Real people, on-site in Ireland.
Real people, on-site in Ireland.
Wix cannot register a .ie domain for you and cannot take one in by transfer, but you can connect a .ie you already own to a paid Wix site. That also means your domain was never really "on" Wix, which makes leaving easier than most people expect. This guide covers how the connection works and what to check before you move the site.
No. Wix's own help page for Irish domains says it is not possible to purchase a .ie domain from Wix or transfer one to Wix. The domain has to be registered with another registrar first, and you then connect it to your Wix site. As of October 2026 the same page says Wix is collecting feedback on adding .ie purchase and transfer support, but it is not available.
Connecting also needs a paid Wix plan. You cannot attach your own domain to a free Wix site. If your site is on a free plan, the .ie you see in a browser tab is not coming from Wix at all.
Wix's help page recommends the nameserver method for .ie domains. You log in at the registrar where the .ie is registered and replace the nameservers with the ones Wix gives you. Wix says new DNS records can take up to 48 hours to fully propagate. The page does not compare this with pointing an A record, so if you were set up a different way by a web designer, check what your DNS actually looks like with the DNS lookup tool.
The key point is who holds the registration. It sits with your registrar, under your account. Wix only receives traffic once the nameservers or records point at it. If you cannot remember which registrar that is, a WHOIS lookup is a good first step, and the difference between a registrar and a host explains why they are separate things.
If you used the nameserver method, Wix says it hosts your DNS records. That includes any MX records for business email. When you change nameservers away from Wix, those records stop being served unless you recreate them at the new DNS provider first.
Before you touch anything, write down every record shown in your Wix DNS settings, especially MX, SPF and any TXT records for Google Workspace or Microsoft 365. Then add the same records wherever your DNS will live next. Skipping this step is the most common reason a mailbox goes quiet after a website move. How to migrate DNS safely and how to set up MX records walk through it.
There is usually no one-click export from Wix to WordPress, so the usual route is to rebuild the pages in WordPress, copy across text and images, and set up redirects for any URLs that change. Our Wix to WordPress guide covers that process in detail. If you are unsure whether you want the hosted or the self-installed version, read WordPress.com versus WordPress.org first.
Keep the Wix site live while you build. Once the new site is ready and tested, you point the domain at the new host. You can do that in one of two ways: change the nameservers to the new host's, or change only the A record (and www record) and leave DNS where it is. Pointing a domain to hosting explains both, and what a nameserver is helps if the terms are new to you. Lowering the TTL a day beforehand shortens the changeover; see DNS TTL explained.
You do not have to. The domain can stay at your current registrar indefinitely, and the hosting move does not depend on it. Transfer only if you want billing, DNS and renewal reminders in one place, or if you dislike your current registrar. The process is covered in how a domain transfer works, and the comparison of .ie and .com helps if you are weighing up which extension to put on the business long term.
One practical warning: do not let the .ie lapse while you are focused on the website. Check the expiry date and who the registered contact is, because renewal notices go to that person.
Run through this once the new site is built: the new site loads over HTTPS, forms send mail, redirects from old Wix URLs work, MX records are in place at the new DNS provider, and you have a note of the old Wix plan's renewal date so you cancel it only after the switch has settled. Do not cancel the Wix plan the same day you change DNS. Give it a few days.
This is general information, not advice specific to your registrar. Confirm the details for your own domain with the registrar or the domain registry.
HostBible's team can migrate a site to HostBible hosting for free with a hosting plan, building it on a staging copy while your current site stays live. You then switch DNS when you are happy.
See website migration