What Squarespace's export actually gives you
Squarespace includes a built-in export under Settings → Advanced → Import/Export that generates a WordPress-compatible XML file. It reliably carries over blog posts, pages, and basic content structure, which puts Squarespace ahead of Wix or Webflow on the content side of a migration.
What it does not carry over is any of the visual design: Squarespace's template CSS, section blocks, and responsive image handling are entirely left behind, since the export format is a content dump, not a design package. Expect to land on the default WordPress theme immediately after import.
Step 1: run the native content export
Start with content since it is the easy win here. Export from Squarespace, then import through WordPress's built-in importer, checking that categories, tags, and featured images all mapped correctly afterward.
- In Squarespace, go to Settings → Advanced → Import/Export and export to WordPress format
- In WordPress, go to Tools → Import and run the WordPress importer plugin
- Upload the exported XML file
- Map authors and confirm attachment imports
- Spot-check a handful of posts for formatting issues
Step 2: rebuild the design
Because the design does not transfer, you need a WordPress theme that matches (or improves on) your Squarespace look. A page builder plugin works if you are open to a refresh, since you will be recreating sections from scratch regardless.
If you want the existing Squarespace design preserved exactly, a browser-based capture tool like Themify can read the live Squarespace page in the browser and generate a matching WordPress theme, including the section-block layout and image handling, without you needing to rebuild anything visually by hand.
Step 3: reconcile content with the new theme
Once both the content (from the XML import) and the theme (rebuilt or captured) are in place, go through each page and confirm the imported content displays correctly inside the new template, since section-based content in Squarespace does not always map cleanly to WordPress's post content field.
- Check gallery blocks display correctly in the new theme
- Confirm embedded video and audio blocks still play
- Verify custom fonts from Squarespace are re-linked or replaced
Step 4: handle redirects and SEO
Squarespace URLs are usually clean and simple, which makes mapping redirects easier than with some other builders. Compare your old URL list from Google Search Console to the new WordPress permalinks structure and set up 301 redirects for anything that changed, using the Redirection plugin.
Update your XML sitemap and resubmit it in Search Console right after launch, then monitor the Coverage report over the following weeks for any unexpected 404s.
Step 5: test before DNS cutover
Test the fully assembled site, content plus theme, on a staging URL before pointing your domain at the new host. Check forms, navigation menus, and PHP memory limits if your captured theme includes large embedded assets from the original Squarespace site.
Realistic timeline and cost
Content migration itself can be done in an afternoon thanks to the native export. The design-rebuild step is what determines total project length: a manual rebuild with a page builder can take several days, while capturing the existing design with Themify (plans from $9/mo for 10 conversions, with a free trial conversion) typically takes minutes, leaving the bulk of remaining time for content reconciliation and redirect testing.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Squarespace have a built-in WordPress export?
- Yes. Under Settings → Advanced → Import/Export, Squarespace can export content directly in a WordPress-compatible XML format, which covers blog posts and pages but not design.
- Will my Squarespace design come over automatically?
- No. The native export only moves content. You need to either rebuild the design manually with a page builder or use a capture tool that reads the live rendered page to reconstruct a matching theme.
- How do I keep my SEO rankings during this migration?
- Map every old URL to a 301 redirect before DNS cutover and resubmit your sitemap in Google Search Console after launch. Squarespace's typically clean URL structure makes this mapping easier than with some other builders.
- How long does a Squarespace to WordPress migration take overall?
- Content migration is often done within a day thanks to the native export. Total project time depends mostly on how the design gets rebuilt, ranging from a day with a capture tool to a week or more with a manual rebuild.