Thinking about moving your online store to WooCommerce? It is one of the best moves you can make. With a huge plugin ecosystem, full control over your store, and no monthly platform fees, WooCommerce gives you room to grow that closed platforms cannot match.

This guide covers why you would migrate to WooCommerce, the three ways to do it, how to move from platforms like Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Squarespace and PrestaShop, and a full checklist to keep the switch smooth.

3 ways to migrate to WooCommerce

There is no single right way to migrate. The best method depends on the size of your store, how complex your data is, and how technical you are. Here are your three options.

1. Migrate manually

Manual migration means exporting your data from your current platform and importing it into WooCommerce yourself. It gives you full control and costs nothing, which makes it a fine choice for small stores with few products. The downside: it takes time, and mistakes are easy if you are not comfortable with the technical side.

2. Use a migration tool

Tools like Cart2Cart or WP All Import automate much of the work. They move your products, customers and orders across with far less manual effort, which makes them accessible even without deep technical knowledge. You give up some control over the details, but for most stores the time saved is worth it.

3. Use expert migration services

Handing the migration to experts is the safest and smoothest option. Nothing gets lost, and you skip the stress entirely. It costs more than doing it yourself, but for a busy or complex store, the peace of mind pays for itself. Woosa offers expert WooCommerce migration to move you from any platform without losing data.

How to migrate to WooCommerce from any platform 6 steps

Whether you are on Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, Squarespace or PrestaShop, the core process is the same. Here are the steps that apply to every platform.

Step 1: Set up a new WordPress website and install WooCommerce.

Step 2: Export your data from your current platform: products, customers, orders and other essential information, usually as a CSV file.

Step 3: Import that data into WooCommerce, using the built-in WooCommerce importer or a tool like WP All Import. For platforms like Magento, a tool like Cart2Cart connects the source and moves the data for you.

Step 4: Install and configure the plugins your store needs, such as payment gateways and shipping.

Step 5: Customise your theme and design to match your brand.

Step 6: Test everything thoroughly before going live.

The main difference between platforms is the export step, since each dashboard exports data a little differently. Shopify, Squarespace and PrestaShop export cleanly to CSV, while Magento often works best with a migration tool because of its more complex structure.

WooCommerce migration checklist

Migrating well is about planning, not luck. Work through this checklist to avoid the common pitfalls.

1. Choose your approach

Decide between manual migration, a migration tool, or expert services. Weigh your technical skill, store size and data complexity, and pick the option that causes the least disruption to your business.

2. Choose your migration tool

If you go the tool route, research the best fit. Popular choices are Cart2Cart, WP All Import and WP Migrate DB Pro. Compare pricing, ease of use and compatibility with your current platform before you commit.

3. Set up your new WordPress site

Install WordPress on your new domain and configure the basics: site title, timezone and permalink structure. Then install WooCommerce and any essential plugins, and set your theme to match your brand.

4. Get your FTP credentials

Obtain FTP credentials for both your old platform and your new WooCommerce site, and have software like FileZilla ready. You will need these to move files during the migration.

5. Back up your data

Before you move anything, back up everything: products, customers, order history, blog posts and media. Store it somewhere safe. A backup is your safety net if anything goes wrong mid-migration.

6. Update your DNS

Once your new store is ready, point your domain’s DNS to the new site. DNS changes take time to propagate, so plan for a little overlap to minimise downtime.

7. Test your new website

Test functionality, design and user experience across devices and browsers. Confirm plugins, payment gateways and shipping all work. Fix every issue before going live, because a broken checkout on launch day costs real sales.

8. Check your internal links

Make sure navigation, product links and category links all work. Run a link checker to catch broken links and fix them, since broken links hurt both users and your SEO.

9. Set up SEO and redirects

This is the step that protects your rankings, so do not skip it. Install an SEO plugin like Rank Math or Yoast. Then set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to the new ones, so you keep the search rankings you already earned. Finally, connect Google Analytics and Search Console to watch performance and catch any drop early.

Migrate to WooCommerce with confidence

Migrating to WooCommerce is a smooth process when you follow the right steps and protect your data and SEO along the way. Done well, you gain the flexibility, control and plugin ecosystem that made you consider the switch in the first place.

New to WooCommerce? Once you are set up, our guide to the best WooCommerce plugins shows you which tools to add first. And if you would rather not handle the move yourself, Woosa’s WooCommerce support can take care of the migration for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is it hard to migrate to WooCommerce?

Not necessarily. Small stores can migrate manually, and migration tools like Cart2Cart automate most of the work. For large or complex stores, expert migration services handle everything so nothing is lost.

Will I lose my SEO rankings when I migrate to WooCommerce?

Not if you set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to the new ones. Redirects pass your existing rankings to the new pages. Skipping this step is the most common way stores lose traffic after a migration.

How long does a WooCommerce migration take?

It depends on your store size and method. A small manual migration can take a day, a tool-based move a few hours, and a large expert migration a little longer. Testing and SEO setup are worth the extra time.

Can I migrate from Shopify to WooCommerce?

Yes. Export your Shopify products, customers and orders as CSV, then import them into WooCommerce with the built-in importer or WP All Import. Set up your plugins and redirects, test, and go live.