How to Migrate from WordPress to Payload CMS: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Are you tired of WordPress limitations holding back your website's performance? Struggling with outdated plugins, security vulnerabilities, or the need for a more modern, developer-friendly CMS? You're not alone. Many businesses are making the switch to Payload CMS—a headless, TypeScript-first content management system that offers the flexibility and scalability modern websites demand.

At Techseria, we've helped over 100+ clients navigate complex migrations, and we understand the challenges you face. That's why we've developed a free utility tool that takes the guesswork out of your WordPress to Payload CMS migration planning.

Why Consider Migrating to Payload CMS?

Before diving into the technical steps, let's address the elephant in the room: Why should you consider leaving WordPress behind?

WordPress Pain Points:

• Security vulnerabilities from outdated plugins
• Performance bottlenecks with heavy themes
• Limited customisation without extensive development
• Maintenance overhead and compatibility issues
• Scalability challenges as your business grows

Payload CMS Benefits:

• Modern TypeScript architecture for better performance and security
• Headless flexibility allowing you to use any frontend framework
• Built-in REST and GraphQL APIs for seamless integrations
• Developer-friendly with version control and modern deployment workflows
• Better scalability for growing businesses

What You'll Need Before Starting

Our migration utility has been designed to work seamlessly on most development environments. Here's what you'll need:

System Requirements

• Linux OS (Ubuntu, CentOS, or similar)
• Node.js 20 or higher
• PHP (for accessing your WordPress installation)
• MySQL or MariaDB database access

Don't worry if you're not technical—our team at Techseria can handle the entire migration process for you.

Step 1: Install the Migration Estimation Tool

First, let's verify your Node.js version and install our utility tool:

Check Your Node.js Version

node -v

You should see version 20 or higher. If not, update Node.js before proceeding.

Install the Techseria Migration Utility

npm install -g ts-wp-payload-migration

This installs our globally accessible migration analysis tool that will scan your WordPress installation and provide detailed migration estimates.

Step 2: Navigate to Your WordPress Installation

Next, you'll need to access your WordPress document root directory:

cd /var/www/html/

Replace /var/www/html/wordpress/ with your actual WordPress installation path.

Step 3: Analyse Your WordPress Site

Now comes the magic. Our utility will comprehensively analyse your WordPress installation:

ts-wp-payload-migration analyze

What Happens During Analysis?

Our tool performs a deep scan of your WordPress site, examining:

• Content structure (posts, pages, custom post types)
• Database schema and relationships
• Installed plugins and their complexity
• Theme dependencies and customisations
• Media files and attachment structures
• User roles and permissions

The analysis process typically takes 2-5 minutes, depending on your site's size and complexity.

Step 4: Review Your Migration Report

Once the analysis completes, you'll find detailed reports in the newly created reports/ folder:

cd reports/

You'll see several files, including:

• HTML report with visual effort estimation
• JSON data files with technical details

Next Steps: Planning Your Migration

Based on your report, you have several options:

DIY Approach

If you have development resources and a low-complexity site, you may be able to handle the migration internally, leveraging the insights from our analysis.

Partner with Techseria

For most businesses, partnering with our experienced team ensures:

• Zero downtime during migration
• Data integrity guaranteed
• SEO preservation to maintain search rankings
• Performance optimisation from day one
• Ongoing support post-migration

Why Choose Techseria for Your Migration?

As a Microsoft Solution Partner for Data & AI with 10+ years of experience, we bring unique advantages to your migration project:

Guaranteed Rapid Deployment

Our pre-vetted talent pools and agile delivery frameworks can establish your migration team in weeks, not months, thereby accelerating your launch timeline by up to 40%.

Transparent, Predictable Pricing

We offer modular, all-inclusive packages with clear service definitions and no hidden costs, allowing you to forecast with confidence.

Security-First Approach

We embed industry-standard security controls and conduct regular compliance audits throughout every phase of the migration, ensuring security is a built-in feature rather than an afterthought.

Ready to Start Your Migration?

Don't let an outdated CMS hold your business back. Our free migration analysis tool gives you the insights you need to make an informed decision, and our expert team is ready to make your transition seamless.