Combell is the largest hosting provider in Belgium, but also one of the most expensive. More and more Belgian website administrators discover that they can get the same hosting quality for a fraction of the price. In this guide we explain step by step how to migrate your website from Combell to Theory7.

Why migrate from Combell?

There are several reasons why customers switch:

  • Price: Combell quickly charges €10-15 per month for standard web hosting. At Theory7 you start from €0.49/mo
  • Speed: Theory7 runs on LiteSpeed Enterprise, which is considerably faster than the Apache configuration of many Combell plans
  • Hidden costs: at Combell you pay extra for SSL, backups and CDN. At Theory7 this is all included free
  • Price increases: Combell is known for steep price rises at renewal

What do you need for the migration?

Before you begin, make sure you have the following to hand:

  • Login details for your Combell control panel
  • Access to the email address linked to your domain
  • A backup of your website (just to be safe)

Do you not have this? No problem. Our team can also communicate directly with Combell to arrange the migration.

Step 1: choose a Theory7 plan

See our web hosting plans and choose the plan that suits you:

  • Mini - €0.49/mo: for a single website with 10GB storage
  • Starter - €2.49/mo: for multiple websites with 25GB storage
  • Basic - €4.99/mo: unlimited websites with 250GB storage

Do you run WordPress? Then also see our WordPress hosting with optimised settings.

Step 2: request the free migration

After ordering your plan you can request our free SiteSwitch service. This works as follows:

  1. Log in to your Theory7 account
  2. Open a ticket with a request for website migration
  3. Provide your Combell login details (securely through the ticket)
  4. Our team schedules the migration

Read more about our free migration service.

Step 3: we migrate your website

Our technical team migrates your complete website:

  • Files: all website files are transferred
  • Database: your MySQL/MariaDB databases are migrated
  • Email: email accounts and messages are moved
  • Settings: PHP version, cron jobs and other configuration

Step 4: check and test

Before we switch your domain, you check everything on our servers:

  • Does the website work correctly?
  • Do all pages load well?
  • Does the contact form function?
  • Does the online store work (if you have one)?

Step 5: change the DNS

If everything works, we point your domain to the Theory7 servers. This can be done in two ways:

  • Change nameservers: your domain points fully to Theory7
  • Adjust the A record: if you want to keep your DNS elsewhere

The DNS change takes at most 24-48 hours to apply worldwide, but in practice it is often sorted within a few hours.

Step 6: cancel Combell

Only after your website works fully on Theory7 do you cancel your Combell hosting. Watch out for the notice period that Combell uses.

How much do you save?

An example calculation for an average Belgian website:

Cost item Combell (per year) Theory7 (per year)
Web hosting ~€120-180 €5.88 (Mini) - €59.88 (Basic)
SSL certificate €0-50 (depending on plan) €0 (free)
Backups €0-30 €0 (free)
Total €120-260 €5.88-59.88

So you save €60 to €250 per year by switching. And you get faster LiteSpeed servers in return.

Web hosting per city in Belgium

Theory7 offers web hosting throughout Flanders. See the options in your city:

Frequently asked questions

Is there downtime during the migration?

No. We first set everything up on our servers. Only when everything works do we point the domain over. Your visitors notice nothing of it.

Can I bring my domain?

Yes. Your domain is yours, no matter where you host. You can keep the domain with Combell or transfer it to Theory7. See our domain name prices.

Does my WordPress site work on Theory7 too?

Absolutely. Our servers are optimised for WordPress with LiteSpeed Cache, which makes your site even faster than at Combell.

How long does the migration take?

How do you migrate your email from Combell to Theory7 without problems?

Email migration is often the part people dread most, but with a structured approach you do not have to lose a single message. The most important step is to access your email through IMAP, this way all messages stay on the server until the migration is fully completed. According to ISPA Belgium, email continuity is one of the biggest concerns during hosting migrations.

The email migration process at Theory7 works as follows:

  1. We create identical email accounts on the Theory7 server
  2. All existing emails are transferred through IMAP synchronisation
  3. Folders, contacts and calendar items are preserved
  4. After the DNS change, new emails arrive on the Theory7 server
  5. Email clients (Outlook, Thunderbird, smartphone) are updated with the new server details

Tip: temporarily set your email client to keep messages on the server for 30 days. This way you always have a safety net during the transition period.

How do you prevent DNS problems during the migration?

DNS changes are the core of every hosting migration. When you adjust the nameservers or A records, it takes up to 24 hours before all internet providers worldwide have picked up the new settings. This is called DNS propagation. According to RIPE NCC, the average propagation time for .be domains is between 2 and 12 hours.

Here is how you minimise problems during the DNS transition:

  • Lower the TTL: set the Time-To-Live to 300 seconds (5 minutes) 24 hours before the migration
  • Change DNS at a quiet moment: Friday evening or the weekend is ideal for business sites
  • Keep both servers active: leave your Combell account running for at least 2 weeks after the DNS change
  • Test in advance: use the hosts file to test the new server before the DNS switch
  • MX records separately: change email (MX) and website (A record) separately if needed

How do you make sure there is no downtime during the migration?

Zero-downtime migration is achievable if you keep the right order. The principle is simple: make sure your website already works fully on the new server before you switch the DNS. This way visitors notice nothing of the migration, regardless of which server they land on during the propagation period.

At Theory7 we use the following protocol for downtime-free migration:

  1. Place a complete copy of your website on the Theory7 server
  2. Synchronise and check the database
  3. Activate the SSL certificate on the new server
  4. Carry out functional tests through the hosts file
  5. Only when everything works: carry out the DNS change

Which checks do you carry out after the migration?

A post-migration checklist prevents unpleasant surprises. Check not only whether your website loads, but also test all forms, the shopping cart (if you have an online store), email sending and any connections with external services. According to Google Search Console documentation, it is wise to check the indexing status after a server migration.

The complete post-migration checklist:

  • The website loads correctly on all pages (not only the homepage)
  • The SSL certificate works and shows the green padlock
  • Contact forms send emails correctly
  • Receiving and sending email works on all accounts
  • Images and downloads are reachable
  • Google Search Console shows no new errors
  • Analytics tracking still works correctly
  • External connections (payment providers, CRM, etc.) function

Which mistakes are made most often during a hosting migration?

Most migration problems are avoidable. The number one mistake is cancelling the old hosting account too early. Keep your Combell plan active for at least 14 days after the DNS change as a safety net. Another common mistake is forgetting the .htaccess rules that were configured specifically for the old server.

Top 5 migration mistakes and how to avoid them:

  1. Cancelling old hosting too early: wait at least 2 weeks after a successful migration
  2. Database import without charset check: always check whether UTF-8 is set correctly
  3. Hardcoded URLs in the database: use WP-CLI or a search-replace tool to replace old URLs
  4. Not checking the PHP version: make sure the new server runs the same or a newer PHP version
  5. Forgetting the backup: always make a complete backup of both files and database before the migration

Sources and references

  • ISPA Belgium: Belgian Internet Service Providers Association, best practices for hosting migration
  • RIPE NCC: Regional Internet Registry for Europe, DNS propagation information
  • Google Search Console: documentation on site changes and indexing management

The technical migration usually takes 1-3 working days. DNS propagation can add another 24-48 hours to that.