BigCommerce to Big Cartel
A BigCommerce to Big Cartel migration moves your catalog, customer accounts, order history, and content to Big Cartel without losing data or search visibility. Below: field mappings, tool options, costs, and a step-by-step process.
Migrating from BigCommerce to Big Cartel moves your store from hosted SaaS to Big Cartel. Whether you're reducing subscription costs, consolidating platforms, or seeking Big Cartel's features—this guide covers the data mapping and migration steps you need.
BigCommerce → Big Cartel Migration at a Glance
- Average cost: $69–$400 (automated) vs $2,500+ (custom)
- Typical duration: 2–4 hours (automated) vs weeks (manual)
- Recommended method: Automated cloud migration (Cart2Cart, LitExtension)
- Password migration: Supported with migration tool
- SEO preservation: 301 redirects required—automated tools create them
Benefits of Migrating BigCommerce to Big Cartel
If BigCommerce is holding you back, moving to Big Cartel can address specific pain points:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The BigCommerce Pain: Subscription costs. API rate limits. Stencil theme lock-in.
The Big Cartel Gain: Hosted or managed. Reduced server management. Focus on selling.
🚀 App Ecosystem
The BigCommerce Pain: App Marketplace constraints. API rate limits.
The Big Cartel Gain: Broader app ecosystem. One-click integrations. More third-party options.
🛠 Ease of Use
The BigCommerce Pain: Stencil vs. target templates. Different engine.
The Big Cartel Gain: User-friendly admin. Modern UX. Non-technical users can manage stores.
⚡ Quick Launch
The BigCommerce Pain: Hosted SaaS. Subscription costs.
The Big Cartel Gain: Launch fast. Focus on selling, not infrastructure.
Who Should Migrate from BigCommerce to Big Cartel?
BigCommerce to Big Cartel migration suits merchants wanting Big Cartel, reducing subscription costs, or consolidating with an existing Big Cartel ecosystem. BigCommerce offers hosted SaaS; Big Cartel offers alternative hosting or integrated simplicity.
BigCommerce to Big Cartel: Platform-Specific Considerations
Before migrating, be aware of BigCommerce to Big Cartel specifics:
- BigCommerce API structure differs from Big Cartel—migration tools map entities.
- Product variants map to target variants or options—verify mapping coverage.
- BigCommerce CDN paths differ from target media system—re-upload or transform URLs.
BigCommerce to Big Cartel Pre-Migration Checklist
Audit your BigCommerce store and set up Big Cartel before migrating. Correct mapping between BigCommerce and Big Cartel prevents missing or corrupted data.
Source vs. Target: What Differs
BigCommerce and Big Cartel use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- BigCommerce Plan: Check API access.
- Big Cartel Setup: Create target store. Configure API.
- Product Structure: BigCommerce variants map to target variants.
- Images: BigCommerce CDN to target media system.
BigCommerce to Big Cartel Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Accurate mapping preserves product options, customer accounts, and order data. Field mappings for BigCommerce → Big Cartel:
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field (Source) | Big Cartel Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
Product.id |
product_id / id |
Big Cartel generates new IDs. Use reference for mapping. |
Product.name |
name / title |
Direct string transfer. |
Product.sku |
sku / model |
Direct mapping. |
Product.price |
price |
Direct price transfer. |
Product.description |
description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
Product.categories |
categories |
BigCommerce categories map to target. |
Product.variants |
variants / options |
BigCommerce variants map to target variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | Big Cartel Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
Customer.email |
email |
Unique identifier. |
Customer.password |
password |
Password migration supported with tool. |
Address |
address |
BigCommerce addresses map to target. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | Big Cartel Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
Order.id |
order_id |
Preserve order number. |
Order.status |
status |
Map BigCommerce status to target. |
Order.total_inc_tax |
total |
Direct mapping. |
BigCommerce to Big Cartel Migration Tools
Your BigCommerce to Big Cartel options: cloud-based automation, manual CSV, or custom development. See migration tool comparison for details.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via BigCommerce API and Big Cartel API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for Big Cartel automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400).
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: BigCommerce Export + Big Cartel Import
Export from BigCommerce Admin, format for Big Cartel, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: BigCommerce API + Big Cartel API
Build a custom script using BigCommerce API and Big Cartel API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from BigCommerce to Big Cartel: Step-by-Step
Step-by-step process for migrating BigCommerce to Big Cartel. Planning guide for more detail.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (Big Cartel):
Create your Big Cartel store. Complete setup. Configure API access. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Don't point your domain yet.
1.2. Prepare Source (BigCommerce):
Ensure API access. Keep your BigCommerce store live during migration.
Phase 2: Connection Setup
2.1. BigCommerce Access:
Configure API credentials in BigCommerce Admin. Or install migration app if using automated tools.
2.2. Big Cartel Access:
Provide API credentials. Migration tool connects to Big Cartel.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from BigCommerce URLs to Big Cartel URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce variants map to Big Cartel variants.
- Migrate Images: Images from BigCommerce CDN uploaded to Big Cartel media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool. Customer passwords converted.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a Big Cartel theme.
BigCommerce to Big Cartel Migration Cost (2025)
Rough costs for a mid-size catalog (2K products, 10K orders, 5K customers):
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
BigCommerce to Big Cartel: Troubleshooting & SEO
Typical hurdles for BigCommerce → Big Cartel:
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce variants map to Big Cartel variants. Check variant limits (e.g., Shopify 100/product).
- API Structure: BigCommerce REST API differs from Big Cartel. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: BigCommerce CDN images need re-uploading to Big Cartel media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
BigCommerce URLs differ from Big Cartel URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in target admin.
BigCommerce to Big Cartel: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common BigCommerce → Big Cartel migration questions.
How long does BigCommerce to Big Cartel migration take?
Automated BigCommerce to Big Cartel migration typically takes 2–4 hours for medium catalogs. Run a demo migration first to validate data mapping.
Can BigCommerce customer passwords transfer to Big Cartel?
Migration tools often support password transfer when hashing is compatible. Check tool documentation—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Will SEO survive BigCommerce to Big Cartel migration?
Yes, with 301 redirects from BigCommerce URLs to Big Cartel URLs. Automated tools create redirect rules. Submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console.
Ready to Migrate from BigCommerce to Big Cartel?
A BigCommerce to Big Cartel move unlocks different hosting, integrations, and flexibility. Validate with a free demo before going live.