Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify

Q: Will the URL structure on Shopify be the same as WooCommerce?

No. Shopify uses its own URL patterns (/products/, /collections/). WooCommerce typically uses /product/ and /product-category/. These are different. We set up redirects so your old product and category URLs forward to the correct new Shopify pages, protecting your SEO.

WooCommerce is powerful, but it requires ongoing technical maintenance: plugin updates, hosting management, security monitoring. Some store owners reach a point where they'd rather trade that control for Shopify's simplicity and managed infrastructure.

Moving to Shopify is very achievable, but it's a larger project than flipping a switch.

What transfers and what doesn't

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What migrates reasonably well

Product names, descriptions, prices, SKUs
Product images
Product variants (sizes, colors, etc.)
Customer names, email addresses, and addresses
Historical order records, but only with a migration app
Your domain name

What must be rebuilt or reconfigured

Your WooCommerce theme and design
All WordPress plugins and their features
Product reviews (there's no export from WooCommerce to Shopify)
Shipping zones and rates
Payment gateway connections
Tax settings
Subscription billing setups
Any custom checkout logic
WooCommerce-specific extensions

Active subscribers have to re-subscribe

If you sell recurring subscriptions via WooCommerce Subscriptions or a similar plugin, expect to start those subscriptions again on Shopify. Shopify's Subscriptions app can import subscription contracts from a spreadsheet, but only from a subscription app that is already integrated with Shopify's checkout, and every contract has to name a payment method that is already saved in Shopify. A WooCommerce subscriber has neither, so they will need to re-enter payment details and re-subscribe. Plan how to communicate this to customers.

Realistic timeline

Phase	What happens	Typical duration
Audit	Review products, plugins, custom features	1 to 2 days
Shopify setup	Create account, choose theme, configure basics	1 to 2 days
Product migration	Export from WooCommerce, clean CSV, import	2 to 4 days
Customer migration	Export, clean, import	1 day
Store configuration	Shipping, taxes, payment setup	1 to 2 days
Design & content	Configure Shopify theme, pages, menus	2 to 4 days
Testing	Full purchase flow, checkout emails	1 to 2 days
Redirects	Map WooCommerce URLs to Shopify URLs	1 day
Cutover	Connect domain, go live	1 to 4 hours
Post-launch	Monitor, fix issues, notify Google	2 to 3 days

The migration process, step by step

PrepareAudit the store, get access and export your data
Build in ShopifyCreate the store, import products, rebuild shipping and payments, add pages
ReviewYou test the store and we set up redirects
Go livePoint your domain at Shopify

Stage 1 of 4: Prepare

We audit your WooCommerce store. We document your products, extensions, custom features, and any integrations with third-party services.

You give us access. We need WordPress admin access to your WooCommerce store. Invite support@chykalophia.com, unless your project lead has given you a different address. See give us WordPress admin access.

We export your WooCommerce data. Products come out as a CSV from WooCommerce's built-in export tool, under Products → All Products. That tool only handles products, so for customers and orders we add an export plugin, or pull what we can from the CSV download in WooCommerce's Analytics reports.

Stage 2 of 4: Build in Shopify

We create and configure your Shopify store. We set up your Shopify account, install and customize your chosen theme, and configure the basic settings.

We import your products. Shopify's import tool accepts a CSV file, under Products → Import. We transform your WooCommerce export into the Shopify format and import it. Product images are pulled in from their web addresses, so your WooCommerce site has to stay online and public while the import runs.

We rebuild shipping, taxes, and payments. These don't export. We configure Shopify's shipping zones and tax rules, and connect a payment provider on the Payments page: Shopify Payments, PayPal, or one of the other providers Shopify supports in your country.

We create your store pages. Your About page, contact page, and any other content pages are created in Shopify's page editor. Your written policies (return, privacy, shipping) go under Settings → Policies instead. Shopify can insert a starter template there, and links the finished policies in the footer of your checkout pages.

Stage 3 of 4: Review

You review and approve the store. We send a preview link. You go through the product listings, test the checkout flow end-to-end, and confirm everything is right.

We set up redirects. WooCommerce and Shopify use different URL structures for product and category pages. We add Shopify URL redirects, under Content → Menus → URL redirects, so anyone visiting an old link is sent to the right new page. Shopify accepts a CSV of redirects, which is how we handle a large catalog.

Stage 4 of 4: Go live

We connect your domain. We update your DNS settings to point your domain to Shopify. Your WooCommerce site stays live on the original host until you're ready to cancel it.

URL structure differences

WooCommerce and Shopify use different URL patterns. This means redirects are required for almost every product and collection page.

WooCommerce pattern	Shopify equivalent
`/product/red-sneakers`	`/products/red-sneakers`
`/product-category/shoes`	`/collections/shoes`
`/shop`	`/collections/all`
`/cart`	`/cart`

We set up the product and category redirects in Shopify's URL redirects tool before going live.

Two things limit what a redirect can do. Shopify only redirects a URL that is already broken, which old WooCommerce product links will be. And it refuses to create a redirect from a handful of reserved paths, including /shop and /cart, so those two rows above are a map of where the equivalent page lives rather than something we can redirect. We link them from your new navigation instead.

What about my WordPress blog?

If your WooCommerce site includes a blog, Shopify has a built-in blog. Every store starts with one called News, and you can add more. Posts can be moved across by hand or with a migration app from the Shopify App Store. For large blogs (50+ posts), allow extra time in the project timeline.

After the migration

Keep your WooCommerce site live for at least four weeks. During that time:

Confirm all products and pages are correct on Shopify
Confirm orders are flowing through correctly
Make sure email notifications to you and your customers are working
Compare sales data between old and new to confirm nothing is missing

After four weeks, you can cancel your WordPress hosting. Keep your domain registration active and pointed at Shopify.

Common questions

Will the URL structure on Shopify be the same as WooCommerce?

No. Shopify uses its own URL patterns (/products/, /collections/). WooCommerce typically uses /product/ and /product-category/. These are different. We set up redirects so your old product and category URLs forward to the correct new Shopify pages, protecting your SEO.

Can I import customer passwords?

No. Shopify says plainly that passwords are encrypted outside Shopify, so they can't be carried over in a CSV. That matters less than it sounds. Once a customer has been imported, they already have an account, and Shopify's current customer accounts sign people in with a one-time code emailed to them rather than a password. On the older legacy accounts, customers are invited to set a password instead. Either way, nothing they typed on your WooCommerce store follows them, and many returning customers prefer to check out as guests anyway.

What happens to my WooCommerce-specific plugins?

WooCommerce plugins don't transfer to Shopify. Many common plugin features (product reviews, wishlists, loyalty programs, subscriptions) have equivalent Shopify apps. Some are free; some have monthly costs. We'll identify which Shopify apps replace your current plugin functionality.

Is Shopify more expensive than WooCommerce in the long run?

It depends on your store's scale. Shopify charges a monthly fee for your plan, plus card processing rates. If you take payments through a provider other than Shopify Payments, Shopify adds a transaction fee on top of that provider's own charges, and how much depends on your plan; using Shopify Payments avoids it. WooCommerce is free to download and charges no platform fee, but you pay for hosting and for any paid plugins. Check shopify.com/pricing for the current plan prices and rates before you compare. For stores with straightforward product catalogs and no custom development needs, Shopify can be comparable or cheaper once hosting is factored in.

When to call a pro

Platform moves are where sites most often lose search rankings. Missing redirects, changed URLs and dropped page titles can cut your traffic from Google for months.

If any of that sounds risky for your business, book a free call and we'll tell you whether you need help. Clients can email support@chykalophia.com.