WooCommerce to Shopify
Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify is more than a platform switch; it's a transition from self-hosted complexity to a fully managed, scalable eCommerce solution. In 2025, with Shopify's robust infrastructure, built-in hosting, and extensive app ecosystem, the case for migration has never been stronger for growing businesses.
This comprehensive technical blueprint is designed for store owners, developers, and CTOs. We will dissect the data structures, exact field mappings, cost analysis, and step-by-step execution required to move your WooCommerce store to Shopify without losing a single byte of data.
1. The Strategic Pivot: Why Leave WooCommerce?
WooCommerce is powerful, but it often becomes a maintenance burden for scaling businesses. Moving to Shopify opens specific opportunities:
💰 Hosting & Infrastructure Costs
The WooCommerce Pain: You're responsible for hosting, security updates, SSL certificates, backups, and server maintenance. A fully optimized WooCommerce store can cost $100-$500/month in hosting alone, plus developer time for updates.
The Shopify Gain: Shopify includes enterprise-grade hosting, CDN, SSL, and security in one monthly fee ($29-$299/month). No server management, no security patches, no downtime from updates.
🚀 Performance & Scalability
The WooCommerce Pain: Performance depends on your hosting, caching plugins, and optimization efforts. Traffic spikes can crash your site, requiring expensive scaling solutions.
The Shopify Gain: Shopify's infrastructure automatically scales to handle traffic spikes. Built-in CDN, optimized databases, and global edge locations ensure fast load times worldwide.
🛠 Maintenance & Updates
The WooCommerce Pain: WordPress, WooCommerce, themes, and plugins require constant updates. One incompatible update can break your store, requiring developer intervention ($100-$200/hr).
The Shopify Gain: Shopify handles all platform updates automatically. Apps update independently without breaking your store. No maintenance windows, no downtime.
⚡ Payment Processing
The WooCommerce Pain: Payment gateways require separate setup, PCI compliance considerations, and transaction fees vary by gateway.
The Shopify Gain: Shopify Payments is built-in with competitive rates. No transaction fees when using Shopify Payments. Simplified PCI compliance through Shopify's infrastructure.
2. The Pre-Migration Architecture Audit
Before touching any data, you must map the terrain. WooCommerce and Shopify use fundamentally different architectures.
A. Understanding the Architecture Disconnect
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that stores data in WordPress's MySQL database using custom post types and post meta. Shopify is a hosted SaaS platform with a REST Admin API and GraphQL API for data access.
- WooCommerce Version: Are you on WooCommerce 3.x, 4.x, or 5.x? Different versions store data differently, especially for orders and products.
- WordPress Multisite: Are you running WooCommerce on WordPress Multisite? Shopify doesn't have native multisite, requiring separate stores or Shopify Plus organization accounts.
- Custom Post Types: Do you use custom post types beyond products? These will need to be recreated as Shopify metafields or custom apps.
- Extensions & Plugins: List every WooCommerce extension. Many will need Shopify app equivalents.
3. Exact Data Mapping: The Blueprint
This is the most critical section for developers. This is how WooCommerce entities translate to Shopify via the Admin API.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| WooCommerce Field (Source) | Shopify Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
ID (wp_posts) |
id (Product API) |
Warning: Shopify generates new IDs. Use SKU or handle for mapping. |
post_title |
title |
Direct string transfer. |
_sku (meta) |
variants[].sku |
Crucial for inventory syncing. Shopify SKUs are at variant level. |
_regular_price |
variants[].price |
WooCommerce stores one price per product. Shopify requires price per variant. |
_sale_price |
variants[].compare_at_price |
Shopify uses compare_at_price to show "was/now" pricing. |
post_content |
body_html |
Includes HTML. Images embedded here need to be re-uploaded to Shopify's CDN. |
post_excerpt |
metafields or custom field |
Shopify doesn't have native short description. Use metafields or append to body_html. |
post_status ('publish') |
status ('active') |
'publish' = 'active', 'draft' = 'draft', 'private' = 'draft'. |
product_cat (taxonomy) |
collections |
WooCommerce categories become Shopify collections. Multiple categories = multiple collections. |
pa_size, pa_color (attributes) |
options and variants |
WooCommerce attributes become Shopify product options. Variations become Shopify variants. |
_stock, _manage_stock |
variants[].inventory_quantity, inventory_management |
Stock is managed at variant level in Shopify. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| WooCommerce Field | Shopify Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
user_email |
email |
The unique identifier. Duplicates will cause failure. |
user_pass |
password (on create) |
Requires password reset. WooCommerce uses PHPass hashing. Shopify uses bcrypt. Customers must reset passwords via email invitation or password reset flow. |
billing_first_name, billing_last_name |
first_name, last_name |
Direct mapping. |
billing_address_1, billing_city, etc. |
addresses[].address1, addresses[].city |
WooCommerce stores billing/shipping separately. Shopify uses addresses array with default flags. |
customer_user (meta on order) |
customer_id (on order) |
Link orders to customers using email matching if customer IDs don't align. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| WooCommerce Field | Shopify Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
ID (order post) |
order_number or name |
Shopify generates new IDs. Preserve order number in name field (e.g., "#1001"). |
post_status |
financial_status, fulfillment_status |
Must map manually: 'processing' -> financial_status: 'paid', fulfillment_status: 'unfulfilled' 'completed' -> financial_status: 'paid', fulfillment_status: 'fulfilled' 'cancelled' -> financial_status: 'voided' |
_order_total |
total_price |
Shopify stores prices as strings in decimal format. |
_order_date |
created_at |
Convert to ISO 8601 format for Shopify API. |
_billing_email |
email |
Used to link order to customer account. |
4. The Toolkit: Selecting Your Vehicle
You have three vectors of attack for this migration. Choose based on budget and technical capability.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Migration Shop, LitExtension, Cart2Cart
These are SaaS platforms that connect to both stores via API/Bridge and transfer data.
- ✅ Pros: Zero coding, preserves relationships, handles password resets, 24/7 support, creates 301 redirects.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data volume ($100 - $500).
Option B: Custom Script (Shopify API)
Tools: WooCommerce REST API + Shopify Admin API
Build a custom migration script using both platforms' REST APIs.
- ✅ Pros: Full control, can customize mapping logic, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Requires developer ($100-$200/hr), time-consuming (40+ hours), must handle rate limits, error handling complex.
Option C: Manual CSV Export
Tools: WooCommerce Export + Shopify Import
Exporting products to CSV and importing via Shopify admin.
- ✅ Pros: Cheapest option (monetarily), total control.
- ❌ Cons: High risk of data loss, breaks variants, cannot migrate customers/orders, extremely slow, no password migration.
5. Execution Protocol: Step-by-Step
We will proceed using the Automated Cloud Migration method as it is the industry standard for minimizing downtime.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (Shopify):
Create a new Shopify store (use development store or password-protected store). Choose a theme but don't customize heavily yet.
Tip: Enable password protection in Online Store > Preferences to keep store private during migration.
1.2. Prepare Source (WooCommerce):
Ensure WooCommerce REST API is enabled (WooCommerce > Settings > Advanced > REST API). Create an API key with read permissions. Keep store live during initial migration.
Phase 2: The Connection Setup
2.1. Shopify API Access:
In Shopify admin, go to Settings > Apps and sales channels > Develop apps. Create a private app with read/write permissions for products, customers, orders, and collections.
2.2. WooCommerce API:
Create a REST API key in WooCommerce with read permissions. The migration tool will use this to access your data.
2.3. Verify Connection:
The migration tool will test both API connections. Ensure your WooCommerce site is publicly accessible (not behind maintenance mode).
Phase 3: Entity Configuration (The Critical Path)
Select what to move. Be careful with these specific settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Check this box. It creates URL redirects in Shopify to map old WooCommerce URLs to new Shopify URLs. Without this, your SEO dies.
- Migrate Product Categories as Collections: WooCommerce categories become Shopify collections. Ensure this is enabled.
- Migrate Product Images: Images are downloaded from WooCommerce and uploaded to Shopify's CDN. This is critical for product display.
- Handle Product Variants: WooCommerce variable products become Shopify products with variants. Ensure attribute mapping is correct.
- Customer Password Handling: Customers will need to reset passwords. Plan an email campaign to notify them.
Phase 4: The Full Migration
Launch the process. The migration runs on cloud servers, so you can close your browser. Monitor progress via email notifications.
Time Estimation: 5,000 products + 10,000 orders usually takes 2-4 hours.
Phase 5: Post-Migration Cleanup
5.1. Verify Data:
Check products, collections, customers, and orders in Shopify admin. Verify images loaded correctly.
5.2. Test Customer Accounts:
Send password reset emails to test customers. Verify they can log in and see order history.
5.3. Configure Payment & Shipping:
Set up Shopify Payments or connect other payment gateways. Configure shipping zones and rates.
5.4. Theme Customization:
Now customize your Shopify theme to match your brand. Products are already in place.
6. Financial Breakdown: Cost of Migration (2025)
What does it actually cost? Here is a realistic breakdown for a medium-sized store (2,000 Products, 10,000 Orders, 5,000 Customers).
DIY / Custom Script
Developer Time
- Developer: $100-$200/hr
- Time: 20+ Hours
- Risk: High
- Ongoing Support: Extra
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
- Migration Fee: ~$169
- Redirects/SEO: ~$80
- Time: 3 Hours
- Risk: Low
- Support: Included
Agency "White Glove"
Starting Cost
- Full Service
- Theme migration included
- Time: 2-4 Weeks
- Design adjustments
7. Troubleshooting & SEO Preservation
Common Errors
- Missing Images: If images fail to migrate, check that your WooCommerce site is publicly accessible. Images are downloaded during migration and uploaded to Shopify's CDN.
- Product Variants Messed Up: WooCommerce variable products with multiple attributes need careful mapping. Ensure all product attributes are selected for migration.
- Collection Structure: WooCommerce categories with subcategories become flat collections in Shopify. You may need to manually reorganize collection hierarchy.
- Order Status Mismatches: WooCommerce order statuses don't directly map to Shopify's financial_status and fulfillment_status. Review and adjust mapping.
The 301 Redirect Strategy
WooCommerce URL: example.com/product/product-name/
Shopify URL: example.com/products/product-name
The automated migration tool should handle this, but verify redirects in Shopify admin (Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects).
Customer Password Migration
WooCommerce and Shopify use different password hashing algorithms. Customers cannot use their old passwords. Plan for:
- Email campaign notifying customers of the migration
- Password reset flow via Shopify's customer account pages
- Consider using Shopify's customer account invite feature to send reset emails
Ready to Simplify Your eCommerce?
Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify is a significant technical undertaking, but the ROI is clear. You're moving from self-hosted complexity to a fully managed, scalable platform. By following this data mapping guide and using the right automated tools, you can ensure that your data is preserved while your infrastructure is simplified.