How to Migrate from WordPress to Strapi a Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction to Migration

Today's businesses need websites that are flexible, fast, and easy to scale. While WordPress is a popular choice, it has limitations. Strapi, an open-source headless CMS, provides a better way to manage content with its API-first approach. This guide will walk you through migrating from WordPress to Strapi seamlessly.

Why Strapi Beats WordPress

Strapi gives you several big advantages:

• Open-Source Freedom – Fully customizable and community-driven

• Better APIs – Use REST or GraphQL to deliver your content anywhere

• Works With Any Frontend – Pair with Next.js, React, Vue.js, or others

• Your Choice of Hosting – Run it yourself or use cloud services

• Faster Loading – Lighter system means quicker response times

• Build Content Your Way – Create exactly the content types you need

• Use Any Database – Works with PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MySQL, or SQLite

• Keep Everything Secure – Strong user permissions and authentication built in

Why Open Source Matters

Strapi is 100% open-source, giving developers full control over their projects. Unlike proprietary CMS platforms, open-source software means no licensing fees, complete flexibility, and a large community constantly improving the platform. With Strapi, you can customize every aspect of your content management system to match your unique needs.

Pre-Migration Checklist

Back up everything – Save your WordPress database and all media files

Map out your content – List all your posts, pages, categories, and how they connect 

Create a test site – Try the migration in a safe environment first 

Find replacements – Note which WordPress plugins you'll need to replace in Strapi

Setting Up Strapi CMS

Install Strapi:

npx create-strapi-app my-project --quickstart

• Create content types in Strapi that match your WordPress data structure (e.g., posts, categories, authors).

• Configure API permissions to allow content imports.

• Generate an API token for authentication during data migration.

Exporting Content from WordPress

• Use the WordPress REST API to fetch posts, media, and metadata:

curl -X GET "https://yourwordpresssite.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts"

• Alternatively, use plugins like WP All Export to generate structured JSON or CSV files.

• Save exported media files in a separate folder for upload to Strapi.

Transforming and Structuring Data

• Convert WordPress rich text (HTML) into a format compatible with Strapi (e.g., Markdown or JSON fields).

• Map WordPress taxonomy (categories, tags) to Strapi collections.

• Clean up unused fields or invalid data before importing.

Importing Content into Strapi

Script: DownloadAndUploadImages.js

This script uploads images from WordPress to Strapi and maps them for reference:

const fs = require("fs");
const path = require("path");
const axios = require("axios");
const FormData = require("form-data");

const STRAPI_UPLOAD_URL = "http://localhost:1337/api/upload";
const STRAPI_TOKEN = "your-strapi-token";
const TEMP_MEDIA_DIR = path.join(__dirname, "temp_media");

async function uploadImage(filePath) {
  const formData = new FormData();
  formData.append("files", fs.createReadStream(filePath));
  
  try {
    const response = await axios.post(STRAPI_UPLOAD_URL, formData, {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${STRAPI_TOKEN}`, ...formData.getHeaders() },
    });
    console.log(`Uploaded: ${response.data[0].url}`);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error(`Error uploading: ${error.message}`);
  }
}

node DownloadAndUploadImages.js

⚠ Important: If you want to re-upload all media assets, delete image_mappings.json before running the script.

Script: upload_posts.js

This script imports posts into Strapi, linking them with the correct images:

const axios = require("axios");
const { format } = require("date-fns");

const STRAPI_URL = "http://localhost:1337/api/posts";
const WORDPRESS_API = "http://wordpress-to-prismic-.test/wp-json/custom/v1/posts";

async function fetchWordPressPosts() {
  try {
    const response = await axios.get(WORDPRESS_API);
    console.log(`Found ${response.data.length} posts.`);
    return response.data;
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error fetching WordPress posts:", error.message);
  }
}

async function savePostToStrapi(post) {
  const formattedDate = format(new Date(post.date), "yyyy-MM-dd");
  const postData = { data: { title: post.title, content: post.content, date: formattedDate } };

  try {
    await axios.post(STRAPI_URL, postData, {
      headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${STRAPI_TOKEN}`, "Content-Type": "application/json" },
    });
    console.log(`Post saved: ${post.title}`);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error("Error saving post:", error.response ? error.response.data : error.message);
  }
}

node upload_posts.js

Testing and Validation

• Verify that all posts, images, and metadata are correctly migrated.

• Check for broken image links or missing content.

• Ensure API endpoints return expected results.

• Compare WordPress and Strapi content for accuracy.

SEO and Performance Optimization

• Set up SEO metadata fields in Strapi (title, description, Open Graph tags).

• Use caching and CDNs to improve page load speed.

• Redirect old WordPress URLs to new Strapi URLs using .htaccess or server-side rules.

• Optimize images using Strapi’s built-in media optimization features.

Final Review and Deployment

• Conduct a final check of all pages and functionality.

• Deploy Strapi to a production server (e.g., DigitalOcean, AWS, Vercel).

• Update frontend applications to consume Strapi’s API.

• Monitor site performance and fix any remaining issues.

GitHub Repository

To access the complete migration scripts and additional resources, visit our GitHub repository:

GitHub Repo

Need Expert Help? RW Infotech Can Assist You!

Migrating from WordPress to Strapi can be complex, but RW Infotech is here to help! We specialize in headless CMS solutions, ensuring a smooth migration with minimal downtime while preserving your SEO rankings and optimizing content management.

📩 Let’s build something scalable! Contact RW Infotech today: RW Infotech

Conclusion

Migrating from WordPress to Strapi offers greater flexibility, improved performance, and better control over content management. By following this structured approach, businesses can ensure a seamless transition with minimal data loss. 🚀

💬 Are you planning a migration? Share your experience and let us know how Strapi has improved your workflow!