WordPress to Shopify Migration

If you’re looking for better performance, easier management, and stronger sales tools, a WordPress to Shopify migration might be the right choice. However, since this process involves moving all your store data, it might be complicated and overwhelming. 

To help you get started, this guide will walk you through the full WordPress to Shopify migration process using two different methods: LitExtension migration service and manual data transfer. 

How to Migrate WordPress to Shopify with LitExtension?

With the help of LitExtension, the WordPress to Shopify migration process becomes much easier and safer. As a trusted eCommerce migration service, we handle the heavy lifting for you. From transferring products, customers, and orders to preserving data structure, LitExtension ensures your data moves smoothly and accurately to your new Shopify store.

In the following steps, we’ll walk you through exactly how LitExtension helps you complete a full WordPress to Shopify migration quickly, securely, and with minimal downtime.

Step 1. Technical consultation with our experts

The first step in your WordPress to Shopify migration is a personalized technical consultation with our LitExtension experts. This stage matters because it helps us understand how your current WordPress store is built, and it gives you a clear migration plan before any data moves.

During the consultation, our team reviews your WordPress site structure, store size, and any special setup you are using, such as WooCommerce settings, custom product fields, or extra plugins. Then, our experts outline the best migration approach, and they flag possible issues early so you can avoid surprises later.

Next, we confirm exactly what data you want to transfer to Shopify. This often includes products, customers, orders, categories, images, blog posts, and other key content. If your store has custom workflows or unique fields, our experts also plan how to map those details into Shopify so your new store stays consistent and works smoothly.

Step 2. Pre-migration customization

Once the consultation is complete, we move on to preparing both your WordPress (WooCommerce) store and your new Shopify store for a smooth and accurate migration. This step is critical to ensure that all technical settings are in place, so your data transfers without errors or loss.

We start by checking that both the source (WordPress) and target (Shopify) stores are fully ready. This includes gathering important access credentials, verifying store URLs, and making sure your Shopify store is correctly set up to receive the incoming data from WordPress.

After that, we handle data mapping. Our team matches the data fields from your WordPress store, such as product categories, customer profiles, and order details, to the structure used in Shopify. If your WordPress site includes custom fields, special tax rules, or non-standard data types, we’ll configure them so they integrate cleanly into your new Shopify store. Once this setup is done, your migration is ready to run smoothly and efficiently.

Step 3. Run Demo Migration

Before transferring all your data from Squarespace to Wix, we begin with a demo migration to ensure everything works as expected. This trial run gives you a snapshot of how your content—such as products, customers, and orders—will appear once moved to Wix.

During this step, we migrate a small sample of your data to test its accuracy, check how it fits within Wix’s structure, and identify any adjustments that may be needed. This helps us catch formatting issues, misaligned fields, or content display errors early in the process. By running a demo first, we ensure everything is correctly configured, allowing you to move forward with confidence, knowing your full migration to Wix will go smoothly.

Step 4. Perform the Full Migration

After you review and approve the demo migration, we will move forward with the full transfer of your data from WordPress to Shopify. This is the most important phase of your migration, where all selected data is migrated in full based on the settings you finalized earlier.

Our team follows a precise and structured workflow to make sure every piece of data is transferred accurately. We also preserve key relationships like product-to-category links, customer order history, and product variants, so your new Shopify store keeps the same structure and logic as your original WordPress site.

The best part is that the entire migration runs automatically and securely in the cloud. Your WordPress store remains fully live and functional during the process, so there’s no need to stop sales or switch to maintenance mode. Once everything is completed, you’ll get a notification from our team. Then, you can begin testing your new Shopify store to make sure everything is working properly before going live.

Step 5. Migration results testing

Once the full migration from WordPress to Shopify is complete, we begin thoroughly testing the results. This step is essential to make sure that all your store data has been transferred correctly and that your new Shopify site is functioning exactly as expected.

Our team performs multiple checks to validate key elements, including product listings, customer details, order history, categories, and any other important data. We carefully compare these against your original WordPress store to ensure everything is in the right place and nothing is missing. If any issues are found, such as formatting errors or broken links, they are quickly flagged and resolved.

After confirming that your Shopify store is error-free and fully aligned with your original site, we provide you with a final report. This summary gives you full confidence that your new store is complete, accurate, and ready to go live.

Step 6. Post-migration tasks

Even after your main WordPress to Shopify migration is complete, it’s common for new data to be added to your original WordPress store during the process. This may include recent orders, newly registered customers, or updated product details that weren’t part of the initial transfer.

To make sure your new Shopify store stays fully up to date, LitExtension provides post-migration services designed to sync any newly generated data. These services include:

• Unlimited recent data migration if your new data is less than 5% of the initial migration. This offer is available for 30 days after migration is completed.
• Free & unlimited re-migration within 30 days after the migration is completed.
• Free & unlimited smart update within 90 days after migration is completed.

Step 7. Customer support post migration

Your migration may be complete, but our support doesn’t stop there. LitExtension stays by your side to make sure your new Shopify store runs smoothly, functions correctly, and gives you a hassle-free experience.

For 30 days after your WordPress to Shopify migration, you’ll have access to our dedicated Customer Support Team. If you have any questions, run into technical issues, or need help adjusting your new store, we’re here to assist you quickly and efficiently.

Whether it’s resolving a data issue or offering expert advice on optimizing your store, our team is ready to guide you. With this continued support, you can confidently manage your new Shopify site, knowing that expert help is always just a message away.

Manually Transfer Data from WordPress to Shopify

Migrating from WordPress to Shopify manually is possible, but it comes with a high level of complexity. Unlike using an automated migration tool like LitExtension, the manual approach requires you to manage each step yourself, from exporting your data to formatting it correctly and importing it into Shopify.

This method is best suited for store owners who are comfortable working with CSV files, familiar with Shopify’s data structure, and prepared to handle potential issues along the way. Without technical knowledge, manual migration can lead to problems such as missing product details, broken links, or incorrect layouts.

However, if you’re confident in your skills and prefer a hands-on process, here’s a basic outline of how to manually migrate your store:

Step 1. Export your WordPress site

Fortunately, WordPress includes a built-in export tool that lets you export your data without installing any third-party app. Simply follow these steps to export your WordPress data.

• From your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Tools > Export.
• Then, choose what you want to export from the list, and select the Download Export File button.
• The export file will be automatically downloaded to your device in the .xml format.

Step 2. Configure data to match Shopify’s infrastructure

After exporting your data from WordPress, the next step is to format it so it fits Shopify’s required structure. Shopify uses specific CSV templates for products, customers, and orders, and if your data doesn’t follow these formats, your import may fail or create inaccurate entries.

Start by downloading Shopify’s official sample CSV templates. These files will show you the correct column names and data structure for each data type. Use them as a guide to map your WordPress (WooCommerce) data to Shopify’s format. This may involve renaming column headers, adjusting data values, and removing unsupported fields.

If your WordPress store includes custom fields, such as extra product attributes or customer tags, you can use Shopify metafields or compatible apps to retain that information. Be sure to check everything thoroughly before moving to the import stage. A properly formatted file will help avoid import errors and make your Shopify store look and function just as you expect.

Step 3. Import data to Shopify

• Log in to your Shopify Admin dashboard and navigate to the “Products” page.
• Then, click “Import” and add your configured CSV file. 
• Don’t forget to tick the “Publish new products to all sales channels” option.
• Next, click the ‘Upload and continue‘ button. 
• Preview your first product, then click the “Import products” button to finish.
• Repeat this process for the Customer page to import Customers to your Shopify store.

Unfortunately, Shopify doesn’t have a built-in tool to import orders. You might need to adopt a third-party app or use APIs to import this data type to Shopify. 

When Should You Consider a WordPress to Shopify Migration

Migrating from WordPress (especially with WooCommerce) to Shopify is a big decision. It often signals a shift in your business goals, whether that’s simplifying store management, scaling faster, or improving customer experience. Below are the most common situations when switching to Shopify makes sense, broken down into smaller, easy-to-follow points.

1. You’re struggling with plugin conflicts or maintenance

WordPress is flexible, but it relies heavily on plugins. If you’re constantly facing compatibility issues, broken updates, or security vulnerabilities caused by third-party plugins, it may be time to switch. Shopify offers a more stable, self-contained environment where features work out of the box and updates don’t break your store.

2. You want an easier way to manage your store

If you’re spending too much time maintaining your WordPress site, handling backups, managing hosting, or dealing with slow performance, Shopify is a strong alternative. It’s an all-in-one solution that takes care of hosting, security, and performance automatically, letting you focus on growing your business.

3. You need better sales and marketing tools

While WordPress has many plugins, Shopify offers a more unified experience with built-in sales and marketing tools. From abandoned cart recovery and discount codes to native integrations with Google, Facebook, and Instagram, Shopify helps you market your products more effectively without adding complexity.

4. You want a professional store without hiring developers

If you’re not a developer and you find WordPress hard to customize or maintain, Shopify offers a more user-friendly solution. Its drag-and-drop editor, customizable themes, and app ecosystem make it easy to design a beautiful store, no coding required.

If any of these situations sound familiar, a WordPress to Shopify migration could be the right move to simplify your operations, unlock new features, and build a stronger foundation for future growth.

Best Practices for A Smooth Migration from WordPress to Shopify

A successful WordPress to Shopify migration doesn’t just depend on the tools you use; it also depends on how well you prepare and execute each step. To help you avoid common issues and ensure a smooth transition, here are some proven best practices to follow:

1. Back up your WordPress store before migration

Before making any changes, always create a full backup of your WordPress site, including products, customers, orders, blog content, and media files. This ensures that if anything goes wrong, you can quickly restore your original store without losing important data.

2. Clean up your data before transferring

Go through your WordPress store and remove any outdated, duplicate, or unnecessary data. This includes old products, inactive customers, and irrelevant pages. Cleaning your data in advance helps reduce migration time and improves the accuracy of your new Shopify store.

3. Migrate a small batch of sample data first

Running a test migration lets you transfer a small portion of your data to Shopify so you can check the results. Use this step to check if products are displayed correctly, customer information is complete, and the structure aligns with your expectations. It’s your chance to catch and fix any errors early.

4. Test your Shopify store thoroughly

After the full migration, test everything on your new Shopify site: product pages, cart and checkout flow, payment gateways, tax settings, and mobile responsiveness. The more thorough your testing, the fewer surprises you’ll face after launch.

5. Train your team on Shopify

If your team is used to WordPress, take time to get them familiar with Shopify’s admin dashboard and workflows. This will help ensure a smoother handoff and fewer mistakes once your new store goes live.

By following these best practices, you’ll not only minimize risks but also set yourself up for a successful and stress-free migration from WordPress to Shopify.