Last updated - October 2, 2024
The emergence of high-speed internet, e-commerce, and software development has transformed how we run business stores. To run a successful online store, one must emphasize technical implementation, e-commerce platform, workflows, and business logic to outclass their competitors.
If you already own an online store, you probably must use either Shopify or WooCommerce e-commerce platform to manage your website. Both platforms have pros and cons; you can customize and configure them to cater to your business requirements.
However, if you plan to migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify, the process isn’t as intricate as you may think. In this blog, we will share a comprehensive guide, which you may follow while performing the migration from WooCommerce to Shopify.
What is WooCommerce?
It is an open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress, which helps store owners develop and maintain an online store. It is a free plugin that comes with a plethora of features and abilities that can transform your existing WordPress web portal into a true ecommerce store.
What is Shopify?
Shopify is a platform that helps manage commercial activities. Shopify can be used to maintain stores, manage accounts, and accept payments in both physical and digital locations as well. The array of features and ease of use are some of the main reasons why Shopify has become one of the most used choices by entrepreneurs around the world.
Differences between WooCommerce and Shopify
Why should you leave WooCommerce?
Although WooCommerce is a capable and robust e-commerce platform, it comes with its own set of demerits. Here we have some fundamental issues that led organizations to move away from WooCommerce:
Premium Extensions
It is very easy to set up an online store using WooCommerce. However, if you want to enhance your store by adding some capabilities such as Popular Payment Gateways, then you will need to integrate premium extensions. The cost of adding such extensions will only go up over time.
WordPress Specific Plugin
It’s WordPress-specific plugin; hence you can use it only with a website developed on WordPress hosting. You need to change your website hosting and structure to use WooCommerce with other CMS and hosting services.
Excessive Plugin Use
There is no doubt that WooCommerce delivers outstanding performance. However, you need to install more extensions and plugins to avail more features, but that will hamper the performance of your online store.
Why must you migrate to Shopify?
Shopify is known for its wide range of features and scalability. Here we have a couple of reasons why you must migrate to Shopify:
Fully-Hosted Platform
Shopify is an end-to-end hosted platform, that manages all your hosting-specific concerns. This also means you will not have to shell out more money to acquire a hosting server and other services.
Simplicity
It is known for simplicity and flexibility, which enables users to set up an online store with few clicks. It offers an efficient drag-and-drop interface, which helps beginners to manage and maintain their online store without having much technical know-how.
Ease of Marketing
Digital marketing is a vital aspect of an online store, as it drives the customers to the stores. Shopify enables users to create and run efficient SEO campaigns, which helps digital marketers bring more potential customers to their portal.
The process to migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify
We hope the above-mentioned facts have helped you to understand the fundamental difference between WooCommerce and Shopify. If you have decided to migrate your online store to Shopify, then you can follow the below-mentioned steps:
Step 1: Which method to choose while migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Before getting on with migration, some data needs to be transferred, like products, customers, historical orders, and reviews.
There are five methods which can be used to migrate WooCommerce from Shopify:
- Manually copy the data from WooCommerce to your new Shopify store
- Exporting data into CSV file format and then importing the data into the Shopify
- Migrate WooCommerce Products using Shopify’s store migration app
- Use third-party migration applications from Shopify’s store
- Take in the help of a good developer who has a good understanding of Shopify
Step 2: Export Product data from WooCommerce
You can export product, customer, etc. data by transferring it as a CSV file.
The main data to transport will be the information concerning the products and, to do that, do the following:
From your WooCommerce backend,
- Go to “All Products” > Products
- Click on “Export”
- Next, a dialog box will appear. In that, select the necessary fields like columns you want to export, products to export, and then click on “Generate CSV”.
- Save the file under the name, “WooProductDownload.csv”.
Step 3: Edit your product data, which was exported
Before importing the data to Shopify, the product data needs to be edited. Download the CSV file and then edit to match the format. The edited CSV file should match the product CSV template of Shopify.
Step 4: Import the Product Data to Shopify
Once the edits are done, you can import the file to your new Shopify account.
- From your Shopify account, Go to the Admin Dashboard, Click on “Products”
- Click on “Import”.
- Click “Add File” and Add “WooProductDownload.csv”.
- Deselect “Publish new products to sales channels” and select “Upload and Preview”.
- Once you are sure of the edits made, you can click on “Import Products” and then you get a confirmation mail from Shopify to your registered mail address.
Step 5: Verify your import
The different details regarding the products like its description, price, quantity, are correct and haven’t changed with import.
Some of the common issues that comes with your import are:
- Products imported but not published
- Details are missing
- Product Variants failed to import
Step 6: Exporting Customer data from WooCommerce
For this, you need to install a plugin; Import Export Suite.
- Once the plugin is installed, Click on it and Choose the option “Export”
- Select User/Customer from the drop-down menu from the dialog box.
- Select the data that you want to export and Click on Advanced options/Batch export/Scheduling.
- In the next dialog box, Click yes or no as preferred for the option “To export guest users”.
- Name the file as “WooCustomer Download” and click on the format CSV for export and choose Delimiter.
- Click on “Export”
Once the file is ready, please follow the similar steps performed for “Product Data”.
Once the necessary data has been imported to Shopify, the next steps revolve around getting your Shopify account up and running.
Step 7: Figure post migration activities
- Set up theme for your website
- Setting up Shipping Rates
- Configuring Taxes
- Setting up payment provider
- Place Test Orders
- Add Staff
- Setup Domain
Learn further about migration in Shopify Help Page.
Final Words
Both WooCommerce and Shopify are highly popular ecommerce platforms that are suitable for online stores of all sizes. Although, both platforms come with their own merits and demerits and some fundamental differences in their functioning and managing the technical aspects of your online store.
WooCommerce is a perfect tool for techno-savvy users, who can leverage their knowledge to make a wide range of customization. On the other hand, Shopify is a perfect tool for those who want to manage their online store without having much technical knowledge.
Shopify offers a wide range of features and a wonderful experience, but that comes with a slightly higher cost. If you expect the best results for your business, then we would advise you to choose Shopify over WooCommerce.
FAQS
- Why should you WooCommerce to Shopify?
Both are good platforms to start off with your ecommerce website building. Shopify is more preferred due its ease of use. Also, Shopify provides free hosting. Refer to the table above to see how Shopify is different from WooCommerce.
- Which format is chosen while exporting files?
You have to convert the files into CSV format.
- What is Shopify’s store migration app?
The store migration app from Shopify is the first-party app that helps migration from WooCommerce to Shopify. The app is available only in some stores and can be accessed through desktop devices.
- What to check while verifying imports?
Check whether all details are imported, product variants are published, etc.
