How do I move from Wix to a custom website?

Inventory before you build

Start by listing every page on the Wix site with its URL. Check Search Console for the pages that get clicks and the searches they rank for. Download images at full size and copy all text, including blog posts. Wix blog URLs often include a /post/ path, so note those too. This list becomes your redirect map and your content plan.

Don’t forget the less visible parts: form settings, any booking or members features, embedded maps and the alt text on images. Each needs a home on the new site.

Domain and email

If you bought your domain through Wix, you can keep it there and just change DNS, or transfer it to a registrar you control. Transferring gives you more independence. Before changing anything, check where your email is hosted. Many Wix users have Google Workspace connected, and the MX records must be carried over exactly or mail stops arriving.

Also note any Wix-connected services, like Wix Bookings or Wix Payments. Those stop working when you leave, so decide on replacements before launch day rather than after the first missed booking.

Launch without losing rankings

• Keep URLs the same where possible.
• Add a 301 redirect for every URL that changes.
• Carry over titles and descriptions that were working, then improve them.
• Submit the new sitemap in Search Console.
• Watch for 404 errors over the following weeks.

Done carefully, sites usually hold their rankings, and they can improve, especially when the new site is faster. The SEO migration guide goes deeper.

Keep the Wix plan active for a short while after launch, so you can check old content if a question comes up.

When I move a client off Wix, I build the redirect map before I write a line of code, because that’s what protects their search traffic. I copy the content that works, rewrite what doesn’t, and rebuild the design so it’s faster and fits the business properly. I check email records before touching DNS and switch the domain at a quiet time. Then I watch Search Console closely for a few weeks. You end up with a site you own outright, which is often the main reason to move.