How to migrate to DreamHost
Moving an existing site to DreamHost — what they handle for you, what you'll do yourself, and the safe order to do it in.
Pre-Migration: Know the Stack
DreamHost’s Shared Starter runs on traditional shared hosting (no managed WordPress or VPS here). You get 50GB storage and free SSL, but no cPanel — their custom panel handles DNS, databases, and file management. Back up your existing site fully; no automated migration tools are mentioned in the data pack.
DNS Prep: Lower TTL Early
Their support channels (24/7 live chat + tickets) can clarify DNS settings, but the process is manual. Reduce your domain’s TTL to 300 seconds at least 24h before migration. DreamHost’s datacenters are US-only (Ashburn and Hillsboro), so global audiences should expect the same 217ms TTFB we benchmarked.
File Transfer: Direct or DIY
No free migration service is listed. Upload files via SFTP or their panel’s file manager. Create a new MySQL database through their interface — no phpMyAdmin access noted. Test the site using their temporary URL (e.g., http://yourdomain.dreamhosters.com) before DNS cutover.
Post-Migration: Validate and Monitor
After switching DNS, verify SSL issuance (free but manual setup). Uptime is consistent (99.44% across all tracked periods), but monitor fully loaded time — our test hit 2.06s, which may lag for media-heavy sites. The 97-day money-back window allows stress-testing performance.
Effort level: Manual, suited for devs comfortable with basic server ops. No hand-holding, but support can troubleshoot specifics.