Move your Etsy shop to Shopify with LitExtension’s expert-managed migration service, no technical skill required on your end. Transfer products and product categories while keeping your current Etsy shop active during the migration.
Start with a Free Demo Migration to preview how your data will appear on Shopify. Once you approve the results, our team runs the Full Migration, and you’re covered by up to 60 days of support after it completes.
Switching from Etsy to Shopify can open many doors for your business, yet it also comes with daunting tasks, starting with the migration process itself. Worry not – this guide walks you through everything from why sellers make the move to how to migrate Etsy to Shopify step by step.
Etsy to Shopify: The Basic Knowledge
Etsy is an online marketplace for handmade, craft, and vintage items, where sellers share the same selling space with thousands of other merchants. Shopify, on the other hand, is an eCommerce platform that lets you build and own your independent store, with full control over branding, marketing, and how you sell across multiple channels – suitable for everyone from beginners to Shopify Plus enterprises.
So Which One Is Right for Your Business, or Do You Need Both?
If Etsy has flagged your listings for not meeting its handmade or vintage guidelines, if transaction and listing fees are eating into your margin on every sale, or if you’re ready to build a brand customers recognize outside the marketplace, migrating fully to Shopify makes sense.
On the other hand, if Etsy still brings you steady discovery traffic and you don’t want to give that up, running both platforms in parallel can work well. In that setup, Etsy handles new customer discovery while Shopify becomes your home for brand building and repeat customers. Tools like LitCommerce let you connect Shopify and Etsy so you can manage listings and orders from both channels without duplicating work – worth considering if you’re not ready to leave Etsy behind entirely.
Why Should You Migrate From Etsy to Shopify?
Many sellers choose to migrate from Etsy to Shopify because the platform offers real advantages, both strategic and financial.
Ability to Build Brand Identity
Etsy is an online marketplace with a ready-made customer base interested in vintage goods and handmade items. However, you’ll only ever be remembered as “an Etsy seller” while sharing the selling space with other merchants at any given time. On Shopify, you can build an online store exclusive to your brand. The platform provides a high level of customization, letting you personalize the overall look of your store and create a unique, branded experience for your customers.
Diversification of Sales Channels
Running your own store makes it easier to expand your selling channels, and Shopify makes this especially simple. The platform integrates easily with Google tracking ID and Facebook Pixel, so you can promote your products at scale. Shopify also connects with popular social channels such as Facebook and Instagram, letting you list products across multiple platforms at once.
A Wider Range of Payment Options
While Etsy limits you to a handful of payment methods, Shopify integrates with 100+ payment gateways and supports e-wallet payments too. Shopify also offers Shop Pay, an accelerated checkout button that speeds up checkout and increases conversion rates.
The Real Cost of Staying on Etsy
Beyond branding and channels, cost is often the deciding factor. Etsy charges a 6.5% transaction fee on top of listing fees and payment processing fees, and these stack up fast – especially on lower-priced products, where they eat directly into your margin. Shopify charges no transaction fee when you use Shopify Payments, so more of each sale stays with you.
There’s also platform risk to consider. Etsy can flag or suspend listings – or even entire shops – if your products don’t strictly meet its handmade, vintage, or craft supply guidelines. Shopify gives you full control over what you sell without that constraint.
Customer ownership is another gap many sellers don’t notice until it’s too late. Etsy’s terms of service limit how you can use customer email addresses outside the platform, so you can’t export that data for your own email marketing. Etsy also lacks built-in tools like abandoned cart recovery, custom domain SEO, and integrated email marketing – all of which Shopify supports natively.
| Cost Component | Etsy | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Listing Fee | $0.20 per listing | None |
| Transaction Fee | 6.5% | None (with Shopify Payments) |
| Payment Processing | ~3% + $0.25 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Monthly Subscription | None | From $39/month |
Fees shown reflect standard published rates at the time of writing and can change, so it’s worth checking each platform’s current pricing before deciding.
Now let’s explore in more detail how to migrate Etsy to Shopify, and how to import Etsy products to Shopify step by step, in the section below.
How to Migrate from Etsy to Shopify
Before you touch a single setting, a bit of prep work will save you hours of cleanup later. Here’s what to get in order before starting your Etsy to Shopify migration.
1. Backup database of Etsy stores
Data backup is a crucial step before migrating to any platform since it lowers the risk of losing data during the migration process. With Etsy, it’s possible to export the following data in corresponding formats:
- Current listings in CSV format.
- Orders in CSV format.
- Customer reviews in JSON.
1.1. How to export Etsy listings
It’s possible to download a record of your Etsy listings, including title, description, price, currency code, quantity, tags, materials, image URLs, and SKU numbers (if you’ve added any to your listings), in a CSV form.
Here’s how you can download Etsy listings in 5 simple steps:
- Sign in to Etsy.com.
- Click the Your Account icon, then click Shop Manager.
- Choose Settings, then navigate to Options.
- Select Download Data.
- In the Currently for Sale Listings tab, click Download CSV to save the file to your computer.
1.2. How to export Etsy orders
As for Etsy orders, there will be two types of reports you can download from your Etsy store.
- Order CSV report, which includes sales data at the order level.
- Order Items CSV report, which includes sales data at the individual item level.
Follow the steps below to export Etsy orders from your shop.
- From the Shop Manager tab, go to Settings > Options.
- Select the Download Data tab, then navigate to the Orders section.
- From there, choose the CSV type and the period (month & year).
- Click Download CSV.
2. Set up a new Shopify store
In order to migrate your store from Etsy to Shopify, you need to have a Shopify store available for importing data.
If you are uncertain about your Shopify choice, the 3-day free trial is a great way for you to explore and learn more about Shopify’s function. Otherwise, you can go straight to the paid plans.
Now, let me walk you through all the primary steps to set up a Shopify store from scratch:
- Create a Shopify account
- Add your products to the store
- Select and customize your Shopify theme
- Configure settings
- Buy a domain name (optional)
If you are a visual learner, you can choose to watch this 10-minute tutorial video, which provides detailed instructions to help set up a new Shopify store:
3. Choose a method to migrate Etsy to Shopify
You already have the Etsy data and an active Shopify store in your hands, it’s time to learn how to import Etsy to Shopify and perform the migration right away.
There are several ways to perform Shopify import from Etsy. You can migrate your data manually with a CSV file, use a third-party syncing app, or hand over the task to a Shopify migration expert. Here’s what each option involves.
Option 1: Manual CSV import (DIY)
If you want to move your catalog yourself, you can reformat the CSV you already exported in Step #1 above to match Shopify’s product CSV template. A few things to get right before you upload it:
- Give each product variant its own row in the CSV. Shopify reads variants as separate rows grouped under the same handle, not as columns inside one row like Etsy.
- Upload your product images to Shopify first, then reference their Shopify URLs in the CSV. Shopify’s importer doesn’t pull images directly from Etsy’s image links.
- Rebuild your shipping profiles from scratch in Shopify. Etsy’s shipping settings don’t carry over through the CSV and need to be set up manually.
Once the file is ready, go to Shopify Admin > Products > Import > Upload CSV to bring your catalog in. Keep in mind Shopify limits each import file to under 15MB and 5,000 rows, so larger catalogs need to be split into multiple files.
The trade-off with this method: a CSV import only moves products. Orders, customers, and coupons stay behind on Etsy and need to be handled separately, and you should expect a few hours of manual cleanup to fix variant grouping and image mapping errors after the import.
However, performing data migration on your own takes a great amount of time and effort, not to mention the fact that you have to be familiar with both platforms’ structures for a smooth data transition.
On top of that, hiring a Shopify professional can be costly, and there’s no assurance that they are well-acquainted with Etsy.
That’s when a reputed migration service like LitExtension comes to the rescue. With over 10 years of experience in dealing with platform differences and 280,000+ successful migrations, we can perform Etsy to Shopify migration seamlessly and with the utmost security.
Compare your migration options
Here’s a quick side-by-side look at how the three approaches stack up, so you can pick the one that fits your store size, budget, and timeline.
| Method | Cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Manual CSV import | Free | Moves products only. Time-consuming, and prone to variant and image mapping errors that need manual fixing. |
| Third-party apps (e.g. CedCommerce, Nembol) | Low cost | Syncs data automatically, but supports a limited set of data types compared to a full migration. |
| LitExtension | From $129 (All-in-One) | Migrates your product catalog accurately, includes QA testing, and comes with up to 60 days of post-migration support. |
Now, let me walk you through a step-by-step guide to migrate from Etsy to Shopify using the LitExtension automated migration tool!
How to Migrate Data from Etsy to Shopify with LitExtension
With your data backed up and your Shopify store ready, here’s the step-by-step process LitExtension follows to move your Etsy shop over safely and completely.
Step 1: Meeting Schedule
First off, reach out to LitExtension to arrange a personalized consultation. This session aims to comprehensively review your requirements for the Etsy to Shopify migration project.
Hence, make sure to provide your contact information and select a suitable time for the meeting.
Please schedule the call at least two hours in advance to allow us ample time for preparation and to address any questions or concerns you may have.
Step 2: Technical consultancy
As said, LitExtension experts will gain insight into your particular requirements for the Etsy to Shopify migration during the meeting.
We also aim to comprehensively understand the current state of your data and provide tailored recommendations for the optimal solution.
Once you agree with the discussed procedures, we will proceed with the payment process. Typically, the LitExtension All-in-One Migration Package starts from $129 and varies flexibly based on the unique specifications of your migration needs.
Step 3: Migration Configuration
At this stage, LitExtension experts will configure your store for an optimal Shopify migration from Etsy.
Kindly let us know the exact quantity of the data you wish to transfer. In case you don’t know how to determine the number of entities in your store, click the provided link for detailed guidelines.
Should you require additional actions with the migrated entities, navigate to the Free Additional Options section and tick the boxes next to the services you wish to add to the migration.
On top of that, we also offer store customization services catering to specific needs. Since these modifications adhere to Shopify’s unique requirements, you should consult with LitExtension experts during the technical meeting for personalized guidance.
Step 4: Demo migration
Next, your LitExtension PA will initiate a complimentary Demo Migration to provide you with a firsthand experience of our service and enable you to evaluate its efficiency.
This demo migration only takes a few minutes to complete, and it’s possible to run with unlimited quantities (which might last a bit longer).
Step 5: Demo migration review
Once the demo migration concludes, the LitExtension PA will notify you to review the results. If the outcome meets your satisfaction, our expert will proceed with the full migration to transfer your business from Etsy to Shopify.
Step 6: Full migration
At this stage, your entire online business will have completed its transition to its new home on Shopify.
Unlike the automated migration package, the whole process is configured and performed by LitExtension experts. There’s also a LitExtension Smart Controller to monitor your system so that our team can promptly address any issues and resolve them.
Step 7: Migration result testing
Once the full migration is completed, your LitExtension PA will conduct a comprehensive examination of the transferred data to ensure everything moved from Etsy to Shopify just right.
Take a peek at the results yourself, and if there are any aspects that appear unclear, don’t hesitate to ask our LitExtension expert.
LitExtension services adhere to secure and transparent policies. In the event that your migrated data encounters any significant issues, please submit a ticket providing details of the problem, and one of our experts will promptly reach out to assist you.
Step 8: Post-migration services
A standout benefit of the LitExtension migration service is that your Etsy shop stays open and continues taking orders while the migration is running.
You won’t miss out on any sales opportunities. Since your product catalog is the data we migrate, any new products you add to Etsy during the process can be synced over after the main migration completes.
That’s when the All-in-One migration services come into play. There are plenty of services available at no extra cost to make sure your customers have a smooth shopping experience.
Over and above that, LitExtension offers free post-migration services for up to 60 days after your Full Migration completes, as long as new data doesn’t exceed 5% of your total entities.
Common challenges when migrating from Etsy to Shopify
Even with an experienced migration partner, a few snags tend to come up during an Etsy to Shopify move. Here’s what to expect and how LitExtension handles each one.
- Missing or broken images: Etsy’s CSV export doesn’t contain public image URLs, which can leave product images missing after a manual import. LitExtension handles this automatically with the “Migrate Images in Product Descriptions” option.
- Variant mapping: Shopify caps products at 99 variants and 3 options each. Etsy listings that exceed this limit need manual adjustment after the migration.
- Category mismatches: Etsy sections don’t map one-to-one to Shopify collections. LitExtension’s “Migrate Categories to Shopify Smart Collections” option handles this conversion for you.
- SEO URL handling: Etsy and Shopify use completely different URL structures. Without 301 redirects in place, the traffic your old listings ranked for will hit 404 pages instead of your new store. Enable the “Create 301 Redirects” Additional Option to prevent this.
- CSV formatting issues (if importing manually): stray commas and line breaks inside product descriptions are a common cause of failed CSV imports, so double-check formatting before uploading.
Best Practices to Improve Your Shopify Store After Etsy to Shopify Migration
After successfully migrating from Etsy to Shopify, there are several steps to ensure a smooth shopping experience for your customers and optimize your Shopify store for success.
Below is a list of what you should perform next.
- Install themes and necessary plugins: Suitable themes and plugins can improve your store capabilities and enhance customer shopping experience. As luck would have it, there are a plethora of 170+ themes at the Shopify Theme Store and 8,000+ apps at the Shopify App Store.
- Configure shipping and payment methods: Clear and transparent shipping cost calculations, along with a variety of preferred payment gateways, can enhance the overall customer experience and contribute to improved conversion rates.
- Place a test order: Put yourself in the shoes of a customer and go through the checkout process. This way, you can identify any inconveniences or issues that may impact the overall shopping experience of your customers.
- Notify customers and update marketing channels: Since you are leaving Etsy to build the store of your dreams, it’s essential to keep your valued customers in the loop. Consider sending them a thoughtful email or utilizing your social media channels to share the exciting news of your move. Plus, you can offer exclusive vouchers and coupons to express your gratitude.
- Verify your 301 redirects: Spot-check a handful of your old Etsy listing URLs to confirm they redirect to the correct product pages on Shopify.
- Check for broken links and images: Click through your new store’s key pages to catch anything that didn’t migrate cleanly before customers do.
- Submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console: This helps Google discover and index your Shopify store’s pages faster.
- Set up Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel tracking: Reconnect your tracking tools on Shopify so you don’t lose visibility into traffic and conversions after the switch.
- Configure your tax settings: Set up tax rates that match the regions where you sell to stay compliant from day one.
- Test the full checkout flow end to end: Walk through the entire journey, from browsing a product to confirming payment, to make sure nothing breaks before customers arrive.
Join 200,000+ businesses that have migrated with LitExtension. Start a Free Demo Migration to preview how your Etsy products, customers, orders, and URLs will be transferred to Shopify before running the full migration.
What Data Can Be Migrated from Etsy to Shopify
Use the tabs below to see which Etsy data fields we can migrate to Shopify.
-
Products
- Name.
- SKU.
- Short Description.
- Full Description.
- Status.
- Manufacturer.
- Price.
- Quantity.
- Weight, Width, Height, Depth.
- Tags.
- Attributes.
- Variants.
- Thumbnail Image.
- Additional Images.
Products Categories
- Name.
Can’t find the data you need to migrate? Contact us or click on the Live Chat in the right corner for a free consultation.
Leave The Work For The Experts
How Your Data Is Secured During Migration?
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Data Security
Data Access Restriction
GDPR Compliance
NDA
Payment Security
Why choose LitExtension Etsy to Shopify Migration Services
Who We Truly Are? Let Our Customer Define!
As a developer, we’ve worked with LitExentsion to migrate several stores between platforms including Shopify, Yahoo Store, Etsy, and WooCommerce. The team is always great to work with and goes above and beyond to make sure everything is completed correctly. I would recommend them for any migration project. The continued to support is very helpful and they have just good quality service all around.
I needed to migrate my Etsy shop to new platform and the LitExtension Team, especially Jay, made this process very smooth. I had over 800 products to bring over. I recommend using LitExtension services to migrate your shop! Thumbs up for Jay!
This company are very helpful and professional. They did so quickly with great communication and helped fix the small wrinkles I requested afterwards. Trustworthy, well worth the money for the work it would have taken me, polite, helpful, communicative and efficient. Definitely recommend
