How to Transfer a Domain from GoDaddy to Wix

Plenty of website owners face the problem of transferring their site from one platform to another when they find a new, more reliable option with a more intuitive interface and better-packed advanced feature set.

The same can happen to GoDaddy (read my review) users if they come to the conclusion they need simplified website management along with the powerful tools provided at a competitive monthly price.

If you are one, you will definitely seek the most straightforward way of migrating a domain from GoDaddy to Wix (my review) without applying without applying to a specialist.

Although there’s no such button as “export to Wix” or a website export variant, it’s still comprehensible to move from GoDaddy, which won’t take more than an hour or two to complete.

What You Need to Have at Hand

Before we pass to the detailed description of the site migration, make sure you have the following stuff at hand:

A folder with all your essential media. For the sake of easy and quick site migration, you must have collected all the critical media files in one folder. This will involve both images and videos.
Make sure your GoDaddy website is open and ready for migration.
A document for external links. If your GoDaddy site carries links to external sources such as a custom podcast feed, embedded links to YouTube, an external blog RSS feed, etc., save them to a spreadsheet file or text.

Wix is an all-in-one solution with a simple drag-and-drop interface, proving it an excellent choice for no coders, while its AI-powered design engine, Wix ADI, generates a whole site from a draft based on the client’s answers to some basic questions.

Also, aside from being richly packed with features and widgets, Wix has an extended App Market with brand and third-party apps like pricing tables, real estate listings, Google Sheets integration, and so much more.

Over 2000 completely customizable and mobile-adaptable templates are available, a solid set of eCommerce features are suggested, and the blogging system is comprehensive, just like the marketing and SEO tools. In contrast, the pricing remains among the most competitive ones in the market.

So, as you can judge, there are many reasons why people prefer to migrate their domains to Wix from GoDaddy.

What Should You Do Before Starting The GoDaddy Domain Transfer

Before migrating your active GoDaddy site to Wix, you must start a site with the latter. I recommend opening your current GoDaddy site in one tab and Wix on the other to work on both simultaneously.

For this, you need to pass through several phases.

Registration with Wix

The first several steps are as follows:

Click “Get Started Today” to insert your valid email address and create a password.
Answer the questions about the sort of website you want to set up (you can choose from the several suggested niches, although Wix covers many more of them).
Name your website (it can be changed later).
Choose those features from the offered list that you already have on your GoDaddy website. This may be an online store, a blog, a newsletter sign-up form, etc. New features can be added later, too.

Building the Site

Now, it’s time to create a site from a template or start with an auto-generated one. Copy your active site on GoDaddy to Wix. Copying the site’s design is the first step in this phase.

Pick a template that best matches your GoDaddy website, and play with the colors to achieve a maximum resemblance (you can do this by copying the custom color code from the GoDaddy site and applying it in the Wix editor).

Read also: The Easiest Way to Create a Website

Note that Wix offers way more theme customization options, so your new site can fit your brand voice much better.

The same goes for fonts. The fonts you have used in your GoDaddy site (find them under the theme menu) can be perfectly transferred to Wix’s editor.

The Editing Process

Edit your website menu. A list of all your active pages can be found under the “Website,” while the available pages for adding in Wix are located in the Menus & Pages tab. You will definitely find the necessary pre-built pages. If you are unsure about them, simply add a blank page.

Transfer your GoDaddy site elements to Wix. For this, open the Wix editor, click the Plus sign, and pick up the elements you want to add to your new site. Unlike with GoDaddy, you don’t add sections but drag and drop elements. You will find a corresponding Wix element for almost all GoDaddy sections.

Also, there’s a Wix App Market with over 300 apps, in case you don’t find anything necessary built-in. Text can be added and enhanced through Text Settings to match your GoDaddy site.

Migrating an Online Store

If you have an online store on GoDaddy, you can transfer it to Wix during this phase. Open your GoDaddy dashboard and first click Store and then Manage Products. Once you have accessed it, choose all your products and click Export. GoDaddy will email you CSV files for all the products listed. Once you get them, open the Wix dashboard, choose Store Products, and click “Import.” Now, download the Wix CSV template.

Since GoDaddy and Wix templates are different, you may need to mess around with files in the spreadsheet editor to ensure the product, variant details, and price match Wix’s formatting. Once you have finished, confirm the actions with the “Import” button and pass it to upload the new CSV file.

Be aware that the more complex your Wix CSV is, the harder it will be to adapt. To facilitate the task, open both CSV files in Excel and copy over the information like the name, price, SKU, and inventory first, and then add extra details manually using Wix’s product editor.

Transferring Other Elements

According to the same principle, you can export other content types, like custom RSS feeds for blogs, and embed videos from those platforms you do in GoDaddy, like YouTube and Vimeo. Note that Wix holds useful apps, articles, and how-to guides on the search bar.

Moving a Domain Name from GoDaddy

Nevertheless, the process is even more straightforward if you have a running site on Wix and your purpose is simply to move your domain name.

It takes a couple of steps to complete. Here’s a brief instruction to abide by:

Prepare your GoDaddy domain for migration. To let Wix control your domain, it has to be unlocked first.
Get the authorization code. While being in the “Additional Settings” section, click the “Get authorization code”.
Start the transfer process on Wix. Once you get the EPP code, access your Wix account to proceed with domain migration. Go to the dashboard, click “Settings” > “Domains.” Then Click “Start Transfer” or “Transfer a domain you already own.” Now, it’s time to enter the domain name (full one) and click “Submit.”
Enter the authorization code you’ve got. Provide the EPP code and wait until Wix verifies it as the correct one and the domain name will be eligible for transfer.
Adjust domain name settings. Now you have to decide whether to preserve current domain settings (name servers, DNS etc.) or use those Wix offers by default. The latter option is recommended, if your website is hosted on Wix servers.
Make the payment (if needed). Domain transfers are frequently paid, so if Wix charges any fees for the service,follow the guidelines to complete the checkout process.
Confirm the transfer. After you complete the domain name transfer, you’ll get a confirmation email from GoDaddy. Click the link inside to approve the migration. This action will speed up the process. Otherwise, you will have to wait for about one week.
Wait for the transfer to complete. Watch your Wix dashboard (the “Domains” section) to see the transfer status. Once completed, your domain will be fully managed through Wix. The next step is to connect it to your Wix website and manage DNS settings within Wix.

Normally, you must wait several business days before the transfer is completed (1-3 days in average). Mind that to be applicable for migration, your domain must be at least 60 days old.

Read also: How To Create a Website for Free with Your Own Domain Name

Fees and Charges

Wix doesn’t issue any money for domain name transfers. When completing this procedure, ICANN regulations require domain renewal for at least one more year. This cost is fixed across domain registrars.

If you use a free domain voucher from Wix (it is included with premium plans and is viable for 2 months) to register a new domain, you can get it at no cost. This does not refer to domain transfer. Moving a domain to Wix generally requires you to pay for a 1-year renewal, even if you have a premium plan. The renewal cost for a .com domain, for example, constitutes $14.95 per year. If you opt for multi-year renewals, Wix offers a system of discounts. The price of a .com domain will cost $13.95 per year, while that for 3 years will cost $12.95 per year.

Also, adding a domain to your Wix website is a pretty simple process. After all, Wix was created with all users in mind, irrespective of their tech knowledge and experience.

Final Thoughts

Transferring your domain from GoDaddy to Wix seems quite a complex task until you dive into details. With a clear realization of all stages of the process and thorough preparation, the switch can be completed in a few hours.

First, you need to decide whether Wix is a good alternative to GoDaddy (in most cases, it is), taking into account your website specialization and further expectations from the transfer process.

Then you have to create a new Wix account, preferably with a premium plan as it comes with a free domain voucher. In this case, you will be able to register a brand new domain. Have one already?

Then Wix will make it possible to get a 1-year renewal, even if you upgrade to a paid plan.

Finally, don’t forget to replicate your website design and content as well as to import other data (product info, links etc.) when required.

This will help you get a ready-made website hosted with Wix.