Ecwid to Shopify
Migrating from Ecwid to Shopify represents a strategic move from an embedded shopping cart solution to a full-featured, standalone eCommerce platform. In 2025, with Ecwid's limitations as an add-on solution and Shopify's comprehensive platform capabilities, many merchants are making the switch for better control and growth potential.
This comprehensive technical blueprint covers Ecwid's API structure, field mappings to Shopify's REST API, and step-by-step migration execution.
1. The Strategic Pivot: Why Leave Ecwid?
💰 Platform Independence
The Ecwid Pain: Ecwid is an embedded shopping cart that requires a separate website. You're managing two systems: your website and your store.
The Shopify Gain: Shopify is a complete platform with built-in website, blog, and store. Everything in one place, easier to manage.
🚀 Features & Functionality
The Ecwid Pain: Ecwid has limited features compared to dedicated platforms. Many advanced features require higher-tier plans or are unavailable.
The Shopify Gain: Shopify offers comprehensive eCommerce features, advanced inventory management, multi-channel selling, and extensive customization options.
🛠 App Ecosystem
The Ecwid Pain: Ecwid App Market is limited with fewer integrations and apps compared to dedicated platforms.
The Shopify Gain: Shopify App Store has 8,000+ apps specifically designed for eCommerce with better integration and support.
⚡ Control & Customization
The Ecwid Pain: Ecwid customization is limited. You're constrained by the embedded widget design and your host website's limitations.
The Shopify Gain: Full control over design, functionality, and user experience. Extensive theme customization and Liquid templating.
2. The Pre-Migration Architecture Audit
Ecwid is a hosted platform with REST API access, making migration more straightforward than platforms without APIs.
- Ecwid Plan: Are you on Free, Venture, Business, or Unlimited? API access may differ by plan.
- API Access: Ecwid provides REST API for data access. Generate API keys in Ecwid admin.
- Product Structure: Ecwid products map well to Shopify products. Variants structure is similar.
- Store ID: Note your Ecwid Store ID for API access.
- Images: Ecwid images are hosted on their CDN. Need to be downloaded and re-uploaded to Shopify.
3. Exact Data Mapping: The Blueprint
Ecwid's API structure maps well to Shopify's REST API.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| Ecwid Field (Source) | Shopify Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
id |
id (Product API) |
Shopify generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
name |
title |
Direct string transfer. |
sku |
variants[].sku |
Ecwid SKU is at product level, Shopify at variant level. |
price |
variants[].price |
Price per variant in Shopify. |
description |
body_html |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading to Shopify CDN. |
categories |
collections |
Ecwid categories become Shopify collections. |
options |
options and variants |
Ecwid product options map well to Shopify variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| Ecwid Field | Shopify Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
email |
email |
Unique identifier. |
password |
password (on create) |
Requires password reset. Ecwid and Shopify use different hashing. Customers must reset passwords. |
billingAddress |
addresses[] |
Ecwid addresses map to Shopify addresses array. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| Ecwid Field | Shopify Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
orderNumber |
name (order number) |
Preserve Ecwid order number in Shopify name field. |
paymentStatus |
financial_status, fulfillment_status |
Map Ecwid order statuses to Shopify's dual status system. |
total |
total_price |
Direct mapping with currency conversion if needed. |
4. The Toolkit: Selecting Your Vehicle
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Migration Shop, LitExtension, Cart2Cart
Specialized tools that connect via Ecwid API and Shopify Admin API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles API complexity, preserves relationships, creates redirects.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($150 - $400).
Option B: Custom Script
Tools: Ecwid REST API + Shopify Admin API
- ✅ Pros: Full control, can customize mapping.
- ❌ Cons: Requires developer ($100-$200/hr), 30+ hours.
5. Execution Protocol: Step-by-Step
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (Shopify):
Create Shopify store. Enable password protection during migration.
1.2. Prepare Source (Ecwid):
Generate API keys in Ecwid admin (Settings > API). Note your Store ID and API credentials.
Phase 2: The Connection Setup
2.1. Shopify API Access:
Create private app in Shopify with read/write permissions.
2.2. Ecwid API:
Use API keys from Ecwid. Migration tool authenticates via Ecwid REST API.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
- Use Automated Tool: Recommended for handling Ecwid API and Shopify mapping.
- Create 301 Redirects: Critical for SEO preservation from Ecwid URLs to Shopify URLs.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
4.1. Customer Communication:
Notify customers about the migration. They'll need to reset passwords.
4.2. Verify Products:
Check all products migrated correctly. Verify images, prices, and variants.
6. Financial Breakdown: Cost of Migration (2025)
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
7. Troubleshooting & SEO Preservation
Common Challenges
- API Rate Limits: Ecwid API has rate limits. Migration tools handle this automatically.
- Product Variants: Ecwid and Shopify handle variants similarly, but verify mapping.
- Image Migration: Ecwid images need to be downloaded and re-uploaded to Shopify's CDN.
The 301 Redirect Strategy
Ecwid URLs differ from Shopify URLs. Automated migration tools create redirects, but verify in Shopify admin.
Ready to Move to a Complete Platform?
Migrating from Ecwid to Shopify provides a complete, standalone eCommerce platform with better control, features, and growth potential. Ecwid's API access makes migration more straightforward than some platforms.