How to Migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify Without Losing Data

Making the jump to a new platform? Smart move. Every month, countless store proprietors efficaciously migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify, reworking their online businesses in the process. But right here’s what nobody tells you upfront—a poorly executed transition can tank your visitors overnight and erase years of search engine authority.

This comprehensive Shopify migration manual is famous precisely for being a way to circulate your store from BigCommerce to Shopify at the same time as keeping each ounce of your hard-earned scores, purchaser records, and sales momentum intact.

Why Businesses Are Switching from BigCommerce to Shopify

Let’s reduce the marketing fluff and talk reality. Both structures have their strengths, but Shopify offers particular benefits that depend on when you’re scaling.

The Shopify App Store houses over 8,000 integrations. Looking for advanced inventory control? Done. Need sophisticated customer segmentation? Covered. While BigCommerce offers extensions, Shopify’s ecosystem provides solutions for virtually every business challenge you’ll encounter.

User experience separates these platforms dramatically. Shopify’s store setup eliminates the learning curve that frustrates beginners. You’ll customize products, adjust settings, and modify designs without touching a line of code. Shopify theme customization puts professional design within everyone’s reach—no developer retainer required.

Consider the financial angle. Shopify Payments strips away transaction fees when you use their native processor. BigCommerce layers fees on top of whatever gateway you choose. For a store processing $50,000 monthly, that difference funds your marketing budget.

Support quality matters when your checkout breaks on Black Friday. Shopify’s 24/7 team responds within minutes, not hours. That responsiveness protects revenue during critical sales periods.

Pre-Migration Preparation

Your first action item? Create complete BigCommerce backups of everything. Download product spreadsheets, export customer lists, save order histories, and download every image. Store multiple copies across different locations—cloud services, external drives, everywhere.

Next, conduct a brutal store audit. Which pages generate conversions? What’s collecting digital dust? Identify damaged navigation, old stock, and content that hasn’t had visible visitors in months. Clean up now rather than dragging troubles into your new home.

Document every BigCommerce custom feature currently running. Special checkout modifications? Custom product builders? Unique shipping calculators? List them all. You’ll need to reconstruct or replace these elements, so knowing what exists prevents nasty surprises.

Evaluate your order history migration requirements carefully. Transferring five years of transactions takes longer and costs more than moving recent data. Many businesses only migrate the past 12-18 months to balance completeness with efficiency.

Open your Shopify store account and explore the dashboard. Select your subscription tier, browse theme options, and familiarize yourself with where everything lives. You’re not building yet—just preparing the foundation.

Understanding What Data Can Be Migrated

Here’s your realistic expectation list for what successfully migrates to Shopify:

Product Catalogue: Everything transfers—names, full descriptions, pricing systems, SKU codes, stock quantities, variant configurations, product pics, training (Shopify calls them collections), plus crucial meta titles and outlines that protect your search visibility.

Customer Database: Complete profiles that include names, email addresses, bodily addresses, purchase histories (with warnings), and account possibilities. Security protocols prevent password transfers—customers reset them independently.

Transaction Records: Your complete order history migration preserves order identification numbers, transaction dates, purchased item details, customer information, payment confirmations, and fulfillment statuses. This documentation protects both customer service capabilities and accounting requirements.

Content Library: When migrating BigCommerce blog posts, expect titles, body content, featured images, and reader comments to carry forward. This preserves your content marketing investment.

URL Architecture: Perhaps your most valuable asset for preserving SEO during migration. Proper redirect implementation (detailed later) maintains all your search engine authority.

What typically stays behind? Third-party application data (unless the identical app exists on both platforms), customer reviews (exceptions exist), sophisticated theme customizations, and complex promotional rule structures. Budget time to rebuild these elements manually.

Choosing the Right Migration Method

Three distinct paths exist for your BigCommerce to Shopify migration:

Option 1: Manual CSV Transfer

The bootstrap approach. Export data from BigCommerce as spreadsheet files, clean the formatting, then import CSV to Shopify through their bulk upload system. Realistic for smaller catalogs under 300 products, but exponentially tedious beyond that threshold.

Benefits: Zero cost, total control over every field. Drawbacks: Enormous time investment, high error potential, requires spreadsheet expertise

Option 2: Automated Platform Migration

Services like Cart2Cart and LitExtension revolutionize this process. These automated migration tools establish secure connections between both platforms and transfer massive datasets with minimal manual intervention.

Cart2Cart BigCommerce migration: Provides complimentary demo transfers (test accuracy before purchasing) and handles products, customers, orders, categories, blog content, and more. Their step-by-step wizard eliminates guesswork.

LitExtension Shopify migration: Comparable functionality with alternative pricing models. Both deliver reliable results—your desire relies upon budget constraints and precise functional necessities.

Benefits: Rapid crowning glory, high accuracy, approaches thousands of statistical effects. Drawbacks: Paid service (funding stages from $29 to $499 based on the number of statistics)

Option 3: Professional Migration Specialist

Complex stores with extensive customizations benefit from expert handling. A devoted Shopify migration provider expert manages everything—entire information transfer, subject configuration, app installations, SEO redirect implementation, complete checking out, and coordinated launch.

Benefits: Completely fingers-off, assured professional effects. Drawbacks: Premium pricing ($500–$5,000+, relying on complexity)

Medium-sized operations typically discover automated gear supplies have the best cost-to-benefit ratios.

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Follow these BigCommerce to Shopify migration steps using an automated platform (the most popular choice):

Phase 1: Register with your selected migration platform. This example uses Cart2Cart for clarity.

Phase 2: Establish platform connections. Input your BigCommerce store address and Shopify destination URL, then upload connector files (small scripts enabling secure data transfer).

Phase 3: Define migration scope. Select products, customers, orders, categories, blog articles—whatever your business requires. Your preliminary planning determines these selections.

Phase 4: Configure field mapping. The platform matches BigCommerce data fields with Shopify equivalents (converting BigCommerce product categories into Shopify collections). Verify these mappings thoroughly.

Phase 5: Execute demonstration migration. This trial run processes a small data sample, allowing accuracy verification before financial commitment. Examine results carefully within your Shopify environment.

Phase 6: Launch complete migration after confirming demo accuracy. The processing period varies from 20 minutes to several hours, relying on the database length.

Phase 7: Track progress actively. Most platforms provide live status updates. Maintain your browser session throughout the process.

Phase 8: Conduct a comprehensive data review. Verify product specifications, customer records, and order documentation. Flag any inconsistencies or missing elements.

SEO & URL Management

This section prevents the catastrophic ranking losses that destroy poorly planned migrations.

BigCommerce and Shopify utilize fundamentally different URL architectures. Without intervention, you’ll obliterate years of search engine optimization work. We’re discussing potential 50-70% traffic crashes.

Your salvation? 301 redirect implementation. These permanent redirects inform search engines: “This content relocated permanently to this precise new address.” Google transfers your accumulated ranking authority to replacement URLs.

Shopify 301 redirect configuration:

• Document every existing BigCommerce URL alongside its corresponding Shopify destination
• Construct a comprehensive redirect map (old URL → new URL)
• Access Shopify admin panel: Online Store > Navigation > URL Redirects
• Upload your redirect spreadsheet (Shopify accepts CSV files for bulk processing).

Critical insight: Include product image URLs in your redirect strategy. External websites linking to your images deserve functional connections.

Additionally, refresh your Shopify sitemap and submit it through Google Search Console. This hurries Google’s discovery and indexing of your new URL shape.

Maintain identical meta titles and descriptions from your BigCommerce store. These elements carry substantial ranking weight. While migration platforms typically preserve this data, manually verify your highest-traffic pages.

Testing Before Launch

Launching without exhaustive testing guarantees problems. Use this Shopify migration checklist during your testing phase:

• Navigate your store exactly as customers would. Click every menu option, search for various products, read blog content, and explore footer links.
• Complete full checkout process testing. Add multiple products, proceed through checkout stages (activate Shopify’s test payment mode), and finalize dummy orders.
• Verify mobile responsiveness across devices. With mobile site visitors dominating e-comm (frequently exceeding 65%), your cell-pleasant Shopify store has to perform perfectly on smartphones and tablets.
• Audit product accuracy: pricing, variation alternatives, inventory ranges, image excellence, and outline formatting.
• Test customer account functionality. Can registered customers access their accounts? (Password resets required—plan customer communication accordingly.)
• Validate integrated apps. Install necessary Shopify apps (email automation, review systems, and analytics platforms) and confirm proper operation.
• Execute broken link detection. Tools like Screaming Frog, Dead Link Checker, or Ahrefs identify every dead end.
• Assess your Shopify navigation setup. Menu structures should follow intuitive logic and a user-friendly hierarchy.
• Process genuine payment transactions using real gateways (then issue refunds).
• Analyze web page loading speeds with Google PageSpeed Insights. Slow overall performance destroys conversion rates.

Document every test in a tracking spreadsheet. Mark each component as verified or requiring correction.

Launching Your Shopify Store

Launch day arrives, but strategic timing prevents chaos.

Minimize downtime during migration by scheduling launches during minimal traffic periods (typically 2-5 AM in your primary customer timezone). This reduces customer impact dramatically.

Follow these Shopify store launch steps in sequence precisely:

• Disable password protection on your Shopify store (Settings > Preferences section).
• Modify domain DNS records to factor toward Shopify (particular commands provided through Shopify)
• DNS propagation completes within 24-48 hours, though it often resolves within 2-6 hours.
• Monitor your existing BigCommerce platform for final orders during transition
• Once DNS fully propagates, activate BigCommerce maintenance mode.

Broadcast a launch announcement to your complete customer database. Explain the improved experience, clarify password reset requirements, and showcase new features or enhancements.

Post-Migration Tips

You’re live—but vigilance continues.

First Week Priorities:

• Scrutinize Shopify analytics constantly. Monitor traffic patterns, conversion percentages, and any suspicious drops.
• Configure Google Analytics and Google Search Console for your Shopify platform if not already implemented.
• Address customer support inquiries proactively. Common issues include password resets, missing historical orders, and checkout confusion.
• Conduct another broken link check on your live environment.
• Process multiple real checkout tests with small-value orders.

First Month Priorities:

• Evaluate post-migration SEO performance. Check rankings for critical keywords. Significant drops require immediate investigation.
• Optimize Shopify store performance. Consider speed enhancement apps if loading times disappoint.
• Analyze and improve Shopify conversion rates. Test different checkout flows, product page layouts, and call-to-action placements.
• Gather customer feedback systematically. Are they finding products easily? Any complaints about the redesign?

Ongoing Maintenance:

• Maintain contemporary, correct product facts.
• Verify Shopify sitemap updates regularly (Shopify automates this; however, confirm functionality).
• Create clean content material for search engine marketing development—weblog articles, shopping for publications, and video content material.
• Explore Shopify features you have not applied: abandoned cart recuperation tools, discount code systems, and customer segmentation.

Migration Cost & Plans

Let’s discuss financial investment. BigCommerce to Shopify migration cost spans a wide range, depending on your approach:

Self-Service Manual Migration: $0 monetary cost (invest 20-40 hours for medium-sized catalogs)

Automated Platform Tools: $29-$499 typically, influenced by:

Product quantity (100 items versus 10,000 items)

Data entities (orders, customers, blog posts)

Advanced features (custom fields, special attributes)

Expert Professional Service: $500-$5,000+, determined by:

Store sophistication

Custom development requirements

Database size

Timeline expectations

Factor in Shopify subscription fees:

Basic Shopify: $39/month

Shopify: $105/month

Advanced Shopify: $399/month

Plus software subscriptions (email advertising, critiques, analytics)—finances $50-$200 monthly for preferred app combinations.

Final Thoughts: BigCommerce to Shopify

Migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify represents an opportunity, not a danger—if completed nicely. Yes, the system includes a couple of components, but strategic planning and appropriate gear enable smooth transitions that absolutely make your business stronger.

The critical factor? Patience during preparation and testing. Verify those redirects multiple times. Remember—customers barely notice expertly executed migrations, but they’ll absolutely notice sloppy ones.

Thousands of prosperous merchants have completed this exact transition successfully. With this Shopify migration guide, you’re equipped to join their ranks. Your more powerful, more flexible Shopify store awaits.

Ready to begin your BigCommerce to Shopify migration? Select your migration methodology, allocate dedicated time, and follow this guide systematically. You’re prepared for success.

Common Questions & FAQs

Q: What’s the realistic timeline? 

A: Automated tools will switch the whole statistics in one-eighth of an hour. What is the overall project period, which includes coaching, testing, and release? Allocate 1-2 weeks minimum.

Q: Will search rankings disappear? 

A: Not when you put in force 301 redirects effectively. Proper redirection is non-negotiable for retaining search engine optimization in the course of migration.

Q: Do customer passwords transfer? 

A: No—security protocols prevent this. Customers reset passwords independently. Communicate this clearly via email.

Q: What happens to my current theme? 

A: It doesn’t carry forward. You’ll select a new Shopify theme and customize it. Many merchants prefer Shopify’s modern design options.

Q: Can customer reviews migrate? 

A: Depends on your review application. Using identical apps on both platforms (like Yotpo or Judgedotme) enables transfer. Otherwise, manual export/import is required.

Q: Will old BigCommerce links continue working? 

A: Yes, when you configure redirects properly. That’s why URL redirect setup demands careful attention.

Q: Is partial migration possible? 

A: Absolutely. Some suppliers handily migrate products while rebuilding different elements from scratch.