If you’re planning to migrate Shopify to WooCommerce, you’re not alone. Many eCommerce store owners are making the switch to WooCommerce for its flexibility, cost-effectiveness, and open-source nature. In this guide, we’ll walk you through a smooth and strategic transition without risking your valuable data or SEO performance.
Why Switch from Shopify to WooCommerce?
- Full Control: WooCommerce gives you complete ownership over your store, unlike Shopify which is a closed platform.
- No Monthly Fees: Shopify has recurring costs, whereas WooCommerce (on WordPress) can be run on affordable hosting.
- Unlimited Customization: With thousands of themes and plugins, WooCommerce allows for deeper customizations.
- SEO Advantage: WordPress and WooCommerce offer more robust SEO features out of the box.
Pre-Migration Checklist
Before you migrate, prepare the following:
- Backup Your Shopify Store
- Set Up a WordPress Site with WooCommerce Installed
- Choose a Migration Method (Manual or Plugin-Based)
- Review Hosting Requirements and Domain Transfer (if needed)
Step-by-Step: How to Migrate Shopify to WooCommerce
Export Data from Shopify
- Go to your Shopify admin dashboard.
- Export CSV files for Products, Customers, and Orders.
- Backup all media files, especially product images.
Set Up WordPress & WooCommerce
- Install WordPress on your new or existing domain.
- Install and activate the WooCommerce plugin.
- Configure WooCommerce settings (currency, payment gateways, shipping, etc.).
Use a Migration Plugin (Recommended)
Plugins like Cart2Cart, LitExtension, or WP All Import simplify the migration. Most allow you to:
- Import products, categories, images, and variations
- Transfer customer and order data
- Retain SEO-friendly URLs
Verify and Test Data
- Double-check product listings, prices, and images.
- Test the checkout flow with dummy orders.
- Ensure all customer accounts and passwords are functioning correctly.
Redirect URLs and Preserve SEO
- Use 301 redirects for old Shopify URLs to new WooCommerce equivalents.
- Update your XML sitemap and submit it to Google Search Console.
- Install an SEO plugin like Yoast SEO or Rank Math for ongoing optimization.
Post-Migration Tips
- Announce the New Store to Your Audience
- Reconfigure Your Email Marketing Integrations
- Set Up Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel Again
- Monitor Performance and Fix Any Glitches
Ready to Migrate Shopify to WooCommerce?
If done correctly, the process to migrate Shopify to WooCommerce can unlock more flexibility, control, and long-term savings for your online business. By following the steps above, you’ll ensure a smooth transition while preserving the integrity of your store and your SEO efforts.
