Website migration to another server
Website migration means moving your website's files, database and email to another server or hosting provider – and, if needed, to a new domain or a newer CMS version, such as from Joomla 3, 4 or 5 to Joomla 6. Saitai.lt first tests the website on the new server and only then changes the DNS records, setting up 301 redirects for any URLs that change. A simple migration to Saitai.lt hosting costs €40–80, and a migration combined with an upgrade (e.g. to Joomla 6) from €299.
In short
- Price
- from €40: a simple migration to Saitai.lt hosting – €40–80; with an upgrade (e.g. to Joomla 6) – from €299; no VAT is added
- Timeline
- to another server – 1–3 working days; Joomla 4 or 5 → 6 – from 5 working days; Joomla 3 → 6 – 10–25 working days
- What we move
- files, the database, mailboxes with their emails, DNS records, the SSL certificate
- URLs
- kept; any that change get 301 redirects to the matching new pages
- Experience
- 18 years with Joomla; we upgraded our own website to Joomla 6 and moved it to new hosting
- Warranty
- 12 months on the work done
- Payment
- 50% deposit, balance after the migration
- Where we work
- remotely, all over Lithuania; meetings in Vilnius by appointment, arranged by phone
Who it’s for
- You are changing hosting provider because your current one is getting more expensive, is slow or no longer supports newer PHP versions.
- Your website runs on Joomla 3, 4 or 5, and the admin area keeps prompting you to upgrade to Joomla 6.
- You are changing your domain or company name and want the old URLs to lead to the new pages.
- You are replacing an old website with a new one and don't want to lose the visitors who arrive at the old URLs from Google.
- You are taking over a website from a previous developer, and the files, email and domain are scattered across different providers.
When it’s not the right fit
- Your website was made with a website builder (e.g. Wix or Squarespace). Its files can't be moved to another server – the website can only be rebuilt on another platform, keeping the URLs with 301 redirects.
- Your website is currently infected. Migrating an infected website would bring the malicious code along with it, so it needs cleaning first.
Included
What does website migration include?
Checking the current website
We check the CMS and PHP versions, plugins, email, DNS records and website URLs, so we know everything that has to work on the new server too.
Backup
Before the migration, we make a copy of the whole website and the database. The old server stays untouched until the new location has been tested.
Files, database and email
We move the website files, the database and mailboxes with their emails, and adapt the website configuration to the new server.
Testing before the DNS change
We review the website on the new server before changing the DNS: forms, search, the basket, the admin area. Only then do we point the domain to it.
SSL and HTTPS
We install an SSL certificate and make sure http and www URLs lead to the main https address with a single 301 redirect.
301 redirects
If the domain, CMS or URL structure changes, we map old URLs to new ones and set up a 301 redirect for every old URL.
Joomla upgrade to version 6
We upgrade Joomla 4 and 5 websites step by step, and migrate Joomla 3 websites with a new or adapted template. Everything is tested on a staging copy.
Monitoring after the migration
We check every URL in the sitemap, submit the sitemap in Search Console and collect a list of broken URLs for a month so we can redirect them.
Price
How much does website migration cost?
Price from
€40
A simple website migration to Saitai.lt hosting costs €40–80: we move the files, database and email, while the CMS version and URLs stay the same. A more complex migration, where the CMS is upgraded at the same time (e.g. to Joomla 6) or the code is adapted to a new PHP version, is a website upgrade – that costs from €299. We give the exact price after reviewing the website: it depends on the size of the website, the number of mailboxes, and whether the domain or URL structure changes.
Prices include all taxes – no VAT is added (we are not VAT-registered). The final price depends on the project: we write it and the timeline into the contract before work starts.
What the price depends on
- Where the website is moving to: Saitai.lt hosting or another provider.
- The size of the website: the volume of files, images and the database.
- How many mailboxes and emails need moving.
- Whether only the server changes, or also the domain, CMS version or URL structure.
- The CMS version: a Joomla 3 website takes more work than Joomla 4 or 5.
- Whether the website has unsupported plugins or custom code that needs adapting to a new PHP version.
- Whether you have access to your current hosting and domain, or it needs to be recovered.
Additional costs
- Hosting on the new server: from €60/year for a website, from €70/year for an online store or catalogue; for systems that need a virtual private server (VPS) – from €29/month.
- If the design or structure changes at the same time, that becomes a website redesign (from €299) or a new website (from €499).
Timeline
How long does website migration take?
Moving a website and email to another server usually takes 1–3 working days, and changed DNS records take effect across the internet within a few hours, occasionally up to a day. Upgrading a Joomla 4 or 5 website to Joomla 6 takes from 5 working days, and migrating from Joomla 3 takes 10–25 working days. The timeline starts once we receive the deposit and access details.
| Task | What's done | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Migration to another server | files, database, email, SSL, DNS | 1–3 working days |
| Migration to a new domain | plus 301 redirects for all old URLs, change of address in Search Console | depends on the number of URLs |
| Joomla 4 or 5 → 6 | core, template, extensions, page checks | from 5 working days |
| Joomla 3 → 6 | new or adapted template, replacing extensions, URL checks | 10–25 working days |
Process
How it works
- Assessment and quote1 working day
You tell us your website address and where you want to move it. We review the CMS, PHP version and email, and send you the price and timeline.
- Access and backup1 working day
Once we have access to your current hosting and domain, we make a copy of the whole website and the email.
- Migration or upgradedepends on scope
We move the website to the new server. If Joomla is being upgraded, we do the work on a separate copy and compare the pages with the original.
- Testing before the DNS change1 working day
We test the pages, forms, basket and email on the new server, and prepare a 301 redirect map if needed.
- DNS changea few hours
We change the DNS records when there are fewest visitors. The old server keeps running for a while so that no emails go missing.
- Post-migration checks and warranty12 months
We check every URL in the sitemap and monitor broken URLs for a month. For 12 months, we fix any bugs in our work free of charge.
Comparison
Migrate it yourself, through your hosting provider or with Saitai.lt?
| Criterion | You migrate it yourself | Your hosting provider's migration service | Migration with Saitai.lt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | your time | depends on the provider, sometimes free | to Saitai.lt hosting – from €40, with an upgrade – from €299 |
| What gets moved | whatever you know how to move | usually files and the database | files, database, email, DNS, SSL, redirects |
| Checking the website works | you do it yourself | depends on the provider | forms, basket, admin area, every URL in the sitemap |
| Changing the CMS or PHP version | risky without experience | usually not included | Joomla 3, 4, 5 → 6, adapting code to a new PHP version |
| 301 redirects when URLs change | you need to know the server settings | usually not included | a map of old and new URLs |
| Best for | a small website, if you know your way around hosting | a simple website with no email and no version change | company websites and online stores, where a mistake would be costly |
Examples
Our website and typical situations
Saitai.lt: Joomla 6 and new hosting
- Situation
- We upgraded our own website from Joomla 5.4 to Joomla 6 and moved it to new hosting. The template and page builder had been made for older versions, and on our working copy, even before the upgrade, every page showed a server error because a page builder update had not installed completely.
- Solution
- We reinstalled the page builder, tested the Joomla upgrade on a separate copy first and compared the key pages with the original. We prepared a 301 redirect map for the old URLs, and http and www addresses now lead to https with a single redirect.
- Result
- The website runs on Joomla 6.1: the text of the pages we checked matched the original word for word, and after the migration all 413 URLs in the sitemap respond without errors.
Changing hosting, email included
- Situation
- For example, a company is changing hosting provider, and every employee uses email on the company domain daily, so not a single email can be lost.
- Solution
- We move the website and mailboxes, test everything on the new server, change the DNS in the evening, and after the change, move across any emails that arrived on the old server in the meantime.
- Result
- The website and email on the new server, with no lost emails and no downtime visible to clients.
A new domain after a name change
- Situation
- For example, a company has changed its name and wants the website on a new domain, while the old domain stays the company's property.
- Solution
- We move the website to the new domain, set up a 301 redirect from every old URL to the matching new page, and notify Search Console of the change of address.
- Result
- Visitors and search engines following old links land on the right new pages, not just the home page.
Planning to change hosting or upgrade Joomla?
Send us your website address and where you want to move it. Within 1 working day, we'll send you the price and timeline and tell you what will need checking.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
A simple website migration to Saitai.lt hosting costs €40–80 when we move the files, database and email, and the CMS version and URLs stay the same. If Joomla also needs upgrading to version 6, or the code needs adapting to a new PHP version, that is a website upgrade – from €299. No VAT is added.
More
Related services
Hosting and domains
Website hosting with an SSL certificate – from €60/year, or from €70/year for online stores.
Joomla website development, upgrades and maintenance
18 years with Joomla: upgrades from version 3, 4 or 5 to Joomla 6 – from €299.
Technical SEO
If some pages have dropped out of the index or return a 404 error after a migration.
Website maintenance and support
So that your migrated website stays up to date and secure – from €29/month.
Enquiry
Get a migration quote within 1 working day
Give us your website address, your current hosting provider and where you want to move the website. If you also need a Joomla upgrade or a domain change, mention that too. We work in English by email, chat and messengers; calls by arrangement. We also speak Lithuanian and Russian. Tel. +370 670 99265.
Phone / WhatsApp / Viber:
+370 670 99265
Email:
info@saitai.lt
We reply within 1 working day. Meetings in Vilnius are by appointment only – please call first.
