Looking for a Kinsta alternative? Whether you're tired of Kinsta's premium pricing, want autonomous hosting, or need a more straightforward hosting experience, this guide walks you through migrating from Kinsta to MojoShine step by step.
The migration process is straightforward and your site stays live throughout. There's zero downtime for your visitors, and you can test everything before switching DNS.
MojoShine starts at $9/mo vs Kinsta's $30/mo entry price
Why Switch from Kinsta to MojoShine?
Kinsta is known for premium WordPress hosting, but their pricing puts them out of reach for many site owners. Here's how MojoShine compares:
| Feature | Kinsta | MojoShine |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $30/mo | $9/mo |
| Sites Included (Entry Plan) | 1 site | 1 site |
| Autonomous Provisioning | No | Yes |
| Visual Update Validation | No | Yes (Autonomous) |
| Container Isolation | Yes (LXD) | Yes (Docker) |
| CDN Included | Yes (Cloudflare) | Yes (Cloudflare) |
| Automatic Backups | Daily | Weekly/Daily/Hourly* |
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Staging Environment | Yes | Yes |
| Runtime Security Monitoring | Basic | Falco eBPF |
| Visit Limits | 25,000/mo | 50,000/mo |
*Backup frequency depends on plan: Starter (weekly), Pro (daily), Business (hourly)
Price Comparison: Kinsta's entry plan costs $30/month ($420/year). MojoShine Starter costs just $9/month with annual billing ($108/year). That's a savings of up to $312 per year for comparable features.
Before You Start: Pre-Migration Checklist
Pre-Migration Checklist
- Note your current Kinsta plan and billing cycle
- List all plugins and themes (take a screenshot of your Plugins page)
- Check for Kinsta-specific configurations (Kinsta MU plugin)
- Document any custom PHP settings or .htaccess rules
- Verify you have access to your domain registrar for DNS changes
- Create a manual backup in Kinsta's MyKinsta dashboard
Kinsta MU Plugin: Kinsta automatically installs their "Kinsta Must Use" plugin which handles caching and CDN integration. This plugin won't work on other hosts and should be removed after migration. MojoShine provides equivalent functionality automatically.
Step-by-Step Migration Guide
Create Your MojoShine Account
Set up your new hosting environment:
- Go to mojoshine.com/pricing
- Choose a plan (Starter from $9/mo, Pro $25/mo, or Business $49/mo)
- Enter your email and choose a temporary subdomain (e.g., mysite.mojoshine.com)
- Complete checkout - AI will provision your site in about 3 minutes
- Check your email for WordPress admin credentials
Export Your Site from Kinsta
You have several options for exporting your site:
Option A: Use a Migration Plugin (Recommended)
- Log into your Kinsta WordPress admin
- Install "All-in-One WP Migration" or "Duplicator" plugin
- Create a full export package (database + files)
- Download the export file to your computer
Option B: Download Kinsta Backup
- Log into MyKinsta dashboard
- Go to Sites > Your Site > Backups
- Click "Download" on the most recent backup
- You'll receive database and files separately
Option C: SFTP + phpMyAdmin
- Connect via SFTP using credentials from MyKinsta
- Download the entire
/publicfolder - Export database from Kinsta's phpMyAdmin
Import to MojoShine
Bring your content to its new home:
- Log into your new MojoShine WordPress admin
- Install the same migration plugin you used for export
- Use the plugin's import feature to upload your export file
- Wait for the import to complete (this may take several minutes for large sites)
- Log in again using your original WordPress credentials
Large Sites: If your export file exceeds upload limits, contact MojoShine support. We can increase limits temporarily or assist with SFTP-based migration for larger sites.
Clean Up Kinsta-Specific Items
Remove Kinsta-specific configurations:
- Go to Plugins and deactivate/delete "Kinsta Must Use" plugin if it was exported
- Remove any Kinsta-specific cache configurations
- Check for Kinsta CDN URLs in your content and update them
- Review wp-config.php for any Kinsta-specific constants (MojoShine handles these automatically)
Update URLs and Test
Your site still references the old domain. Fix this:
- Install "Better Search Replace" plugin
- Search for:
https://yourdomain.com - Replace with:
https://yoursite.mojoshine.com(your temporary subdomain) - Also search/replace any Kinsta CDN URLs if present
- Run on all tables (do a dry run first)
- Test all pages, forms, and functionality thoroughly
- Verify images are loading correctly
- Test contact forms, WooCommerce checkout, etc.
Connect Your Custom Domain
Once testing is complete, point your domain to MojoShine:
- In MojoShine portal, go to your site and click "Add Custom Domain"
- Enter your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com)
- You'll receive DNS records to add at your registrar
- Add the CNAME or A records as instructed
- SSL certificate is automatically provisioned once DNS propagates
Final URL Update
After your domain is connected:
- Run Better Search Replace again
- Search for:
https://yoursite.mojoshine.com - Replace with:
https://yourdomain.com - Update WordPress Address and Site Address in Settings > General
- Clear all caches
Verify and Cancel Kinsta
Final checks before canceling Kinsta:
- Test your site thoroughly on the live domain
- Verify SSL is working (green padlock)
- Check email deliverability
- Monitor site for 24-48 hours for any issues
- Once satisfied, cancel your Kinsta subscription in MyKinsta
- Download a final backup from Kinsta before cancellation
Migration Timeline
What to Expect
Common Migration Issues and Solutions
Kinsta CDN URLs in Content
Kinsta uses their own CDN with URLs like kinsta.cloud. After migration, these URLs won't work. Use Better Search Replace to find and replace any Kinsta CDN URLs with your domain. MojoShine's Cloudflare CDN handles caching automatically.
Images Not Loading
If images appear broken, the URLs likely still reference Kinsta. Run Better Search Replace to update all image URLs. Also check your wp-content/uploads folder to ensure files were migrated correctly.
Kinsta MU Plugin Errors
If you see errors related to Kinsta's Must Use plugin, access your site via SFTP and remove any files in /wp-content/mu-plugins/ that reference Kinsta. MojoShine provides its own optimized configuration.
Performance Differences
Kinsta uses server-level caching that's tightly integrated with their MU plugin. After migrating, install a caching plugin like WP Super Cache if needed, though MojoShine's server-level optimizations handle most caching automatically.
Redis/Object Cache
If you were using Kinsta's Redis caching, you'll need to disable any Redis-related plugins after migration. MojoShine uses efficient server-level caching that doesn't require Redis configuration.
Ready to Save $276/Year?
Get better features at a fraction of Kinsta's price. Autonomous hosting starts at just $9/month.
Start Your Free TrialNeed Help with Migration?
We're here to help make your migration smooth:
- Self-Service: Follow this guide and our FAQ
- AI Support: Chat with our AI assistant in the customer portal
- Email Support: Contact us via the support form
- Managed Migration: Business plan customers get complimentary migration assistance
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to migrate from Kinsta to MojoShine?
Most migrations take 1-2 hours for the technical work, plus up to 48 hours for DNS propagation. Your site remains live on Kinsta during the entire process, so there's no downtime for your visitors.
Will I lose any data when migrating from Kinsta?
No. The migration process creates a complete copy of your site including all posts, pages, media, plugins, themes, and settings. Your original site on Kinsta remains untouched until you're ready to cancel.
How much can I save by switching from Kinsta to MojoShine?
MojoShine starts at $9/month compared to Kinsta's $30/month entry price. That's a savings of $252 per year, or up to 70% less. Multi-site plans offer even greater savings compared to Kinsta's per-site pricing model.
Does MojoShine offer the same performance as Kinsta?
Yes. MojoShine uses dedicated Docker containers with SSD storage, Cloudflare CDN, and enterprise-grade infrastructure. Our autonomous platform also provides visual update validation that Kinsta doesn't offer, ensuring updates don't break your site.