A WooCommerce to Shopify migration typically costs $1,500–$5,000 for a small to mid-sized store with professional help, and more for large catalogs or heavily customized sites. Expect three to six weeks from start to launch. The part that matters most isn't the product import; it's protecting your SEO with proper redirects, and I'll give you the full checklist below.
I'm Michael, a web developer who works with both WordPress and Shopify. I've built WordPress sites like Scratch Pet Food and eDispatches, and Shopify stores for Katin USA, Scarlet, Viviva Colors and Tribe Organics. So I don't have a platform religion. WooCommerce is fine for some stores. But when owners are tired of plugin conflicts, security updates and hosting headaches, Shopify is usually where they end up.
WooCommerce to Shopify migration cost
| Approach | Typical cost (2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| DIY with a migration app | $0–$500 + your time | Very small, simple catalogs |
| Migration app + developer cleanup | $750–$2,500 | Small stores with a decent existing theme |
| Full professional migration | $1,500–$5,000 | Most small and mid-sized stores |
| Migration + new custom design | $3,000–$10,000 | Stores that want a fresh look too |
| Large/complex migration | $10,000–$25,000+ | Thousands of SKUs, custom logic, integrations |
These are typical ranges. For comparison, my online store builds start at $2,500, and most land between $2,500 and $8,000. A migration with a refreshed design usually sits within that range. Every project gets a fixed quote first.
What pushes the cost up
- Number of products and variants. Hundreds of products with many variants takes more mapping and testing.
- Messy data. Inconsistent attributes, missing images and duplicate products need cleanup.
- Custom WooCommerce functionality. Custom plugins, product configurators or pricing rules may need rebuilding as Shopify apps or theme code.
- Subscriptions. Moving active subscriptions requires care so customers aren't double-charged or dropped.
- Integrations. ERPs, warehouses, accounting software and CRMs need reconnecting.
- Blog content. Migrating hundreds of WordPress posts is doable but adds time.
What can and can't be migrated
Usually migratable:
- Products, variants, images and descriptions
- Product categories (as Shopify collections)
- Customers (names, emails, addresses)
- Historical orders
- Blog posts and pages
- Reviews (with the right app)
- Gift cards and discount codes (often recreated)
Not migratable or needs workarounds:
- Customer passwords. They're encrypted. Customers get an account invite email instead.
- Plugin-specific data. Some custom fields need manual mapping.
- URL structure. Shopify uses fixed patterns like /products/ and /collections/. You can't keep WooCommerce's exact URLs, which is why redirects matter.
Migration timeline
| Week | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 | Audit current store, export data, plan URL mapping, agree design direction |
| 2–3 | Set up Shopify, build or customize theme, import products and customers |
| 3–4 | Configure payments, shipping, taxes, apps, emails; build redirect map |
| 4–5 | Full testing: orders, checkout, mobile, redirects, analytics |
| 5–6 | Launch, DNS switch, post-launch monitoring |
Small, clean stores can move faster. Large stores with custom features can take longer. I'd avoid launching right before a big sales period like Black Friday; launch in a quieter month and give yourself a buffer.
The WooCommerce to Shopify SEO checklist
This is the part that protects years of work. If you skip it, you can lose a big chunk of organic traffic overnight.
Before migration
- Crawl your current site and export every URL (products, categories, pages, posts, images if they get traffic)
- Export your top pages from Google Search Console and Google Analytics
- Record current page titles and meta descriptions
- Note your best-ranking pages and keywords so you can check them after launch
- Back up the full WooCommerce site and database
During migration
- Keep product names, descriptions and page titles the same where they're performing well
- Keep product handles (slugs) as close as possible to the old ones
- Build a 301 redirect map: every old URL to its closest new equivalent
- Redirect old categories to matching collections
- Redirect blog posts to their new blog URLs
- Don't redirect everything to the homepage; that's treated almost like deleting the page
- Set up image alt text
- Check canonical tags and make sure the store isn't set to hide from search engines
At launch
- Import redirects into Shopify (Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects, or via bulk import)
- Test a sample of old URLs by hand
- Verify the domain in Google Search Console and submit the new sitemap
- Reconnect Google Analytics, Meta pixel and any ad conversion tracking
- Check structured data for products shows correctly
After launch (first 4–8 weeks)
- Monitor Search Console for 404 errors and fix them with new redirects
- Watch rankings for your key pages
- Check that Google Shopping feeds are approved
- Keep the old hosting account available for a short period in case you need to retrieve anything
Small ranking fluctuations in the first few weeks are normal. A sustained drop usually means something was missed, most often redirects. If you want ongoing help after launch, my SEO services are month-to-month.
Should you migrate at all?
Moving from WooCommerce to Shopify often makes sense if:
- You spend more time on plugin updates and hosting than on selling
- Your site breaks after updates
- Checkout is slow or unreliable
- You want a simpler admin for your team
- Security worries keep you up at night
Staying on WooCommerce can make sense if:
- You rely heavily on WordPress content and custom functionality
- Your store works well and you have good support
- You need very specific customizations Shopify would make awkward
If WooCommerce works but needs improvement, WordPress development might be the cheaper fix.
Hidden costs after migration
Plan for Shopify's monthly plan, app subscriptions and payment fees. It's worth comparing those to your current hosting, plugin licenses and maintenance time. I break down ongoing costs in how much does a Shopify store cost to build in 2026.
Preparing your team and customers
A migration isn't just technical. People need to know what's changing.
Your team
- Train staff on the Shopify admin before launch: orders, refunds, inventory, discounts
- Document any new workflows, like how wholesale orders or subscriptions are handled
- Decide who handles customer questions during the first few weeks
Your customers
- Send a short email announcing the new store and what's better about it
- Explain that they'll need to activate their account, since passwords can't be moved
- Make sure discount codes and gift cards they already have still work
- Keep your support channels clearly visible in case anything looks unfamiliar
Pick the right launch window
Launch early in the week, during a quiet period, when you and your developer are available to watch closely. Avoid launching right before a holiday weekend or a big promotion. Keep a short "freeze" on product changes in WooCommerce during the final data export, so nothing gets lost between systems.
Common migration mistakes
- Redirecting everything to the homepage instead of matching pages one-to-one
- Forgetting image URLs that get traffic from Google Images
- Dropping product reviews that took years to collect
- Not testing real orders end to end, including tax, shipping and emails
- Losing tracking because pixels weren't reconnected
- Launching without checking Search Console for errors in the following weeks
Each of these is easy to prevent with a checklist and enough testing time. That testing time is a big part of what you're paying for in a professional migration.
Next step
If you're thinking of moving, see my Shopify migration service, or send me your current store URL. I'll review it and come back with a fixed quote, a realistic timeline and an honest opinion on whether migrating is worth it for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify?
DIY with a migration app can cost under $500. A professional migration typically runs $1,500 to $5,000 for small to mid-sized stores, and $5,000 to $20,000 or more for large catalogs or complex custom functionality.
Will I lose my SEO rankings if I move from WooCommerce to Shopify?
You shouldn't if the migration is done properly. The keys are 301 redirects from every old URL, keeping page titles and content, and resubmitting your sitemap. Small temporary fluctuations are normal.
Can I migrate customer passwords from WooCommerce to Shopify?
No. Passwords are stored encrypted and cannot be transferred. Customers are imported and then invited to activate their Shopify accounts, usually by email.
How long does a WooCommerce to Shopify migration take?
Most small and mid-sized migrations take three to six weeks, including design, data import, testing and launch. Very large or complex stores take longer.