BigCommerce to PrestaShop
Switching from BigCommerce to PrestaShop preserves your products, customers, orders, and SEO. This resource covers how to map data, choose migration tools, estimate costs, and run the migration.
Migrating from BigCommerce to PrestaShop moves your store from hosted SaaS to self-hosted open-source. Whether you're reducing subscription costs, seeking full control, or consolidating with PrestaShop's European ecosystem—this guide covers the data mapping and migration steps you need.
Key Facts: BigCommerce to PrestaShop
- 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
What You Gain: BigCommerce → PrestaShop
Stores outgrow BigCommerce for various reasons. Here's what PrestaShop brings to the table:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The BigCommerce Pain: Subscription costs. API rate limits. Limited customization.
The PrestaShop Gain: Hosted or managed. Reduced server management. Focus on selling.
🚀 App Ecosystem
The BigCommerce Pain: App Marketplace vs. PrestaShop Addons. Different ecosystem.
The PrestaShop Gain: Broader app ecosystem. One-click integrations. More third-party options.
🛠 Ease of Use
The BigCommerce Pain: Stencil themes vs. Smarty. Different template engine.
The PrestaShop Gain: User-friendly admin. Modern UX. Non-technical users can manage stores.
⚡ Quick Launch
The BigCommerce Pain: Hosted SaaS. No self-hosted control.
The PrestaShop Gain: Launch fast. Focus on selling, not infrastructure.
Who Should Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop?
BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration suits merchants wanting self-hosted control, lower long-term costs, or PrestaShop's European module ecosystem. Trade-off: server management and DevOps responsibility.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Platform-Specific Considerations
Platform-specific considerations for BigCommerce to PrestaShop:
- BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop product combinations—structure differs; migration tools handle conversion.
- PrestaShop img/p/ paths differ from BigCommerce CDN—image URLs in descriptions need updating.
- PrestaShop order states differ from BigCommerce—map status to PrestaShop workflow.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Pre-Migration Checklist
Pre-migration prep: verify BigCommerce data and configure PrestaShop. Mapping BigCommerce fields to PrestaShop correctly is essential.
Data Structure Overview
BigCommerce and PrestaShop use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- BigCommerce Plan: Check API access.
- BigCommerce API: Admin API credentials.
- PrestaShop Setup: Install PrestaShop 8 on PHP hosting.
- Product Structure: BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop combinations.
- Images: BigCommerce CDN to PrestaShop img/p/.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Proper data mapping avoids broken variants and lost customer/order links. Below: BigCommerce to PrestaShop field mappings.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field (Source) | PrestaShop Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
Product.id |
ps_product.id_product |
PrestaShop generates new IDs. Use reference for mapping. |
Product.name |
ps_product_lang.name |
Direct string transfer. |
Product.sku |
ps_product.reference |
Direct mapping. |
Product.price |
ps_product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
Product.description |
ps_product_lang.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading to img/p/. |
Product.categories |
ps_category_product |
BigCommerce categories map to PrestaShop. |
Product.variants |
ps_product_attribute |
BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop combinations. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | PrestaShop Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
Customer.email |
ps_customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
Customer.password |
ps_customer.passwd |
Password migration supported with tool. |
Address |
ps_address |
BigCommerce addresses map to PrestaShop. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | PrestaShop Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
Order.id |
ps_orders.reference |
Preserve BigCommerce order number. |
Order.status |
ps_order_state |
Map BigCommerce status to PrestaShop. |
Order.total_inc_tax |
ps_orders.total_paid |
Direct mapping. |
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Migration Tools
Migrating BigCommerce to PrestaShop? Choose automated cloud tools, CSV workflows, or custom builds. Compare options before deciding.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via BigCommerce API and PrestaShop API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for PrestaShop automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400).
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: BigCommerce Export + PrestaShop Import
Export from BigCommerce Admin, format for PrestaShop, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: BigCommerce API + PrestaShop API
Build a custom script using BigCommerce API and PrestaShop API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Step-by-Step
Follow these phases for BigCommerce to PrestaShop. BigCommerce migration overview for context.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (PrestaShop):
Create your PrestaShop 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. PrestaShop Access:
Provide API credentials. Migration tool connects to PrestaShop.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from BigCommerce URLs to PrestaShop URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop variants.
- Migrate Images: Images from BigCommerce CDN uploaded to PrestaShop media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool. Customer passwords converted.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a PrestaShop theme.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Migration Cost (2025)
Example: 2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers:
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Troubleshooting & SEO
What often goes wrong (and how to fix it):
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop variants. Check variant limits (e.g., Shopify 100/product).
- API Structure: BigCommerce REST API differs from PrestaShop. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: BigCommerce CDN images need re-uploading to PrestaShop media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
BigCommerce URLs differ from PrestaShop URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in target admin.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on cost, duration, password migration, and SEO for BigCommerce to PrestaShop.
Why migrate BigCommerce to PrestaShop?
PrestaShop offers self-hosted control, no subscription fees (hosting only), and strong European adoption. BigCommerce suits hosted SaaS; PrestaShop suits full control.
Can BigCommerce variants become PrestaShop combinations?
Yes. BigCommerce product variants map to PrestaShop product combinations. Migration tools create the structure automatically.
Ready to Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop?
Switching BigCommerce to PrestaShop opens new options and integrations. Use a demo migration to verify data before launch.