Thinking about a BigCommerce to Shopify migration? Many store owners make the switch for better apps, smoother checkout, and easier day-to-day management. This guide walks you through the process in plain steps so you can move with less risk and keep your sales flowing.
If you are still deciding between platforms, our detailed Shopify vs BigCommerce comparison can help you weigh the differences before you start.
Why Merchants Choose to Migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify
Shopify’s larger app store, conversion-focused checkout, and flexible themes attract many growing brands. Shop Pay and native tools often help lift conversion rates. Pricing stays more predictable as you scale, and changes to marketing or product pages usually take less developer time.
Recent platform fee updates on BigCommerce have also pushed some merchants to re-evaluate total costs. If your store needs faster iteration, stronger social selling options, or a simpler admin experience, the move can make sense. For hands-on support, many brands turn to professional Shopify migration services.
What Data Moves (and What Doesn’t)
Most core store data transfers cleanly:
- Products (titles, descriptions, variants, SKUs, prices, inventory, images)
- Customers (names, emails, addresses)
- Orders and order history
- Categories (mapped to Shopify collections)
- Basic SEO metadata
What usually does not transfer automatically:
- Customer passwords (shoppers will reset them on first login)
- Custom themes and design
- Many third-party apps and custom code
- Complex product modifiers or certain B2B rules
For a deeper look at field mapping and cleanup, see our Shopify data migration guide.
Pre-Migration Planning Checklist
Start here to avoid costly surprises later.
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Audit your full catalog, customer list, orders, and content pages.
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Export a complete backup of products, customers, and orders from BigCommerce.
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Crawl your site and list every important URL (products, categories, blogs, pages).
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Pull recent Google Search Console data to see which pages drive traffic.
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List every app and integration you currently use and find Shopify equivalents.
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Decide on a Shopify plan that matches your sales volume and needs.
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Set a content freeze date so no new products or price changes happen during the final export.
This preparation protects rankings and shortens the actual switch time.
Step-by-Step BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Process
1. Set Up Your New Shopify Store
Create your Shopify account and choose the right plan. Select a theme that fits your brand. Our guide to Shopify themes can help you pick one that matches your style. Configure basic settings for payments, taxes, shipping zones, and currencies while the store stays password-protected.
2. Export Data from BigCommerce
Use BigCommerce’s built-in export tools:
- Products → Export (choose the Bulk Edit template for best results)
- Customers → Export
- Orders → Export
Download CSVs for products (including variants and images), customers, and orders. Save everything in a safe place as your backup.
3. Choose Your Migration Method
Three common paths exist:
- Manual CSV import – Best for small catalogs. Clean and map fields yourself, then upload into Shopify.
- Migration tools – Options like LitExtension, Cart2Cart, or Matrixify handle mapping, variants, and bulk transfer. Run a free demo first. Check our list of Shopify migration tools for current recommendations.
- Agency or specialist – Recommended for large catalogs, custom features, or when you want zero downtime.
Match the method to your store size and technical comfort level.
4. Import and Clean Your Data in Shopify
Import products first and check variants, images, and inventory. Then bring in customers and orders. Clean up any mismatched fields, fix HTML in descriptions, and map categories to Shopify collections. Validate a sample of records before moving everything.
5. Rebuild Design, Navigation, and Apps
Themes do not transfer. Customize your chosen Shopify theme or build a new one. Recreate menus, homepage sections, and key pages (About, Contact, policies). Install replacement apps for reviews, email, upsells, subscriptions, or inventory tools. Browse our recommended Shopify apps to find strong alternatives.
6. Protect SEO with 301 Redirects
This step matters most for rankings. BigCommerce and Shopify use different URL structures, so almost every product, collection, and page URL will change.
Create a full redirect map:
- Old product URLs → new /products/ paths
- Old categories → new /collections/ paths
- Blog posts and static pages to their new locations
Upload the redirects in Shopify before launch. Carry over meta titles, descriptions, and image alt text. Submit your new sitemap in Google Search Console after going live. For detailed steps, follow our Shopify SEO guide on setting up 301 redirects.
Skipping or incomplete redirects is the fastest way to lose organic traffic.
7. Test Everything Thoroughly
Run full test orders with real payment methods. Check shipping rates, tax calculations, discount codes, mobile experience, and email notifications. Verify that images load, search works, and forms submit correctly. Involve a few team members or trusted customers for feedback.
8. Launch and Monitor
Update your domain DNS to point to Shopify. Remove password protection. Keep a close eye on 404 errors, traffic, and conversion rates for the first two weeks. Fix any broken links quickly and watch Search Console for indexing issues.
Common Challenges and How to Handle Them
- URL changes – Solve with complete 301 redirects planned early.
- Variant limits or complex options – Restructure products or use Shopify apps for extra options.
- App gaps – Research replacements during planning, not after launch.
- Customer passwords – Prepare a clear password-reset email sequence.
- Downtime risk – Use a staged cutover and keep the old store live until the new one is fully ready.
Most issues come from rushing the planning or redirect stages. A broader ecommerce replatforming approach can reduce these risks.
How Long Does the Migration Take?
Timelines vary by store complexity:
- Small, simple stores: 1–4 weeks
- Mid-size stores with theme work: 4–8 weeks
- Larger or highly customized stores: 8–16 weeks or more
Factor in testing and redirect mapping rather than just data transfer.
Cost Factors to Expect
Costs depend on catalog size, custom needs, and whether you use tools or hire help. DIY tool-based migrations stay relatively low. Full agency projects for complex stores run higher because of design rebuilds, integrations, and SEO work. Budget also for your new Shopify plan and any premium theme or apps. High-volume brands often consider Shopify Plus for added control and performance.
Post-Migration Tips for a Strong Start
Keep monitoring analytics and Search Console. Encourage customers to reset passwords and update saved info. Review app performance and remove anything unused. Optimize page speed and mobile experience. Use the cleaner Shopify setup to test new marketing features faster than before.
A well-planned BigCommerce to Shopify migration protects your existing traffic and gives you a platform built for easier growth. Focus on preparation, redirects, and thorough testing, and the switch becomes a step forward rather than a setback.