How to Migrate Your Online Store from Shopify to WooCommerce in 2024

Online store migration is not always the easiest task, especially when it is performed without the proper knowledge or additional help. Luckily, the modern digital world provides merchants with all the necessary means to make the replatforming as smooth and simple as possible. Our today’s post will show you how to migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce. Also, we’ll explore the benefits of switching to WooCommerce and provide you with some tips on how to perform the migration hassle-free. Read on!

How to Migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce in 4 Steps

1. Provide your Shopify and WooCommerce stores access credentials.
2. Select data types you want to transfer to WooCommerce.
3. Test the new WooCommerce store with a free demo migration option.
4. Import Shopify to WooCommerce by running the full migration process.

Watch our video tutorial to see how easy it is to automatically migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce with the help of the Cart2Cart migration tool:

Shopify vs WooCommerce. Facts and Data

Shopify is a well-known SaaS platform that was founded in Canada in 2004. Currently, it powers 4,488,420 live websites. Due to a great variety of in-build tools, it is a perfect solution for those who want to get their store online quickly and effortlessly. Shopify users can benefit from numerous paid and free apps and themes to enhance the overall look of their stores. This platform is suitable for both small to large size businesses.

WooCommerce is the most popular free WordPress plugin. It was launched in 2011 and is now home to 7,168,281 live websites worldwide. The solution has tons of highly-customizable features, themes, and plugins. It is an ideal option for tech-savvy traders who are willing to make their stores unique. WooCommerce will suit any business, but be aware that it has a steep learning curve.

The superiority of WooCommerce over Shopify is evident, especially if we take a look at the statistics:

In case you want to have a 360 degree view of the Shopify to WooCommerce migration process - watch our prezi tutorial:

What are the Benefits of Shopify to WooCommerce Migration?

Once you’ve decided to move your store to another platform, the first thing you should keep in mind is the benefits of such migration. Apparently, Shopify seems to be much easier to manage. But there’s more than meets the eye. WooCommerce has its pros that will help you succeed in running a thriving business:

• A cost-effective freemium model plugin that, unlike Shopify, has no monthly fees
• Endless flexibility and customization possibilities due to the open-source nature of the solution. Thus, merchants can effortlessly access the source code and modify it according to their specific needs. Additionally, WordPress provides technically competent users with the ability to create their own themes and plugins
• Powerful SEO features and flawless integration with WordPress, including in-build blogging capabilities
• Modern-looking responsive themes (both free and paid ones)
• Wide range of free and paid extensions, available at the official WooCommerce Store
• Highest level of security and regular updates
• Integration with different types of payment gateways and no transaction fees

How to Migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?

Once you’ve decided to perform an automated store migration with Cart2Cart, it is highly advisable to follow these steps:

Prepare Your Stores for Migration

• Review your Shopify store, remove all the irrelevant or useless data.
• Find the required access credentials (store’s URL and API password) for your Source Cart.
• Register a WooCommerce account. But, in case you’re still uncertain whether to migrate to the WooCommerce, check out our free Migration Preview Service. Thus, you will have the possibility to transfer a limited number of data entities to Cart2Cart’s test store. But, please, be aware that it will be available online for three days.
• Additionally, you may calculate the exact price of replatforming with the help of our free Migration Estimator. Just fill in all the required fields and get the total cost in no time.

Apart from that, make sure that you’ve installed all the necessary plugins that will be required for the transfer process:

• If you wish to save your store’s SEO rankings, we recommend you to install the Redirection plugin and choose the additional option “Create 301 redirects on your target store after migration” in the Migration Wizard.
• To preserve order IDs, you should choose the option “Preserve order IDs on Target Store” during the migration setup. It also requires the installation of a WP plugin WooCommerce Sequential Order Numbers.

Also, you can download the Cart2Cart: Shopify to WooCommerce Migration plugin.

Set up Source and Target Carts

Choose Shopify as your Source Cart. Provide the store’s URL and API password (please, read our Shopify API password and API key FAQ to find out how and where to get this data).

Now it’s time to configure your Target Cart. Pick WooCommerce from the list in the drop-down menu and copy the WordPress admin URL, login and password to the corresponding boxes.

When finished, click the Choose Entities button to proceed to the next step of the migration.

Select Data Entities And Additional Options

At this point, you’ll have to choose the data entities that are to be transferred from Shopify store to WooCommerce. You can easily move orders, customers, blog posts, products from Shopify just by ticking the needed box in the Migration Wizard.

Moreover, you can pick some of the additional options that will ease the solution switch process. It must be noted that it is not an obligatory, but only recommended activity.

Also, it is possible to map Shopify order statuses and customer groups to correspond to the ones on the WooCommerce store.

Start Demo Migration

Demo Migration is a free option that enables Cart2Cart clients to transfer a specific number of entities (up to 10) to the WooCommerce store just in 30 minutes. Therefore, you will have the chance to check our service in action and take a look at your store on a new platform. We highly recommend our users not to skip this step of the migration process. Moreover, please, do not close your browser window when the data transfer is in process.

Proceed to Full Migration

After you’ve been notified of the Demo Migration completion, please, check your store. If the results of the solution switch satisfy you, it is high time to start a full Shopify to WooCommerce migration. Keep in mind that Cart2Cart doesn’t interfere with the performance of your store while migrating from Shopify to WooCommerce. Now it is safe to close all the browser windows and return to the ordinary business activities.

Check out our infographic to get a better understanding of the migration process via Cart2Cart:

Can I Import Products from Shopify to WooCommerce?

It sometimes happens that you need to migrate only products from Shopify to WooCommerce. There are two options - you can use the Cart2Cart tool and deal with the task in an automated way. Alternatively, if you have a CSV file with your Shopify products, do the following:

1. 1. Log in to your WooCommerce admin and navigate to Product tab. Click Import.

1. 1. Upload the SV from your computer and configure the data import.

1. 1. Launch the product transfer to WooCommerce.

How to Export Orders from Shopify to WooCommerce?

1. 1. In the Orders menu of your Shopify admin and choose the orders you wish to import.

1. 1. Setup your export and choose the needed file format.
   2. Download the file with your orders data.

Closing Remarks and Recommendations

Once the Full Migration is over, you will receive an email message, and that’s practically it - your store has successfully migrated to the WooCommerce platform. But, to be sure that everything works correctly, we urge our clients to perform the following:

• Check the store performance for common mistakes (inspect the front and backend, make a few test purchases, go through categories and products, etc.)
• Customize your store by installing all the necessary extensions from theWooCommerce website.
• Use the Recent Data Migration Service, provided new items (e.g., orders, customers, products, etc.) have appeared on your Shopify store during or after the switch.

Shopify to WooCommerce Migration FAQs

Can you import products from Shopify to WooCommerce?

Absolutely. You can do it either manually if you have enough tech skills. Or, leave this task to professionals and use an automated tool Cart2Cart. It is fast and secure. Moreover, your current Shopify store will be accessible online during the whole migration process.

How do I sync Shopify with WooCommerce?

Unfortunately, it is impossible. However, if you have a WordPress site, you can connect it with Shopify within the Shopify WordPress integration option. Also, you can migrate your data from Shopify to WooCommerce in just 4 steps with Cart2Cart.

Is WooCommerce faster than Shopify?

Yes, Shopify is a bit faster due to the build-in functionality of the platform. However, WooCommerce gives you more freedom when it comes to creating your store from scratch.

What is better Shopify or WooCommerce?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing between WooCommerce and Shopify. Based on your needs, budget, and goals, either option may be better for you. WooCommerce is a great solution if you need SEO features, high customizability, and flexible scalability. Additionally, if you want more control over your design or your main marketing strategy is to drive traffic through content, then WooCommerce is the right choice. Shopify, contrastingly, is a better option for those who are new to eCommerce, don't want to worry about technical details or complex setup processes, and want utmost security and dedicated support.

Does Cart2Cart support the transfer of Shopify metadata to WooCommerce?

Yes, Cart2Cart supports the migration of metadata from the Shopify platform to WooCommerce (e.g., title, keywords, description, etc.). However, you need to install a free WordPress SEO plugin before the migration to do it properly.

In fact, that’s all you need to know to perform a successful Shopify to WooCommerce migration. And, please, note that it can be done without the need of hiring a professional of diving deep into code.

Don’t hesitate and try a free Demo Migration. Your ideal brand new store is just around the corner!