Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Wix to Squarespace Migration Guide

Wix

Squarespace

This guide walks you through migrating from Wix to Squarespace to access superior design templates and enhanced ecommerce capabilities. You'll learn step-by-step processes for transferring content, products, and settings while maintaining your online presence.

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Wix to Squarespace Migration Preparation

Essential steps to prepare for migrating your website from Wix to Squarespace, ensuring a smooth transition while preserving your content and ecommerce functionality.

Export Your Wix Content and Data

Use Wix's built-in export tools to download your blog posts, pages, and media files as CSV files where possible. For content not available via CSV export, manually copy your page content, product descriptions, and custom text to prepare for manual transfer to Squarespace.

Backup Your Product Catalog and Customer Data

Export your Wix ecommerce data including product listings, inventory levels, and customer information through your Wix dashboard. Note that Wix allows up to 100 product variants, so document any complex product configurations that may need manual recreation in Squarespace.

Choose Your Squarespace Plan and Template

Select between Commerce Basic ($27/mo) or Commerce Advanced ($49/mo) based on your ecommerce needs, as the Business plan ($23/mo) has limited commerce features. Browse Squarespace's design templates to choose one that aligns with your brand and will showcase your content beautifully.

Document Your Current Site Structure and SEO Settings

Create a sitemap of your existing Wix pages, noting URL structures, meta descriptions, and page titles for SEO preservation. Take screenshots of your current site layout and functionality to reference during the Squarespace rebuild process.

Prepare Your Domain and Email Setup

Determine whether you'll transfer your domain from Wix to Squarespace or keep it with your current registrar and point it to Squarespace. Document any custom email addresses or forwarding rules currently set up through Wix that will need to be reconfigured.

Plan Your Content Migration Strategy

Create a timeline for manually rebuilding your pages in Squarespace, prioritizing your most important content first. Since Squarespace excels at beautiful design and user-friendly content management, plan how you'll leverage these strengths to improve upon your current Wix site structure.

Wix to Squarespace Migration Guide

A comprehensive 12-step process to migrate your website from Wix to Squarespace, focusing on leveraging Squarespace's beautiful design templates and user-friendly interface for content creators and small businesses.

Export Data from Wix

2-4 hours

Begin by exporting your site data from Wix's dashboard. Navigate to Settings > Import & Export to download available CSV files for contacts and basic content. For products, manually screenshot or document your current catalog since Wix has limited export capabilities. Create a comprehensive inventory of all pages, blog posts, images, and custom content that needs to be migrated.

Tips:

• Take screenshots of complex page layouts for reference
• Download all media files from your Wix Media Manager
• Export your blog content by copying posts individually

Important:

• Wix doesn't provide complete data export - expect significant manual work
• Custom code and apps won't transfer over

Set Up Squarespace Account

30 minutes

Create your Squarespace account and start with a 14-day free trial to test the platform. Choose your initial plan based on your needs - Personal for basic sites, Business for ecommerce under 250 variants, or Commerce for advanced selling features. Set up your account with the same email and business information used on Wix for consistency.

Tips:

• Use the same business email as your Wix account
• Take advantage of the full 14-day trial period
• Consider starting with Business plan for flexibility

Important:

• Don't connect your domain immediately - wait until migration is complete
• Free trial has Squarespace branding on your site

Select and Customize Template

3-5 hours

Browse Squarespace's template gallery and select a design that complements your brand and content type. For photographers and content creators, consider templates like Avenue, Pazari, or Ishimoto that showcase visual content beautifully. Customize the template's colors, fonts, and basic layout to match your current brand identity from Wix.

Tips:

• Filter templates by your industry for better matches
• Test template responsiveness on mobile devices
• Choose templates with built-in galleries if you're image-heavy

Important:

• Template changes later require significant redesign work
• Some templates have limited customization options

Import Products and Inventory

4-8 hours

If you have an online store, manually recreate your products in Squarespace's Commerce section since direct import from Wix isn't available. Add products one by one, ensuring you stay within Squarespace's 250 variant limit per product. Upload high-quality product images and write detailed descriptions optimized for Squarespace's clean design aesthetic.

Tips:

• Organize products into collections before adding them
• Use Squarespace's bulk upload feature for product images
• Optimize product descriptions for SEO

Important:

• No direct product import available from Wix
• Variant limits may require product restructuring if you have complex inventories

Migrate Customer Data

2-3 hours

Export your customer list from Wix and manually import contacts into Squarespace's customer database. Use the CSV export from Wix to gather email addresses, names, and basic information, then input this data into Squarespace's Email Campaigns or customer management system. Ensure compliance with data protection regulations during this transfer.

Tips:

• Clean up duplicate contacts before importing
• Segment customers by purchase history or engagement
• Send a migration announcement email to your list

Important:

• Customer passwords cannot be transferred - they'll need to reset
• Verify GDPR/privacy compliance for data transfer

Configure Payment Processing

1-2 hours

Set up payment processing in Squarespace by connecting Stripe (built-in) or PayPal for transactions. Configure your payment settings, including accepted payment methods, currency, and checkout preferences. If you were using Wix Payments, you'll need to update your payment processor and inform customers of any changes to their saved payment methods.

Tips:

• Test payment processing with small test transactions
• Set up automatic tax calculation if available in your region
• Configure email receipts and confirmation messages

Important:

• Customers will need to re-enter payment information
• Payment processing fees may differ from Wix

Set Up Shipping Configuration

1-2 hours

Configure shipping zones, rates, and methods in Squarespace's Commerce settings to match your current Wix setup. Create shipping profiles for different product types and set up calculated shipping rates if needed. Integrate with shipping carriers like UPS or FedEx if you were using advanced shipping features on Wix.

Tips:

• Copy exact shipping rates from your Wix store
• Set up shipping confirmations and tracking emails
• Test shipping calculations for different locations

Important:

• Shipping integrations may work differently than Wix
• International shipping settings need careful review

Configure Tax Settings

1 hour

Set up tax collection in Squarespace to match your current tax obligations from Wix. Configure automatic tax calculation for applicable regions, set up tax-exempt categories if needed, and ensure compliance with local tax laws. For US businesses, enable automatic sales tax calculation for states where you have nexus.

Tips:

• Review tax settings for each product category
• Enable automatic tax updates if available
• Test tax calculations for different customer locations

Important:

• Tax compliance is your responsibility - verify accuracy
• Some complex tax scenarios may require manual setup

Migrate Content and Pages

6-10 hours

Recreate your website pages in Squarespace using the content exported from Wix. Copy and paste text content, re-upload images, and rebuild page layouts using Squarespace's drag-and-drop editor. Pay special attention to your homepage, about page, and key landing pages to maintain SEO value and user experience.

Tips:

• Recreate pages in order of importance
• Optimize images for web before uploading
• Use Squarespace's SEO tools for each page

Important:

• Page URLs will change unless manually set
• Some complex layouts may not be possible to recreate exactly

Set Up URL Redirects

2-3 hours

Create 301 redirects from your old Wix URLs to new Squarespace URLs to preserve SEO rankings and ensure visitors don't encounter broken links. Map each important page from your Wix site to its corresponding Squarespace page. Use Squarespace's URL redirect feature in Settings > Advanced > URL Redirects to implement these redirects.

Tips:

• Prioritize redirects for high-traffic pages first
• Use Google Analytics to identify your most important pages
• Test redirects using online redirect checker tools

Important:

• Missing redirects will result in 404 errors and lost SEO value
• Some Wix URLs may be difficult to redirect due to their structure

Connect Domain and Go Live

2-4 hours

Connect your custom domain from Wix to your new Squarespace site by updating DNS settings or transferring the domain entirely. Update your domain's nameservers to point to Squarespace, or use custom DNS records if keeping your domain with the current registrar. Enable SSL certificate and ensure all pages load correctly on the live domain.

Tips:

• DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to propagate
• Keep your Wix site live until DNS fully propagates
• Enable SSL immediately after domain connection

Important:

• Site may be temporarily inaccessible during DNS propagation
• Email services may be affected by DNS changes

Test and Launch

3-4 hours

Conduct comprehensive testing of your new Squarespace site including all forms, ecommerce functionality, mobile responsiveness, and page loading speeds. Test the checkout process, contact forms, and any integrated third-party services. Once satisfied with functionality, announce your site migration to customers and update any external links pointing to your old Wix site.

Tips:

• Test on multiple devices and browsers
• Have friends or colleagues review the site
• Update social media profiles with new site features

Important:

• Don't cancel Wix immediately - keep it as backup for 30 days
• Monitor site performance closely in the first week after launch

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Wix supports 100 vs Squarespace's 250.

customers

Customer contact info, addresses, marketing preferences transfer. Passwords must be reset for security.

orders

Order history for reference. Consider importing last 3-6 months for customer service.

Wix to Squarespace Migration: Common Challenges and Solutions

Essential questions and answers for businesses considering migrating from Wix to Squarespace, covering technical challenges, feature differences, and migration best practices.

How long does it typically take to migrate from Wix to Squarespace?

A complete Wix to Squarespace migration typically takes 2-4 weeks depending on site complexity. While Wix offers CSV export for some data, much of the content migration requires manual recreation due to platform differences. Plan extra time for redesigning with Squarespace's template system.

Will migrating from Wix to Squarespace hurt my search engine rankings?

There will be temporary SEO impact as URLs and site structure change during migration. Implement 301 redirects from old Wix URLs to new Squarespace URLs and submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console. Most sites recover their rankings within 2-3 months with proper SEO migration practices.

Can I transfer my order history and customer data from Wix to Squarespace?

Wix allows CSV export of order data, but Squarespace has limited import capabilities for historical orders. You can export customer contact information, but order history typically needs to be maintained separately for reference. Focus on migrating active customer contact lists and product catalogs.

What Wix apps and integrations won't work on Squarespace?

Squarespace has fewer third-party integrations compared to Wix's extensive app market. Popular Wix apps for advanced ecommerce, booking systems, or specialized widgets may not have direct Squarespace equivalents. Research Squarespace's built-in features and limited integrations before migrating to ensure functionality needs are met.

How do Squarespace's ecommerce features compare to Wix for online stores?

Squarespace offers beautiful, mobile-responsive store designs but has more limited ecommerce functionality than Wix. Features like advanced inventory management, multiple payment gateways, and extensive product variants are more restricted. Squarespace works best for small to medium catalogs with straightforward selling needs.

How much website downtime should I expect during the migration?

You can build your new Squarespace site while keeping Wix live, minimizing downtime to just the DNS switching period (2-24 hours). The main downtime occurs when pointing your domain to Squarespace and waiting for DNS propagation. Plan the switch during low-traffic periods for minimal business impact.

Should I recreate my Wix design exactly or start fresh with Squarespace templates?

Starting fresh with Squarespace's professionally designed templates is usually recommended over trying to recreate your Wix design exactly. Squarespace templates are optimized for the platform's strengths and will give you better mobile responsiveness and loading speeds. Use migration as an opportunity for a design refresh.

Will my customers need to create new passwords after the migration?

Yes, customers will need to create new accounts on Squarespace as password data cannot be migrated for security reasons. Send advance notice to customers about the migration and consider offering a small incentive for re-registering. Export customer email lists from Wix to help with the transition communication.

How can I test my new Squarespace site before going live?

Build and test your Squarespace site on a temporary subdomain (yoursite.squarespace.com) while keeping Wix live. Test all functionality including forms, ecommerce checkout, and mobile responsiveness. Use Squarespace's preview mode to share the site with stakeholders for feedback before switching your domain.

How will the migration affect my day-to-day business operations?

During migration, maintain normal operations on Wix while building on Squarespace in parallel. The main operational impact occurs during the 24-48 hour DNS transition period when some customers might experience temporary access issues. Prepare customer service teams for potential questions about site changes.

Will I save money switching from Wix to Squarespace?

Squarespace's Business plan ($23/mo) is cheaper than Wix Business Basic ($27/mo), but compare features carefully. Squarespace Commerce Basic ($27/mo) matches Wix's price but with different ecommerce capabilities. Factor in potential costs for rebuilding functionality that Wix apps provided but Squarespace doesn't offer natively.

Can I migrate my customer reviews and testimonials from Wix to Squarespace?

Customer reviews need to be manually migrated as there's no direct import tool between platforms. Export reviews from Wix (if possible) and manually add them to Squarespace testimonial blocks or integrate with a third-party review platform. Consider this an opportunity to curate and highlight your best reviews.