If you’ve been running your online shop through WordPress (most likely via WooCommerce) but you’re starting to feel the itch to move to Shopify, you’re not alone. A lot of UK businesses, from small start-ups to established brands, eventually reach the point where they need something a bit more streamlined, more ecommerce-focused, and frankly, a bit less “plugin panic” every time there’s an update.
But before you rush to hit “migrate”, let’s talk through what switching from WordPress to Shopify actually involves. From what you’ll gain, what you might miss, and how to make the move without losing your SEO rankings (or your sanity), this guide will cover it all.
Why businesses switch from WordPress to Shopify
1. Shopify is built purely for ecommerce
WordPress is technically a blogging platform that’s evolved into an all-singing, all-dancing content management system. WooCommerce turns it into a shop, but at its heart, WordPress still isn’t ecommerce-first. Shopify, on the other hand, is an ecommerce platform from day one. Everything from product listings to checkout is designed with selling in mind, which means fewer workarounds and a smoother process for both you and your customers.
2. Less maintenance and fewer updates
If you’ve ever had that sinking feeling of updating a WordPress plugin only to find your checkout button has mysteriously vanished, you’ll understand the appeal of Shopify’s managed system. With Shopify, the platform handles updates, security patches, and server performance for you , you just log in and get on with selling.
3. Built-in payment processing
While WordPress/WooCommerce can integrate with payment gateways like Stripe and PayPal, you usually need an extra plugin and some fiddly setup. Shopify has Shopify Payments built in (and of course supports PayPal and others too). This means faster setup and fewer points of failure.
4. Reliable customer support
If your WooCommerce site goes down, you might find yourself trawling through online forums or waiting for a plugin developer to get back to you. Shopify has 24/7 customer support, which can be a lifesaver during a big sale or product launch.
What you might miss when leaving WordPress
It’s not all roses. Moving to Shopify does come with certain trade-offs.
-
Content flexibility – WordPress is still king for blog content and complex layouts. While Shopify’s CMS has improved a lot, it’s not quite as flexible “out of the box” for content-heavy websites.
-
Plugin variety – The WordPress plugin ecosystem is huge. Shopify’s app store is growing, but it can’t match WordPress for niche functionality.
-
Full server control – On WordPress, you can dig into the code, database, and hosting settings. Shopify is a hosted platform, so there are limits to how much you can customise the platform architecture at a deep technical level.
-
Potential cost differences – While WooCommerce itself is free, you do pay for hosting, premium plugins, and themes. Shopify’s monthly subscription can work out more expensive, especially if you add paid apps.
Key considerations before making the move
Before you start the migration process, here’s what to think about:
1. Inventory and product data
Make sure you have a full export of your products, including descriptions, SKUs, prices, images, and stock levels. If you have complex product variations, double-check how they’ll map across to Shopify’s structure (which handles variants differently from WooCommerce).
2. SEO preservation
One of the biggest risks of moving platforms is losing your hard-earned Google rankings. You’ll need to plan your redirects carefully so every old URL points to the correct new one. Shopify has a built-in redirects feature, but it’s worth working with an SEO specialist if search traffic is important to your business.
3. Third-party integrations
Do you use email marketing tools like Klaviyo, accounting software like Xero, or fulfillment services like Royal Mail Click & Drop? Make a list of every integration you currently rely on and check whether Shopify supports them (most popular tools do).
4. Theme and branding
You can’t just copy and paste your WordPress theme into Shopify, you’ll either need to choose a Shopify theme (free or paid) and adapt it to match your brand or design and build a custom theme. This is a good opportunity to refresh your look, but it does mean some design work.
The migration process: step-by-step
Here’s a realistic breakdown of what the switch involves.
Step 1: Audit your current site
Go through your existing WordPress site and note down:
-
Which pages and products you need to move
-
Which plugins and integrations you rely on
-
Any special features (e.g. loyalty programmes, subscription products) that will need replacing or rebuilding in Shopify
Step 2: Choose your Shopify plan
Shopify has several pricing tiers – most small to mid-sized businesses start with the Basic or Shopify plan. Consider your expected sales volume, number of staff accounts, and the need for advanced reporting.
Step 3: Set up your Shopify store
Sign up, choose a theme, and configure basic settings like currency (GBP), tax rates, and payment methods.
Step 4: Export your WordPress data
WooCommerce lets you export products, customers, and orders as CSV files. There are many migration apps out there, but our recommended platform would be Matrixify, who automate the process and preserve as much data as you need. They have a great tutorial guide that documents this process here.
Step 5: Import data into Shopify
Shopify offers a built-in import tool, or you can use a migration app (Matrixify can handle this step perfectly, especially if you’ve used their services to export the data from Wordpress) to handle the bulk of the transfer. After importing, you’ll likely need to tidy up product descriptions, images, and formatting, as these can sometimes shift during migration.
It’s important to note that custom data is also part of this process. However, customer passwords and payment details cannot be migrated, as they are encrypted. Because of this, having a clear and robust communication strategy in place is crucial to guide customers through the transition smoothly. Ensuring your customers understand what’s happening helps maintain trust and minimises friction during the migration.
Step 6: Rebuild key pages and blog posts
If content is a big part of your marketing strategy, make sure your blog posts and landing pages are migrated too. You might need to adapt layouts to fit Shopify’s editor.
Step 7: Set up redirects
This is absolutely essential for SEO. Map every old URL to its closest equivalent on Shopify and add 301 redirects.
Step 8: Test everything
Before going live, check:
-
Product pages and add-to-cart functionality
-
Payment processing
-
Mobile responsiveness
-
Load speeds
-
Contact forms and email notifications
Step 9: Go live (and monitor)
Once live, keep a close eye on analytics, conversion rates, and customer feedback. Make tweaks quickly to avoid lost sales.
Costs to factor in
When moving from WordPress to Shopify, your cost structure changes. Here’s what to expect:
-
Shopify subscription – Starts from £25/month for Basic.
-
Theme – Free options are decent, but premium themes cost around £140–£250 one-off.
-
Apps – Many are free, but expect to pay £5–£50/month for more advanced features.
-
Transaction fees – Shopify Payments removes most fees, but if you use an external payment gateway, you’ll pay extra.
-
Migration help – If you hire a developer or agency, factor in migration fees. More complex requirements, such as custom product architecture or integrating with other platforms, may incur additional charges.
Tips for a smooth transition
-
Run both sites temporarily – Keep your WordPress site live (on a temporary domain) until you’re certain everything’s working on Shopify.
-
Communicate with customers – Let them know about the new site and any changes to their accounts or order history.
-
Check email deliverability – Make sure order confirmations and newsletters aren’t going to spam after the move.
-
Use the opportunity to improve UX – Think about your navigation, product categories, and checkout flow while rebuilding.
-
Don’t underestimate testing time – The more you test before launch, the fewer surprises later.
Is it worth it?
If your main goal is to sell products with minimal technical headaches, Shopify is a fantastic choice. You’ll gain:
-
A dedicated ecommerce platform
-
Easier management and less maintenance stress
-
Better support and hosting performance
But if you’re heavily content-driven, love custom development freedom, or need unusual functionality, think carefully, Shopify might feel a little restrictive compared to WordPress.
Switching from WordPress to Shopify is a bit like moving from a self-build house to a managed apartment. You lose some freedom to customise every tiny detail, but you gain a cleaner, more secure, and easier-to-maintain setup.
If you're looking to make the transition, it's important to work with an experienced Shopify agency who can help with this process. A skilled agency can handle the technical migration, preserve your SEO rankings, and ensure your new store is optimised for conversions from day one.
For many UK businesses, the trade-off is worth it, especially if you'd rather focus on selling than updating plugins at midnight. The key is planning your migration carefully, protecting your SEO, and making the most of Shopify's features once you're live.
Ready to make the switch? Get in touch with our team today to chat about your WordPress to Shopify migration. Let's chat.