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Migrate from DatoCMS to VuePress

Complete guide to migrating your DatoCMS website to VuePress. Leave DatoCMS's graphql-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it behind and get excellent default theme for documentation sites. Free migration tool included.

20-40 minutes
Medium
100% Free
Start Free Migration

TL;DR

You can migrate from DatoCMS to VuePress for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose VuePress as the destination, and download your content — posts, pages, and media — in minutes. No API keys, passwords, or CLI tools required. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated time: 20-40 minutes.

Why Teams Leave DatoCMS

GraphQL headless CMS with image optimization built in. JAMstack teams wanting a GraphQL CMS with best-in-class image handling, but these limitations push teams toward modern alternatives.

GraphQL-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it

This is the most common reason teams migrate away from DatoCMS. VuePress eliminates this issue entirely.

Free tier is limited; mid-tier pricing is expensive

With VuePress, excellent default theme for documentation sites.

Smaller community compared to Contentful or Strapi

Modern architectures like VuePress are designed to avoid this from the ground up.

Content migration to/from DatoCMS requires custom tooling

After migrating, you'll no longer need to worry about this — VuePress takes a fundamentally different approach.

What VuePress Brings to the Table

Vue-powered SSG optimized for technical documentation. Built with JavaScript (Vue.js), it's technical documentation sites in the vue.js ecosystem.

Excellent default theme for documentation sites

Vue components work in Markdown files

Built-in search, sidebar navigation, and versioning

Optimized for developer documentation out of the box

VuePress is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports JavaScript, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.

DatoCMS vs VuePress at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics

MetricDatoCMSVuePress
Ease of Use⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Performance⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Flexibility⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Cost⭐⭐ 2/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Scalability⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Ecosystem⭐⭐⭐ 3/5⭐⭐ 2/5
LanguageAPI-based (GraphQL-first)JavaScript (Vue.js)
PricingFree / $99+/monthFree (open-source)
Open SourceNoYes

Ratings are based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026. Individual experience may vary.

What Gets Migrated

A detailed breakdown of how your DatoCMS content maps to VuePress

Content Types from DatoCMS

  • records
  • models
  • uploads
  • sites

Technical Details

Export Method
Content Management API (GraphQL)
Source Language
API-based (GraphQL-first)
Destination Format
Markdown/MDX files with frontmatter, organized by content type
URL Handling
301 redirect map generated automatically to preserve SEO equity

What may need manual attention

Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in VuePress. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.

How It Works

Migrate your content in three simple steps

1

Connect

Enter your DatoCMS site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.

2

Configure

Select VuePress as destination and choose content options.

3

Export

Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.

Is DatoCMS to VuePress the Right Move for You?

Migrating from DatoCMS to VuePress makes the most sense if you're experiencing graphql-only can be a barrier for teams unfamiliar with it or outgrowing DatoCMS's architecture. VuePress is best for technical documentation sites in the vue.js ecosystem.

You should migrate if: your DatoCMS site is slow, your hosting costs are climbing, you need developer flexibility, or you want to adopt a modern JAMstack architecture.

You might want to stay if: your DatoCMS site benefits from built-in image optimization and responsive image api and you don't have JavaScript developers on your team. DatoCMS is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.

The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your DatoCMS URL, select VuePress, and download your content. The more important question is whether VuePress's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to migrate from DatoCMS to VuePress?
Most migrations from DatoCMS complete in 20-40 minutes. We pull content via DatoCMS's Content Management API (GraphQL), then structured for VuePress. Complex sites with extensive custom fields may take longer.
Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from DatoCMS?
No. We help you set up proper 301 redirects from your old DatoCMS URLs to preserve search rankings. VuePress actually tends to improve Core Web Vitals scores, which can boost rankings over time.
What DatoCMS content can be migrated to VuePress?
DatoCMS content types like records, models, uploads, sites are all migrated to VuePress. Content is converted to Markdown/MDX files or structured for your chosen headless CMS.
Do I need JavaScript experience to migrate?
No coding experience is required for the migration itself — LeaveWP handles the export and conversion automatically. However, customizing your VuePress site afterward will benefit from JavaScript (Vue.js) knowledge. For teams without that expertise, the generated code is well-structured and documented, making it approachable for developers of any level.
How much does it cost to host a VuePress site after migrating from DatoCMS?
VuePress sites can be deployed to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, or any Node.js host — often on generous free tiers. Compared to DatoCMS's Free / $99+/month pricing, static VuePress sites can be hosted for free on Vercel or Netlify (up to generous bandwidth limits), which is significantly cheaper than running a DatoCMS instance.
Can I migrate DatoCMS custom fields and metadata to VuePress?
Yes. Custom fields, metadata, and taxonomies from DatoCMS are preserved during migration. In VuePress, these become frontmatter fields in your Markdown/MDX files, which you can extend or restructure to fit your content model.

Related Migration Guides

Explore more migration paths from DatoCMS or to VuePress

DatoCMS to VuePress Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Migrate?

Start your free migration from DatoCMS to VuePress today.

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