How to migrate to Hetzner
Moving an existing site to Hetzner — what they handle for you, what you'll do yourself, and the safe order to do it in.
Migration Prep: Know the Specs First
Hetzner’s entry-level CX22 ($4.59/mo) gives you 40GB storage and 4GB RAM — enough for a basic site, but check your current disk usage. The CX32 ($7.49/mo) doubles both (80GB storage, 8GB RAM) if you need headroom. No free SSL or renewal pricing is listed, so factor in potential costs.
No Hand-Holding: This is a DIY Migration
The data pack shows no free migration service, control panel, or managed support. You’ll need to:
- Back up everything (files + database) locally
- Lower DNS TTL to 300 seconds (5 mins) pre-migration
- Set up the VPS manually (no cPanel/Plesk — raw server access)
Test Before Cutting Over
With a 147ms TTFB and 995ms fully loaded time (desktop), performance is decent but not elite. Spin up a temporary URL (e.g., IP/~yoursite) to verify:
- Database connections work
- Permalinks/redirects aren’t broken
- No mixed-content warnings (since SSL isn’t free)
Final DNS Cutover + Uptime Reality
Once tested, update DNS. Hetzner’s 99.86% uptime (30/90/365d) means ~1hr of downtime monthly — acceptable for the price, but not "five nines". Monitor closely post-migration; without managed support, you’re on the hook for fixes.