Migrating from Wordpress to Craft CMS

Migrating your site is often the hardest part of any CMS change. The thought of uprooting your entire website, wrangling with content structures, and rebuilding functionality can feel overwhelming. But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be.

At MadeByShape, we specialise in making migrations not just manageable but (dare we say it) enjoyable. We’ve seen it all. And we’ve made it our mission to help WordPress users migrate seamlessly to Craft CMS—a platform that’s clean, intuitive, secure, and built for developers and content editors alike.

So let’s dive into why migrating to Craft CMS is worth it, how we’ll guide you through the process, and why we really believe Craft CMS is the only CMS you should be opting for.

Craft CMS is a content management system that prioritises flexibility, performance, and ease of use. Built for developers but equally loved by content editors, Craft doesn’t force you into a bloated, one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, it gives you the tools to create a custom digital experience tailored to your exact needs. It’s a great Wordpress alternative, trust us.

Migrating might sound scary, but with the right approach, it’s smoother than you think. Moving from WordPress involves more than exporting and importing data. WordPress content often includes:

• Custom post types

• ACF fields

• Gutenberg blocks

• Categories and tags

• Media and embedded assets

Each of these components must be carefully mapped to Craft’s structure to avoid data loss or inconsistencies.

Enter wp-import: Simplifying Migration

wp-import, a new command-line interface (CLI) tool for Craft CMS, addresses these challenges head-on. Designed to analyse and replicate WordPress content schemas, it enables seamless migration of users, posts, pages, categories, tags, media, and custom taxonomies. Here’s what makes it stand out:

1. Broad Support: Handles nearly all ACF field types, including Google Map fields when paired with Google Maps or Ether Maps plugins.

2. Gutenberg Compatibility: Maps Gutenberg blocks to HTML or nested entries within CKEditor fields.

3. Custom Post Types: Easily imports complex data structures.

4. No Configuration Required: A single command transfers your content to Craft CMS.
   
   

Getting Started

The wp-import command is available as a Composer package for Craft CMS 5.5 or later. Setting it up is straightforward:

1. Add the package to your Craft CMS project.

2. Follow the setup instructions provided in the documentation.

3. Run the command to migrate your WordPress content seamlessly.
   
   

Building from Here

Once your content is in Craft, the journey isn’t over. Unlike WordPress, Craft doesn’t offer prebuilt themes or a visual layout editor. To bridge this gap, a new starter project has been developed specifically for WordPress users. Features include:

• Familiar "Posts" and "Pages" sections.

• CKEditor for managing body content.

• Verbb-powered commenting functionality.

• A fully operational front end with Twig templates.

Additionally, a knowledge base article has been created to guide WordPress developers in understanding Craft’s ecosystem. From using the WordPress starter project to navigating core Craft CMS concepts, these resources ensure a smoother transition.