Migrating stores from PrestaShop to Shopify - test store and tips needed

Shopify Discussion
1

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to migrate two of my existing stores from PrestaShop to Shopify:

Before starting the full migration process, I’d like to know if it’s possible to get a test/development store to explore Shopify’s functionalities and test out the migration.

Additionally, has anyone here migrated a store from PrestaShop to Shopify before? I’d love to hear:

  • What challenges did you face?

  • Which tools or apps did you use for the migration?

  • Any recommendations for preserving SEO, customer data, or order history?

  • What should I pay special attention to when rebuilding custom themes on Shopify?

Any tips or insights would be greatly appreciated!

2

Hi,

PrestaShop to Shopify Migration Advice-

Getting a Shopify Development Store-
Yes, you can absolutely get a free Shopify development store to test the platform and migration process:

Developer Stores: You can create unlimited development stores through your Shopify Partners account (free to sign up at partners.shopify.com). These stores expire after a certain period but can be extended.

Free Trial: Shopify offers a standard 3-day free trial for regular stores.

Migration Challenges-
Data structure differences: PrestaShop and Shopify handle products, categories, and customer data differently

URL structure changes: This can impact SEO if not managed properly

Custom functionality: Features built for PrestaShop may need redevelopment for Shopify

Payment gateway setup: You’ll need to reconfigure all payment methods

If You need any further information do let me know , I will be more than happy to share any suggestion i have.

3

Hi @compsoul_dev ,

Yes, you can create a free development store by signing up for a Shopify Partner account. It’s a great way to test features and migration before going live.

I’ve worked on PrestaShop to Shopify migrations and here are some tips:

  • Use tools like Lit-Extension, Cart2Cart, or Matrixify to migrate products, customers, and order history.

  • Set up 301 redirects to preserve SEO and avoid broken links.

  • Customer passwords can’t be migrated, so users will need to reset them.

  • Order history migration can be tricky, but Matrixify or Lit-Extension can help.

  • Themes need to be rebuilt using Shopify’s Liquid language – you can’t directly copy PrestaShop themes.

Feel free to ask if you need help getting started. Good luck with the migration!

4

Hi, thanks so much for your helpful replies!

Just a quick clarification – I think there was a small misunderstanding. I’m not migrating a store for a client, I actually design and build e-commerce templates myself. The links I shared earlier are theme examples, not live stores that need migrating.

My goal is to rebuild these templates and adapt them to Shopify’s structure and Liquid language.

That said, I have a concern:
If I create a development store through the Shopify Partner program, will my theme files be stored on Shopify’s servers only?
Is there no way to work on the theme locally (like a local dev environment or private server) during development – just for building purposes, not for selling or going live?

I’m a bit hesitant to upload my work-in-progress directly to external servers without more control or backup options.

5

Hi @compsoul_dev

It is recommended to apply for a development Shopify store under your current situation. And after applying, you should test all features in Shopify intially like page preview and related functions. When you rebuild custom themes, please pay more attention to the image size and added plugins if compatible each other. May your store get higher achievements after migrating! Cheers~

6

Yes, you can create a free Shopify development store through a Shopify Partner account to test out features and migration without committing to a paid plan. For migrating from PrestaShop to Shopify, many merchants use Cart2Cart as a reliable tool to transfer products, customers, orders, and more with minimal hassle. To preserve SEO and data, pay close attention to setting up 301 redirects, transferring metadata, and ensuring theme customization reflects your brand while leveraging Shopify’s Liquid templating system.