How to Migrate from Joomla to WordPress
Moving from Joomla to WordPress takes four kinds of work: moving content, replacing extensions, mapping every URL and testing before launch. Importer plugins handle much of the content. The URL map and redirects protect your search visibility, and they are where most migrations go wrong.
Evidence labels on this page. Sourced comes from the platform’s own documentation or pricing page, checked October 5, 2026. Editorial is ShoutEx judgement. Not yet tested means the check is on our published test plan with no result yet. Method: how we evaluate platforms.
How do you migrate from Joomla to WordPress?
- Inventory content, menus, users and extensions.
- Set up WordPress on a staging site with your theme.
- Import articles, categories, images and tags with an importer plugin.
- Replace each Joomla extension with a WordPress plugin or custom feature.
- Map every old URL to a new one and write 301 redirects.
- Test content, forms, redirects and tracking on staging.
- Launch, submit the new sitemap and monitor for 8 to 12 weeks.
Should you migrate at all? Compare first in Joomla vs WordPress and the main platform comparison. Moving from Drupal instead? See Drupal to WordPress.
What should be in the content inventory?
List every URL that exists or gets traffic: articles, categories, menu items, tags, contact pages, downloads and any extension pages such as forms or directories. Pull URLs from your Joomla sitemap, Search Console, analytics and a site crawl. Mark each one keep, merge, redirect or remove.
Record it in the URL-mapping template, which has columns for traffic, links, action and the new URL.
What can importer plugins move?
The free FG Joomla to WordPress plugin moves sections, categories, posts, images, media and tags. Its premium version adds users with passwords, menus, SEO metadata, URL redirects and support for extensions such as K2. Whatever tool you use, check a sample of migrated posts for broken images, internal links and formatting.
| Joomla item | WordPress equivalent | How it moves |
|---|---|---|
| Articles | Posts or pages | Importer |
| Categories | Categories | Importer |
| Tags | Tags | Importer |
| Menus | Menus | Importer (premium) or rebuild |
| Users | Users | Importer (premium) or re-invite |
| Extensions | Plugins or custom code | Rebuild |
| Template | Theme | Rebuild |
How do you map URLs and set up redirects?
Map each old URL to the most relevant new URL and redirect it with a server-side 301. Joomla URLs often include index.php, category IDs or article IDs, so write rules for each pattern. Google’s redirect guidance recommends server-side permanent redirects; avoid redirect chains.
# .htaccess on the new WordPress site (Apache), placed above the WordPress rules # Old Joomla URLs (with or without index.php) to new WordPress permalinks RewriteEngine On RewriteRule ^index\.php/blog/12-route-planning-guide$ /blog/route-planning-guide/ [R=301,L] RewriteRule ^blog/12-route-planning-guide$ /blog/route-planning-guide/ [R=301,L] RewriteRule ^index\.php/component/content/article/34$ /pricing/ [R=301,L] RewriteRule ^about-us$ /about/ [R=301,L]
No URL without a destination.
Every old URL needs a new home or a deliberate decision to let it go.
What should you test before and after launch?
- Every old URL in the map returns a 301 to the right page, then a 200.
- Titles, descriptions and canonical tags carried over.
- Forms, search and downloads work.
- Analytics and conversion tracking fire.
- The new XML sitemap is submitted in Search Console.
- Clicks and impressions are watched weekly; see the full migration SEO checklist.
Joomla 5 receives security fixes until October 12, 2027, according to the Joomla roadmap, so you have time to plan properly. Sites on Joomla 3 or 4 should move sooner.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Joomla to WordPress migration take?
It depends on content volume, extensions and design. Small sites can move in days of work; sites with many extensions take longer.
Will I lose SEO when moving from Joomla to WordPress?
Some short-term movement is normal. Mapping every URL with 301 redirects and keeping metadata limits the loss.
Is there a plugin to migrate Joomla to WordPress?
Yes. FG Joomla to WordPress moves posts, categories, images and tags for free; its premium version adds users, menus, metadata and redirects.
Do I need to keep my Joomla site running?
Keep a backup and a staging copy until the migration is verified. Turn off the live Joomla site after launch.
How long should redirects stay in place?
Google advises keeping them for as long as possible, generally at least one year.
Can I keep the same URLs?
Sometimes, by matching WordPress permalinks to old paths. Otherwise, redirect every changed URL.
Sources & further reading
Prices, plan limits and support dates change. These first-party sources let you check the facts on this page, last checked October 5, 2026.