Making the jump from Shopify to WooCommerce? Smart move! But let’s be real – thinking about moving all your products probably makes you want to hide under a blanket.
Look, migrating from Shopify to WooCommerce has a bunch of moving parts, but we’re gonna focus on the big one: getting your products moved without everything going to hell.
Here’s the deal: these platforms speak different languages when it comes to product data. Shopify likes everything neat in its little boxes, while WooCommerce is more like “do whatever you want” with WordPress. Your perfectly organized Shopify setup won’t automatically translate when you migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce – each platform has its own way of handling product organization.
Do you think you can just copy-paste your way through this?? Think again!
| This isn’t your typical plug-and-play situation. Here’s what you’re really dealing with: – Field setups that hate each other – Every system speaks a different language – Variant systems from hell – They work nothing alike and love to break things – Image handling nightmares – Prepare for your brain to melt – Variants that straight-up refuse to cooperate – Because why make life easy? Bottom Line, One wrong move = total chaos – Broken pages, missing photos, pricing disasters line: Mess this up and your customers will be confused as heck. |
But don’t worry! Moving your products doesn’t have to be a total nightmare. Whether you’ve got 20 items or 2,000, we’ll walk you through it step-by-step so you can sleep at night.
Preparing for Migration to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Before you start the actual process to migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce, you need to get your ducks in a row. Think of this as packing for a big move – you wouldn’t just throw everything in boxes randomly, right?
Backup Everything Before You Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
First things first – create backups of everything. This is your safety net when you migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce.
For your Shopify store:
- Export all your product data (we’ll cover this in detail next)
- Download product images manually if you want an extra backup
- Save your theme settings and customizations
For your WooCommerce site:
- Create a full WordPress backup using plugins like UpdraftPlus or BackWPup
- Export your WordPress database
- Save your theme files and customizations
| Pro Tip: Keep these backups in multiple places – your computer, cloud storage, and maybe even email them to yourself. Better safe than sorry! |
Planning Your Strategy to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Now let’s plan your approach. Take a minute to figure out which method actually makes sense for your situation before you start moving things around. When you migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce, you have a few options:
Option 1: All at Once – Migrate everything in one big batch. Great for smaller stores (under 500 products).
Option 2: Category by Category – Move products in chunks by category. Perfect for larger stores or if you want to test the waters first.
Option 3: Test Migration First – Start with a small batch of products to test your process before doing the full migration.
Quick Planning Checklist:
- Count your total products (this helps you pick the right method)
- List all your product categories
- Note any special product types (variations, bundles, digital products)
- Set aside 3-4 hours for the migration process
Exporting Product Data from Shopify to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
The foundation of any successful Shopify to WooCommerce migration starts with properly exporting your product data. This critical first step ensures all your product information—from descriptions and pricing to inventory levels and images—transfers smoothly to your new platform without any data loss.
Step-by-Step Export Process to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
- Log in to your Shopify admin panel
- Navigate to Products → All products
- Click the “Export” button (you’ll find it at the top of the page)
- Choose your export options:
- Select “All products” or “Current page” depending on your needs
- Choose “CSV for Excel, Numbers, or other spreadsheet programs.”
- Pick “All product information” to get everything
- Hit “Export products.”
Shopify will process your request and email you the CSV file. For larger stores, this might take a few minutes.
Using Migration Plugins and Tools to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Now let’s talk about the tools that’ll make your life easier when you migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce. You’ve got several options, from free plugins to premium services.
Top Plugin Options to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
S2W – Import Shopify to WooCommerce (Free) This WordPress plugin connects directly to your Shopify store to migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce. The free version handles products, categories, and images.
Migrate & Import Shopify to WooCommerce (Premium) This is WooCommerce’s official solution. It’s paid but offers advanced features like filtering, progress tracking, and direct API connections.
Cart2Cart (Service) is not a plugin, but a migration service that handles everything for you. They offer a free demo so you can see exactly how your products will look before you pay.
Related Blog: Best Shopify to WooCommerce Migration Tool: What’s the Fastest & Safest Option in 2025?
Setting Up Your Chosen Tool to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Alright, you’ve picked your weapon of choice – now it’s time to actually set the thing up. This section walks you through getting your migration tool properly configured so it can handle the messy business of moving your products from Shopify to WooCommerce. We’re talking real setup here, not just clicking “install” and hoping for the best.
For API-based plugins:
- Install the plugin on your WordPress site
- Get a private app set up in Shopify (for API access)
- Enter your Shopify store URL, API key, and password
- Test the connection
For CSV-based tools:
- Install the plugin
- Upload your exported CSV file
- Preview the data mapping
- Run the import
| Tool Tip: Start with free options first! Many store owners successfully migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce using free plugins, especially for smaller catalogs. |
Filtering and Mapping Product Data to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Here’s where we connect the dots between your old Shopify store and your new WooCommerce setup. Every product detail – from pricing and inventory to descriptions and categories – needs to find its proper home in WooCommerce’s structure, ensuring your products look and function exactly as they should in their new environment.
Understanding Data Mapping to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Think of mapping like translation. Shopify calls something “Product Type” but WooCommerce calls it “Category.” Your migration tool needs to know these connections.
Common Mapping Scenarios:
- Shopify “Handle” → WooCommerce “Slug”
- Shopify “Product Type” → WooCommerce “Category”
- Shopify “Tags” → WooCommerce “Tags”
- Shopify “Variant Price” → WooCommerce “Regular Price”
- Shopify “Variant Compare At Price” → WooCommerce “Sale Price”
Filtering Products During Migration from Shopify to WooCommerce
Most good migration tools let you filter which products to import. This is super useful when you migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce because you might want to:
- Skip discontinued products
- Only import specific categories first
- Exclude products with certain tags
- Import only published products
Example Filter Settings:
- Product Status: Published only
- Categories: “Electronics, Clothing, Home & Garden”
- Exclude tags: “discontinued, out-of-stock”
Importing Products into WooCommerce During Migration from Shopify to WooCommerce
Now that you’ve successfully exported your product data from Shopify, it’s time to bring everything into your new WooCommerce store. This import process is where your careful preparation pays off, transforming your exported data into fully functional products on your WordPress-powered platform.
The Import Process to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Using WordPress Import Tool:
- Go to WooCommerce → Products → Import
- Upload your CSV file
- Map the columns to WooCommerce fields
- Choose update options (skip existing, update, or create new)
- Run the import
Using Migration Plugins:
- Configure your import settings
- Preview the import (if available)
- Start the migration process
- Monitor progress
| Import Timeline and What to Expect – For smaller stores (under 100 products): Usually takes 5-15 minutes – For medium stores (100-1000 products): Can take 30 minutes to 2 hours – For large stores (1000+ products): Might take several hours |
Don’t Panic If: The import seems slow, some products fail to import initially, or you see timeout errors. These are normal and can usually be resolved by running the import again or adjusting your server settings.
Handling Product Variations, Images, and Categories When You Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Product variations, images, and categories often need extra attention during migration since Shopify and WooCommerce handle them differently. This section covers the most common issues with these elements and how to quickly resolve them so your products display correctly in your new WooCommerce store.
1. Managing Product Variations During Migration from Shopify to WooCommerce
Product variations (like size, color, and material) work differently in Shopify vs WooCommerce. Here’s how to handle them:
Shopify Structure: Uses “Option1”, “Option2”, and “Option3” columns.
WooCommerce Structure: Uses attributes and variations
Best Practice: Before you migrate products from Shopify to WooCommerce, create your product attributes in WooCommerce (like “Size”, “Color”, “Material”). This makes the mapping process much smoother.
2. Handling Images When You Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce
Images are often the trickiest part. Here’s what you need to know:
Image URLs: Shopify exports image URLs, not the actual files. Your migration tool will download these images and upload them to WordPress.
Keep Shopify Live: Don’t shut down your Shopify store immediately after migration. The image URLs need to stay active while WooCommerce downloads them.
Image Optimization: Consider compressing images after migration to keep your site fast. Tools like Smush or ShortPixel work great.
3. Category Management for Product Migration from Shopify to WooCommerce
Shopify’s “Collections” become WooCommerce’s “Categories.” Here’s how to handle this:
- Create categories in WooCommerce first (based on your Shopify collections)
- Map during import (tell your tool which collection becomes which category)
Double-check after import (make sure products ended up in the right places)
| Pro Tip: You can bulk-edit product categories in WooCommerce after import if something goes wrong. |
Ready to Migrate Products from Shopify to WooCommerce?
You’re all set! You’ve got the roadmap, tools, and step-by-step process to move your products from Shopify to WooCommerce without the headaches.
Here’s your game plan: pick the migration method that matches your comfort level and catalog size. Got a smaller store? Go manual for maximum control. Dealing with thousands of products? Plugin route is your friend. Feeling overwhelmed? Professional migration services have your back.
Pro tip: there’s zero pressure to rush this. Keep your Shopify store running while you build and test everything in WooCommerce. Your customers stay happy, your sales keep flowing, and you can perfect the setup before flipping the switch.
