Big Cartel to BigCommerce
A Big Cartel to BigCommerce migration moves your catalog, customer accounts, order history, and content to BigCommerce without losing data or search visibility. Below: field mappings, tool options, costs, and a step-by-step process.
Migrating from Big Cartel to BigCommerce is a strategic upgrade to a modern hosted SaaS e-commerce solution. In 2025, with Big Cartel's limitations and BigCommerce's REST API, Stencil themes, App Marketplace, and zero transaction fees, the case for migration has never been stronger.
Big Cartel → BigCommerce 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 Big Cartel to BigCommerce
If Big Cartel is holding you back, moving to BigCommerce can address specific pain points:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The Big Cartel Pain: Legacy or limited architecture. Scaling constraints. Limited customization.
The BigCommerce Gain: Hosted SaaS. No server management. Focus on selling. Zero transaction fees.
🚀 App Marketplace
The Big Cartel Pain: Extension marketplace limited. Customization constraints.
The BigCommerce Gain: BigCommerce App Marketplace. One-click integrations. Stencil theme flexibility.
🛠 Product Variants
The Big Cartel Pain: Options/variants differ. Mapping complexity.
The BigCommerce Gain: Unlimited product variants. Flexible options. Streamlined catalog management in Admin.
⚡ Admin & Multi-Currency
The Big Cartel Pain: Admin dated. Multi-store manual.
The BigCommerce Gain: Intuitive BigCommerce Admin. Native multi-currency. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from Big Cartel to BigCommerce?
Big Cartel to BigCommerce migration suits merchants seeking hosted infrastructure, broader app ecosystem, and zero transaction fees. BigCommerce offers Stencil themes and native multi-currency.
Big Cartel to BigCommerce: Platform-Specific Considerations
Before migrating, be aware of Big Cartel-specific details:
- Big Cartel structure differs from BigCommerce—migration tools map entities.
- Product variants/options map to BigCommerce variants. Verify mapping coverage.
- Image paths differ from BigCommerce CDN—re-upload or transform URLs.
Big Cartel to BigCommerce Pre-Migration Checklist
Audit your Big Cartel store and set up BigCommerce before migrating. Correct mapping between Big Cartel and BigCommerce prevents missing or corrupted data.
Source vs. Target: What Differs
Big Cartel and BigCommerce use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- Big Cartel Version: Check your version. Structure may differ.
- Database/API: Ensure access for data export.
- BigCommerce Setup: Create BigCommerce store. Configure API.
- Product Structure: Source variants map to BigCommerce variants.
- Images: Export from source. Upload to BigCommerce CDN.
Big Cartel to BigCommerce Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Accurate mapping preserves product options, customer accounts, and order data. Field mappings for Big Cartel → BigCommerce:
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| Big Cartel Field (Source) | BigCommerce Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
product_id / id |
Product.id |
BigCommerce generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
name / title |
Product.name |
Direct string transfer. |
sku / model |
Product.sku |
Direct mapping. |
price |
Product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
description |
Product.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
categories |
Product.categories |
Source categories map to BigCommerce. |
variants / options |
Product.variants |
Source variants map to BigCommerce variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| Big Cartel Field | BigCommerce Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
password |
Customer.password |
Password migration supported with tool. |
address |
Address |
Source addresses map to BigCommerce. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| Big Cartel Field | BigCommerce Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
order_id |
Order.id |
Preserve order ID in BigCommerce. |
status |
Order.status |
Map source statuses to BigCommerce. |
total |
Order.total_inc_tax |
Direct mapping. |
Big Cartel to BigCommerce Migration Tools
Your Big Cartel to BigCommerce 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 Big Cartel database/API and BigCommerce API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for BigCommerce automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400).
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: Big Cartel Export + BigCommerce Admin Import
Export from Big Cartel, format for BigCommerce, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: Big Cartel DB/API + BigCommerce API
Build a custom script using Big Cartel database or API and BigCommerce REST API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from Big Cartel to BigCommerce: Step-by-Step
Step-by-step process for migrating Big Cartel to BigCommerce. Planning guide for more detail.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (BigCommerce):
Create your BigCommerce store. Complete setup. Configure API access. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Don't point your domain yet.
1.2. Prepare Source (Big Cartel):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your Big Cartel store live during migration.
Phase 2: Connection Setup
2.1. BigCommerce Access:
Configure API credentials in BigCommerce Admin. Migration tools connect via BigCommerce API.
2.2. Big Cartel Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to Big Cartel data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from Big Cartel URLs to BigCommerce URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce supports unlimited variants. Big Cartel options map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from Big Cartel and uploaded to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool. Customer passwords converted to BigCommerce format.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a BigCommerce Stencil theme from BigCommerce Theme Marketplace.
Big Cartel to BigCommerce 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
Big Cartel to BigCommerce: Troubleshooting & SEO
Typical hurdles for Big Cartel → BigCommerce:
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce supports unlimited product variants. Big Cartel options map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: Big Cartel structure differs from BigCommerce. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: Big Cartel images need re-uploading to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
Big Cartel URLs differ from BigCommerce URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in BigCommerce Admin.
Big Cartel to BigCommerce: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common Big Cartel → BigCommerce migration questions.
How long does Big Cartel to BigCommerce migration take?
Automated Big Cartel to BigCommerce migration typically takes 2–4 hours for medium catalogs. Run a demo migration first to validate data mapping.
Can Big Cartel customer passwords transfer to BigCommerce?
Migration tools often support password transfer when hashing is compatible. Check tool documentation—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Will SEO survive the migration?
Yes, with 301 redirects from source URLs to BigCommerce URLs. Automated tools create redirect rules. Submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console.
Ready to Migrate from Big Cartel to BigCommerce?
A Big Cartel to BigCommerce move unlocks SaaS hosting, zero transaction fees, and flexible themes. Validate with a free demo before going live.