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Moving an online store from WordPress, usually WooCommerce, to Shopify is one of the most common ecommerce projects we see. Store owners make the switch for simpler maintenance, better reliability during traffic spikes, and freedom from plugin updates and security patching. The migration is very achievable, but it is not a one-click process. Here is how it actually works, what transfers cleanly, what does not, and what to plan for.
Why stores make the switch
The usual reasons are consistent: WooCommerce stores accumulate plugins that conflict, break on update, or slow the site down, and every one of them needs maintenance. Shopify is hosted, so security patching, scaling, and uptime are Shopify's responsibility, not yours. Checkout on Shopify is also highly optimised out of the box. The tradeoff is less control and ongoing platform fees, so the move makes most sense when maintenance burden, not design, is the problem.
What transfers, and what does not
Products, customers, and order history transfer cleanly through CSV exports and Shopify's import tools or migration apps. Blog posts and pages can be moved, though formatting usually needs cleanup. Your domain transfers without issue. What does not transfer: your WordPress theme must be rebuilt, because WordPress themes do not work on Shopify; WooCommerce plugins must be replaced with Shopify apps or custom functionality; and custom code or integrations need to be rebuilt against Shopify's APIs. Going in with this understanding prevents the most common disappointment in migration projects.
The migration process step by step
A well-run migration follows a clear sequence. First, audit the current store: catalogue size, content, plugins and what each one does, integrations, and SEO assets like rankings and backlinks. Second, choose and set up the Shopify plan and a theme, either a premium theme or a custom design. Third, export and clean the data: product CSVs, customer lists, and order history, fixing inconsistencies before import rather than after. Fourth, import the data and rebuild the theme, pages, and navigation. Fifth, replace plugin functionality with apps or custom development. Sixth, set up URL redirects from every old address to its new counterpart; this step protects your search rankings and is the most commonly skipped. Seventh, test everything: checkout, payments, shipping rates, taxes, emails, and mobile. Eighth, go live during a quiet period and monitor closely for the first week.
SEO: the part that needs care
Migrations fail in search results when redirects are skipped. Map every important old URL to its new Shopify URL, including product, category, and content pages. Keep page titles and meta descriptions consistent where they were working. Submit the new sitemap in Search Console after launch and watch for crawl errors and ranking changes over the following weeks. Done properly, most stores recover their rankings within a few weeks; done carelessly, rebuilding lost traffic takes months.
Typical timelines and costs
A straightforward migration of a small catalogue to a premium theme typically takes three to six weeks. Larger catalogues, custom theme builds, or complex integrations extend that to eight to twelve weeks. In the Canadian market, migration projects typically range from $3,000 to $8,000 for theme-based rebuilds and from $10,000 upward for custom designs with complex data or integrations. The biggest schedule risk is data cleanup: messy product data always takes longer to fix than anyone estimates.
What to do before you start
Clean up before you migrate, not after. Remove discontinued products, consolidate duplicate categories, and fix inconsistent product data in WooCommerce first; migrating a mess just gives you a mess on a new platform. Decide which plugins are actually used and which can be dropped; many stores discover half their plugins were solving problems they no longer have. Finally, pick a low-season window for go-live so any hiccups affect the fewest customers.
Frequently asked questions
Will I lose my Google rankings when I migrate?
Not if redirects are done properly and content is preserved. Expect some short-term fluctuation, which is normal, followed by recovery. Skipped redirects are what cause lasting damage.
Can my WooCommerce design be copied exactly to Shopify?
Rarely pixel-for-pixel, and usually it should not be. A migration is the right moment to improve the design using a modern theme or custom build rather than recreating an old layout's limitations.
Do I need to keep paying for WordPress hosting during the migration?
Yes, keep the old store live until the new one is fully tested and launched. Only cancel hosting after you have confirmed orders, emails, and redirects all work on Shopify.
Migrations are a core part of our website development services, and our guide to hiring a Shopify developer in Windsor explains how to choose the right help. A migration done carefully gives you a faster, lower-maintenance store without losing the search visibility you built. If you are considering the move, get a free quote and we will audit your current store and map out exactly what your migration would involve.