Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify: A Step-by-Step Guide
Running an online store on WooCommerce has its perks: flexibility, WordPress integration, and open-source customization. But as your business grows, you might find yourself caught up with plugin conflicts, security concerns, or scalability limitations. That’s where Shopify steps in.
Shopify offers a smooth, all-in-one eCommerce solution with built-in hosting, security, and payment processing, allowing you to focus on sales rather than technical maintenance. If you’re considering migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify, this guide will walk you through the process step by step, ensuring a smooth transition without losing data, SEO rankings, or customer trust.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know:
- How to prepare your WooCommerce store for migration
- The exact steps to transfer products, customers, and orders
- How to maintain SEO rankings post-migration
- Common pitfalls to avoid
So, if you’re switching for better performance, easier management, or scalability, this guide will help you make the move confidently. Let’s dive in!
Is Shopify Right for You?
Before diving into migration, it’s important to ask: Is Shopify the best fit for your business? While WooCommerce is great for WordPress users who want full control, Shopify offers a more user-friendly, scalable, and secure alternative—especially for growing brands.
Who Should Migrate to Shopify?
- Non-technical store owners who want a hassle-free, all-in-one platform (no server management, updates, or plugin conflicts).
- Fast-growing businesses needing reliable hosting, automatic scaling, and built-in sales tools.
- Brands selling across multiple channels (Shopify integrates seamlessly with Instagram, Facebook, Amazon, and more).
- Stores prioritizing security & compliance (Shopify is PCI-DSS compliant and handles fraud protection).
Want to see Shopify’s latest features in action? Check out our breakdown of Shopify Editions Summer 2025 to understand how it can benefit your business.
Signs It’s Time to Switch
- You’re spending too much time on maintenance (updating plugins, fixing downtime, managing hosting).
- Your site speed is slow due to bloated WooCommerce setups.
- You need better mobile optimization (Shopify themes are built for mobile-first shopping).
- You want built-in features (abandoned cart recovery, one-click upsells, and global selling tools).
Pre-Migration Checklist: What to Do Before You Move
Before you hit that “export” button, you’ll want to make sure everything’s tidy and ready to go. Think of this as packing before a big move—you don’t want to forget the essentials or bring along what you don’t need.
1. Back Up Your WooCommerce Store
Don’t skip this step, seriously. Even if everything goes smoothly, a backup ensures you can recover your data if something goes sideways.
- Use plugins like UpdraftPlus or BlogVault to create a full backup.
- Make sure it includes products, orders, customers, media files, and database.
2. Audit Your Store
Take this opportunity to clean house:
- Remove outdated products or inactive categories.
- Identify content (like product descriptions or images) that could use improvement.
- Check which plugins are critical and whether Shopify offers a similar feature or app.
3. List What You’re Migrating
Migration isn’t just about products, it includes:
- Customer data (names, emails, order history)
- Product data (titles, SKUs, descriptions, images)
- Categories and tags
- Orders
- Coupons and discounts
- Pages and blog content (optional, but worth considering)
4. Choose a Shopify Plan
Evaluate what works best for your business:
- Basic Shopify – Ideal for small stores
- Shopify – Great for growing stores
- Advanced Shopify – For scaling businesses with more complex needs
Don’t worry, you can start with one and always upgrade later.
5. Pick a Shopify Theme
Browse Shopify Themes to find a look that fits your brand.
- Choose one that supports the features you need (e.g., product filters, mega menus).
- Don’t stress about perfection—you can customize later.
Once this checklist is ticked off, you’re ready to get your hands dirty with the actual migration.
A well-optimized store starts with the right setup. Here’s how to check if your Shopify store is ready to rank on Google before launching.
Step-by-Step Migration: WooCommerce to Shopify
Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify might feel like moving homes across platforms and that’s exactly what it is.
Step 1: Set Up Your Shopify Store
If you haven’t already, sign up for Shopify and get your store ready to welcome your products and data.
- Choose a theme (you can customize it later).
- Set up basic settings: store name, currency, tax rules, and shipping zones.
- Install essential Shopify apps you’ll need post-migration.
Step 2: Choose a Migration Method
You’ve got options here. Pick what suits your skills and budget:
Option 1: Use an Automated Tool (Beginner-friendly)
Recommended Tools:
These tools help you to:
- Automate product, customer, and order migration
- Preserve SEO URLs (with a plugin)
- Offer 24/7 support
It’s usually a paid service, but worth it if you want to avoid manual chaos.
Option 2: Manual Migration (DIY, but time-consuming)
If you want to control every bit of the move (or save on cost):
- Export WooCommerce Data:
- Go to WooCommerce > Products > Export
- Repeat for customers and orders using plugins like “Order Export & Order Import for WooCommerce”
- Import to Shopify:
- In Shopify admin: Go to Products > Import (CSV format)
- For customers, use Shopify’s Customer Import CSV template
Caution: Shopify has strict CSV formatting rules, so make sure your files are cleaned and match their templates.
Step 3: Check & Clean Imported Data
After migration, it’s time to QA your store like a hawk.
- Are all products visible and categorized properly?
- Are images intact?
- Is inventory synced correctly?
- Are customer profiles complete?
If something’s off, most migration tools let you re-run or tweak specific data fields.
Step 4: Set Up Redirects for SEO
Don’t let your old URLs go to 404 hell.
- Use Shopify apps like 301 Redirects or SEO Manager
- Create redirects from your old WooCommerce URLs to your new Shopify URLs
This is crucial to maintain your Google rankings and avoid traffic loss.
Step 5: Rebuild Your Content & Pages
Shopify doesn’t import pages or blog posts automatically.
- Recreate important pages like About, Contact, Privacy, etc.
- Migrate blog posts manually or use an app like BlogFeeder
Bonus Tip: Take this as a chance to rewrite content with better SEO and user experience in mind.
Step 6: Test Everything
Before you launch:
- Place a test order
- Try checkout and payment methods
- Test contact forms and mobile responsiveness
- Double-check shipping, taxes, and email notifications
Step 7: Launch!
When everything looks good:
- Point your domain to Shopify
- Announce the move via email and socials
- Monitor analytics and user feedback for the first few weeks
Post-Migration Checklist
Once the migration is complete, it’s time for a final sweep—think of it like unpacking and decorating your new online home.
- Reconnect payment gateways – Test transactions to ensure everything flows smoothly.
- Set up abandoned cart recovery – Don’t let potential sales slip through the cracks.
- Enable tracking tools – Make sure Google Analytics 4, Meta Pixel, and any heatmaps are firing correctly.
- Reoptimize your speed – Run speed tests and compress any oversized images.
- Double-check mobile UX – Most of your visitors are on mobile. Test buttons, menus, and checkout on multiple devices.
High bounce rates can kill conversions. Learn how to reduce bounce rates on Shopify with these actionable fixes.
Final Thoughts
Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify is a strategic move. You’re not just changing platforms; you’re stepping into a more scalable, user-friendly ecosystem built for growth.
Yes, the process can feel overwhelming at first, data exports, redirects, design tweaks, app replacements but the payoff is worth it. Shopify offers unmatched ease of use, powerful integrations, and a faster, smoother shopping experience that today’s customers expect.
But here’s the truth: migrations are as smooth as your preparation. Rushing the process or skipping the details (like SEO redirects or mobile testing) can cost you traffic, rankings, and even sales. A thoughtful, well-planned approach ensures that your new store doesn’t just look good, it performs better than before.
If you’re still unsure about making the switch, or if you’re halfway through and feeling stuck don’t go it alone. At eWebWorld, we’ve helped businesses like yours move to Shopify without losing data, traffic, or sleep.
Ready to migrate with confidence? We’ll walk you through it.
Further Reading to Optimize Your New Store:
People Also Ask
1. How long does it take to migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Small stores take 5-7 days, larger stores need 2-4 weeks. Timeline depends on store size and migration method.
2. How much does it cost to migrate WooCommerce to Shopify?
DIY migration is free, automated tools cost between $79-$399 and professional services range $500-$5,000+ depending on complexity.
3. Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify?
No, if you set up proper 301 redirects from old URLs to new Shopify URLs, this preserves rankings.
4. Can I migrate WooCommerce to Shopify without downtime?
Yes, build your Shopify store in parallel, test thoroughly, then switch your domain.
5. What data can I transfer from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Products, customers, orders, categories, tags, coupons, and discount codes, blog posts would require additional steps.
6. Do I need technical skills to migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify?
No technical skills needed with automated tools like LitExtension or Cart2Cart. They handle everything automatically.
7. Is Shopify better than WooCommerce for my online store?
Shopify offers easier management, built-in hosting, security, and support. WooCommerce provides more customization control.
8. Can I keep my domain name when switching to Shopify?
Yes, keep your domain by updating DNS settings or transferring it to Shopify completely.
About The Author
Search
Popular Posts
Follow us
Recent Posts
About us
We have developed a recognition for Web Design, eCommerce websites, Customized web development, and Digital Marketing services over the years of experience.