Moving a WordPress site — from the old host to the new one, from local to live, from staging to production — sounds simple and is in practice one of the most common sources of error I see in consultations. Wrong database prefixes, forgotten .htaccess rules, half-copied uploads folders. Three plugins solve the problem reliably, but with completely different philosophies: All-in-One WP Migration, Duplicator and WP Migrate. If you found your way here from my article UpdraftPlus vs. BackWPup vs. Duplicator: that one was about ongoing, automated backups — for regular backups, UpdraftPlus or BackWPup are the right choice. This article covers something different: the one-off, complete move of a site to a new location. That is exactly where we now look at Duplicator's real strength in detail.
The three plugins at a glance
All-in-One WP Migration (free tier with a 512 MB import limit, premium extensions from around $69/year up to ~$199/year for the full package including cloud export): with well over 5 million active installations, by far the most popular migration plugin there is. One export click, one file, one import click — done. That very simplicity makes it the standard recommendation for anyone who does not deal with server migrations daily.
Duplicator (free version + Pro plans from around $49.50/year for two sites up to ~$299.50/year for agency licences): packs the complete installation — files, database, configuration — into an installer package that you run in the new location. A very transparent, comprehensible step-by-step process that is popular with developers who move between servers manually.
WP Migrate (formerly WP Migrate DB Pro; a subscription model, plans from around $49/year Basic to $219/year Premier): the name reveals its origin — the tool comes from database migration and remains developer-centric to this day. Its strength lies in targeted database search-and-replace operations between local → staging → production, including WP-CLI integration for automation.
Comparison at a glance
| Criterion | All-in-One WP Migration | Duplicator | WP Migrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | €0 (free tier) | €0 (free tier) | €0 (Lite version, limited) |
| Target audience | Beginner to advanced | Developer / experienced admin | Developer / agency |
| Cloud export options | Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, S3 (premium extensions) | Amazon S3, Google Drive, Dropbox (Pro) | No — focused on a direct server-to-server connection |
| Database search and replace | Yes, automatically on import | Yes, in the installer process | Yes — a core function, very granular |
| Size limits in the free tier | 512 MB import (export unlimited) | No hard limit, but impractical on very large sites without a cloud destination | The Lite version is heavily limited, barely usable in practice |
| CLI/automation | No (only partial scheduling via Premium) | Limited (Pro) | Yes — full WP-CLI integration |
| Learning curve | Very shallow | Shallow to medium | Medium to steep |
All-in-One WP Migration — my recommendation for the occasional move
Strengths: No other tool makes the complete export-import workflow so simple. One click creates a single export file with files, database and configuration; one click on the target site imports it — domain search-and-replace runs automatically alongside. In my training sessions I often show this tool first, because even less technically confident participants understand the process immediately.
Weaknesses: The 512 MB import limit in the free tier catches you out faster than you think — even a medium-sized image gallery bursts it. For larger sites you need the paid Unlimited extension or the full premium package. CLI automation is almost entirely absent; the tool is designed for manual individual migrations, not recurring deploy workflows.
When to choose All-in-One WP Migration: you move a site occasionally — a new host, a new domain, a one-off clone for a test. You want the process done in under ten minutes without dealing with servers, FTP or database tools.
Duplicator — the transparent route for manual server moves
Strengths: Duplicator shows you exactly what happens at every step — scanning the installation, creating the package, generating the installer script. Anyone who understands what runs in the background (database dump, file archive, configuration file) feels well looked after with Duplicator. The installer script runs directly on the target server and handles the database import and search-and-replace automatically — ideal when you switch between two hosting environments via FTP/SSH without both sides needing to be reachable at the same time.
Weaknesses: No native cloud destination in the free tier — you upload the package and installer manually. Automation and scheduling only exist from the Pro version, and even then the workflow is geared more towards "create a package, install it elsewhere" than towards ongoing CI/CD pipelines.
When to choose Duplicator: you migrate manually between two servers, clone a site for a staging copy, or need a comprehensible, documented migration process with no cloud dependency. Developers who dislike the loss of control of a "black box solution" like to reach for this one.
WP Migrate — the database specialist for developers
Strengths: WP Migrate was originally built for the problem the other tools only solve incidentally: cleanly synchronising database URLs, serialisations and prefixes between environments without re-exporting the entire site every time. With wp-cli integration, a local → staging → production workflow can be fully scripted and built into deploy pipelines. Push/pull functions synchronise only the database, media or theme files as needed — exactly what a team deploying several times a week requires.
Weaknesses: The learning curve is the steepest of the three tools. Without a basic understanding of WordPress database structure and serialisation, WP Migrate quickly becomes overwhelming. For a one-off complete move it is overkill — the other two tools get there faster.
When to choose WP Migrate: you work in a team with clearly separated environments (local/staging/production), deploy regularly and want to automate the process or integrate it into a CI/CD system. It is also worth the investment in the workflow for agencies looking after many client sites with a similar setup.
Do you want not just to read about a WordPress move but to do one live — including the stumbling blocks that appear in no guide? In my online course I move a complete site to a new server together with you, step by step. → To the online course
Direct comparison: the details that count in the decision
| Feature | All-in-One WP Migration | Duplicator | WP Migrate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-file export | Yes — core function | Yes (package + installer) | No, modular export |
| Automatic domain replacement | Yes | Yes | Yes, configurable very granularly |
| Push/pull between environments | No | No | Yes — core function |
| WP-CLI support | No | Limited (Pro) | Yes, complete |
| Multisite support | Premium | Pro | Premier plan |
| Migrate theme/plugin files separately | No, everything in the package | No, everything in the package | Yes, individually selectable |
| Scheduled/automated migrations | No | Limited (Pro) | Yes, via CLI scripts |
| Team/multi-user workflow | No | No | Yes (higher plans) |
The pattern is unambiguous: All-in-One WP Migration and Duplicator think in complete packages — one site, one export, one import. WP Migrate thinks in individual, selectively synchronisable components — exactly what a recurring deploy workflow needs.
Prices compared (as of 2026)
| Plugin | Free tier | Pro entry price | Price for agencies/more sites |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-in-One WP Migration | 512 MB import limit | ~$69/year (Unlimited extension) | up to ~$199/year (full premium package including cloud extensions) |
| Duplicator | Basic function without a cloud destination | ~$49.50/year (2 sites, Personal) | up to ~$299.50/year (Elite, agency) |
| WP Migrate | Lite version, heavily limited | ~$49/year (Basic, 1 site) | up to ~$219/year (Premier, unlimited + multisite) |
All three providers tier by number of websites or feature scope. With All-in-One WP Migration the single Unlimited extension is often worthwhile instead of the full package, if you only want to shed the size limit and do not need cloud export. With WP Migrate the higher plan only pays off once you genuinely look after several sites as a team.
Who is each one suited to?
The beginner with an occasional move: All-in-One WP Migration free or the Unlimited extension. You might move once a year, need no automation, but want to be sure you forget nothing. The one-click workflow removes exactly that worry.
The solopreneur with regular staging→live deploys: here it gets interesting — pure one-click copying is no longer enough, because you do not want to upload the entire site again every time just because text or database content has changed. Duplicator Pro as a selective tool for larger structural changes, combined with occasional manual database reconciliation, is often the pragmatic middle path — before WP Migrate genuinely pays off.
The developer or agency with a CLI workflow: WP Migrate, without detour. The WP-CLI integration can be built into existing deploy scripts, and push/pull functions save enormous time across several client projects compared with repeated complete exports.
My conclusion
For a one-off or occasional move, All-in-One WP Migration remains my first recommendation — no tool makes the process more straightforward, and the free tier is already sufficient for many smaller sites. Duplicator is the right choice when you want to follow the process step by step or move manually between servers via FTP/SSH without depending on a cloud connection. WP Migrate pays off as soon as migration is no longer a one-off event for you but a recurring part of your development workflow — then the steeper learning curve quickly repays itself.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a migration plugin and a backup plugin?
A backup plugin secures your site on an ongoing schedule so you can restore quickly in an emergency. A migration plugin transfers the site completely to a new location once. The tools in this article can technically be repurposed as backups, but they are not built for it. For ongoing backups, read my article UpdraftPlus vs. BackWPup vs. Duplicator.
Is the free version of All-in-One WP Migration enough for my site?
If your uploads plus database stay under 512 MB: yes. Check in advance via the folder size in your hosting panel or by FTP. Larger sites need the Unlimited extension.
Can I also create a local development environment with Duplicator?
Yes, that is one of the main use cases. You create a package of the live site and install it locally via the installer — including automatic domain replacement to localhost or your local development URL.
Do I need WP Migrate if I only switch between staging and live occasionally?
Not necessarily. For occasional switches, All-in-One WP Migration or Duplicator are usually enough. WP Migrate only pays off when you want to synchronise or automate several times a week.
Do the three tools also work with multisite installations?
Yes, all three support multisite — but each only in the higher plans (Premium/Pro/Premier). Before buying, explicitly check multisite compatibility for the licence tier you choose.
What happens to plugin licences during a migration?
Paid plugins with a domain-bound licence (some page builder or form plugins, for example) often have to be reactivated manually after the move. That is independent of the migration tool you choose — note down all active premium licences before moving.
You will find an overview of all my WordPress tool comparisons in the tool comparisons overview.
If you would rather go through your next move in a structured way with me than improvise — including the typical pitfalls with DNS, SSL and database prefixes — my online course is the direct route. → To the online course
Image source, featured & inline: illustrations created specifically in the pletzenauer design (no stock photos).
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