The short version
Moving to Shopify costs $0 with a CSV import or, where available, Shopify's free Store Migration app, from $59 with LitExtension, and most Shopify Partner starting prices we checked on October 11, 2026 were $500 or more, with the full range running to $20,000+.
A store with under 100 products can migrate in about a week, medium stores take 1–2 weeks and complex stores 3–6 weeks.
The free app imports products and customers from supported platforms, not order history, and Squarespace, Magento and BigCommerce aren't supported sources, so they move through third-party tools instead.
Customer passwords can't be migrated by CSV, and every indexed URL needs its own 301 redirect before you switch.
What's New Since Publication: Updated since publication · 3 changes
- MigrationPro is no longer available on the Shopify App StoreMigrationPro, which this guide named next to LitExtension as a paid migration app, is no longer available on the Shopify App Store. An archived copy of its listing from September 3, 2026 still showed an Install button; when we read the listing on October 11, 2026 it said the app "is not currently available on the Shopify App Store". The page gives no reason. The paid-app route in this guide now runs through LitExtension, and stores with 1,000+ products or a Magento catalog choose between LitExtension and an agency.
- Shopify is replacing shipping zones with shipping options by marketShopify is moving shipping setup from shipping profiles and shipping zones to shipping options set for each market; its developer changelog puts the gradual rollout between October 1, 2026 and July 1, 2027, and the Help Center gives no date for any single store. A new store may start on the new system directly, so the payments-and-shipping step now names both setups.
- Shopify removed the per-plan shipping discount ladderThe US version of Shopify's pricing page now prints one shipping-discount ceiling — up to 87% off — in the Basic, Grow, Advanced and Plus columns alike. The ladder was real: an archived snapshot from January 1, 2025 carried up to 77% for Basic and up to 88% above it, and the April 1, 2026 snapshot still separated the plans, but Shopify has not said when it removed the split. The Canadian version of the same page still steps from up to 45% on Basic to up to 53% on Advanced and Plus, so whether a higher plan buys a bigger label discount depends on where the store is based.
Why Migrate to Shopify?
Key takeaway
Whether you're outgrowing your current platform or frustrated with its limitations, migration is a business decision that impacts revenue, SEO, and daily operations. The most common reasons merchants move to Shopify:
99.9% Uptime
Shopify reports 99.9% platform uptime over the past 90 days, across all major services and regions, and handles hosting, security, and SSL certificates.
Lower True Cost
Self-hosted platforms (WooCommerce, Magento) have hidden costs: hosting, security patches, SSL, developer maintenance. Shopify bundles everything.
21,000+ Apps (Dec 2025)
More than 21,000 apps were available in the Shopify App Store as of December 31, 2025. Add features like subscriptions, reviews, and loyalty programs without custom development.
PCI Compliance Built-in
Shopify is Level 1 PCI DSS compliant by default. On WooCommerce or Magento, you're responsible for your own compliance.
Global Selling
Multi-currency, international domains, duties calculator, and Shopify Markets — all built into the platform.
Scalability
From first sale to $1B+ GMV. Shopify Plus handles brands like Allbirds and Gymshark without platform changes.
Millions
Stores Worldwide
~29%
US Ecommerce Software Market
21,000+
Apps (Dec 2025)
99.9%
Uptime, past 90 days
Sources: Uptek Shopify Statistics, Red Stag Fulfillment, Shopify Form 10-K (FY2025), Shopify platform overview
If you're new to Shopify, our guide to how Shopify stores work covers the architecture and features in depth. Already decided to migrate? Read on for the exact process.
4 Migration Methods: Which One Is Right for You?
Key takeaway
Not all migrations are equal. Choose your approach based on your current platform, store size, and technical comfort level:
After you've created your store on Shopify, review your existing store and decide what data and content you want to move over to Shopify. A migration can be a good time to purge old, low-performing content, and give your site and business a fresh appearance.
Migration Methods Compared
| Method | Cost | Complexity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Store Migration App | Free | Low | Early access: products and customers from Square, WooCommerce, Wix, Amazon, eBay, Clover, Lightspeed R/X (Vend); products only from Etsy |
| CSV Import/Export | Free | Medium | Any platform with CSV export |
| Third-party migration app | From $59 (LitExtension) | Low | Complex stores, Magento, custom platforms |
| Agency/developer | $500–$20,000+ | Handled | Enterprise, 10K+ products, custom integrations |
Paid-tier prices checked October 11, 2026 — sources are listed under Migration Costs.
Which method is right for you?
- Under 100 products on a supported platform? Start with Shopify's free Store Migration app — it's in early access, so if your store doesn't have it, use CSV import.
- 100–1,000 products or need reviews/custom fields? Use a third-party app like LitExtension (from $59, priced by the number of entities migrated, checked October 11, 2026) for complete data transfer.
- 1,000+ products, Magento, or complex integrations? Consider an agency, or LitExtension, whose App Store listing names Magento among its source platforms — the investment prevents costly mistakes.
- Moving from Ecwid? As of October 2026, the Store Migration app's listing doesn't name Ecwid among its source platforms — how an Ecwid store moves to Shopify covers the CSV converter and the migration apps that name Ecwid.
- Moving from Shoptet? As of October 2026, the Store Migration app's listing doesn't name Shoptet among its source platforms either — how a Shoptet store moves to Shopify covers the routes that remain.
- Moving from Shopware? As of October 2026, the Store Migration app's listing doesn't name Shopware among its source platforms either — how a Shopware store moves to Shopify covers the migration apps that name Shopware.
Not sure which migration approach is right for your store? Take this quick quiz.
Which Migration Method Do You Need?Answer 5 questions to get a personalized migration plan
Which Migration Method Do You Need?Answer 5 questions to get a personalized migration plan
Question 1 of 5
What platform are you migrating from?Migration Timeline: How Long Will It Take?
Key takeaway
Migration Phase Breakdown
| Phase | Duration | Key Tasks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Planning & Audit | 1–3 days | Store audit, method selection, URL crawl |
| 2. Shopify Setup | 1–3 days | Account, theme, payments, shipping, taxes |
| 3. Data Migration | 1–7 days | Products, customers, orders, pages, blog |
| 4. SEO Redirects | 1–5 days | URL mapping, redirect upload, meta data |
| 5. Testing | 2–5 days | Checkout, mobile, redirects, content review |
| 6. Go-live & Monitor | 1–2 days + 30-day watch | DNS switch, monitor traffic, fix 404s |
Migration Costs: What You'll Actually Pay
Key takeaway
What Sets the Migration Price
| Route | Price | What sets the price |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Store Migration app | $0 | Early access, and only for its supported source platforms |
| CSV import | $0 | Your own time exporting, cleaning and re-importing files |
| LitExtension | From $59 | The number of entities you migrate |
| Shopify Partner (agency) | Mostly $500–$3,500; one in five from $5,000 | The partner's own rate, not your catalog size |
The agency figures are not tied to catalog size. Shopify Partners set their own migration rates: in the Partner Directory's Store migration category, published starting prices in the first 160 listings (checked October 11, 2026) mostly ran from $500 to $3,500 (half of them at $1,500 or less), and about one in five started at $5,000 or more. The LitExtension row follows LitExtension's pricing, which starts from $59 and depends on the number of entities you migrate.
Beyond data migration, budget for these additional costs:
- Shopify subscription: $39/month (Basic) to $399/month (Advanced). See our complete pricing breakdown.
- Theme: Free themes available; premium themes cost $100–$500 (one-time). Browse the Shopify Theme Store.
- Apps: Budget $50–$200/month for essential apps (reviews, email, SEO). Many have free tiers.
- Custom development: If you need custom Liquid theme modifications, budget $50–$150/hour for a Shopify developer.
Save on your first 3 months
Use Shopify's $1/month trial offer to minimize costs during migration. Set up your store, migrate your data, and configure everything during the trial period — you'll only pay $3 total for 3 months of access.
What Data Can (and Can't) Be Migrated?
Key takeaway
Understanding what transfers — and what doesn't — is essential for planning. Shopify's own tools move the store data: products, customers and, partly, collections. Orders, blog posts and reviews need a third-party tool, while the theme and the domain don't migrate at all — you pick a new theme and point the domain yourself. Here's the complete data migration matrix:
Data Migration Matrix
| Data Type | CSV | Store App | 3rd Party | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Products | Yes | Yes | Yes | Variants, images, descriptions; app skips options beyond 3 |
| Customers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Email and address; not order history |
| Orders | No | No | Yes | Separate optional third-party import |
| Collections | Manual | Partial | Yes | May need manual recreation |
| Blog posts | No | No | Yes | Copy/paste or API migration |
| URL redirects | Bulk upload | No | Some | Critical for SEO — plan manually |
| Reviews | No | No | Yes | Requires review app (Judge.me, etc.) |
| Gift cards | No | No | Yes | Migration apps or the GiftCard API; no native CSV import |
| Discount codes | Manual | No | Some | Recreate in Shopify admin |
| Theme/design | No | No | No | Choose a new Shopify theme |
| Static pages | No | No | Some | About, Contact, FAQ — recreate in Shopify's page editor |
| Domain & DNS | No | No | No | Transfer the domain or point DNS; a DNS change usually takes effect within 2 hours, up to 2 days |
Customer passwords can't be migrated by CSV
Shopify's own instruction is blunt: because passwords are encrypted outside Shopify, you can't migrate them from another online store using a CSV. What comes next depends on your store's version of customer accounts. The bulk account invite that older guides reach for is a legacy-accounts mechanism, and since February 2026 legacy is available only to stores already running it — so a store you open today skips that step entirely: the imported profile is already an account, and the customer signs in with the same email and a one-time six-digit code. Send a pre-migration email explaining the change to reduce support tickets.
Platform-Specific Migration Guides
Key takeaway
Platform Migration Comparison
| Platform | Products | Customers | Orders | SEO Redirects | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WooCommerce | CSV or Store Migration App | CSV | Third-party app | Export with plugin, bulk upload to Shopify | Medium |
| Wix | Store Migration App or CSV | Store Migration App | Third-party app | Manual, or automatic via a paid tool (LitExtension) | Low–Medium |
| Squarespace | CSV export or third-party tool | CSV export | CSV export (reference) | Manual mapping required | Medium |
| Magento | Third-party app (LitExtension) | Third-party app | Third-party app | Complex — use redirect app | High |
| BigCommerce | Partner tools (Matrixify, LitExtension) | Partner tools (Matrixify, LitExtension) | Partner tools (Matrixify, LitExtension) | Similar URL structure helps | Low–Medium |
| Salesforce Commerce Cloud | LitExtension (native SFCC wizard) | LitExtension | LitExtension | Manual — cartridge-driven URLs need full mapping | Enterprise |
| Etsy | Store Migration App (early access) or CSV | Third-party app | Third-party app | Not applicable (marketplace) | Low |
Moving onto Shopify Plus is a different job: a store already on Shopify upgrades in place, and Shopify sends a store replatforming onto Plus to its Plus launch checklist instead of the general migration guide. Our Shopify Plus migration guide covers both routes.
Migrating from WooCommerce
Key takeaway
WooCommerce is the most common migration source. Your WordPress site likely has plugins for SEO (Yoast, Rank Math), reviews, and other data that needs separate handling. Key considerations:
- Products: Use Shopify's Store Migration app (early access, certain stores) or WooCommerce's CSV exporter; products with more than 3 options lose those options.
- SEO data: Export your URL structure using a plugin like Redirection or Screaming Frog. Create 301 redirects in Shopify for every product, collection, and page URL.
- Reviews: Export from your review plugin (e.g., Yotpo, Judge.me) and import into the same app on Shopify, or use a review migration tool.
- Blog content: Copy blog posts manually or use the Shopify API. Preserve publish dates for SEO continuity.
This is the summary; for the full WooCommerce playbook — plugin-by-plugin export, the redirect map for your old /product/ URLs, costs and timeline — see our dedicated WooCommerce to Shopify migration guide.
Migrating from Magento
Key takeaway
Magento migrations are the most complex due to custom attributes, multi-store setups, and large catalogs. Magento isn't one of the Store Migration app's supported source platforms — use a dedicated tool:
- Recommended tool: LitExtension (4.8 stars, 322 reviews, checked on October 11, 2026) — handles products, customers, orders, categories, and reviews.
- Custom attributes: Magento's attribute system is more flexible than Shopify's. Map custom attributes to Shopify metafields or product tags during migration.
- Multi-store: Each Magento store view may need its own Shopify store or use Shopify Markets for international variants.
- URL structure: Magento URLs often include category paths (e.g.,
/electronics/phones/iphone.html). Shopify uses flat URLs (/products/iphone). Every URL needs a redirect.
This is the summary; for the full Magento playbook — attribute-to-metafield mapping, multi-store decisions and the category-path redirect mechanics — see our dedicated Magento to Shopify migration guide.
Migrating from Wix
Key takeaway
Wix products and customers can move through Shopify's Store Migration app (early access, certain stores only), and Shopify's Wix guide recommends a CSV for products.
Still deciding between the two platforms? Our Wix and Shopify compared guide weighs them feature by feature before you commit.
- Products & customers: The Store Migration app (early access, certain stores) imports both. Verify product images (Wix uses its own CDN — images may need re-uploading if the app doesn't capture them all).
- URL redirects: Wix product URLs follow patterns like
/product-page/product-namewhile Shopify uses/products/product-name. Map every product URL manually — or use a paid tool: LitExtension offers automatic 301-redirect creation for Wix URLs as an additional migration option. - Design: Wix's drag-and-drop layouts don't translate to Shopify themes. Choose a new Shopify theme and rebuild your design from scratch. Use screenshots of your Wix store as a reference.
- Blog & pages: Wix blog posts need to be copied manually or via API. Static pages (About, Contact, FAQ) must be recreated in Shopify's page editor.
- Domains: If your domain was purchased through Wix, you'll need to transfer it to a registrar (like Namecheap or Shopify itself) or point DNS records to Shopify. Wix lets you edit A, CNAME and TXT records for a domain bought from Wix, but not its name server (NS) records.
This is the summary; for the full Wix-specific playbook — redirect maps, Velo replacements, timeline and cost — see our Wix to Shopify migration guide.
Migrating from Squarespace
Key takeaway
Squarespace stores are known for beautiful design but limited commerce features. Migration to Shopify unlocks better inventory management, more payment options, and a vastly larger app ecosystem.
- Products: Squarespace is not one of the Store Migration app's supported source platforms, so export your physical and service products as CSV (up to 10,000; Products & Services → Products → Export all) and import them into Shopify, or use a third-party migration tool such as LitExtension. The CSV leaves out featured images, variant images, image alt text and customer reviews; double-check those and variant-specific pricing after import.
- Customers: Squarespace allows CSV export of customer data (Lists & Segments → Customers → export icon). Import this CSV into Shopify's customer section.
- Orders: Squarespace order history is not handled by the Store Migration app. Export your orders from Squarespace as CSV and keep them for reference, or use a third-party migration tool if you need them inside Shopify.
- URL structure: Squarespace product URLs use
/store/product-nameor/shop/product-namepatterns. Shopify uses/products/product-name. Map every indexed URL to its Shopify equivalent. - Design rebuild: Squarespace templates don't transfer. Choose a Shopify theme with a similar aesthetic. If you relied on Squarespace's built-in design tools, expect 2–5 days of theme customization.
- Subscriptions: If you used Squarespace's member areas or subscriptions, you'll need a Shopify subscription app (e.g., Recharge, Loop) to recreate this functionality.
This is the summary; for the full Squarespace migration guide — step-by-step catalog export, redirect mapping and a design rebuild checklist — see our dedicated Squarespace to Shopify migration guide.
Migrating from BigCommerce
Key takeaway
As of October 2026, Shopify's free Store Migration app does not support BigCommerce — the move runs through partner tools like Matrixify, LitExtension, or Cart2Cart instead. Once you're routed through one of those, BigCommerce's structured data maps cleanly to Shopify's format.
- Products: Partner migration apps handle products, variants, images, and descriptions accurately. BigCommerce's structured product data maps cleanly to Shopify's format.
- Customers & orders: Both transfer via the same partner tools. Customer email addresses, addresses, and order history import with minimal issues.
- URL structure: BigCommerce supports flexible, custom URL formats rather than Shopify's fixed
/products/path — every existing indexed URL needs its own 301 redirect, created by hand or through a migration tool's redirect option. - Custom fields: BigCommerce custom fields don't have a direct Shopify equivalent. Map them to Shopify metafields or product tags. Apps like Matrixify can help with bulk metafield imports.
- Reviews: Export BigCommerce reviews and import them into a Shopify review app (Judge.me, Yotpo, or Stamped). Most review apps have a built-in BigCommerce import feature.
For the full playbook — costs, redirect mechanics and a cutover checklist — see the dedicated BigCommerce to Shopify migration guide.
Migrating from Salesforce Commerce Cloud
Key takeaway
Merchants leave Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFCC) to escape a GMV-based license and heavy developer dependency. As of October 2026, neither Shopify's free Store Migration app nor Cart2Cart supports SFCC — the automated path runs through LitExtension, which has a native SFCC wizard, with Matrixify handling supplementary CSV/Excel imports.
- Products: LitExtension's SFCC connector moves catalog data, variants, and images; large or attribute-rich catalogs still warrant a manual QA pass.
- Customers & orders: Transfer via LitExtension. Historical orders import for reference; passwords never carry over.
- Custom cartridges: SFRA cartridges and custom business logic have no Shopify equivalent — they are rebuilt as apps, Shopify Functions, or metafields, not migrated.
- URL structure: Cartridge-driven SFCC URLs differ from Shopify's fixed paths — every indexed URL needs its own 301 redirect, mapped manually.
- License exit: An SFCC contract has renewal terms — plan the cutover around your renewal date to avoid paying both platforms.
For the full playbook — costs, redirect mechanics and a cutover checklist — see the dedicated Salesforce Commerce Cloud to Shopify migration guide.
Migrating from Etsy
Key takeaway
Etsy-to-Shopify migration is fundamentally different from other platform moves. Etsy is a marketplace — you don't own the customer relationship, the URL structure, or the brand experience. Moving to Shopify means building your own standalone store.
- Products: Shopify's Store Migration app (early access, certain stores) imports products from your Etsy CSV export, which only includes listings currently available for sale. Verify that product images meet Shopify's recommended resolution (2048×2048 px).
- Customers: Shopify's Etsy guide says third-party migration apps can import your order history and customers from Etsy; check which buyer details such an app actually brings across before you plan a mailing list around them. Start an email collection strategy (pop-ups, discounts for signup) from day one.
- SEO: Since Etsy product URLs are on
etsy.com, there are no URL redirects to set up. However, if customers Google your brand + product names, make sure your Shopify product pages are optimized to rank for those keywords. - Dual presence: Many sellers keep their Etsy shop active while building their Shopify store. Use Etsy as a discovery channel and direct repeat customers to your own Shopify store for higher margins (Etsy charges 6.5% transaction fee + listing fees vs. Shopify's flat subscription model).
- Branding: On Etsy, your brand competes with millions of similar sellers. Shopify gives you full control over branding, domain, and customer experience. Invest in a custom domain and a polished theme to differentiate.
This is the summary; for the full Etsy decision — what imports, what you rebuild from scratch, and whether to keep both shops running — see our dedicated Etsy to Shopify guide.
For large WooCommerce or Magento stores, consider our integration guide
If you want to keep your existing website and add Shopify commerce features instead of a full migration, read our guide to adding Shopify to an existing website. This approach lets you use Shopify's checkout and product management while keeping your current design and content.
SEO Migration: Protect Your Google Rankings
Key takeaway
This is the section most merchants get wrong. A poorly handled SEO migration can result in significant organic traffic loss. Industry observations from SEO communities suggest steep losses are common when redirects are missing. Here's the complete SEO migration checklist:
1
Crawl your current site
Use a tool like Screaming Frog (free up to 500 URLs) or Ahrefs to create a complete list of all indexed URLs. Export every product page, collection page, blog post, and static page URL. This is your redirect source list.2
Map old URLs to new Shopify URLs
Create a spreadsheet with two columns: old URL → new Shopify URL. Shopify uses a standard URL structure: /products/handle for products, /collections/handle for collections, /pages/handle for pages, and /blogs/news/handle for blog posts.3
Set up 301 redirects in Shopify
Go to Content → Menus → View URL Redirects. Upload your redirect map as a CSV file (two columns: Redirect from, Redirect to). For large stores, use the bulk upload feature.4
Preserve meta titles and descriptions
Export your current meta titles and descriptions. After migration, update each product and page in Shopify to match. Changing URLs is risky enough — don't change your meta data simultaneously.5
Submit updated sitemap to Google
After DNS switch, go to Google Search Console, add your Shopify site as a property, and submit the new sitemap (yourstore.com/sitemap.xml). Request indexing for your key pages.6
Monitor for 30 days
Track organic traffic, crawl errors (Search Console → Page indexing), and keyword rankings daily for the first 30 days. Fix any 404 errors immediately by adding missing redirects. Google says to expect temporary ranking fluctuations during a move, and that on a medium-sized site it can take a few weeks or more for the new URLs to replace the old ones. Once the redirects hold, audit the new store itself — Shopify creates its own duplicate product URLs, which our Shopify technical SEO audit walks through.URL redirects can be used to redirect traffic from one web page to another. When you change a URL on your Shopify store, you can create a URL redirect to ensure your customers can still find what they're looking for.
The #1 SEO migration mistake
Forgetting to redirect non-product pages. Merchants focus on product URLs but forget about category pages, blog posts, about pages, contact pages, and FAQ pages. Every indexed URL that returns a 404 after migration hurts your domain authority. Redirect everything — even pages you plan to remove. Redirect deleted pages to the most relevant existing page.
Step-by-Step Migration Guide
Key takeaway
1
Audit your current store
Document everything: product count, customer count, order history depth, active discount codes, blog posts, static pages, and third-party integrations. This audit determines your migration method and timeline.2
Create your Shopify store
Sign up for Shopify (use the $1/month trial to save money during setup). Don't connect your domain yet — use the free myshopify.com URL for building.3
Choose and customize your theme
Browse the Shopify Theme Store and install a theme that matches your brand. Customize colors, fonts, and layout before importing products — it's easier to adjust an empty store.4
Migrate your products
Install the Store Migration app (early access, certain stores) or use CSV import, and import your products. Verify: the product count matches your audit, images loaded correctly, variants are accurate, pricing is correct, and descriptions are complete. Fix any issues before proceeding.5
Migrate customers; plan orders separately
Import customer data with the official app. Historical orders require a separate optional third-party import, and customer passwords won't transfer.6
Set up SEO redirects
Prepare your complete URL redirect map and upload it to Shopify (Content → Menus → View URL Redirects). This is the most critical step for preserving organic traffic. See the SEO Migration section for the full process.7
Configure payments and shipping
Set up Shopify Payments (or your preferred payment gateway), configure shipping rates (in shipping zones, or as shipping options for each market if Shopify has already moved your store to shipping options by market), and set up tax collection. Test the full checkout flow using Shopify's test mode.8
Recreate pages and navigation
Rebuild your About, Contact, FAQ, and policy pages. Set up your main navigation menu and footer links. Add your blog posts if applicable.9
Test everything
Place test orders, verify email notifications, check mobile responsiveness, test all redirects, and review your checkout flow end-to-end. Use Shopify's test mode for payment testing.10
Switch DNS and go live
Point your domain to Shopify. Shopify says the DNS change usually takes effect within two hours, but can take up to two days. During this period, some visitors may see your old store and some the new one — this is normal. After propagation, deactivate your old store.8 Common Migration Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Key takeaway
Skipping URL Redirects
The #1 mistake. Every old URL that returns a 404 after migration costs you Google rankings. Map and redirect every indexed page before switching.
Migrating During Peak Season
Never migrate 4–6 weeks before a major sales event. Choose your slowest business period to minimize risk and give yourself recovery time.
Not Testing Checkout
Place multiple test orders with different product types, shipping methods, and payment options. A broken checkout after migration means lost revenue.
Forgetting Customer Communication
Customers need to know about the change, especially the new sign-in screen. Surprise changes generate support tickets and lost trust.
Ignoring Mobile Experience
A large share of e-commerce traffic is mobile. Test every page, the checkout flow, and product browsing on multiple devices before going live.
Not Backing Up Old Store
Export everything from your old platform before deactivating it. You may need historical data, images, or content that wasn't included in the migration.
Rushing Theme Customization
Your store's design is the first thing customers see. Don't launch with a half-configured theme. Take time to match or improve your previous design.
Skipping Post-Migration Monitoring
Monitor organic traffic, conversion rates, and error logs daily for 30 days after migration. Early detection of issues prevents long-term damage.
Upgrading Between Shopify Plans
Key takeaway
Unlike platform migration, upgrading your Shopify plan is effortless — one click, instant activation, no data changes. The question is when it makes financial sense. For a full comparison, see our guide to choosing the right Shopify plan.
Shopify Plan Comparison (Key Differences)
| Feature | Basic ($39) | Grow ($105) | Advanced ($399) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly price | $39 | $105 | $399 |
| Online credit card rate | 2.9% + 30¢ | 2.7% + 30¢ | 2.5% + 30¢ |
| Staff accounts | 0 (owner not counted) | 5 | 15 |
| Shipping discount | Up to 87% (US); 45% (Canada) | Up to 87% (US); 50% (Canada) | Up to 87% (US); 53% (Canada) |
| Reports | Included | Included | Included |
| International pricing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Duties & import taxes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Financial breakeven for upgrading
Basic → Grow: At ~$33,000/month in sales, the 0.2% transaction fee savings ($66/mo) offsets the $66/mo price increase. Plus, you get 5 staff accounts.
Grow → Advanced: At ~$147,000/month in sales, the additional fee savings justify the jump. You also get 15 staff accounts.
Grow → Advanced: At ~$147,000/month in sales, the additional fee savings justify the jump. You also get 15 staff accounts.
The Bottom Line
Key takeaway
The migration itself is temporary pain for long-term gain. Plan carefully, protect your SEO, and you'll wonder why you didn't switch sooner.
SEO redirects are the most critical step. Everything else can be fixed after launch, but broken URLs and lost rankings are expensive to recover from. Prioritize redirects above all else.
Your Next Step by Stage
Frequently Asked Questions
Migration timelines vary by store complexity. A simple store with under 100 products takes about a week from first audit to go-live, using a CSV import or, where available, Shopify's free Store Migration app. Medium stores (100–1,000 products) take 1–2 weeks, including SEO redirects and design. Complex stores with thousands of products may take 3–6 weeks.
Not if you set up 301 redirects: missing redirects are the #1 cause of post-migration traffic drops. Before switching, map every old URL to its new Shopify URL and add the redirects in Shopify's admin (Content → Menus → View URL Redirects). Wix-style URL structures need a redirect for every URL, mapped individually or created by a paid tool such as LitExtension.
No — Shopify's free Store Migration app imports products and customers, not order history. Importing historical orders is a separate, optional step through a third-party migration app. If you skip that step, keep the old platform's exports available for reference rather than treating orders as part of the free official import.
Shopify states that customer passwords can't be migrated from another online store using a CSV, because passwords are encrypted outside Shopify. What replaces them depends on your store's version of customer accounts, and a store you open today runs the current one: the imported profile is already an account, and the customer signs in with the same email and a one-time six-digit code instead of a password. Best practice: send a pre-migration email explaining the move, and a launch-day note showing the new sign-in screen. Most customers meet this flow on other stores already and won't be significantly impacted.
Migration costs range from $0 to $20,000+. Shopify's free Store Migration app (early access, certain stores) imports products from WooCommerce, Wix, Etsy, Square, and more at no cost; BigCommerce moves via partner tools instead. Third-party apps like LitExtension (from $59) suit complex platforms like Magento. Shopify Partners set their own rates, most published $500 or more.
Always migrate during your slowest business period. Avoid migrating 4–6 weeks before major sales events (Black Friday, holiday season, product launches). The ideal window is 2–3 months before your next peak period, giving you time to complete the migration, set up redirects, test everything, and build confidence with the new platform. If you're on a seasonal business cycle, spring or early summer is typically the safest window for most retailers.
Yes — this is the recommended approach. Keep your old store live while you build and test the Shopify store, and switch your domain's DNS only once products, pages, and checkout all work. Shopify says the DNS change usually takes effect within two hours but can take up to two days; during that time some customers may see either store.
Only the store moves semi-automatically: products and customers through the Store Migration app or a CSV, orders through a third-party tool. Rebuild the rest: blog posts, static pages and the theme. The domain moves by transfer or by pointing DNS at Shopify; Shopify says a DNS change usually takes effect within two hours, up to two days. Every indexed URL needs its own 301 redirect.
Several types of data need special handling: customer passwords (Shopify states they can't be migrated by CSV because they're encrypted outside the platform), theme/design (you'll choose a new Shopify theme), app-specific data (loyalty points, custom fields), email marketing lists (export/import separately via your email provider), and blog post formatting (content transfers but layout needs adjustment). Gift cards are a different case: Shopify lists migration apps and the GiftCard API as bulk options for gift cards, certificates and store credits, but there is no native CSV import for them. Plan for these gaps before starting your migration.
Shopify's Store Migration app is free and built by Shopify, with a 3.2-star App Store rating from 77 reviews as checked on October 11, 2026. It is in early access for certain stores and imports products and customers from supported platforms, but not order history. For complex stores or historical orders, use a separate third-party migration path.
Upgrading your Shopify plan is instant and simple: go to Settings → Plan → select your new plan → confirm. The upgrade takes effect immediately with no downtime. You'll be charged a prorated amount for the remainder of your current billing cycle. Shopify will credit the unused portion of your old plan. You can downgrade at any time too — the change takes effect at the start of your next billing cycle. There's no data loss or store disruption when changing plans.
Upgrading from Basic ($39/mo) to Grow ($105/mo) breaks even near $33,000 in monthly sales, where the lower transaction rate (2.7% vs 2.9%) offsets the price jump. Upgrade sooner if you need staff accounts — Basic includes none. In the US, a bigger shipping discount is a weaker reason now; Canada still steps from 45% on Basic to 53% on Advanced.
Yes — customer communication is critical. Send an email 1–2 weeks before migration explaining: the store is moving to a better platform, what customers should expect (a new sign-in screen, same products/prices), and any temporary service interruptions. After migration, send a welcome email with a direct link to the sign-in page. If you have a loyalty program, explain how points or rewards will be handled. Proactive communication significantly reduces post-migration support tickets.
About This Article
Editorial direction
Shopify Developer & Editorial Director
9+ years with Shopify since 2017
Front-end developer specializing in Shopify since 2017. Experienced in building custom Liquid themes, optimizing storefront performance, and integrating third-party apps. Directs the editorial process behind Ecom Store Pro: sets its topics and the rules every AI-written page must pass before publication.
This page was written by AI. Separate AI agents that did not write it check its figures and claims against official sources and test its links and interactive tools. A human editor sets the site's editorial direction, topics and rules and checks that pages are complete and display correctly, but does not check their facts or edit their text. Details may change — always confirm critical data at shopify.com.
Editorial PolicySome links in this article are affiliate links. If you sign up for a Shopify store through these links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Read our full advertising policy.