How to Migrate a Charity Site from Squarespace to Hostinger WordPress

Updated 2026-06-26 · Hosting Reviews

Why Migrate a Charity Site from Squarespace to Hostinger?

Running a nonprofit online requires flexibility, low cost, and the ability to add donation widgets, volunteer sign‑ups, and event calendars. Squarespace is great for quick builds, but its platform limits plugin use and can get pricey as traffic grows. Moving to Hostinger’s WordPress hosting gives you full control, scalable resources, and a budget‑friendly plan that starts at about $3/month. The process is straightforward, and the extra features help you tell your story and collect donations more efficiently.

What You Need Before You Start

• Domain name – you can keep your existing Squarespace domain or buy a new one through Hostinger’s domain service.
• Hostinger account – choose a WordPress hosting plan (shared, cloud, or VPS). Shared plans are perfect for most nonprofits and begin around $3/month; cloud and VPS plans start near $10/month and scale with traffic.
• WordPress theme – pick a nonprofit‑friendly theme that supports donation plugins (e.g., Astra, OceanWP).
• Backup of your Squarespace content – export the site’s pages, images, and blog posts via Squarespace’s built‑in export tool.
• Basic design assets – logos, color palette, and copy for key pages (About, Mission, Donate).

Step‑by‑Step Migration Process

1. Set up Hostinger hosting: Sign up, select a WordPress plan, and let Hostinger install WordPress for you with a one‑click wizard.
2. Move the domain: If you want to keep your old domain, update its nameservers to Hostinger’s. If you’re buying a new domain, point it to the Hostinger nameservers right away.
3. Export Squarespace content: In Squarespace, go to Settings → Advanced → Import / Export and download the .xml file.
4. Import to WordPress: In your WordPress dashboard, go to Tools → Import, install the WordPress importer, and upload the .xml file. Follow prompts to assign authors and import media.
5. Choose and install a nonprofit theme: Navigate to Appearance → Themes, search for “nonprofit” or “charity,” and activate your chosen theme.
6. Add essential plugins: Install a donation plugin (GiveWP, Charitable), a volunteer signup form (WPForms), and an event calendar (The Events Calendar). Hostinger’s free SSL and CDN will secure and speed up the site.
7. Rebuild pages and menus: Use the WordPress editor to tweak layouts, add images, and set up navigation. Pay attention to mobile responsiveness.
8. Test donation flow: Create a test donation using the plugin’s sandbox mode to ensure payments go through and receipts are generated.
9. Launch: Once everything looks good, point your domain to the new WordPress installation and publish.

Choosing the Right Hosting Plan for Your Nonprofit

Hostinger offers three main WordPress hosting options. Here’s a quick cheat sheet:

• Shared Hosting – $3–$6/month. Ideal for small charities with modest traffic. Includes free SSL, automatic backups, and 1‑click WordPress install.
• Cloud Hosting – $10–$15/month. Adds more CPU, RAM, and bandwidth, plus auto‑scaling for sudden spikes (e.g., during fundraising campaigns).
• VPS Hosting – $15–$25/month. Full root access and the ability to run custom scripts or advanced security tools, useful for larger organizations or those wanting to host a custom donation platform.

Renewal rates are typically higher than the introductory offers, so factor that into your budget planning.

Speed, Security, and Compliance for Charities

• Hostinger’s servers run on the latest Litespeed software, giving fast page loads even on shared plans.
• Every plan includes a free SSL certificate, which is essential for secure donation transactions and for passing Google’s security ranking.
• Automatic daily backups keep your content safe. For extra peace of mind, set up a manual backup schedule every 48 hours.
• GDPR and PCI‑DSS compliance are built into the platform, so you can focus on your mission rather than legal hoops.

Cost‑Effective Ways to Keep the Site Running

Nonprofits often operate on tight budgets. Here are a few tricks to reduce monthly spend:

• Use the free WordPress themes and plugins whenever possible; only upgrade to premium when you need advanced features.
• Take advantage of Hostinger’s bundled domain and hosting discount if you register a new domain.
• Schedule plugin and theme updates during low‑traffic periods to avoid downtime.
• Leverage the built‑in CDN to serve images globally, cutting bandwidth costs.

Final Checklist Before You Go Live

1. Verify all pages load correctly on desktop and mobile.
2. Run a test donation through the live payment gateway.
3. Check that all forms (contact, volunteer sign‑up) submit and email notifications work.
4. Set up Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel for tracking visitor behavior.
5. Submit a sitemap to Google Search Console to improve indexing.

FAQ

Can I keep my existing Squarespace domain when moving to Hostinger?

Yes. Just point the domain’s nameservers to Hostinger’s. The domain remains registered with your current registrar, but all traffic will resolve to your new WordPress site.

Will my donation records transfer automatically?

No. Donation data is stored in Squarespace’s proprietary system. You’ll need to manually export any existing donation history or recreate it in your new plugin. Some donation plugins offer migration tools, but they usually require a bit of manual work.

How long does the migration take?

Typically 1–3 days. The export/import is quick, but rebuilding pages, testing forms, and adjusting SEO settings can add a few extra hours.