Migrating from Magento to Shopify represents a significant decision for your ecommerce business. Whether you're frustrated with Magento's complexity, rising development costs, or simply seeking a more user-friendly platform, Shopify offers an attractive alternative. However, platform migration isn't something you can rush through over a weekend. Without a proper Magento to Shopify migration checklist, you risk losing critical data, damaging your SEO rankings, or creating a frustrating experience for your customers.
This comprehensive guide walks you through every step of the migration process, from initial planning to post-launch optimization. You'll discover how to transfer your products, customers, orders, and content while maintaining your search engine rankings and ensuring a seamless transition for your team and customers. By following this Magento to Shopify migration checklist, you'll minimize downtime, avoid common pitfalls, and set your business up for long-term success on Shopify's platform.
Before diving into the technical details, it's worth understanding why so many ecommerce businesses make this transition. Magento, particularly Magento 2, offers powerful customization capabilities and can handle complex business requirements. However, this power comes with significant drawbacks that drive merchants toward Shopify's more streamlined approach.
The most common reason for migration is cost. Magento requires dedicated developers for even basic maintenance and updates. Hosting costs run significantly higher than Shopify's all-inclusive pricing. When you factor in security patches, extension updates, and ongoing development work, many businesses find their Magento stores consuming disproportionate resources compared to their revenue.
Ease of use represents another major factor. Shopify's intuitive interface allows non-technical team members to manage products, process orders, and update content without developer assistance. This independence reduces bottlenecks and empowers your team to respond quickly to market opportunities. Additionally, Shopify's extensive app ecosystem provides pre-built solutions for most business needs, eliminating the need for custom development in many cases.
Successful migrations start long before you transfer any data. The planning phase determines whether your migration proceeds smoothly or turns into a months-long ordeal that disrupts your business operations.
Begin by thoroughly documenting everything in your current Magento store. Create a spreadsheet that lists all products, categories, customer groups, pricing rules, and custom functionality. This audit serves two purposes: it helps you understand what needs to migrate, and it reveals opportunities to streamline your operations during the transition.
Pay special attention to custom features and integrations. Document any custom-coded functionality, third-party extensions, payment gateways, shipping integrations, and marketing tools. Not everything will have a direct equivalent in Shopify, so you'll need to identify alternative solutions or determine which features you can live without.
Migration presents an ideal opportunity to clean up your data. Review your product catalog and remove discontinued items, outdated images, and duplicate entries. Examine your customer database and purge test accounts, duplicate records, and inactive subscribers. Clean data migrates faster, performs better, and makes your new Shopify store more manageable from day one.
This cleanup phase also applies to content. Review your blog posts, pages, and other content for outdated information, broken links, and opportunities for improvement. Consider which content still drives traffic and conversions, and which can be archived or deleted.
Select the Shopify plan that matches your business needs. If you're currently processing significant transaction volume on Magento, you'll likely need Shopify's Advanced plan or Shopify Plus for enterprise features. Consider factors like the number of staff accounts you need, advanced reporting requirements, and international selling capabilities.
Decide whether you'll keep your existing domain or use this migration as an opportunity to rebrand. If keeping your domain, plan how you'll handle the DNS transition to minimize downtime. If changing domains, prepare a comprehensive 301 redirect strategy to preserve your SEO equity.
Now let's break down the actual migration process into manageable steps. This Magento to Shopify migration checklist covers everything you need to transfer successfully.
Create your Shopify account and complete the basic store setup before importing any data. Configure your store settings including currency, timezone, shipping zones, tax settings, and checkout preferences. This foundation ensures that imported data lands in the right context.
Select and install your theme early in the process. While you can change themes later, having your design framework in place helps you understand how your products and content will appear. Customize your theme's basic settings, including colors, fonts, and layout options, but save detailed customization for after data migration.
You have three primary options for migrating data from Magento to Shopify: automated migration tools, manual export/import, or hiring migration specialists. Each approach has distinct advantages depending on your store's complexity and your technical comfort level.
Automated migration tools like Cart2Cart, LitExtension, or Shopify's own migration app handle the bulk data transfer efficiently. These tools typically charge based on the number of entities (products, customers, orders) you're migrating. They work well for straightforward migrations but may struggle with heavily customized Magento stores.
Manual migration involves exporting data from Magento as CSV files and importing them into Shopify. This approach gives you complete control and costs nothing beyond your time, but it's labor-intensive and prone to errors if you're not meticulous about data formatting.
Your product catalog forms the heart of your ecommerce business, making this the most critical migration step. Start by mapping Magento's product attributes to Shopify's product structure. Magento's attribute system differs from Shopify's approach, so you'll need to decide how to handle custom attributes, product options, and variants.
Transfer product data including titles, descriptions, SKUs, prices, inventory levels, weights, and images. Pay careful attention to product variants—Shopify handles these differently than Magento, with a limit of three option types and 100 variants per product. If your Magento store uses more complex variant structures, you'll need to restructure them or split products into multiple listings.
Don't forget product metadata like SEO titles, meta descriptions, and URL handles. Maintaining consistent URLs between platforms helps preserve your search engine rankings. If URLs must change, document the old and new URLs for your redirect strategy.
Customer data migration requires careful handling to maintain privacy compliance and customer trust. Export customer information including names, email addresses, phone numbers, physical addresses, and order history. Note that for security reasons, you cannot migrate customer passwords—customers will need to reset their passwords when they first log into your Shopify store.
Migrate customer groups or segments if you use them for targeted marketing or special pricing. Shopify handles customer segmentation differently than Magento, using tags and customer groups. Map your Magento customer groups to equivalent Shopify structures before migration.
Consider your customer communication strategy. Plan to send an email notification explaining the platform change, highlighting any improvements, and providing instructions for password reset if necessary. This proactive communication prevents confusion and support requests.
Historical order data provides valuable business intelligence and helps with customer service. Migrate orders including order numbers, dates, items purchased, prices, discounts, shipping costs, taxes, and fulfillment status. This historical data allows you to maintain continuity in customer service and business reporting.
Be aware that imported orders in Shopify are marked as archived and don't affect inventory levels or trigger automated workflows. This prevents double-counting revenue and inventory issues. However, it also means you'll need to rely on reports from your Magento store for historical analytics until you've built up sufficient data in Shopify.
Shopify uses "collections" instead of Magento's category system. Collections can be manual (you add products individually) or automated (products are added based on conditions like tags, price, or inventory level). Plan your collection structure to match your current categories while taking advantage of Shopify's automated collection features.
Consider creating multiple collection types: main navigation collections that mirror your category structure, automated collections for sale items or new arrivals, and hidden collections for internal organization. This flexible approach gives you powerful merchandising capabilities.
Transfer your content marketing assets including blog posts, informational pages, policies, and landing pages. Copy content from Magento and paste it into Shopify's page or blog post editor, adjusting formatting as needed. Shopify's content editor differs from Magento's, so you may need to reformat complex layouts.
Update internal links within your content to point to the new Shopify URLs. This tedious but important step ensures visitors don't encounter broken links when navigating your site. Use find-and-replace tools to speed up this process if you have substantial content.
Identify Shopify apps that replace your Magento extensions. Browse the Shopify App Store for alternatives to your essential Magento functionality. Popular categories include email marketing, customer reviews, loyalty programs, inventory management, and shipping automation.
Install and configure necessary apps before launch. Each app may require setup, data import, or integration with external services. For example, if you're using ReferralCandy for referral marketing, you'll need to install the Shopify app and configure your referral program settings to match your previous setup.
Test integrations thoroughly with your payment gateways, shipping carriers, accounting software, and other critical business systems. These integrations form the operational backbone of your store, and any issues can disrupt order processing and fulfillment.
Migration isn't just about moving data—it's an opportunity to improve your store's design and user experience. Shopify's theme system differs significantly from Magento's, offering both constraints and opportunities.
Choose a Shopify theme that aligns with your brand and supports your key features. Shopify's theme store offers both free and premium themes, with premium themes typically providing more customization options and better support. Consider themes specifically designed for your industry or product type.
Customize your theme to match your brand identity. Upload your logo, adjust colors and typography, and configure layout options. While Shopify themes are less flexible than custom Magento themes, they're also more stable and easier to maintain. Most customization can be accomplished through the theme editor without coding.
Shopify themes are mobile-responsive by default, but you should still review and optimize the mobile experience. Test your store on various devices and screen sizes, paying attention to navigation, image loading, and checkout flow. Mobile commerce represents an increasingly large portion of ecommerce sales, making mobile optimization critical.
Consider mobile-specific features like sticky add-to-cart buttons, simplified navigation menus, and touch-friendly product galleries. These enhancements improve conversion rates for mobile shoppers.
Preserving your search engine rankings during migration requires careful planning and execution. Your Magento to Shopify migration checklist must include a comprehensive SEO strategy to avoid traffic losses.
Create 301 redirects from your old Magento URLs to the corresponding Shopify URLs. This tells search engines that your pages have permanently moved, transferring most of the SEO value to the new URLs. Without proper redirects, you'll lose rankings and traffic as search engines encounter 404 errors.
Export a list of all URLs from your Magento store, including products, categories, blog posts, and pages. Map each old URL to its new Shopify equivalent. If you're on Shopify Plus, you can upload a CSV file with all redirects at once. On regular Shopify plans, you may need to use a redirect app for bulk redirects beyond the built-in limit.
Review and optimize SEO elements for all pages, products, and collections. Ensure each page has a unique, descriptive title tag and meta description. Shopify automatically generates these from your content if you don't specify them, but custom-written metadata typically performs better in search results.
Maintain your URL structure as closely as possible to your Magento store. Shopify allows you to customize URL handles for products, collections, pages, and blog posts. Keeping URLs consistent minimizes the need for redirects and helps maintain search rankings.
After migration, generate and submit your new Shopify sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools. Shopify automatically creates and updates your sitemap at yourstore.com/sitemap.xml. Submitting this sitemap helps search engines discover and index your new URLs faster.
Monitor your search console for crawl errors, indexing issues, and ranking changes in the weeks following migration. Address any errors promptly to minimize SEO impact.
Thorough testing prevents costly mistakes and ensures a smooth launch. Your Magento to Shopify migration checklist should include comprehensive testing across all store functions.
Verify that all data migrated correctly by spot-checking products, customers, and orders. Compare counts between Magento and Shopify to ensure nothing was lost during migration. Review product details including prices, variants, images, and inventory levels. Check that customer addresses and order histories are accurate.
Test your collections to ensure products appear in the correct categories and that automated collections are populating as expected. Verify that product search returns relevant results and that filters work properly.
Test every aspect of your store's functionality including navigation, product filtering, shopping cart, checkout process, payment processing, and order confirmation emails. Create test orders using different payment methods, shipping options, and discount codes to ensure everything works correctly.
Test account creation, login, password reset, and customer account features. Verify that customers can view their order history, update their addresses, and manage their preferences. If you offer customer accounts, ensure the experience is smooth and intuitive.
Test your store on multiple browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and devices (desktop, tablet, mobile). Look for layout issues, broken functionality, or performance problems. Pay special attention to the checkout process, as browser-specific issues here directly impact revenue.
Use tools like BrowserStack or manually test on physical devices to ensure compatibility. Even minor display issues can erode customer confidence and reduce conversion rates.
When you're ready to launch, follow these steps to minimize downtime and ensure a smooth transition.
Perform a final data sync to capture any orders, customers, or product changes that occurred during your testing phase. This ensures your Shopify store launches with the most current data. Most migration tools allow incremental updates to add new data without re-migrating everything.
Update your DNS settings to point your domain to Shopify. This step makes your Shopify store live at your domain. DNS changes can take 24-48 hours to propagate fully, though they often happen faster. During propagation, some visitors may see your old Magento store while others see the new Shopify store.
To minimize this confusion, consider scheduling your DNS change during low-traffic periods. Alternatively, use a maintenance page on your Magento store directing visitors to a temporary Shopify URL while DNS propagates.
Closely monitor your store immediately after launch. Watch for error messages, failed transactions, or customer complaints. Keep your support team prepared to handle questions about the new platform. Have a rollback plan ready in case you encounter critical issues that require reverting to Magento temporarily.
Track key metrics including traffic, conversion rate, average order value, and bounce rate. Compare these to your Magento benchmarks to identify any issues quickly. Some fluctuation is normal during a platform change, but significant drops warrant immediate investigation.
Your work doesn't end at launch. The weeks following migration are crucial for optimization and refinement.
Use Shopify's analytics and Google Analytics to monitor store performance. Track page load times, conversion rates, and customer behavior. Shopify typically offers better performance than Magento out of the box, but you should still optimize images, minimize app conflicts, and follow best practices for speed.
Set up goal tracking in Google Analytics to monitor key conversion events like purchases, newsletter signups, and account creation. Compare performance to your Magento baseline to measure the migration's impact.
Communicate the migration to your customers through email, social media, and on-site notifications. Highlight improvements they'll experience, such as faster checkout, better mobile experience, or new features. Proactive communication reduces confusion and builds excitement around the change.
Create help documentation or FAQ content addressing common questions about the new platform. This self-service content reduces support burden and helps customers adapt quickly.
Continue monitoring your search rankings and organic traffic for several months post-migration. Some ranking fluctuation is normal, but significant drops may indicate redirect issues or other SEO problems. Use Google Search Console to identify and fix any crawl errors or indexing issues.
Consider creating new content to target keywords where you've lost rankings. Fresh, high-quality content can help you recover and even improve upon your previous search performance.
Review your installed apps after a few weeks of operation. Remove any apps you're not using, as each app adds code to your store and can impact performance. Consolidate functionality where possible—for example, using one app that handles multiple features rather than several single-purpose apps.
Regularly review app performance and explore new apps that could improve your store. The Shopify App Store constantly adds new solutions, and better alternatives to your current apps may become available.
Even with careful planning, you may encounter challenges during migration. Here are common issues and how to address them.
If your Magento store uses more than three option types or more than 100 variants per product, you'll need to restructure for Shopify. Consider splitting complex products into multiple listings, using apps that extend variant capabilities, or simplifying your product structure. While this requires adjustment, most merchants find Shopify's variant limits sufficient once they reorganize their catalog.
Custom features built into your Magento store may not have direct Shopify equivalents. Evaluate whether you truly need each custom feature or if a standard Shopify app can meet your needs. For truly unique requirements, you may need to hire a Shopify developer to create custom functionality using Shopify's APIs and app framework.
If you run multiple Magento stores for different regions or brands, plan how to structure these in Shopify. Shopify Plus offers multi-store capabilities and Shopify Markets for international selling. Regular Shopify plans require separate stores for different brands, each with its own subscription fee.
Magento offers robust B2B features that may not exist in standard Shopify. If you serve wholesale or B2B customers, evaluate Shopify Plus with its B2B features or consider specialized B2B apps from the Shopify App Store. You may need to adjust your B2B processes to fit Shopify's capabilities.
Migration timelines vary based on store complexity, but most businesses should plan for 4-8 weeks from start to finish. This includes planning (1-2 weeks), data migration and testing (2-4 weeks), and post-launch optimization (1-2 weeks). Larger stores with complex customizations may require 3-6 months for a complete migration. Using automated migration tools can significantly reduce the time required for data transfer, but thorough testing and customization still demand adequate time.
You don't have to lose SEO rankings if you implement proper 301 redirects from all old URLs to their new Shopify equivalents. Maintain consistent URL structures where possible, transfer all metadata (titles, descriptions), and submit your new sitemap to search engines. Some temporary ranking fluctuation is normal during any migration, but with proper planning, most businesses maintain or even improve their SEO performance on Shopify due to better site speed and mobile optimization.
No, customer passwords cannot be migrated for security reasons. Passwords are encrypted in Magento and cannot be decrypted and re-encrypted for Shopify. Your customers will need to use the "forgot password" feature to create new passwords on your Shopify store. Best practice is to send a proactive email to customers before migration explaining this change and providing clear instructions for password reset to minimize confusion and support requests.
Magento extensions won't work on Shopify, so you'll need to find equivalent apps in the Shopify App Store or have custom functionality rebuilt for Shopify. Most common Magento extensions have Shopify app equivalents, often with better integration and easier setup. For unique customizations, evaluate whether you truly need them or if Shopify's native features or available apps can meet your needs. Custom functionality may require hiring a Shopify developer to recreate using Shopify's development framework.
Whether to hire a professional depends on your technical skills, store complexity, and available time. Simple stores with straightforward product catalogs can often be migrated using automated tools and DIY effort. However, consider hiring Shopify experts or migration specialists if you have a large product catalog (thousands of products), complex customizations, significant SEO concerns, or limited technical expertise. Professional migration services typically cost $2,000-$20,000+ depending on complexity, but they can save time, prevent costly mistakes, and ensure a smoother transition.
Migration costs vary widely based on your approach and store complexity. Automated migration tools typically charge $100-$500 for data transfer based on the number of products, customers, and orders. Shopify subscriptions range from $39-$399/month (or custom pricing for Shopify Plus). Theme costs range from free to $350 for premium themes. Apps typically cost $10-$100/month each. If hiring professionals, expect $2,000-$20,000+ for migration services. Don't forget to factor in the time cost of planning, testing, and optimization, even if you're doing it yourself.
Yes, you should absolutely test Shopify before committing to full migration. Shopify offers a free trial period (typically 14 days, sometimes extended) that you can use to set up your store, import sample data, and test functionality. You can also use Shopify's development store feature or run Shopify in parallel with your Magento store during migration. This allows you to build and test your Shopify store thoroughly before making it live, ensuring you're confident in the platform before switching over your domain and making it your primary store.
The best migration tool depends on your specific needs, but popular options include Cart2Cart, LitExtension, and Shopify's own migration tools. Cart2Cart offers a user-friendly interface and supports migration of products, customers, orders, and other data with a free demo migration. LitExtension provides similar capabilities with competitive pricing. For more control, you can manually export data from Magento as CSV files and import them into Shopify, though this requires more technical knowledge and time. Shopify Plus merchants may have access to additional migration support and tools through their account manager.
Migrating from Magento to Shopify represents a significant undertaking, but with this comprehensive Magento to Shopify migration checklist, you're equipped to navigate the process successfully. By following these steps—from initial planning and data cleanup through migration, testing, and post-launch optimization—you'll minimize risks and position your business for growth on Shopify's platform.
Remember that migration isn't just about moving data from one platform to another. It's an opportunity to streamline your operations, improve your customer experience, and build a more efficient ecommerce business. Take advantage of this transition to eliminate unnecessary complexity, adopt best practices, and implement tools that drive growth.
The key to successful migration lies in thorough planning, careful execution, and patience during the transition period. Don't rush the process—invest the time needed to do it right. Your customers, your team, and your bottom line will thank you for a smooth, well-executed migration.
Ready to take your ecommerce business to the next level? Start working through this Magento to Shopify migration checklist today, and don't hesitate to seek expert help when needed. Whether you're a small business owner handling the migration yourself or leading a team through a complex enterprise migration, following this structured approach will help ensure your success on Shopify. And once you're up and running, consider implementing powerful growth tools like ReferralCandy to turn your satisfied customers into your most effective marketing channel.
Raúl Galera is the Growth Lead at ReferralCandy, where they’ve helped 30,000+ eCommerce brands drive sales through referrals and word-of-mouth marketing. Over the past 8+ years, Raúl has worked hands-on with DTC merchants of all sizes (from scrappy Shopify startups to household names) helping them turn happy customers into revenue-driving advocates. Raúl’s been featured on dozens of top eCommerce podcasts, contributed to leading industry publications, and regularly speaks about customer acquisition, retention, and brand growth at industry events.
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