How to Migrate from Shared Hosting to a VPS

To migrate shared hosting to a VPS, choose a plan (managed if you are not a server admin), back up your files and database, copy them to the VPS, set up the web server, test on a temporary URL, then point your domain's DNS to the new server. Secure the VPS and keep your shared plan running until the new one is stable.

Shared hosting means your site sits on one server alongside many other websites, all drawing from the same pool of memory and processing power. It is affordable and simple, which is exactly why most sites start there. But you share the resources, so a busy neighbor — or your own growth — can leave your site short.

A VPS (Virtual Private Server) gives you a private, guaranteed slice of a server: your own memory, processing power, and root access. Nobody else's traffic slows you down, and you can install the software you want. You usually outgrow shared hosting for one of three reasons:

• Resource limits. Your host warns you about CPU or memory usage, throttles your account, or your site trips "resource limit reached" errors during busy spells.
• Slow performance under traffic. The site feels fine when quiet but crawls when several visitors arrive at once. If your server takes too long to respond, our guide to reduce server response time helps you confirm the host is the bottleneck.
• You need control. You want root access, a specific PHP or database version, custom software, or server settings that shared plans lock down.

If you are still weighing the two options side by side, read shared hosting vs VPS hosting first — a VPS costs more and asks more of you, so it is worth being sure the move is right.

Before you migrate, decide who runs the server. This one choice shapes how hard the move — and daily life afterward — will be.

• Managed VPS. The host handles the server setup, software updates, and security for you. You get the power of a VPS without becoming a system administrator. This is the recommended choice if you are not technical or simply do not want to babysit a server.
• Unmanaged VPS. You get a bare server and do everything yourself — installing the web server, configuring it, applying updates, and hardening security. It is cheaper and more flexible, but you are fully responsible. Only pick this if you are comfortable at the command line.

If any of that is new, our explainer on what is VPS hosting breaks down the parts in plain English. For most people leaving shared hosting, a managed VPS is the honest answer: you get room to grow without a second job keeping the server alive.

Work through these in order. The golden rule is simple: nothing on the live site changes until the VPS is tested and proven, so visitors never see a broken page.

1. Choose a VPS plan. Pick a plan sized for your traffic, and choose managed if you are not comfortable on the command line. If you are unsure what the specs mean, our what is VPS hosting guide explains memory, cores, and storage.
2. Provision the VPS and set up the stack. Create the server, then install the software your site needs — web server, PHP, and database — or use a managed plan's one-click setup so it arrives ready. Our walkthrough on how to set up a VPS covers this from first login.
3. Back up your current site. Download a full copy of your files and export your database from the shared account. Do this even if the host offers migration — a backup is your safety net. See our website backups guide for a reliable method.
4. Move the files and database. Transfer everything to the VPS using a migration plugin, the host's migration service, or manually over SSH/SFTP. Import the database with a command like mysql -u user -p sitedb < backup.sql. For a WordPress site, follow how to migrate WordPress.
5. Configure the web server, PHP, and database on the VPS. Set up the site's virtual host, point it at your files, create the database user, and update your site's config (for example wp-config.php) with the new database details.
6. Test the site on a temporary URL. Before touching your domain, preview the site using the VPS IP address or a temporary hostname. Click through pages, forms, images, and logins to confirm everything works on the new server.
7. Point your domain's DNS to the VPS. Once the test passes, update your domain's A record to the VPS IP address. Our guide on how to point a domain shows exactly where to change it; the switch can take a few hours to spread worldwide.
8. Verify everything, then secure the VPS. After DNS settles, confirm the live site loads from the new server. Then harden it: turn on a firewall, switch to SSH keys instead of passwords, and keep software updated. Our how to secure WordPress guide covers site-level hardening to pair with this.
9. Keep the shared plan until the VPS is stable. Leave your old hosting running for a week or two. Once the VPS has handled real traffic without issues, cancel the shared plan.

The migration is not finished when the site loads. Take an hour to confirm it is genuinely healthy on its new home:

• Verify the essentials. Load the homepage and a few inner pages, submit a contact form, log in to your admin area, and check that images and downloads work. Test on a phone too.
• Confirm you are on the VPS. If the site still loads from the old server, DNS may not have finished spreading — give it time, then re-check.
• Secure the server. Enable a firewall, disable password logins in favor of SSH keys, remove any default accounts, and set updates to install regularly. On a managed VPS the host does much of this; confirm what is already covered.
• Set up backups. A VPS does not back itself up. Turn on automatic backups so you are covered from day one.

If any part looks broken after the switch, the wider website migration guide has a troubleshooting section for common post-move issues.

• Moving to an unmanaged VPS without the skills to run it. An unmanaged server you cannot secure or update becomes a liability fast. If the command line is unfamiliar, choose managed.
• Skipping security hardening. A fresh VPS with default passwords and no firewall is a target. Harden it before you rely on it, not after something goes wrong.
• Canceling shared hosting too early. The single most costly mistake. Overlap the two plans until you are sure.
• Forgetting email. If your email runs on the shared account, moving the website can break it. Plan where email will live — a dedicated email service or the VPS — before you switch DNS.

When should I move from shared hosting to a VPS?

Move when the limits are persistent, not occasional: your host warns about resource usage, the site slows under normal traffic, or you need control that shared plans do not allow. If a one-off spike is the only issue, caching or a higher shared tier is usually cheaper and enough.

Is migrating to a VPS hard?

It is more involved than a shared-to-shared move because you set up the server too. On a managed VPS the host handles most of that, and many offer a migration service, so it can be nearly hands-off. On an unmanaged VPS you do it all yourself, which takes more skill and time.

Should I get a managed or unmanaged VPS?

Choose managed if you are not comfortable running a server — the host handles setup, updates, and security. Choose unmanaged only if you are confident at the command line and want lower cost plus full control. For most people leaving shared hosting, managed is the smoother option.

Will my site go down during the move?

It should not, if you build and test the site on the VPS first and only switch DNS once it works. Because your old site stays live until DNS points to the new server, visitors keep seeing a working site throughout the transfer.

Do I need Linux skills to run a VPS?

For an unmanaged VPS, yes — you will use the Linux command line to install software, apply updates, and secure the server. For a managed VPS, no: the host covers the technical maintenance, so you can run a VPS with little or no Linux experience.

How long does a shared-to-VPS migration take?

For a typical site, the hands-on work is a few hours, plus up to a day for DNS to fully update worldwide. A managed migration service can shorten the hands-on part considerably. Keep both plans running during that window so nothing is at risk.

Will my SEO or rankings be affected?

A clean migration that keeps the same domain and URLs should not hurt rankings, and a faster server can help. Problems come from downtime, broken links, or missing pages — which is exactly why you test on a temporary URL before switching DNS.

Migrating from shared hosting to a VPS is worth it once slowness, resource limits, or the need for control become permanent. The safe path is always the same: pick the right plan (managed if you are not a server admin), back up your files and database, move them to the VPS, test on a temporary URL, switch DNS, and secure the server — keeping your old plan live until the new one is proven. Take it one step at a time and your visitors never notice a thing.

Next step: if you have chosen your plan, follow our detailed walkthrough on how to set up a VPS to get the server ready for your files.

• MySQL Reference Manual — importing and exporting databases (dev.mysql.com/doc).
• OpenSSH Manual — key-based authentication and server hardening (openssh.com/manual.html).
• WordPress Developer Resources — moving WordPress and editing wp-config.php (developer.wordpress.org).