Why Migrate to Replit
Website builders like Squarespace, Wix, and Webflow are fast to launch but limited in what they can do. You cannot add custom backend logic, custom database tables, or complex integrations without a developer. Replit with Express removes these limits. The tradeoff is more complexity to build -- which is why Claude makes this viable for non-technical builders.
When migrating makes sense: you need features your current platform cannot support (custom checkout flow, member portal, dynamic content from a database), you are paying for platform features you do not use, or you want full control over your site's AEO implementation.
The Migration Process
Step 1 -- Document your current site: List every page, what content it contains, what it needs to do (form submissions, payment links, external integrations).
Step 2 -- Build the new site page by page: Start with the highest-traffic pages. Describe each page's content and functionality to Claude. Build in Replit. Test each page before moving to the next.
Step 3 -- Migrate your domain: Update your domain's DNS to point to your Replit deployment. This takes up to 48 hours to propagate. Run both sites simultaneously during the transition so no traffic is lost.
Step 4 -- Deactivate old site: Once the Replit site is confirmed working with your domain, cancel the old platform.