Key takeaways
- Export everything and crawl your old site before you start.
- Use Shopify's import tools or a migration app for products, customers and orders.
- 301 redirects for every old URL are essential to protect SEO.
- Launch during a quiet period and monitor Search Console closely.
Migration steps
Audit and back up your current store
Export products, customers, orders, and content. Crawl the site to get a full list of URLs.
Start your Shopify store
Begin with a Shopify trial (opens in a new tab) and keep your old store live.
Import your data
Use Shopify's Store Importer for supported platforms, CSV imports, or a migration app like Matrixify for large catalogs.
Rebuild design and content
Choose a theme (see best Shopify themes), recreate key pages and blog posts.
Map and create redirects
Match every old URL to its new Shopify URL and add 301 redirects under Online Store → Navigation → URL redirects (bulk import via CSV).
Recreate SEO metadata
Titles, descriptions and image alt text. See our Shopify SEO guide.
Test everything
Place test orders, check taxes and shipping, and test on mobile.
Switch the domain
Point your domain to Shopify, then submit your new sitemap in Google Search Console.
Monitor and fix
Watch for 404s and ranking changes for 4–8 weeks.
Platform-specific notes
| From | Notes |
|---|---|
| WooCommerce | Store Importer and migration apps handle products/customers/orders. WordPress blog posts may need a separate import. See Shopify vs WooCommerce. |
| Wix / Squarespace | Export products via CSV; rebuild pages manually. See Shopify vs Wix. |
| Etsy | Import listings via app or CSV; keep Etsy running alongside. See Shopify vs Etsy. |
| BigCommerce | Store Importer or migration apps; review product option mapping carefully. |
Our verdict
Migrating to Shopify is very manageable with a plan. Get redirects right and your customers, and Google, will barely notice the move.
Start your Shopify migration (opens in a new tab)Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Google rankings if I move to Shopify?
Not if you set up 301 redirects from every old URL to its new equivalent and keep your content. Expect some fluctuation for a few weeks.
Can customer passwords be migrated?
Generally no, for security reasons. Customers are imported and can be invited to activate their accounts.