Switching from WooCommerce to Shopify? Here’s What You Need to Know

You're running a WooCommerce store, but you're wondering if the grass is greener on Shopify's side of the fence.

Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify is something more and more ecommerce store owners are thinking about in 2025. If you're frustrated with your current setup, it's normal to wonder if Shopify is the magic bullet you've been looking for. It promises an all-in-one, secure, scalable platform packed with tools to help your store grow.

But switching isn't just a simple copy-and-paste of your products. There are a few key things you need to know before making the jump, such as how your data will transfer, what happens with your apps and integrations, the SEO implications, and how your team will adapt to the new platform.

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to know about moving from WooCommerce to Shopify, helping you decide if it's the right move and how to avoid common pitfalls, so you can grow your business without losing momentum.

Why Everyone's Talking About Making the Switch

WooCommerce is great if you want flexibility and control. But as your store grows, managing hosting, security, and performance can become a headache. Plugin conflicts, WordPress updates, and server issues can leave brand owners pulling their hair out at 2am.

Shopify, on the other hand, is hosted, maintained, and built to take the heavy lifting off your shoulders. Updates, backups, and technical glitches? Not your problem anymore. Many brands switch and immediately feel the weight lift, and they can finally focus on growing their business instead of wrestling with their platform.

Here's why online store owners are switching in 2025:

• Ease of Use → No server management or technical setup needed.
• Scalability → Handle traffic spikes with no downtime. Highly scalable, though additional costs may apply.
• Apps & Ecosystem → Thousands of apps to extend functionality.
• Secure & Reliable → PCI compliance, SSL certificates, and automatic updates included.
• Checkout & Conversion → Optimised checkout flows to improve conversions.
• Robust Inventory Management → Strong capabilities for quantities, transfers, purchase orders, and analysis.
• 24/7 Support → Direct support from Shopify, not just community forums.

Yes, the above may make it sound like a no-brainer. But there's a lot more to consider. And yet, for many growing ecommerce stores, it's easy to see why the switch is tempting.

What You're Actually Signing Up For

We've migrated dozens of brands from WooCommerce to Shopify, and talked just as many out of it. Why? Because sometimes it's not the right move, and we'd rather be upfront than watch you regret it six months later.

Here's what you need to know:

The control trade-off is real. WooCommerce gives you full access to everything. Shopify? It's a really nice house… with rules. Limited customisation without coding. Some brands thrive with those guardrails; others feel constrained.

Costs can spiral. WooCommerce may seem "free," but hosting, security, maintenance, and developer time add up. Shopify’s subscription is clear, but apps can increase costs. Research the differences carefully.

Transaction fees hit hard. Shopify takes a percentage unless you use Shopify Payments. WooCommerce gives you more flexibility. High-volume stores can see these fees add up fast.

When the Switch Makes Complete Sense

Switching usually makes sense if:

You're spending more time managing your site than your business. Shopify frees you to focus on selling.

Your team isn't technical. WooCommerce requires technical setup. Shopify allows independence.

You're planning to scale fast. Shopify handles massive traffic spikes effortlessly.

You want multichannel selling. Shopify integrates smoothly with social and marketplace platforms.

You need better operational efficiency. Shopify offers modern tools and systems.

You want reduced long-term costs. Shopify can be cheaper than custom development and constant maintenance.

You need a platform that grows with you. Shopify's pricing tiers support scaling brands.

When You Should Absolutely Stay Put

Sometimes, sticking with WooCommerce makes more sense:

Complex custom functionality. Some WooCommerce features can't be replicated affordably on Shopify.

Heavily regulated industries. Shopify restricts certain products.

Massive product catalogues. WooCommerce may handle complex variants better.

Tight margins. Transaction fees can hurt high-volume stores.

The Migration Reality (No Sugar-Coating)

Like most things, migrating isn't as easy as it seems. Here's what to prepare for:

Technical Considerations Checklist

Plugins and Extensions

• Create a full list of plugins/extensions and their purpose.
• Identify Shopify equivalents.
• Explore new app opportunities.
• Budget for differences between plugins and apps.

Data Migration

• Products: Document all product data for accuracy checks.
• Customer Data: Follow GDPR. Transfer only compliant data.
• Order History: Migrate to maintain analytics.
• Categories & Tags: Use migration as an opportunity to restructure.
• Reviews: Decide whether to migrate review data.
• Customer Passwords: Cannot be migrated. Customers must reset passwords.

Custom Functionality

• Identify bespoke features and why they were built.
• Check for Shopify equivalents.
• Assess feasibility of custom builds.

SEO Optimisation

• Extract all meta titles, descriptions, and header tags.
• Review and optimise content for Shopify.
• Monitor 404 errors.
• Implement proper 301 redirects.
• Expect temporary ranking drops due to URL changes.
• Shopify has a fixed URL structure (e.g. /products/product-name). A complete 301 redirect map from all WooCommerce URLs to Shopify URLs is essential and must be in place immediately at launch.

Shipping Configuration

• Recreate shipping zones and methods.
• Set up carriers and fulfilment rules.
• Review policies and messaging.
• Use apps where needed.

Performance Optimisation

• Optimise images before migration.
• Use Shopify’s CDN and caching.
• Monitor speed with tools like PageSpeed Insights.

Testing & QA

• Create a QA plan.
• Test all functionality in UAT.
• Test checkout, payments, product pages, and integrations.
• Perform cross-device testing.
• Use a bug log to track issues.

DNS & Going Live

Plan DNS changes and propagation. Lower TTLs. Ensure the partner has access to all records.

Backup and Rollback

• Back up all WooCommerce data.
• Have a rollback plan.
• Follow GDPR for data handling.

Design Reality

• Your WooCommerce theme won’t work on Shopify.
• A redesign is inevitable.
• Functionality comes before aesthetics.

Training your team matters. Shopify’s admin is different. Provide training and support.

Post-Migration: What Happens Next

Monitoring & Support

• Monitor performance closely.
• Your partner should provide ongoing support.
• Address issues based on severity.
• Keep stakeholders informed.

And don’t forget to celebrate your launch!

What We Recommend

After hundreds of conversations and dozens of migrations, here's our framework:

Start with your pain points. Be clear on what you're trying to fix.

Calculate real costs. Compare WooCommerce and Shopify honestly.

Think long-term. Make sure Shopify fits the future of your business.

Consider hybrid setups. Sometimes the best solution isn’t either/or.

Tools and Apps That Actually Matter

• LitExtension or Cart2Cart → data migration
• Plug in SEO or Smart SEO → SEO tools
• Judge.me or Loox → product reviews
• ReCharge → subscriptions
• Klaviyo → email marketing

Our Opinion: It's Not About Better or Worse

We're a Shopify agency because we believe it’s the best choice for most growing ecommerce brands. But that doesn't mean it's right for everyone. Choose based on your needs, not hype.

Making the Decision

Be honest about why you want to switch. Understand the real problems you're solving.

Talk to real brands. Not curated case studies.

Work with an experienced partner. A smooth migration requires expertise.

Still unsure or ready to start? Let's have a proper chat. We'll give it to you straight.