Moderate 2-4 days 12 steps

Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Guide

Shopify

BigCommerce

Migrating from Shopify to BigCommerce eliminates transaction fees and reduces reliance on costly third-party apps through robust built-in features. This guide covers the complete migration process to help you leverage BigCommerce's cost-effective ecommerce solution.

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Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Preparation

Essential steps to prepare for migrating your store from Shopify to BigCommerce, leveraging BigCommerce's built-in features and eliminating transaction fees.

Choose Your BigCommerce Plan

Select the appropriate BigCommerce plan based on your store's needs - Standard ($39/mo) for basic stores, Plus ($105/mo) for growing businesses, or Pro ($399/mo) for advanced features. Consider that BigCommerce's built-in features may eliminate the need for many paid Shopify apps you currently use.

Export Your Shopify Data

Use Shopify's built-in CSV export feature to download your products, customers, and order history from your admin dashboard. Navigate to each section (Products, Customers, Orders) and use the Export function to generate comprehensive CSV files for migration.

Audit Product Variants and Inventory

Review your product catalog, especially items with multiple variants, as BigCommerce supports up to 250 variants per product compared to Shopify's 100 limit. Take advantage of this increase to consolidate products that may have been split across multiple listings in Shopify.

Identify Apps to Replace or Eliminate

Catalog your current Shopify apps and identify which ones can be replaced by BigCommerce's built-in features like advanced SEO tools, abandoned cart recovery, and customer segmentation. This will help reduce your monthly app costs and simplify your tech stack.

Plan Payment Gateway Migration

Set up your payment processing in BigCommerce, taking advantage of the platform's no transaction fee policy regardless of which gateway you choose. Configure your preferred payment methods and ensure all necessary merchant accounts are ready for the switch.

Prepare Customer Communication

Draft communication templates to notify customers about the migration, including any changes to account access, loyalty programs, or checkout processes. Plan the timing of these notifications to minimize confusion during the transition period.

Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Guide

A comprehensive 12-step process to migrate your store from Shopify to BigCommerce, leveraging BigCommerce's built-in features, higher variant limits, and transaction fee-free environment for growing businesses and multi-channel retailers.

Export Data from Shopify

2-4 hours

Use Shopify's built-in CSV export functionality to extract your store data. Navigate to your Shopify admin and export products, customers, and orders separately through the respective sections. Download all product images and note any custom fields or metafields that may need special handling. Create a comprehensive inventory of all data including blog posts, pages, and custom content.

Tips:

• Export data during low-traffic hours to avoid interruptions
• Verify all product variants are included in the export
• Document any custom apps or integrations currently in use

Important:

• Shopify's 100 variant limit may mean some products need restructuring
• Custom metafields require manual documentation as they may not export cleanly

Set Up BigCommerce Account

1-2 hours

Create your BigCommerce account and select the appropriate plan for your business needs. Configure basic store settings including store name, address, timezone, and currency. Set up your domain preferences and SSL certificate. Review BigCommerce's built-in features that replace paid Shopify apps to maximize cost savings.

Tips:

• Choose a plan that accommodates your current product count and expected growth
• Take advantage of BigCommerce's free trial period for testing
• Document which Shopify apps you can replace with native BigCommerce features

Important:

• Ensure your chosen plan supports your required number of products and staff accounts
• Some advanced features may require higher-tier plans

Select and Customize Theme

4-8 hours

Browse BigCommerce's theme marketplace and select a theme that matches your brand aesthetic and functionality needs. Consider themes optimized for your industry (B2B, multi-channel retail, etc.). Install your chosen theme and begin basic customization including colors, fonts, and layout preferences. Ensure the theme supports the advanced features you plan to use.

Tips:

• Choose responsive themes optimized for mobile commerce
• Look for themes with built-in B2B features if applicable
• Test theme performance and loading speeds

Important:

• Custom Shopify theme code cannot be directly transferred
• Some themes may require additional development for specific customizations

Prepare and Import Products

6-12 hours

Clean and format your Shopify product CSV to match BigCommerce's import requirements. Take advantage of BigCommerce's 250 variant limit to restructure products that were split due to Shopify's 100 variant restriction. Map product categories, attributes, and custom fields to BigCommerce's structure. Use BigCommerce's product import tool or CSV import functionality to upload your products.

Tips:

• Consolidate products that were artificially split due to Shopify's variant limits
• Use BigCommerce's bulk editing tools for efficient product management
• Import products in batches to avoid timeout issues

Important:

• Product URLs will change and require redirect mapping
• Custom product options may need reconfiguration in BigCommerce format

Import Customer Data

3-5 hours

Format your Shopify customer export to match BigCommerce's customer import requirements. Import customer accounts, including contact information, order history references, and customer groups. Set up customer account settings and password reset notifications. Configure customer group pricing and B2B features if applicable to your business model.

Tips:

• Send password reset emails to all imported customers
• Set up customer groups for B2B pricing if needed
• Import customer addresses and shipping preferences

Important:

• Customers will need to reset passwords after migration
• Customer loyalty points or store credits may require manual transfer

Configure Payment Gateways

2-3 hours

Set up your payment processors in BigCommerce, taking advantage of the platform's transaction fee-free structure. Configure primary payment methods like credit cards, PayPal, and any specialized B2B payment options. Test payment processing in BigCommerce's sandbox environment. Set up payment method restrictions by customer group or geographic location if needed.

Tips:

• Take advantage of BigCommerce's no transaction fee policy for cost savings
• Enable multiple payment options for better conversion rates
• Configure payment method display rules for different customer segments

Important:

• Payment gateway APIs may need reconfiguration
• Test all payment methods thoroughly before going live

Set Up Shipping Configuration

3-4 hours

Configure shipping zones, methods, and rates in BigCommerce's shipping manager. Set up real-time shipping calculations with carriers like UPS, FedEx, and USPS using BigCommerce's built-in integrations. Configure shipping restrictions, free shipping thresholds, and handling fees. Set up dimensional weight calculations and packaging options for accurate shipping costs.

Tips:

• Use BigCommerce's built-in shipping calculator apps to replace paid Shopify alternatives
• Set up shipping rules for different customer groups or product types
• Configure local delivery and pickup options if applicable

Important:

• Shipping rates may differ between platforms due to different calculation methods
• International shipping rules may need adjustment for compliance

Configure Tax Settings

2-3 hours

Set up tax zones and rates in BigCommerce's tax manager, utilizing built-in tax calculation features. Configure automatic tax calculations for different jurisdictions and product types. Set up tax exemptions for B2B customers and tax-exempt organizations. Enable tax reporting features and integrate with tax automation services if needed for complex tax requirements.

Tips:

• Use BigCommerce's built-in tax features to avoid third-party app costs
• Set up tax exemption workflows for B2B customers
• Configure product-specific tax rules for different item categories

Important:

• Tax calculation methods may differ from Shopify setup
• Verify tax compliance for all jurisdictions where you sell

Migrate Content and Pages

4-8 hours

Recreate your Shopify pages, blog posts, and custom content in BigCommerce. Use BigCommerce's page builder or HTML editor to recreate your content structure. Migrate your blog content, maintaining SEO-friendly URLs where possible. Set up your navigation menus, footer content, and any custom landing pages. Configure BigCommerce's built-in SEO features for better search visibility.

Tips:

• Use BigCommerce's built-in page builder for faster content creation
• Maintain consistent branding and messaging across all pages
• Optimize content for BigCommerce's SEO features

Important:

• Page URLs will change and require redirect planning
• Custom page functionality may need rebuilding in BigCommerce

Set Up URL Redirects

3-5 hours

Create a comprehensive redirect map from your old Shopify URLs to new BigCommerce URLs. Use BigCommerce's built-in redirect manager or .htaccess rules to implement 301 redirects for all product pages, category pages, and content pages. Set up redirects for common Shopify URL patterns to maintain SEO value. Test all redirects to ensure they work properly and don't create redirect chains.

Tips:

• Prioritize redirects for your highest-traffic and highest-converting pages
• Use BigCommerce's bulk redirect import feature for efficiency
• Set up wildcard redirects for common URL patterns

Important:

• Missing redirects can significantly impact SEO rankings
• Test redirects thoroughly to avoid broken links

Configure Analytics and Integrations

2-4 hours

Set up Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and other tracking tools in your BigCommerce store. Configure BigCommerce's built-in analytics and reporting features. Integrate with your existing CRM, email marketing platform, and other business tools. Set up BigCommerce's native integrations to replace paid Shopify apps where possible. Configure multi-channel selling integrations for marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.

Tips:

• Use BigCommerce's native integrations to reduce app costs
• Set up enhanced ecommerce tracking for better insights
• Configure automated data syncing between platforms

Important:

• Historical analytics data may not transfer between platforms
• Some integrations may require API reconfiguration

Comprehensive Testing and Launch

4-6 hours

Conduct thorough testing of all store functionality including product browsing, cart operations, checkout process, payment processing, and order fulfillment. Test customer account functionality, password resets, and email notifications. Perform cross-browser and mobile device testing. Create test orders using different payment methods and shipping options. Once testing is complete, update DNS settings to point your domain to BigCommerce and monitor for any issues.

Tips:

• Test with real payment amounts in small quantities before full launch
• Have a rollback plan ready in case of critical issues
• Monitor site performance and user behavior closely after launch

Important:

• Plan for potential downtime during DNS propagation
• Have customer service ready to handle migration-related inquiries

What will be migrated

products

Products, descriptions, SKUs, prices, images. Variants: Shopify supports 100 vs BigCommerce's 250.

customers

Customer contact info, addresses, marketing preferences transfer. Passwords must be reset for security.

orders

Order history for reference. Consider importing last 3-6 months for customer service.

Shopify to BigCommerce Migration: Common Challenges and Solutions

Essential questions and answers addressing the key challenges businesses face when migrating from Shopify to BigCommerce, covering technical, operational, and strategic considerations.

How long does it typically take to migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce?

A typical Shopify to BigCommerce migration takes 2-6 weeks depending on store complexity. Simple stores with basic products can migrate in 2-3 weeks, while complex stores with extensive customizations, multiple sales channels, or large product catalogs may require 4-6 weeks.

Will migrating from Shopify to BigCommerce hurt my search engine rankings?

SEO impact can be minimized with proper planning, including setting up 301 redirects from old Shopify URLs to new BigCommerce URLs and maintaining the same URL structure where possible. BigCommerce offers built-in SEO features that may actually improve your rankings over time, but expect a temporary dip during the transition period.

Can I transfer my complete order history and customer data from Shopify to BigCommerce?

Yes, you can export customer and order data from Shopify using their built-in CSV export feature and import it into BigCommerce. However, customer passwords cannot be transferred, so customers will need to reset their passwords when accessing their accounts on your new BigCommerce store.

What happens to my Shopify apps when I migrate to BigCommerce?

Shopify apps won't work on BigCommerce, but many popular Shopify apps have BigCommerce equivalents or native alternatives. Since BigCommerce has more built-in features, you may need fewer third-party apps, potentially reducing your monthly app costs and simplifying your tech stack.

How do BigCommerce's built-in features compare to Shopify's app-dependent approach?

BigCommerce includes features like advanced product options (up to 250 variants), abandoned cart recovery, and multi-channel selling built-in, while Shopify often requires paid apps for these functions. This can significantly reduce your monthly operational costs, though BigCommerce has a steeper learning curve initially.

How much website downtime should I expect during the migration?

With proper planning, you can achieve near-zero downtime by building your BigCommerce store in parallel and switching DNS when ready. The actual switchover typically takes 24-48 hours for DNS propagation, during which some users may see the old site while others see the new one.

How should I test my new BigCommerce store before going live?

Use BigCommerce's preview functionality to test all store functions including checkout, payment processing, shipping calculations, and mobile responsiveness. Create test orders, verify all product variants display correctly, and ensure integrations with third-party services work properly before switching your domain.

Will my current Shopify theme work on BigCommerce?

No, Shopify themes are not compatible with BigCommerce due to different templating systems (Liquid vs. Handlebars). You'll need to choose from BigCommerce's theme marketplace or create a custom theme, though BigCommerce has fewer theme options than Shopify's extensive marketplace.

How do I handle customer accounts and passwords during migration?

Customer account information transfers via CSV export/import, but passwords cannot be migrated for security reasons. You should notify customers about the migration in advance and provide clear instructions for password reset, or consider implementing a seamless password reset flow during their first visit.

Can I continue processing orders on Shopify while building my BigCommerce store?

Yes, you should keep your Shopify store operational during the migration process to avoid lost sales. Build and test your BigCommerce store in parallel, then perform a final data sync (including any new orders and customers) just before switching over to minimize data gaps.

How do the costs compare between Shopify and BigCommerce after migration?

While base plan pricing is similar (Shopify $39-399/mo vs BigCommerce $39-399/mo), BigCommerce eliminates transaction fees and includes more built-in features, potentially reducing overall costs. However, BigCommerce's Enterprise plan pricing is custom, which may be higher for very large stores.

What happens to my product reviews when migrating from Shopify to BigCommerce?

Product reviews need to be exported from your Shopify review app and imported into BigCommerce's review system or a compatible app. The process varies depending on which review app you used on Shopify, and some manual formatting may be required to ensure proper import.