How to migrate from Shopify to WordPress : A Step-by-Step Guide

Move from Shopify to WooCommerce without losing SEO or orders. Step-by-step migration, lower fees, full checkout control—own your store and scale on WordPress.

Updated: Aug 31, 2025

Getting started

Introdution

Shopify is one of the most popular ecommerce platforms because it makes launching an online store incredibly simple. With hosting, payments, and storefront templates bundled together, it’s a natural choice for first-time sellers.

But as your store grows, many merchants hit a ceiling. Shopify’s ease of use comes with trade-offs that limit flexibility, increase long-term costs, and reduce ownership. Here are the issues merchants most often face:

Transaction fees & app costs: Even on Shopify’s paid plans, you pay 2% transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments. Add in apps for subscriptions, bundles, custom checkout, and costs creep up fast.
Checkout limitations: Customizing Shopify’s checkout is only available on the highest-tier Plus plan ($2,000+/month). Most merchants can’t change the flow, upsells, or fields.
Feature lock-in: Shopify’s app ecosystem is powerful, but many critical features (subscriptions, wholesale pricing, advanced shipping) require third-party apps. This means recurring fees and dependency on external developers.
Content flexibility: Shopify is built for products and collections. Adding blogs, resource hubs, landing pages, or complex content types often feels forced.
International selling: Multi-currency, multilingual, and region-specific pricing require workarounds or expensive apps.
SEO & performance control: Shopify manages hosting, but you have limited control over technical SEO, Core Web Vitals, and server-side configurations.
Ownership: Your store is tied to Shopify’s platform. If they change rules, pricing, or policies, you adapt — you don’t fully own your store.

That’s why many merchants migrate from Shopify to WordPress + WooCommerce. WooCommerce offers:

No transaction fees (beyond Stripe/PayPal).
Full checkout customization at any scale.
Unlimited product types — physical, digital, subscriptions, memberships, bookings.
Extensive SEO control with plugins like Rank Math and Yoast.
Ownership of code, data, and hosting — no lock-in.
Lower long-term costs since most features come from free or one-time plugins, not ongoing app subscriptions.

In this guide, we’ll break down:

A Shopify vs WooCommerce comparison.
A pre-migration checklist to prepare your store.
A step-by-step migration process (products, customers, orders, SEO).
A post-migration checklist to make sure sales, payments, and tracking are stable.
FAQs covering cost, timeline, and risks.

Shopify vs WordPress & WooCommerce: Which CMS Is Better for You?

When deciding whether to leave Shopify, it helps to compare it directly with WordPress across the areas that usually matter most. Here’s the breakdown:

Feature	Shopify	WooCommerce (on WordPress)
Setup & Ease of Use	Hosted, all-in-one. Store can be live in hours. Minimal technical work required.	Requires hosting + WordPress install. Slightly steeper start, but modern hosts offer 1-click WooCommerce setups. More moving parts, but also more flexibility.
Costs & Fees	Monthly subscription + app fees. 2% transaction fee unless you use Shopify Payments. Premium apps often $10–$50/month each.	Free core plugin. Pay only for hosting + domain + optional premium plugins/themes. No platform transaction fees. Long-term usually cheaper.
Checkout & Payments	Checkout customization locked behind Shopify Plus ($2,000+/mo). Limited payment providers in some countries.	Full control over checkout flow, upsells, custom fields. Supports 100+ payment gateways. No platform restrictions.
Design Flexibility	Theme system with restrictions. Deep customization requires Liquid coding.	Thousands of themes + page builders (Elementor, Gutenberg, Divi). Pixel-level control without coding.
Product Types	Strong for physical products. Digital goods, subscriptions, bookings, or memberships require paid apps.	Native support for physical, digital, virtual products. Plugins for subscriptions, memberships, bookings, courses — often one-time cost.
Scalability	Highly scalable, managed servers. But scaling requires higher-tier plans.	Scales with your hosting. WooCommerce powers stores with 100k+ SKUs. Enterprise hosting options available.
SEO Control	Basic SEO fields available. Limited control of technical SEO (schema, redirects, Core Web Vitals tuning).	Full SEO control: URLs, metadata, schema, redirects, sitemaps. Integrates with advanced SEO tools.
Apps & Integrations	8,000+ apps. Many critical features live behind recurring fees.	60,000+ plugins in WordPress ecosystem. Most are free or one-time. Direct API integrations possible without recurring fees.
Ownership	Shopify owns the platform. You rent the store; code and data portability is limited.	You own everything — files, database, hosting. Complete portability and no vendor lock-in.

Key Takeaways

Shopify is unbeatable for speed of launch: if you want a store up tonight, it’s hard to beat.
WooCommerce is unbeatable for long-term ownership: you trade a bit more setup effort for complete control, zero transaction fees, and limitless customization.
Most merchants migrate once Shopify’s apps, transaction fees, and checkout limitations start cutting into margins or blocking growth.

Why WordPress + WooCommerce is Ideal for You

Moving from Shopify to WordPress with WooCommerce isn’t just a platform swap — it’s stepping into an ecosystem where you own every piece of your store. Here’s how it addresses the exact bottlenecks Shopify merchants face:

1. No more transaction fees eating into your margins

The Shopify problem: Even on paid plans, you pay 2% fees on every sale unless you use Shopify Payments. If you’re processing high volume, those fees add up quickly.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: WooCommerce takes zero cut of your sales. You only pay standard payment gateway fees (Stripe, PayPal, etc.), which means more profit per transaction.

2. Checkout customization without a $2,000+ plan

The Shopify problem: Customizing checkout fields, upsells, and flow is locked behind Shopify Plus, which costs over $2,000/month.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: Full checkout control is included. Add custom fields, upsells, cross-sells, one-click purchases, and subscriptions — all with free or affordable plugins. No paywall around your checkout.

3. Flexibility in product types and business models

The Shopify problem: Physical products work well, but subscriptions, memberships, bookings, or bundles usually require expensive apps.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: Out of the box, WooCommerce supports physical, digital, and downloadable products. With plugins, you can add subscriptions, membership tiers, courses, bookings, or even custom product builders — at a fraction of recurring app costs.

4. Unlimited design freedom for your storefront

The Shopify problem: You’re limited to Shopify’s theme system. Deep customizations often require Liquid coding or a paid developer.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: You can build a store exactly how you envision it. Use themes or drag-and-drop builders like Elementor and Gutenberg. You control layout, branding, mobile experience, and CRO-focused designs without being locked into templates.

5. Lower long-term costs

The Shopify problem: The monthly subscription, app fees, and transaction charges stack quickly. A store on the $79/month plan can still end up paying hundreds in app subscriptions alone.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: Hosting is your main fixed cost (usually $10–$40/month for most stores). Plugins are often free or one-time purchases. You scale without your costs ballooning.

6. Full SEO control

The Shopify problem: SEO fields are basic, with little control over technical SEO, Core Web Vitals optimization, or structured data.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: WordPress is built for publishing and SEO. With plugins like Rank Math or Yoast, you can manage metadata, schema, redirects, sitemaps, and performance tuning at a granular level — giving your store more organic reach.

7. Ownership of your data and platform

The Shopify problem: Shopify is proprietary. If they change terms, pricing, or rules, you adapt. Your data portability is limited.

The WordPress + WooCommerce fix: You own everything — your database, files, hosting, and code. You’re never locked in, and you can move your store to another host at any time.

In short: Shopify is a great launchpad, but WordPress + WooCommerce is a long-term business platform. You get lower costs, full flexibility, and complete ownership — without sacrificing scalability.

Pre-Migration Checklist: Preparing to Move from Shopify to WordPress

Before you move your store, preparation is key. Unlike a simple site, ecommerce migrations involve products, customers, orders, and payment flows — all of which need to survive the transition. Here’s what to do before touching WordPress:

1. Export all your Shopify data

Products: In Shopify admin → Products → Export. Download as CSV. This will include product names, descriptions, prices, SKUs, and inventory counts.
Customers: Export a customer CSV from Shopify’s Customers tab. Keep it safe for importing into WooCommerce.
Orders: Export order history if you want sales records for reporting or continuity.
Discount codes: Export coupons and promotions for re-creating in WooCommerce.

2. Back up media and assets

Download all product images, banners, brand logos, and content files.
Keep them in organized folders so you can re-upload easily into WordPress.
Shopify hosts media on its CDN — once you shut Shopify down, those URLs will break if not backed up.

3. Audit your store structure

Note down how collections (categories) and product types are organized.
Decide whether you’ll keep the same structure or streamline categories in WooCommerce.
Plan for attributes (size, color, material) and how they’ll translate into WooCommerce’s product variations.

4. Record your SEO data

Export or crawl your Shopify sitemap to capture all live URLs.
Save page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text for products and collections.
This ensures you can reapply metadata and create redirects later to preserve SEO equity.

5. Review your apps and integrations

Make a list of all Shopify apps you’re using: subscriptions, upsells, shipping calculators, abandoned cart emails, etc.
Find WooCommerce equivalents for each. Many times, the WordPress ecosystem offers a free or one-time cost alternative.
Note any custom code snippets or third-party integrations that will need rebuilding.

6. Analyze your payment and shipping setup

Write down which gateways you’re using (Shopify Payments, PayPal, Stripe, etc.).
Review shipping zones, rates, and rules. You’ll need to recreate these in WooCommerce Shipping settings.
If you offer local delivery or in-store pickup, plan those configurations ahead.

7. Collect design and branding elements

Take screenshots of your current storefront — homepage, product page, cart, checkout. These will guide the rebuild.
Save fonts, color palettes, and logos. While you don’t need to replicate Shopify’s theme exactly, consistency in branding matters.

8. Choose hosting for WordPress + WooCommerce

Shopify handled hosting; now you’ll need your own.
Pick a reliable WooCommerce host (SiteGround, Cloudways, Kinsta, WP Engine).
Create a staging environment where you’ll build and test before going live.

9. Plan your redirect strategy

Every old Shopify URL should point to its new WooCommerce equivalent.
Example: /products/red-shirt should redirect to /product/red-shirt (or whatever structure you choose).
A complete redirect map prevents 404 errors and protects your SEO rankings.

10. Communicate with your customers

Draft an email letting customers know a new site is coming.
Reassure them: accounts, orders, and subscriptions will carry over.
This transparency builds trust and reduces confusion at launch.

Migration Process: How to Move from Shopify to WordPress

Ready to get started? Here are the steps you need to follow to move your Shopify store to WordPress and WooCommerce.

Step 1: Set up WordPress and WooCommerce

Start by preparing your new store environment. Install WordPress on your hosting (ideally a staging domain first). Add the WooCommerce plugin and run through its setup wizard: currency, payment gateways, and shipping basics. Install a lightweight theme that supports WooCommerce (Astra, GeneratePress, Storefront, or Kadence). Configure permalinks to use clean URLs (/product/product-name).

Step 2: Import products from Shopify

Use your Shopify product CSV export. WooCommerce’s built-in CSV importer (Products → Import) lets you map columns like SKU, price, inventory, and description to WooCommerce fields. If you want a more automated option, plugins like Cart2Cart or LitExtension can migrate products, categories, customers, and even order history in bulk. After import, double-check product images, variations (size, color), and stock counts.

Step 3: Transfer customers and orders

WooCommerce’s native importer handles customers as well, but order history often requires a migration plugin. If you want to retain full historical data (for loyalty programs or analytics), tools like Cart2Cart are worth using. After import, test a few customer accounts to make sure logins and details came through.

Step 4: Recreate collections as categories

Shopify’s “collections” map directly to WooCommerce “categories.” Set up your categories and subcategories in WooCommerce, then assign products to the right ones. If you had tags in Shopify, you can import them as WooCommerce product tags for filtering.

Step 5: Upload media and assets

Re-upload product photos, banners, and branding assets into the WordPress Media Library. Assign product images and gallery images where needed. Since Shopify media URLs won’t work once your store is closed, make sure all images are hosted locally on your new site.

Step 6: Configure payment gateways

Set up Stripe, PayPal, or whichever gateways you plan to use under WooCommerce → Settings → Payments. If you had Shopify Payments, you’ll need to switch to Stripe or PayPal directly. Test transactions in sandbox mode before launch.

Step 7: Rebuild shipping rules

Under WooCommerce → Settings → Shipping, configure shipping zones and methods. Recreate any flat-rate, free shipping thresholds, or weight-based rules you had on Shopify. If you were using advanced apps (like real-time carrier rates), find the WooCommerce plugin equivalent.

Step 8: Recreate discounts and coupons

Manually add any coupons or discount codes you exported from Shopify. WooCommerce’s coupon system is flexible, and extensions like WooCommerce Smart Coupons can replicate even advanced promotion logic.

Step 9: Rebuild your storefront design

This is where WooCommerce shines. Use Elementor, Gutenberg, or your chosen page builder to design home, category, and product pages. Refer back to the screenshots you took from Shopify for consistency — but also take advantage of the flexibility to improve navigation, CTAs, and CRO elements.

Step 10: Reapply SEO essentials

Install Rank Math or Yoast. Reapply page titles, meta descriptions, and alt text from your SEO export. Generate a sitemap and connect it to Google Search Console. Set up a redirect plugin (e.g., Redirection) to implement your Shopify → WooCommerce URL mapping.

Step 11: Test the full purchase flow

Place test orders using real products and live payment gateways. Verify:

Cart → Checkout → Payment flow.
Order confirmation emails.
Customer account creation and login.
Inventory updates after purchase.

Fix any issues before launch — broken carts or failed payments kill trust instantly.

Step 12: Launch your new store

When everything is tested, update your DNS to point your custom domain to the WordPress host. Keep Shopify live for a short overlap (unindexed) in case you need to reference old data. Monitor the new store closely in the first 48 hours: orders, traffic, and analytics.

Post-Migration Checklist: Ensuring a Smooth Transition

Once your WordPress site is live, you’re not done yet. The launch is only half the battle — the real work is validating everything works exactly as expected. Here’s how to do it thoroughly:

1. Verify product data

Go through a sample of imported products. Check titles, descriptions, SKUs, inventory counts, and variations. Make sure images are assigned correctly and product galleries display properly.

2. Test checkout with live payments

Place at least one real order using each payment gateway (Stripe, PayPal, etc.). Confirm that:

Payments are processed correctly.
Order confirmation emails are sent to both customer and admin.
Inventory reduces automatically.
Refunds and cancellations work as expected.

3. Re-check shipping setup

Test checkout with different addresses to ensure shipping zones and rates apply correctly. If you offer free shipping over a threshold, verify it triggers at the right subtotal.

4. Validate SEO setup

Submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console. Crawl the site with a tool like Screaming Frog to catch broken links or missing metadata. Confirm 301 redirects from Shopify URLs are working — no redirect chains or 404s.

5. Review analytics and tracking

Check GA4, Tag Manager, and any pixels (Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn) to ensure events like “Add to Cart” and “Purchase” are firing. If you run ads, reconnect your new site to conversion tracking before scaling campaigns again.

6. Monitor site performance

Run PageSpeed Insights or GTMetrix tests. WooCommerce lets you fine-tune caching, image optimization, and scripts in ways Shopify didn’t. Optimize until Core Web Vitals are in the green.

7. Secure your store

Install a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri. Enable daily backups with UpdraftPlus or your host. Use strong passwords, 2FA for admin users, and consider a firewall. Shopify managed this for you before; now it’s your responsibility.

8. Rebuild customer accounts and notify users

If you imported customers, send an email explaining how to log in to their new account. Provide password reset instructions if necessary. For subscription customers, reassure them that billing and access continue uninterrupted.

9. Run operational checks

Test order emails for formatting.
Verify tax rules are correct.
Check inventory syncing if using external tools (ERP, POS).
Test any integrations you replaced from Shopify apps (email automation, upsell tools, etc.).

10. Communicate the launch

Email your customers announcing the new store. Highlight improvements (faster site, new features, easier checkout). Reassure them their data and past orders are safe. For returning customers, consider a launch discount code to encourage first purchases on the new platform.

This checklist closes the loop so the migration doesn’t just “work” but also protects revenue, SEO, and customer trust.

Get Your Shopify to WordPress Migration Cost & Free Consultation

You’ve seen what it takes to move from Shopify to WordPress — but every site is different. The fastest way to know your exact cost and timeline is to use our CMS Migration Calculator.

You can also schedule a free 30 min consultation on your migration plans – our team can walk you through the process.- no strings attached.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my products or customers if I move from Shopify to WooCommerce?

No. Shopify lets you export products, customers, and orders as CSV files. You can import these into WooCommerce manually or use a migration plugin like Cart2Cart or LitExtension for bulk transfers. With proper prep, your catalog and customer data will remain intact.

Can my order history be migrated too?

Yes, but not with Shopify’s built-in export alone. Order history often requires a migration plugin to transfer properly. Many merchants use Cart2Cart to bring across past orders so reports, customer loyalty data, and purchase histories are preserved.

How long does a Shopify to WooCommerce migration take?

A simple store with a few dozen products can often be migrated in under a week. Larger stores with thousands of SKUs, historical orders, and custom apps may take 2–3 weeks. The timeline also depends on whether you’re redesigning during migration.

Will my SEO rankings be affected during the Shopify to WooCommerce migration?

If you map Shopify URLs to their WooCommerce equivalents and set up 301 redirects, your SEO should remain stable. In fact, many stores see improvement because WordPress + WooCommerce gives you full control over metadata, schema, Core Web Vitals, and site speed.

Can I keep the same domain name when switching?

Yes. Once the WooCommerce site is ready, simply point your domain DNS to the new host. Visitors will see the same URL — just with your new store behind it.

What about my Shopify apps — can they transfer?

Shopify apps don’t transfer directly, but almost every feature has an equivalent plugin in WooCommerce. Examples: subscriptions (WooCommerce Subscriptions), abandoned cart recovery (Abandoned Cart Lite), and advanced shipping (Table Rate Shipping). In many cases, WooCommerce plugins are free or one-time costs instead of monthly fees.

Will payments still work the same way?

Yes. WooCommerce supports Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.net, and 100+ other gateways. You’ll no longer be restricted to Shopify Payments, and WooCommerce won’t take any platform transaction fees.

Is WooCommerce secure enough for ecommerce?

Yes, provided you set it up correctly. Use a secure host, enable SSL, keep plugins updated, and add a security plugin like Wordfence or Sucuri. With daily backups and a firewall, WooCommerce is as secure as any hosted ecommerce platform.

How much does it cost to migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?

Costs depend on your store size and complexity. A small store might migrate for $500–$1,500, while larger or customized stores may be higher. The ongoing costs are often lower than Shopify since you won’t pay transaction fees or multiple app subscriptions.

Contact us

Ready to move from Shopify to WordPress and WooCommerce?

Drop us a line to get started. You can also book a discovery call with a migration expert from Dellos.