How To Transfer WordPress Site to Squarespace

Why Consider Switching from WordPress to Squarespace?

Moving from WordPress to Squarespace is the right choice if you want a website that’s simple to build, easy to manage, and ready to launch quickly, etc. Here are some of the Squarespace strengths you can expect:

• User-Friendly: If you decide to migrate to Squarespace, one of the first things you’ll notice is how user-friendly it is compared to WordPress. Although WordPress supports third-party builders like Elementor or Divi, these tools are often heavy on resources and come with extra costs for advanced features. Squarespace, on the other hand, includes a built-in drag-and-drop editor at no additional charge.
• All-in-one Pricing: When you migrate to Squarespace, you move away from the unpredictable costs of WordPress hosting, plugins, and premium themes. Squarespace plan includes hosting, SSL, templates, and support in a single subscription, giving you clarity and control over your budget.
• Built-in eCommerce Features: For businesses ready to sell online, switching to Squarespace makes e-commerce simple. Squarespace integrates tools for listing products, managing inventory, processing payments, tracking orders, and more without the need to install third-party plugins that can weigh down your site and cost you a lot of money for additional features.
• Modern, Professional Templates: One of the biggest design perks when you migrate to Squarespace is access to its modern, mobile-optimized templates. With a wide range of customizable templates, businesses that migrate to Squarespace can quickly create a site that reflects their identity, without hiring a designer or buying premium WordPress themes.
• Automatic Updates & Security: If you’ve ever worried about WordPress updates or plugin vulnerabilities, migrating to Squarespace removes that stress. Squarespace automatically handles updates, security patches, and SSL certificates in the background.
• Great Customizability: Even though it’s beginner-friendly, businesses that migrate to Squarespace can still enjoy a high level of customizability. You can tweak layouts, integrate apps, and even add custom CSS for advanced design control.

Compared to WordPress, getting started with Squarespace is much easier, especially if you don’t have technical experience. The platform not only simplifies editing but also takes care of hosting, site speed, and performance optimization for you. Overall, Squarespace is an excellent choice for users who want a low-maintenance, beginner-friendly website solution.

Summary, choose Squarespace if you:

• Want a website that’s quick to set up and easy to manage without technical skills.
• Prefer an all-in-one platform with hosting, security, and design tools included.
• Need professional, mobile-ready templates that look great out of the box.
• Plan to sell products or services online with built-in ecommerce features.
• Value predictable, transparent pricing with no hidden costs.
• Don’t want to worry about updates, backups, or plugin conflicts.
• Are ready to migrate to Squarespace for a simpler, more reliable website solution.

How to Move from WordPress to Squarespace: Step-by-Step

To ensure a safe, accurate, and data-integrity-free migration from WordPress to Squarespace, prepare the following:

• Admin access to both your WordPress and Squarespace sites. If you don’t have a Squarespace site yet, set it up before starting the migration.
• A Laptop/PC with a browser and a stable internet connection. If there is a network error during the migration, data may be lost or corrupted.
• Up-to-date, error-free versions of WordPress (WordPress 3.2 or later) and Squarespace to avoid issues during data extraction and import.

Once everything is ready, follow these 5 main steps to switch from WordPress to Squarespace:

• Step 1: Export WordPress Data
• Step 2: Import Common Data into Squarespace
• Step 3: Import Products Data into Squarespace
• Step 4: Set Up Your Domain & Set Up 301 Redirects
• Step 5: Polish, Launch & Cancel Old Site

Let’s go through the details step by step:

Step 1: Export WordPress Data

In this step we will do 3 main tasks:

• Clean up old data on your WordPress site
• Export WordPress Content (XML)
• Export WooCommerce Products (CSV)

Clean up old data on your WordPress site

Take time to clean up old data on your WordPress site before migrating. Check for duplicate pages, outdated blog posts, unused categories, or content that no longer supports your business goals. Delete anything irrelevant and reorganize what remains.

The cleaner your data, the smoother the migration will be. Keep auditing until your site is streamlined, relevant, and well-structured.

Export WordPress Content (XML)

To export WordPress data to an xml file:

• Log into your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to Tools → Export.
• Choose “All content” to export posts, pages, custom post types, comments, categories, tags, and media.
• Alternatively, filter by specific content types if you only want to migrate certain elements.
• Click Download Export File to generate a .xml file to your Laptop/PC.

This XML file contains your site’s core content and is required for importing into Squarespace.

Export WooCommerce Products (CSV)

If your site includes an online store, your eCommerce data must be exported separately. to export WooCommerce products to an CSV file:

• Log into your WordPress dashboard.
• Navigate to Products → All Products.
• Click Export.
• Select the product fields you want to include (e.g., SKUs, titles, descriptions, prices, stock status, and images).
• Download the export as a .csv file.

This CSV file provides the structured catalog data needed to correctly import your products into Squarespace.

Step 2: Import Common Data into Squarespace

After exporting your WordPress data, the next step is to migrate your content into Squarespace:

• Start by creating a free Squarespace trial account, then choose a template that aligns with your brand identity or business goals. Don’t worry too much about perfection at this stage, templates can be customized later. (Optional, skip if you have already prepared your Squarespace site)

How to Import WordPress XML into Squarespace

To import your WordPress data via XML file into Squarespace:

• Step 1: In your Squarespace dashboard, go to Settings → Advanced → Import & Export Content Panel.
• Step 2: Click Import.
• Step 3: Select WordPress, then choose the Advanced import option.
• Step 4: Upload your WordPress .xml file by click Add a File, or drag your .xml file into the XML Export Upload box
• Step 5: Click Begin Import.

A “Success” message will appear after the import completes.

When importing from WordPress, your content may appear as multiple pages depending on your site’s structure. Squarespace imports the following:

• Attachments
• Blog pages, posts, and authors
• Categories
• Comments
• Individual images
• Site pages
• Tags

Note: The import process can take several minutes, depending on the size of your WordPress site. Avoid closing your browser or refreshing the page until the import is fully complete. Once finished, your migrated content will appear under the Not Linked section of your Squarespace site, including pages, posts, and media.

Step 3: Import Products Data into Squarespace

Once your main site content is migrated via XML, the next step is to bring your WooCommerce product catalog into Squarespace Commerce. This ensures your online store remains functional, organized, and visually consistent with your new site design.

How to Import WooCommerce Products into Squarespace

• (Optional, skip if you have prepared a csv file) Log into your WooCommerce dashboard → Go to Products → All Products, then click Export to generate a .csv file.
• Enable Squarespace Commerce if it isn’t already active.
• Navigate to Commerce → Inventory → Import.
• Click Download CSV Template to get the exact formatting Squarespace requires.
• Open your WooCommerce CSV and carefully map product data into the Squarespace format.
• Return to the Products panel, click Import in the top-right corner, and drag and drop the completed CSV file into the Upload Squarespace CSV box.
• Click Save to complete the import.

Important: If the import fails, copy the data from the CSV into a new spreadsheet and re-upload it. This resolves most issues. If problems continue, open the CSV in a spreadsheet program to check for unsupported formatting. Common errors include bulleted lists, hyperlinks, and nonstandard characters.

Step 4: Set Up Your Domain & Set Up 301 Redirects

Once your content and products have been successfully migrated, the next critical step is to connect or transfer your domain and implement 301 redirects to protect your existing SEO rankings and ensure a smooth transition for visitors.

Option 1: Transfer Your Domain to Squarespace

If your domain is currently registered with a third-party provider, you can transfer it directly into Squarespace for centralized management of your domain, DNS, and billing.

To transfer a domain:

• In your current domain registrar, unlock the domain and request the authorization (EPP) code.
• In Squarespace, go to Settings → Domains → Use a Domain I Own → Transfer to Squarespace.
• Enter your domain name, input the authorization code, and follow the prompts to complete the transfer.

Note: Not all domains are eligible for transfer due to certain extensions (.co.uk, .au, etc.) or registrar restrictions. Transfers can also take up to 15 days depending on your provider. If your domain isn’t eligible or you prefer faster setup, connecting it manually is a reliable alternative.

Option 2: Connect a Third-Party Domain

If you’d rather keep your domain with your existing registrar, you can simply connect it to Squarespace. This option is faster (usually within 24–48 hours) and avoids moving billing or ownership. To connect a domain:

• Log into your domain registrar account and access DNS settings.
• Update the domain records:
  • Point your domain to Squarespace’s nameservers, or
  • Update A and CNAME records as provided in Squarespace’s instructions.
• In Squarespace, go to Settings → Domains → Connect Domain, then follow the guided setup.

Set Up 301 Redirects to Preserve SEO

To prevent broken links and protect your SEO performance:

• Identify URL changes between WordPress and Squarespace (e.g., WordPress: /blog/post-title vs. Squarespace: /post-title).
• In Squarespace, go to Settings → Advanced → URL Mappings.
• Add redirects using the format: /old-url → /new-url 301
• Save and test each redirect to confirm it points users and search engines to the correct page.

Step 5: Polish, Launch & Cancel Old Site

Now that your content, products, and domain are in place, it’s time to finalize your Squarespace website, launch it publicly, and wrap up your old WordPress setup. This step ensures your new site looks professional, functions smoothly, and avoids SEO or hosting conflicts.

Perform a Final Site Audit Before Launch

Before going live, carefully review your site from both a design and technical perspective:

• Design & Layout: Adjust spacing, fonts, and styles so everything aligns with your brand identity.
• Navigation: Check that all menus, buttons, and internal links work properly for a seamless user journey.
• Mobile Responsiveness: Test on multiple devices (phone, tablet, desktop) to confirm consistent formatting.
• SEO & Metadata: Transfer important data from WordPress plugins like Yoast SEO or Rank Math, including: SEO titles and meta descriptions, Canonical URLs, Alt text for images, Open Graph and social sharing settings
• Content Accuracy: Proofread pages, check for broken links, and confirm all images display correctly.

Upgrade Squarespace Plan and Remove Site Restrictions

To launch your site publicly:

• Select a Squarespace plan that covers your needs.
• Remove site privacy or password protection: Go to Settings → Site Availability and switch from Private to Public.

Cancel Your Old WordPress Hosting

Once your Squarespace site is live and your 301 redirects are working properly:

• Cancel your WordPress hosting plan to prevent duplicate sites, unnecessary costs, and SEO conflicts.
• Keep a final backup of your WordPress files, database, and export files. This gives you a safety net in case you need access to old data later.

A successful migration from WordPress to Squarespace involves more than just moving data. By following these five steps export, import, migrate products, move your domain, then polish & launch you can achieve a clean, professional transition. However, handling large datasets, formatting CSVs, and managing redirects can be challenging. If you’d rather save time and reduce risk, consider working with LitExtension’s migration experts to handle the process securely and accurately.

WordPress to Squarespace Migration Checklist

Here is a WordPress to Squarespace checklist to ensure you have completed the steps correctly:

Before You Start:

• Admin access to both WordPress and Squarespace
• Stable internet connection and updated browser
• WordPress 3.2+ and latest Squarespace version
• Backup all WordPress data (files + database)

Export WordPress Data:

• Clean up outdated or duplicate content
• Export WordPress content as .xml (Tools → Export → All Content)
• Export WooCommerce products as .csv (Products → Export)

Import Content to Squarespace:

• Create or log in to your Squarespace account
• Go to Settings → Advanced → Import & Export
• Upload the WordPress .xml file and start import
• Review imported content under Not Linked section

Import Products:

• Enable Squarespace Commerce
• Download Squarespace CSV template
• Map WooCommerce data to Squarespace format
• Upload CSV via Commerce → Inventory → Import

Connect Domain & Set Redirects:

• Transfer or connect domain to Squarespace
• Update DNS or nameserver records as required
• Set up 301 redirects (Settings → Advanced → URL Mappings)
• Test all redirects to ensure no broken links

Finalize & Launch:

• Review design, layout, and navigation
• Test on mobile and desktop
• Verify SEO settings and metadata
• Choose and activate a Squarespace plan
• Remove site password and publish
• Cancel old WordPress hosting after confirming redirects