, membership areas and sites that connect to local or overseas payment providers. Do not treat an e-commerce move as a basic file copy.
Moving hosts will not automatically fix a slow or messy website either. The first thing we check on a slow site is whether hosting is really the cause. Quite often it is an oversized homepage image or a heavy page builder. An overloaded plugin may also be doing work on every page. Read our guide on why a WordPress website can be slow in Malta. Do this if performance is the main reason you want to move.
What should a new hosting service cost?
The right package depends on how much responsibility you want to keep. Our ongoing WordPress hosting and maintenance options are priced as follows:
| Option | From | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Care | €240 /year | Site owners who need core ongoing care but handle more themselves. |
| Managed Hosting | €720 /year | Businesses that want hosting and WordPress care looked after. |
| Fully Managed | €1,440 /year | Sites where hands-on support and active management matter most. |
Ad-hoc WordPress or hosting work is €100 per hour. A migration can sit in that category if you only need help with a defined task. Compare its cost against ongoing cover if the site is important to enquiries or sales. You can see what is included in our WordPress hosting and maintenance options.
Do not buy fully managed hosting merely because the name sounds reassuring. Essential Care may be enough for a small, rarely changed information site. You still need a reliable person managing updates and backups. On the other hand, I would not put a busy shop, booking site or lead-generating business on bare hosting. Do not hope someone notices a problem.
How to avoid disruption during the change
The safest sequence is: copy, test, switch DNS, then monitor. We do not cancel the old account first. DNS changes can take time to settle across the internet. The old service is a fallback while visitors start reaching the new one.
After launch, test the parts people actually use. Send a contact-form enquiry and confirm it arrives. Place a test order if the site sells online. Check mobile pages, admin access and transactional emails. If the business relies on seasonal bookings or campaign traffic, avoid scheduling the switch during that period. A missed enquiry would hurt most then.
It is also a good moment to decide who receives renewal notices. Decide who has WordPress administrator access and where backups are kept. Those boring details are exactly what make the next issue much less stressful.
What I would tell a client before they move
Move for a clear reason: poor support, unreliable performance or lack of backups. Other reasons are security concerns or a hosting setup that no longer suits the site. Do not move purely because somebody said a host is faster. Ask what will be transferred and tested. Ask who controls the domain and email, and what support exists after the switch.
Send us your website URL and current host if you know it. Include a note of any email, shop or booking functions it uses. We will tell you what needs moving and what access is missing. We will also tell you whether the hosting issue is really the problem before you commit.
Frequently asked questions
Will moving my website to a new host affect my email?
It can if website and email DNS records are changed without checking the setup first. Confirm where email is hosted before the move and preserve the records it needs.
Do I need to move my domain as well as my hosting?
No. The domain can stay with its current registrar while its DNS points to the new host. Make sure your business controls the registrar account either way.
How much does WordPress migration help cost?
Ad-hoc WordPress and hosting work is €100 per hour. Ongoing care starts at €240 /year. Managed hosting starts from €720 /year, and fully managed service from €1,440 /year.
Will a new host make my WordPress site faster?
It may help if the server is the bottleneck, but slow images, page builders and plugins are common causes too. Check the site before assuming a host move is the cure.
