BigCommerce to Shopify
Switching from BigCommerce to Shopify 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 Shopify moves your store from one hosted SaaS to another. Whether you're tapping into Shopify's 8,000+ app ecosystem, scaling with Shopify Plus, or consolidating platforms—this guide covers the data mapping, migration steps, and SEO preservation you need.
Key Facts: BigCommerce to Shopify
- 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 → Shopify
Stores outgrow BigCommerce for various reasons. Here's what Shopify brings to the table:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The BigCommerce Pain: API rate limits. Stencil theme lock-in. Limited headless options.
The Shopify Gain: Hosted or managed. Reduced server management. Focus on selling.
🚀 App Ecosystem
The BigCommerce Pain: App Marketplace constraints. API rate limits. Fewer native B2B features.
The Shopify Gain: Broader app ecosystem. One-click integrations. More third-party options.
🛠 Ease of Use
The BigCommerce Pain: Stencil theme learning curve. Handlebars-only customization.
The Shopify Gain: User-friendly admin. Modern UX. Non-technical users can manage stores.
⚡ Quick Launch
The BigCommerce Pain: Subscription costs. API limits. Theme lock-in.
The Shopify Gain: Launch fast. Focus on selling, not infrastructure.
Who Should Migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify?
BigCommerce to Shopify migration suits merchants wanting Shopify's app ecosystem, Shopify Plus multi-store, or simpler admin. Shopify Plus ($2,000+/month) offers multi-store; standard plans are single-store. Ideal for brands prioritizing ease of use over BigCommerce's built-in features.
BigCommerce to Shopify: Platform-Specific Considerations
Platform-specific considerations for BigCommerce to Shopify:
- Shopify 100-variant limit: BigCommerce has no variant limit—products with 100+ variants must be split or consolidated for Shopify.
- BigCommerce Stencil themes differ from Shopify Liquid—theme rebuild required.
- BigCommerce order status maps to Shopify financial_status and fulfillment_status—dual status system.
BigCommerce to Shopify Pre-Migration Checklist
Pre-migration prep: verify BigCommerce data and configure Shopify. Mapping BigCommerce fields to Shopify correctly is essential.
Data Structure Overview
BigCommerce and Shopify use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- BigCommerce Plan: Check API rate limits.
- BigCommerce API: Admin API or Storefront API access.
- Shopify Setup: Create Shopify store. Configure API access.
- Product Structure: BigCommerce variants map to Shopify variants. 100 variants/product limit.
- Images: BigCommerce CDN to Shopify CDN.
BigCommerce to Shopify Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Proper data mapping avoids broken variants and lost customer/order links. Below: BigCommerce to Shopify field mappings.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field (Source) | Shopify Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
Product.id |
Product.id |
Shopify generates new IDs. Use reference for mapping. |
Product.name |
Product.title |
Direct string transfer. |
Product.sku |
ProductVariant.sku |
BigCommerce SKU maps to Shopify variant SKU. |
Product.price |
ProductVariant.price |
Direct price transfer. |
Product.description |
Product.body_html |
HTML content. Re-upload images to Shopify CDN. |
Product.categories |
Collection |
BigCommerce categories map to Shopify collections. |
Product.variants |
Product.variants |
BigCommerce variants map to Shopify variants. Shopify limits 100 variants/product. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | Shopify Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
Customer.email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
Customer.password |
Customer.password |
Password migration supported with migration tool. |
Address |
CustomerAddress |
BigCommerce addresses map to Shopify. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | Shopify Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
Order.id |
Order.name |
Preserve BigCommerce order number. |
Order.status |
Order.financial_status |
Map BigCommerce status to Shopify. |
Order.total_inc_tax |
Order.total_price |
Direct mapping. |
BigCommerce to Shopify Migration Tools
Migrating BigCommerce to Shopify? 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 Shopify API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for Shopify automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400).
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: BigCommerce Export + Shopify Import
Export from BigCommerce Admin, format for Shopify, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: BigCommerce API + Shopify API
Build a custom script using BigCommerce API and Shopify API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify: Step-by-Step
Follow these phases for BigCommerce to Shopify. BigCommerce migration overview for context.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (Shopify):
Create your Shopify 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. Shopify Access:
Provide API credentials. Migration tool connects to Shopify.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from BigCommerce URLs to Shopify URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce variants map to Shopify variants.
- Migrate Images: Images from BigCommerce CDN uploaded to Shopify media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool. Customer passwords converted.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a Shopify theme.
BigCommerce to Shopify 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 Shopify: Troubleshooting & SEO
What often goes wrong (and how to fix it):
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce variants map to Shopify variants. Check variant limits (e.g., Shopify 100/product).
- API Structure: BigCommerce REST API differs from Shopify. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: BigCommerce CDN images need re-uploading to Shopify media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
BigCommerce URLs differ from Shopify URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in target admin.
BigCommerce to Shopify: Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on cost, duration, password migration, and SEO for BigCommerce to Shopify.
Can I migrate BigCommerce to Shopify with 100+ product variants?
Shopify limits 100 variants per product. If your BigCommerce products have more variants, split them into multiple Shopify products or consolidate options before migration.
Will BigCommerce customer passwords work on Shopify?
Migration tools convert BigCommerce password hashes to Shopify format when possible. Verify tool support—otherwise customers reset passwords.
How do BigCommerce URLs redirect to Shopify?
Automated tools create 301 redirects from BigCommerce URLs (e.g. /product-slug) to Shopify URLs. Export your BigCommerce sitemap and verify redirect coverage post-migration.
Ready to Migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify?
Switching BigCommerce to Shopify opens new options and integrations. Use a demo migration to verify data before launch.