Migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify

Store Design
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1

Looking to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify. Are there any hiccups I need to be aware of and has anyone else had this experience? The process has me nervous.

2

Hi @Westfire

Yes, I’ve gone through a BigCommerce → Shopify migration before, and I can share what to watch out for. The process seems intimidating, but it’s very manageable once you understand the steps. Here are the key things to be aware of:

1. Product & Variant Structure Differences

Shopify limits:

*100 variants per product
*3 options (Size, Color, etc.)
If your BigCommerce products exceed this, you’ll need to restructure them or use an app.

2. URL Structure Will Change

Shopify uses fixed structures like:

  • /products/product-handle
  • /collections/collection-handle/products/product-handle

You may need 301 redirects to avoid SEO drops.

3. Customer Passwords Don’t Transfer

BigCommerce doesn’t allow exporting passwords, so customers must reset their password after migration.

4. App Replacements

Many BigCommerce features require different Shopify apps. Expect:

  • Email popups
  • Reviews
  • Filters
  • Bundles
    to be reconfigured.

5. Theme Rebuild

Your BigCommerce theme won’t transfer.
You’ll need to rebuild the layout using a Shopify theme (free or paid).

6. Shipping & Tax Rules

These won’t migrate automatically.
Set them fresh in Shopify before going live.

7. Inventory Synced During Switch

If you keep selling on BigCommerce during migration, do a final sync before launch to ensure stock accuracy.

Best regards,
Devcoder :laptop:

3

Hi @Westfire ,
Migrating from BigCommerce to Shopify is definitely manageable, and many merchants do it successfully - but it’s good that you’re preparing ahead. Here are a few things to keep in mind to ensure a smooth migration:

What Usually Works Smoothly

  • Products, customers, and orders can be migrated easily using apps like Matrixify, LitExtension, Cart2Cart, or even the Store Importer (depending on your data format).
  • Basic store structure (collections, pages, navigation) transfers over without major issues if planned properly.
  • SEO redirects can be handled cleanly in Shopify to avoid ranking drops.

Things to Watch Out For (Common Hiccups)

  • Custom product options in BigCommerce don’t always map 1:1 to Shopify variants. You may need an app for complex product options.
  • URL structure differences - Shopify has fixed URL patterns, so setting up 301 redirects is important.
  • Theme functionality won’t transfer. You’ll need to recreate design and custom features in your new Shopify theme.
  • Apps and integrations from BigCommerce may not have Shopify equivalents or may behave differently.
  • Order history can be imported, but orders will be marked as “archived” and won’t behave like native Shopify orders.

Tips for a Smooth Migration

  • Start with a development store to test the import.
  • Migrate a small sample first to confirm everything formats correctly.
  • Set up your 301 redirects before launching.
  • Review all products after import to verify variants, images, and metafields.
  • If you’re unsure, consider using a migration app or a Shopify Partner to handle the process.
4

Shopify staff note: The experiences store owners have shared here are the best place to start if you’re weighing Shopify and BigCommerce. When you want a structured comparison of features and setup, our Shopify vs BigCommerce comparison can help fill in the gaps.

5

Hi @Westfire

We’ve handled thousands of BigCommerce to Shopify migrations at LitExtension, so we completely understand why it can feel a little overwhelming at first.

From our experience, the migration itself is rarely the biggest challenge. The things that usually require extra attention are custom fields, app-specific data, product options, and theme functionality, since these don’t always have a direct equivalent on Shopify. We’ve also seen merchants overlook SEO URLs or store settings, which are worth planning for before the switch.

Our recommendation is to run a free Demo Migration first. It lets you verify how your data will look on Shopify and catch any edge cases before migrating your entire store.

With a bit of preparation, BigCommerce to Shopify migrations are generally very smooth. If you have any specific concerns about your store, we’d be happy to share what we’ve seen from similar projects.

6

Hi @Westfire .
The biggest thing to get right is URL redirects. Your old BigCommerce URLs will be different on Shopify, and without redirects, you will lose your Google rankings overnight. Do this first before anything else.

Also, check your products carefully after importing, as variants and custom options sometimes do not transfer perfectly.

Your customers will need to reset their passwords too, as these cannot be moved across for security reasons.

For the actual migration, use a tool called Cart2Cart or Matrixify, as they do most of the hard work for you.

Overall, most merchants are really happy they made the switch. Take it step by step, and you will be fine!