OpenCart to Prestashop Migration

Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop with LitExtension

Does your OpenCart store have a manageable catalog, or would you like to stay hands-on throughout the entire migration?

In both of these cases, LitExtension’s automated migration tool is definitely an ideal choice, as it gives you the freedom to oversee the entire process while relying on a system built to handle data securely and efficiently. On top of that, if your store has under 100 entities, you can migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop at zero cost!

Simply follow the three core steps below:

Step 1. Set up your OpenCart and PrestaShop cart

First, visit the LitExtension website and sign up using your name, email, and password. You can also choose to log in with your Google account for a quicker start.

Once you’re in, navigate to the “Migration” section and select “Create New Migration.” 

Here, you’ll choose OpenCart as your Source Cart and enter your store’s URL. The platform will then guide you through the connection process, providing clear on-screen steps to ensure your OpenCart store is securely linked to LitExtension.

Likewise, in the “Target Cart” section, select PrestaShop from the dropdown menu, enter the URL of your new store, and follow the prompts just as you did with OpenCart! The moment both ends are connected, your migration pipeline is fully established and ready for configuration.

Note: Don’t want to use your real PrestaShop store yet? In that case, you can tick the box “Try migration using LitExtension test store” to test things out first. In that case, there’s no need to enter your store’s credentials or upload the connector. 

Step 2. Choose the entities and options you want to migrate

After both stores are linked, LitExtension will display a full list of data types that can be migrated. You can choose only the essentials (such as products, categories, customers, and orders), or you can click “Select All” for a complete transfer. 

Better yet, if your store requires more tailored handling, additional options are available just below (some free, others offered for a small fee) to help you fine-tune how your data is moved to PrestaShop.

Step 3. Start your OpenCart to PrestaShop migration

Now, before committing to the full migration, you can run a free demo that transfers up to 20 items per data type. This gives you a clear preview of how your data will appear in PrestaShop.

When the demo completes, take a moment to review the results; if everything looks correct, you can confidently proceed with the full transfer. You won’t need to keep your browser open or monitor the process; the migration runs entirely in the cloud, and you’ll receive an email once it’s done.

Bonus: And even after your migration is complete, LitExtension continues to support you. You’ll receive:

• Unlimited Recent Data Migrations (for entities less than 5% of the initial migration) and one free Re-migration, all within 60 days after the migration begins
• Unlimited Smart Update within 90 days after the migration starts, to keep your new PrestaShop store synced with any fresh changes in OpenCart. 

Although the LitExtension automated migration tool works beautifully for most merchants, there are situations where your store may simply need more than a self-service solution. Specifically, stores with very large catalogs, custom-built data fields, or complex structures often benefit from a more comprehensive, expert-led approach. 

And that’s exactly why the All-in-One (AIO) package exists! You won’t have to do anything as our team takes care of it all. Plus, all the additional options in the Automated tool are now included at no extra cost.

Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop Manually

On the other hand, some merchants prefer handling their migration manually rather than relying on a third-party service like LitExtension, often because they want to reduce costs or stay fully in control of every detail.

Of course, that approach is completely valid. But keep in mind that manual data work is time-consuming, prone to formatting mistakes, and offers no safety net if something goes wrong along the way. If you’re still comfortable with that, then proceed using our guide below:

Step 1. Export your data from OpenCart

First, sign in to your OpenCart admin panel and locate the export section. Then, go to “System” > “Maintenance” > “Backup/Restore”, choose your entities, and click “Export.” A SQL file will be downloaded to your computer.

Step 2. Adjust the file for PrestaShop

Once the files are exported, your next task is to shape them into a format PrestaShop can understand.

PrestaShop requires very specific column names, structures, and formatting rules for every type of data you import. This means you’ll likely need to open each CSV in a spreadsheet editor and reorganize or rename columns to match PrestaShop’s structure.

For more instructions on how to format the fields, check our detailed guide on PrestaShop import CSV here.

Step 3. Import core entities into PrestaShop

When your files are ready, go to the PrestaShop back office and open Advanced Parameters → Import. Here, you’ll import categories, customers, and products (usually in that order) so that references line up correctly. PrestaShop will ask you to match each column in your CSV file to a corresponding field in the system, and this mapping stage requires patience.

In this case, it’s best to test using a small subset of your data first. Importing five or ten items helps you confirm that fields are mapped correctly, attributes appear where they should, and no unexpected errors occur. Once the test looks correct, you can safely proceed with the full import.

What Data Can Be Migrated from OpenCart to PrestaShop?

Now, let’s discuss which types of data can be transferred from OpenCart into your new PrestaShop store. The table below outlines each data category along with the specific elements that can be migrated:

When Should You Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop?

Though OpenCart works well for many early-stage merchants, growing businesses often reach a point where the platform’s limitations start to get in the way. You should migrate to PrestaShop in the following scenarios:

1. When your store requires more built-in functionality and fewer dependency risks

If you find yourself stacking multiple third-party extensions just to maintain routine functions (such as SEO controls, advanced product settings, or basic promotional features), that’s an early sign your store may be operating beyond what OpenCart naturally supports. Every added extension increases the chance of conflicts, especially during updates or when mixing modules from different developers.

PrestaShop, by contrast, comes with many essential eCommerce features directly in its core. Its native tools reduce the need for patchwork extensions, which leads to more stable updates and easier long-term maintenance. Hence, when your workflow starts feeling fragile because too many components rely on external modules, migrating to PrestaShop can significantly strengthen your foundation.

2. When scalability becomes a strategic priority

As your business grows, your platform needs to accommodate far more than just additional products. You may need intricate catalog rules, complex price structures, multi-store setups, detailed SEO control, or advanced customization for multilingual markets.

At this stage, OpenCart’s lightweight structure, once an advantage, can become a constraint! Fortunately, PrestaShop offers a more modular and extensible framework that supports deeper customization without compromising performance. Simply put, developers have far more room to modify behaviors or build advanced logic.

3. When performance issues begin impacting your operations

Lastly, you might notice slower page loads, inconsistent performance, or recurring conflicts between extensions. These issues often become more visible during peak shopping periods or promotional campaigns, which create real risks for conversion and revenue.

From our observation, PrestaShop is generally more robust when managing high-traffic environments. After all, its caching system, database structure, and module ecosystem are designed to support mid- to large-scale stores more reliably. Therefore, migrating before performance problems escalate allows you to safeguard customer experience and avoid being forced into emergency fixes during critical business periods.

Best Practices for a Successful OpenCart to PrestaShop Migration

Lastly, whether you choose to migrate manually or use LitExtension’s services, the following practices help reduce risks and improve overall results.

1. Clean and prepare your OpenCart data before exporting

Your migration will only be as clean as the data you start with.

So, before exporting anything, spend time organizing your OpenCart store. This means checking for:

• Duplicate categories
• Outdated product entries
• Inconsistent naming conventions
• SKU structures that no longer fit.

A pre-migration cleanup also gives you an opportunity to fix long-overlooked issues, such as missing images, incorrect pricing, or abandoned customer records. By handling these problems beforehand, your new PrestaShop store will feel more polished and professional right from the moment it launches.

2. Run small test migrations before executing the full transfer

Even with careful preparation, it’s easy for field mappings or CSV structures to behave differently than expected once you’re inside PrestaShop.

This is why running a small test (just a handful of products, categories, or customer accounts) is very important. This step catches problems early and prevents the much bigger hassle of discovering an error after thousands of records have already been imported. Not to mention, testing also builds familiarity with the process so you can handle the full migration with far more confidence.

3. Review and validate your new PrestaShop store thoroughly after migration

Once the full migration finishes, take the time to thoroughly audit your PrestaShop store. The process includes:

• Reviewing product pages
• Scanning categories
• Checking SEO metadata
• Verifying images
• Testing every step of the checkout process.

And during this review, make sure to compare counts between your old and new stores: number of products, categories, customers, and orders. This final round of validation is essential before opening your store to customers.