WooCommerce to Shopify migration: how to transfer your products
By the Woopify team8 min read
Short answer
To transfer WooCommerce products to Shopify, you need a Shopify-format CSV. A WooCommerce export won't import as-is, because the columns, variant rows and image layout differ. Either convert the WooCommerce export to Shopify's template, use Shopify's free Store Importer app, or generate a Shopify CSV directly from the Woo store with a tool such as Woopify. Then import it under Products > Import and add 301 redirects from the old /product/ URLs to Shopify's /products/ URLs.
Key takeaways
- Shopify only imports its own CSV format: one row per variant, Handle as the key.
- Products migrate easily, while customers, orders and reviews need an app or a separate export.
- 301 redirects from /product/slug/ to /products/handle protect your rankings.
What you can move, and how
| Data | Free route | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Products, variants, prices, images | Shopify CSV import | Covered in this guide |
| Categories | Collections (manual or automated) | Tags in the CSV can drive automated collections |
| Customers | Shopify customer CSV import | Passwords never transfer: customers reset them |
| Orders | Store Importer or a migration app | No native CSV order import in Shopify |
| Reviews | Your review app's import tool | Export from the Woo review plugin first |
| Blog posts & pages | Manual or a migration app | Rewrite internal links |
Step 1: export the WooCommerce catalog
Use Products > All Products > Export with every product type selected (detailed guide). Back up the file, since it is also your rollback plan.
Step 2: convert it to Shopify's CSV format
This is where most migrations go wrong. The two formats map like this:
| WooCommerce column | Shopify column | Conversion |
|---|---|---|
| Slug | Handle | Same value, keeps URLs predictable |
| Name | Title | Only on the first row of each product |
| Description | Body (HTML) | HTML kept |
| Attribute 1 name / value | Option1 Name / Option1 Value | One row per variant |
| SKU (variation) | Variant SKU | One per variant row |
| Regular price / Sale price | Variant Compare At Price / Variant Price | Sale price becomes the price |
| Images (comma-separated) | Image Src + Image Position | One image per row |
| Categories | Product Category / Tags / Collections | No direct equivalent |
You can do the conversion in a spreadsheet using the Shopify product CSV template. For catalogs with many variable products, generating the Shopify file automatically avoids hours of copy-paste: Woopify reads the Woo store and produces both a WooCommerce CSV and a Shopify CSV in the same export.
Step 3: import into Shopify
- In Shopify, go to Products > Import and upload the CSV (15 MB maximum per file).
- Leave Overwrite products with matching handles unticked on the first import.
- Preview, run the import, and wait for the confirmation email.
- Spot-check five products: variants, prices, images, and inventory.
Step 4: keep your SEO with 301 redirects
WooCommerce product URLs look like /product/linen-shirt/, while Shopify uses /products/linen-shirt. Without redirects, every indexed product URL returns a 404 after the switch.
Shopify lets you import redirects in bulk. Build a CSV with two columns, Redirect from (/product/linen-shirt/) and Redirect to (/products/linen-shirt), and import it from the URL redirects screen (Online Store > Navigation). If the handles match the slugs, a single spreadsheet formula generates the whole file.
Shopify Store Importer vs migration apps vs CSV
| Option | Best for | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Shopify Store Importer | Standard catalogs, with customers and orders | Free |
| Paid migration apps | Complex stores: reviews, blog, SEO, orders | Usually priced per number of records |
| Shopify CSV (manual or Woopify) | Products only, full control, no access to WordPress needed | Free by hand, Premium $38.99/month with Woopify |
If you only need the products and want to check the result before switching, the CSV route is the most predictable: you see exactly what will be imported. Comparing the two platforms' feeds first? See Shopify vs WooCommerce scraper.
Frequently asked questions
Can I import a WooCommerce CSV directly into Shopify?
No. Shopify only accepts its own column layout. Convert the file to Shopify's template, or generate a Shopify CSV directly from the WooCommerce store.
Is there a free WooCommerce to Shopify migration app?
Shopify's own Store Importer app is free and supports WooCommerce exports. Third-party migration apps are paid and cover more data types, such as reviews or blog posts.
Will I lose my Google rankings when moving from WooCommerce to Shopify?
Not if every old product, category and page URL gets a 301 redirect to its new Shopify URL, and titles and descriptions move with the products.
How long does a WooCommerce to Shopify product transfer take?
For a few hundred products, an hour or two including checks. Generating the Shopify CSV takes minutes, and most of the time goes to verifying variants and setting up redirects.
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