After countless HubSpot migrations for clients, one truth has become abundantly clear: a well-planned process can save you endless time, money, and headaches.
If you’re looking to switch from WordPress to HubSpot, you’re on the right track. This guide breaks down the migration process, highlights the benefits, and points out a few key things to consider before you make the leap. (And if you want the whole ordeal handled for you, we can help).
Whether you’re planning a gradual move or a complete overhaul, these insights will help you stay on course.
Why move from WordPress to HubSpot in 2025?
A WordPress to HubSpot migration is a smart choice for any growth-oriented company. If you’re not entirely committed, here’s a quick reminder of why moving your CMS to HubSpot is the right move:
- No plugins to maintain – One of the biggest pain points of WordPress is constant plugin updates, compatibility issues, and security risks. With HubSpot, you get built-in tools for SEO, lead capture, analytics, and more—no extra maintenance required.
- All-in-one marketing: HubSpot ties everything together—your website, CRM, and marketing tools—so you can manage leads, customer interactions, and performance all in one place. Less bouncing around, more focus on growth.
- Better security & compliance: With robust cloud hosting and built-in security features, HubSpot helps protect your site and keeps you on top of compliance issues like GDPR.
- Growth-ready: As your business grows, HubSpot grows with you. Its scalable setup means you won’t be left behind as you add more traffic and ramp up your marketing efforts.
For a more detailed comparison of HubSpot and WordPress, check out our last post on the topic, “HubSpot vs. WordPress: Which CMS Should Your Website Use?”
What to think about before you migrate
Before you start moving your website, take a moment to review your current setup and figure out what you really need. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
1. Look at your WordPress setup
Take a good look at what you have now:
- Audit your tools: Check out your plugins, themes, custom code, and any integrations you’re using. Know which parts are essential and which might need to be updated or replaced.
- Content inventory: Make a list of all your content—blogs, landing pages, product pages, etc. Understanding the full picture of your site will help you decide on the best migration strategy.
- Consider the types of modules or sections you’ll need in HubSpot. Think about elements like testimonial videos, FAQ accordions, or structured layouts (like a 3×3 grid for feature listings). Identifying these now will help you take full advantage of HubSpot’s CMS flexibility.
- Performance metrics: Dive into your website analytics to see which pages are driving the most traffic and engagement. This can help you prioritize what to migrate first and ensure the most important content gets the extra attention it needs.
- User experience (UX) review: Look at how your visitors interact with your site. Keep an eye out for features that work well and note any areas that could be improved. This not only helps plan the migration but also sets you up to make fixes once you’re on HubSpot.
2. Simplify your tech stack
WordPress is great for flexibility, but HubSpot gives you an all-in-one package. This means less time managing different tools and more time focusing on your business. Consider how you might consolidate your tech stack. Aside from WordPress, which popular tools or platforms can you ditch?
What tools or platforms can you cancel by switching to HubSpot?
- Marketing automation: HubSpot can replace tools like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Marketo, Salesforce, and Zoho CRM. You can manage email campaigns, automation sequences, and lead nurturing—all while tracking every interaction within a unified contact record. With HubSpot’s AI-powered contact activity summaries, you get a clearer view of customer engagement without bouncing between platforms.
- Website hosting & plugins: If you’re using WordPress, switching to HubSpot CMS can eliminate hosting fees and paid plugins. For example, we’ve seen clients paying $250/month for WordPress hosting—on top of costs for Gravity Forms Pro, Yoast Pro, and other paid plugins. With HubSpot, those costs disappear, and everything is managed in a single platform.
- CRM: With HubSpot’s built-in CRM, you won’t need external systems like Salesforce or Zoho CRM. Everything from lead tracking to customer communications is integrated.
- Analytics & SEO: HubSpot ‘s built-in analytics and SEO tools can replace services like Google Analytics and SEMrush, streamlining your tracking and optimization efforts. If GA’s updates have been frustrating, you might find HubSpot’s native analytics to be a breath of fresh air—offering clear, actionable insights without the hassle of complex configurations. Plus, with everything integrated into one platform, reporting and long-term support become much easier to manage.
- Customer service: HubSpot’s Service Hub can handle customer support functions that you might currently be using Zendesk or Freshdesk for.
- Social media management: HubSpot’s social tools let you schedule and track social media posts, potentially replacing services like Hootsuite or Buffer.
- Sales tools: The Sales Hub in HubSpot offers sales automation, tracking, and pipeline management that could cut out the need for multiple other sales tools.
Bear in mind that HubSpot is divided into multiple hubs (e.g. sales, service, marketing, content, operations), so don’t go canceling your old services unless you know you’re getting the replacement with your HubSpot subscription.
3. Consider your costs and resources
Moving platforms isn’t free in terms of time or money, so it’s good to plan ahead and recognize not all your savings will be in obvious places:
- Budgeting: While WordPress itself might seem cheap, hidden costs (like premium plugins and hosting) add up. HubSpot’s subscription model bundles many features together, giving you a clearer idea of what you’re spending.
- Time & expertise: Do you have the team in place to handle the migration, or will you need help? If the process feels overwhelming, partnering HubSpot experts like Simple Strat might be the best move.
- Template vs. custom build: Your timeline and costs will also depend on how you approach your site build. If you’re using a HubSpot template and making minor tweaks, the process can take just a few weeks. A more customized template with agency support may take 6-8 weeks, while a fully custom site can take 3-6 months. We’ve helped clients migrate quickly, but for more complex sites, taking the time to get it right is worth the investment.
- Factor in net savings: Think beyond the initial move. Consider your ongoing costs of maintenance, training, and updates. HubSpot’s integrated system can save you money in the long run by reducing the need for additional third-party services. Plus, if your team is spending hours managing multiple systems or troubleshooting on WordPress, that’s time away from growing your business.
4. Avoid damaging your SEO
One big worry with migrations is losing your search engine rankings. Here’s how to keep your SEO in check:
- Follow best practices: Make sure to set up proper 301 redirects, maintain your URL structure, and keep your metadata and backlinks in place. A solid SEO strategy during the move means you won’t lose the hard-earned ranking you’ve built up.
- Content optimization post-migration: Once your content is on HubSpot, take advantage of its SEO tools to fine-tune your pages. Update meta descriptions, tweak internal linking, and use HubSpot’s recommendations to improve overall visibility.
- Monitor performance continuously: Use tools like Google Search Console along with HubSpot’s internal analytics to keep an eye on your search performance. If you spot any dips in traffic or ranking, you can address them before they become a bigger problem.
5. Plan your timeline
Decide how you want to roll out the migration:
- Decide on Phased vs. Full-Site migration: Depending on how much content you have and how complex your site is, you might choose to migrate piece by piece or do it all at once. A phased approach can reduce risk, while a full migration might be faster if you have a clear plan in mind.
- Set critical dates & milestones: Identify key dates in your business calendar, such as product launches or major marketing campaigns. Avoid scheduling your migration during these high-stakes periods to prevent any disruption.
- Build in a buffer: Always plan for some extra time to handle unexpected issues. Having a flexible timeline means you won’t be caught off guard by technical glitches or last-minute changes.
Pro tip: Never launch your new website on a Friday. Bugs happen, and you want your migration team able to make any fixes quickly.
A high-level look at the migration process
- Preparation: Start by backing up everything from WordPress—your database, media files, plugin settings, and so on. Then, decide which migration tools work best for you, whether it’s HubSpot’s native tools, exporting via XML/CSV, or a trusted third-party solution.
- Setting up in HubSpot: Once you’ve secured your data, set up your HubSpot account. Configure your SEO settings, analytics, and security options so your new environment is ready to go.
- Moving your content: Export your content from WordPress and import it into HubSpot. HubSpot’s migration tools make it easier to keep your important details like meta descriptions and internal links intact.
- Rebuilding your site design: Recreate your site’s look using HubSpot’s drag-and-drop editor or custom templates (or remake it from scratch!). Swap out any key WordPress plugins with HubSpot’s built-in modules to keep the features you rely on—like forms and chatbots—running smoothly.
- Switching your domain & hosting: Finally, update your DNS settings and configure your SSL so your domain points to your new HubSpot site. This step ensures a smooth switch without downtime.
Pro tip: you’ll get HubSpot’s CRM free with your subscription, so if you’re not already using it, it’s a great time to migrate your contacts there.
Quick migration tips to avoid common pitfalls
Keep a detailed checklist
Nothing beats a solid checklist. Listing out every step—from backing up data to mapping URLs—helps keep the process smooth and minimizes surprises later on.
Use a staging environment
Before going live, test your migration on a staging site within HubSpot. It’s a simple way to catch potential issues, adjust formatting, and ensure everything works as expected without disrupting your live site. By doing this during our own migration from WordPress, we were able to extensively test and adjust our new site before launching it! 
Test across devices and browsers
It pays off to quickly verify that your new site looks and works well on desktops, tablets, and smartphones. Spending a little extra time here can save you from future headaches with inconsistent layouts or broken links.
Set clear roles and deadlines with your team
Making sure everyone on your team knows their responsibilities—and when things need to be done—keeps the project moving smoothly. Regular check-ins help catch small issues before they become big problems.
Back up and document everything
Before making any major moves, always back up your data. Keeping detailed documentation throughout the process makes it easier to troubleshoot and ensures you can reverse any changes if needed.
FAQ: Common questions our clients ask us about migrating
Can I keep my domain name?
Yes! Just update your DNS settings to point to your new HubSpot site.
Will my SEO rankings suffer?
Not if you plan properly. Use 301 redirects, maintain your URL structure, and keep your metadata intact to preserve your search rankings.
How long will the migration take?
The timeline varies substantially depending on your site’s size and complexity, but if you’re working with Simple Strat we can give you a more accurate assessment when we review your site. A phased approach can help manage the workload and reduce risk.
What if I run into issues during the migration?
Have a backup plan ready (including backing up all your data first) and consider expert support from a team like Simple Strat to optimize your new setup and reduce the risk of problems.
Using professional HubSpot migration services is a great way to protect your team’s bandwidth while optimizing.
