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How to migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce (2025)

Reading Time: 12 minutes

You can migrate Shopify to WooCommerce manually or use the LitExtension migration plugin to automate most of it. 

The manual method involves exporting Shopify data, importing it into WordPress and WooCommerce using plugins, and configuring store settings. 

However, manual migration can be too time-consuming and complex, unless your store is very small and you know what you are doing. 

LitExtension’s service makes life easier by handling the technical side with automated data mapping and transferring all store elements, including products, customers, orders, and related information sites, to your new WooCommerce site. 

Join us below to learn how to transfer Shopify to WooCommerce.

Make email marketing part of your WooCommerce setup with Omnisend

We’ll cover the following steps:

Shopify to WooCommerce: Preparation

1. Back up database

Shopify lets you export CSV files containing your products, customers, orders, gift cards, discount codes, and financial data. This manual method works well for regular backups and before significant store changes to prevent data loss. 

To export CSV files from your Shopify website, follow these steps:

  • From your Shopify admin, go to Products > All products
  • Click Export
  • From the dialog box, choose the products you want to export and the type of CSV file you want to export

Using backup apps

Shopify doesn’t have built-in backup functionality, but third-party apps can do the job for you. Rewind Backups, Matrixify, BackupMaster, and Talon Backups are good options.

These apps are configurable to automatically back up your entire store, protecting against accidental deletions, glitches, hacking attempts, and failed updates. Most provide cloud storage and one-click restoration options.

We recommend combining backup apps with manual backups via CSV downloads to preserve your data and ensure continuity.

2. Create a WooCommerce store

To import to WooCommerce, you need to set up a website first. To do this, you’ll need to install WordPress since WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. Once installed, you can proceed to set up WooCommerce.

To get WooCommerce, go to Plugins in your WordPress admin and click Add New. Search for WooCommerce, and then click Install Now. Once the installation is complete, click Activate Now to launch the WooCommerce Wizard.

plugins
Image via WordPress

Now WooCommerce is up and ready for you to start publishing and selling products. 

Shopify to WooCommerce: Transition

While you can use the WooCommerce Product Importer to import product data from Shopify to WooCommerce, this method requires a lot of manual uploading and might be time-consuming. Instead, you can use a tool to handle your migration!

LitExtension automates the entire process of transferring data from Shopify to WooCommerce for merchants and enables you to import data that you can’t with a simple CSV file.

litextension homepage
Image via LitExtension

To start your migration, simply create a new account on the LitExtension site. 

1. Set up source cart and target cart 

Once you’ve registered with LitExtension, you can immediately start your migration by clicking the Create New Migration button:

creating new migration
Image via LitExtension

Getting started with your Shopify source cart

Next, navigate to the Source Cart Setup section in LitExtension. Select Shopify from the dropdown menu and enter your store’s URL.

source cart setup
Image via LitExtension

To get your Shopify API key for LitExtension, follow these steps:

  1. Log into your Shopify admin panel and go to Settings > Apps and sales channels
  2. Click on Develop apps
  3. Select Create an app and enter an app name
  4. Click on Configure Admin API scopes
  5. In the permissions section, enable all Read_ and Write_ permissions by checking the boxes, then click Save
  6. Return to the top of the page and click Install app in the right corner
  7. Click Install to grant the app access to your data

Preparing your WooCommerce target cart

Now that your Shopify store is connected to LitExtension’s migration system, you can prepare your WooCommerce store to receive the migrated data.

For your target WooCommerce store setup, select WooCommerce from the dropdown menu and enter your website URL.

target cart setup
Image via LitExtension

The next step involves installing the LitExtension Connector, which creates a secure bridge between your stores. Here’s how to handle the Connector installation:

  • Download the LitExtension Connector from the migration setup page
  • After downloading, locate the zip file named le_connector in your downloads folder

You can upload this file to your WooCommerce store using either:

  • Your hosting control panel’s File Manager
  • An FTP client like FileZilla

If using your cPanel File Manager:

  • Navigate to your WooCommerce root directory (typically public_html)
  • Click the Upload button
  • Drag the le_connector.zip file into the upload area
  • Extract the zip file directly from your root directory
  • Look for the Connection was successfully installed message in your LitExtension dashboard to confirm success

If using FileZilla:

  • Connect to your server using your FTP credentials
  • Navigate to your WooCommerce root directory
  • Drag the extracted le_connector folder from your local computer to your server
  • Wait for the connection status to update in your LitExtension dashboard automatically

The Connector remains secure throughout the process, using your unique security token to protect your data during migration.

After successfully connecting both stores, click on Next: Configure your Migration to proceed with selecting which data you want to transfer. Once your migration is complete, you can safely remove the Connector files.

Pro tip:

If you encounter any issues during setup, you can verify the Connector installation by entering your store URL and /le_connector/connector.php in your browser. You should see a “Connector Installed” message if everything works correctly.

2. Choose migration entities

To migrate your data to WooCommerce, you need to select the entities you want to move over. You can choose to migrate specific items, such as Products or Customers, or you can select everything by ticking the Select All box.

The main entities typically include:

  • Products: Including names, descriptions, prices, variants, stock levels, and product images
  • Customers: Customer profiles, shipping addresses, purchase history, and account details
  • Orders: Complete order history, including order status, payment information, and shipping details
  • Categories: Product categorization structure, including parent-child relationships
  • Reviews: Customer product reviews and ratings
  • Manufacturers: Brand information and manufacturer details
migration entitites
Image via LitExtension

If you have complex data, such as customer passwords or product SEO URLs, you can use Additional Options to further enhance your migration capabilities. 

When it comes to SEO data, the migration can preserve your existing search engine rankings by transferring:

  • Product and category SEO URLs (permalinks)
  • Meta titles and descriptions
  • Alt text for images
  • Custom URL structures
  • 301 redirects from old URLs to new ones, preventing loss of SEO value
  • Product tags and categories that influence search visibility

Another critical aspect of data preservation is maintaining the integrity of your order management system. For instance, you can use the Preserve Order IDs on Target Store option to ensure that your order IDs from your current platform match those in your new WooCommerce store.

additonal options
Image via LitExtension

Finally, make sure to map your order status and language to ensure they’re displayed correctly on your WooCommerce site.

If you’d prefer to save time and effort during your migration process, you can use the LitExtension All-in-One Migration Package, which includes a personal assistant to handle your entire project. 

3. Run full migration from Shopify to WooCommerce

Before committing to a complete store migration, take advantage of LitExtension’s Free Demo Migration to see exactly how your data will transfer.

A demo will migrate 20 entities (including products, customers, and orders) to your new store, giving you a clear preview of the migration process and results.

Why run the demo first?

  • Experience the actual migration process firsthand
  • Verify that your data transfers correctly
  • Identify and resolve any potential issues early
  • Ensure the service meets your needs before full migration

To get started, click the Next: Start Free Demo Migration button to see how the process works. Alternatively, you can skip the demo and migrate your store right away.

starting migration
Image via LitExtension

The migration service is cloud-based, which means that you don’t need to keep your computer on during the process. You’ll receive an email notification when the migration is complete. 

Once the migration is finished, check your Shopify store’s front and back end for errors. If you encounter any issues, contact LitExtension’s technical support team to resolve them.

Shopify to WooCommerce: Aftercare

After migrating from Shopify to WooCommerce, your first 24 hours should focus on verifying critical business functions. 

Start by processing test orders through your payment gateways and confirming that customers can complete purchases successfully. 

Verify all product data, including prices, inventory, and variations, has migrated correctly. Also, verify that customer accounts and order histories are accessible.

Ensure your financial systems and marketing tools work properly in the first week. Set up essential 301 redirects, check sitemaps to maintain SEO value, and thoroughly test your checkout process across different devices and browsers.

Monitor your analytics closely for the first month, looking for unusual patterns in sales, cart abandonment, or customer service issues. Then, communicate with customers to reassure them about any performance problems. 

One of the easiest ways to communicate is to set up Omnisend with WooCommerce to create email marketing and SMS campaigns. 

For instance, you could create a clear, welcoming “We’ve Moved!” campaign that reassures customers while highlighting any exciting new features or improvements they’ll experience. 

Follow this with targeted automated messages that guide new and existing customers through your refreshed shopping experience. 

Join Omnisend to use email marketing in your WooCommerce store

Recreate your website design (or start over)

When you migrate your store from Shopify to WooCommerce, you must decide how to handle your store’s design. You have two main options:

1. Mirror your Shopify design 

Recreate your Shopify store’s design in WooCommerce to maintain a familiar and cohesive experience for your customers. 

Your current design might drive strong sales and customer satisfaction, so recreating it might be worthwhile. However, matching Shopify’s unique design elements will likely require either developing a custom theme or extensively modifying an existing WooCommerce theme.

2. Do a design refresh 

Refresh your store’s look with a new WooCommerce theme. WordPress has more customization options than Shopify, with thousands of themes and plugins.

For example, the Gravia theme requires no coding and looks great out of the box:

gravia
Image via WooCommerce

If you break free from Shopify’s design cues, you have complete control over building the shopping experience you envision. You could also start with a new WooCommerce theme and replicate any Shopify elements that worked well. 

Point your domain to your new WooCommerce store

To ensure your customers can still find your products after the migration, you must redirect your Shopify URLs to your new WooCommerce URLs.

Here’s how to properly set up redirects and update your DNS settings when moving from Shopify to WooCommerce:

Updating your domain’s DNS settings

  • If your domain is registered through Shopify:
    • Log in to your Shopify admin
    • Go to Online Store > Domains
    • Update the DNS nameservers to point to your new WooCommerce host (e.g., ns1.host.com, ns2.host.com)
  • If using another domain registrar:
    • Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel
    • Locate the DNS or nameserver settings
    • Replace the existing nameservers with your new hosting provider’s nameservers
    • Allow 24-48 hours for DNS changes to fully propagate

Setting up URL redirects for Shopify branded domains (yourstore.myshopify.com)

  • You cannot set up individual redirects
  • Instead, add a prominent link or notice on your Shopify site pointing to your new store

Setting up 301 redirects to maintain SEO rankings

LitExtension offers the option to Create 301 redirects on your target store after migration for a one-off $19 fee. It sets up 301 redirects automatically while migrating your store.

You can also use a WordPress plugin like All In One SEO to perform 301 redirects after migrating. Here’s how:

  • Install the All in One SEO Pro plugin in WordPress
  • Go to All in One SEO > Redirects
  • Create 301 redirects for each important URL:
    • Enter the old Shopify URL in the Source URL
source url
Image via All In One SEO
  • Enter the new WooCommerce URL in the Target URL
target url
Image via All In One SEO
  • Select 301 Moved Permanently as the redirect type
redirect type
Image via All In One SEO

Updating internal links

You’ll need to update any internal links in your website content that point to your old Shopify domain. Here’s how:

  • Install the Go Live Update URLs plugin
  • Go to Tools > Go Live
  • Enter your old Shopify URL in the Old URL field
  • Enter your new WooCommerce URL in the New URL field
  • Click Update URLs to fix all internal links

These steps will help maintain your SEO rankings and ensure customers are directed to your new store. 

Run recent data migration

my migrations
Image via YouTube

LitExtension’s Recent Data Migration transfers only newly added data from your Shopify store to your new WooCommerce store after your initial full migration.

After completing the main migration, you can use this service to move new orders, customers, and products your Shopify store generates.

Service parameters

  • Available for 60 days from your initial migration date
  • Free if new data is under 5% of your original migration volume
  • Only adds new entities (orders, customers, products)
  • Your Shopify store stays operational during the transfer
  • Additional fees apply if new data exceeds the 5% threshold

Important limitations

  • Does not update existing items
  • Cannot synchronize inventory levels
  • Only transfers new entities, not modifications to existing ones
  • One-way transfer of new data only

When to use it

  • When your Shopify store has received new orders after migration
  • If new customers have registered on your Shopify store
  • When new products have been added to your Shopify store
  • To capture new data while preparing to switch platforms fully

In other words, it ensures you don’t lose any new business data generated in your Shopify store while setting up your WooCommerce store, as long as you’re within the 60-day window and data volume limits.

Last check: Test your website

Follow these steps to ensure your WooCommerce store is ready for launch:

Product listings

  • Check prices and descriptions
  • Verify product images load correctly
  • Test variations and options

Checkout process

  • Complete test purchases
  • Verify payment gateways work
  • Check order confirmation emails

Shipping setup

  • Test calculations for different addresses
  • Verify shipping zones
  • Check rates for various order sizes

User features

  • Create a new customer account
  • Verify login process
  • Check order tracking functionality

Site performance

  • View your site on multiple browsers
  • Check mobile responsiveness
  • Verify loading speeds with PageSpeed Insights 

Plugins and features

  • Test all installed plugins
  • Verify custom features work
  • Check integration functionality

Bonus: Boost conversions and sales

Omnisend can transform your WooCommerce store’s performance through email/SMS campaigns and marketing automation workflows.

With campaigns, you can craft targeted email and SMS messages using a drag-and-drop editor, personalize content, and schedule broadcasts to reach customers at optimal times. 

Omnisend email builder
Image via Omnisend

The platform’s automation capabilities go further by creating sophisticated workflows that respond to customer behavior, from sending welcome sequences to recovering abandoned carts and automatically re-engaging inactive customers.

Advanced segmentation ensures all communications, whether one-time campaigns or automated sequences are relevant. You can segment based on purchase history, browsing behavior, and engagement levels, making every message count. 

Analytics then tracks results, helping you optimize performance with detailed metrics on opens, clicks, and conversions.

Why use WooCommerce instead of Shopify?

WooCommerce is more scalable than Shopify and doesn’t have ongoing monthly fees, making it possible to open a store with only hosting costs. 

The initial setup is more time-intensive than with Shopify, but in return, you get unlimited freedom to build what your business needs without paying for features you won’t use.

No ongoing platform fees

WooCommerce eliminates monthly platform fees. Shopify’s basic plan is $39/month plus transaction fees — WooCommerce is free. While you will pay for web hosting, WooCommerce still works out cheaper than Shopify in most cases.

WordPress CMS

If your business relies heavily on content alongside ecommerce, WooCommerce runs on WordPress’s powerful content management system. Instead of connecting multiple platforms, you can run everything from one dashboard.

Customization freedom 

While both platforms use templates, WooCommerce lets you modify any aspect of your store without restrictions. You can change checkout flows, add custom features, or create unique shopping experiences without being locked into platform limitations.

Ownership and control

You own your entire WooCommerce store setup, including data, code, and hosting. You can switch service providers freely, use any payment processor without limitation, and scale without being forced into higher-priced plans.

Marketplace potential

WooCommerce can quickly scale from a single store into a full marketplace platform without spiraling costs. You can add multiple vendors, create custom commission structures, and manage complex product relationships with plugins. 

Best plugins to migrate Shopify to WooCommerce

There are three plugins you should use when migrating to WooCommerce:

1. LitExtension 

litextension
Image via WordPress

This comprehensive store migration service automates the transfer of ecommerce data between Shopify and WooCommerce. 

It migrates products, customers, orders, and other store data with high accuracy and a user-friendly three-step process. During migration, you can also get 24/7 support and maintain store operations.

2. All In One SEO (AIOSEO) 

all in one seo
Image via WordPress

This is likely the only SEO plugin you’ll need with comprehensive optimization tools, including TruSEO analysis, schema markup, XML sitemaps, and social media integration. 

It features local SEO capabilities, WooCommerce optimization, and advanced tools like broken link checking and redirect management. 

3. Go Live Update URLs 

go live update urls
Image via WordPress

This is an excellent WordPress plugin for seamless domain changes across entire websites. It intelligently handles serialized data, updates URLs across all database tables, and supports various data types. 

Its ability to update complex content while maintaining data integrity and preventing common migration issues means one less thing to worry about. 

Conclusion

Your move from Shopify to WooCommerce makes sense if you want to avoid platform fees and build a more scalable, custom site. 

Migrating to WooCommerce involves several steps, but LitExtension automates much of the process after some initial configuration steps. Plus, you can keep your Shopify site live during the migration and handle all redirects afterwards. 

Backing up your site and taking a systematic migration approach will help protect your business and minimize downtime. Test everything after migrating and communicate any changes to your customers to ensure a smooth transition to your new store.

Get started with Omnisend to communicate with customers during your migration
Aistė Jočytė
Article by

Aiste is a Jr. Content Marketing Manager at Omnisend. When she's not searching for the perfect synonym or refining her latest copy, you can find her curled up with her cat, binge-watching yet another TV series.