WooCommerce to Shopify Migration: Step-by-Step Checklist (2026)

Updated October 2026

Many store owners start on WooCommerce because it’s flexible and runs on WordPress. As the store grows, so do the plugin updates, hosting bills, security worries and checkout problems. That’s usually when moving from WooCommerce to Shopify starts to make sense.

A migration is more than exporting products and importing them somewhere else. URLs change, data needs cleaning, and if you skip the redirects, the Google rankings you worked for can drop fast. Use this checklist to plan a clean move.

Why stores move from WooCommerce to Shopify

• Less maintenance: no plugin updates, hosting, backups or security patches to manage
• Fast, reliable checkout that Shopify hosts and maintains for you
• Built-in sales channels such as Shop, Google, Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok Shop
• Predictable costs instead of surprise developer and hosting bills

What you can move from WooCommerce to Shopify

How your URLs change (and why redirects matter)

Shopify uses a fixed URL structure, so most of your WooCommerce links will change:

Without 301 redirects, every old link in Google, emails and social posts breaks after you switch your domain. Shopify lets you import redirects in bulk with a CSV file, so you can map every important old URL to its new page.

The WooCommerce to Shopify migration checklist

Before the migration

1. Back up your WordPress site and database
2. Export your top pages and keywords from Google Search Console
3. Crawl your site and list every product, category, page and blog URL
4. Write down the plugins you rely on and find Shopify apps that do the same job
5. Clean up old, duplicate or out-of-stock products you don’t want to move
6. Choose your Shopify plan and theme

During the migration

1. Import products, collections and customers into a password-protected Shopify store
2. Move order history and blog posts with a migration tool
3. Check product variants, prices, weights and images
4. Rebuild menus, pages and policies
5. Set up shipping, taxes and payments
6. Move SEO titles, meta descriptions and image alt text
7. Create your 301 redirect map and import it

Before you launch

1. Place test orders with real payment methods
2. Test on mobile and desktop
3. Click through menus and spot-check old URLs
4. Set up Google Analytics and your tracking pixels
5. Pick a quiet time to connect your domain

After launch

1. Submit your new sitemap in Google Search Console
2. Watch for 404 errors and add any missing redirects
3. Invite customers to activate their new accounts
4. Keep your old site backup for a few months

DIY or hire help?

Small stores with simple catalogs can use a migration app and do the setup themselves. If you have hundreds of products, order history, a blog or strong Google rankings, the redirects and data cleanup are where most DIY migrations go wrong. Read how much a Shopify migration costs to compare options.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a WooCommerce to Shopify migration take?

Small stores can move in a few days. Most stores take 1 to 3 weeks, depending on catalog size, order history and design work.

Will I lose SEO when moving from WooCommerce to Shopify?

Not if you redirect your old URLs, carry over your SEO titles and descriptions, and check Search Console after launch. Small, temporary ranking changes can still happen while Google re-checks the site.

Can I keep my domain?

Yes. You connect your existing domain to Shopify when you’re ready to launch.

Moving from Wix instead? See our Wix to Shopify migration guide.

Sources: Shopify Help Center: Migrating to Shopify and Shopify Help Center: URL redirects. Platform features change; always check the latest Shopify documentation.