OpenCart to BigCommerce
Moving your store from OpenCart to BigCommerce lets you keep products, customers, orders, and content intact—while protecting SEO rankings and customer logins. This guide walks through data mapping, migration tools, pricing, and execution steps.
Migrating from OpenCart to BigCommerce is a strategic upgrade from a self-hosted PHP platform to a hosted SaaS solution. In 2025, with OpenCart's limited extensibility, basic admin UX, and scaling constraints, and BigCommerce's hosted infrastructure, App Marketplace, and zero transaction fees, the case for migration has never been stronger.
OpenCart to BigCommerce: Quick Facts
- 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
Why Move from OpenCart to BigCommerce?
OpenCart works for many stores, but its constraints can limit growth. BigCommerce offers a different set of advantages:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The OpenCart Pain: Limited extensibility. Basic admin. Scaling constraints. Self-hosting.
The BigCommerce Gain: Hosted SaaS. No server management. Focus on selling. Zero transaction fees.
🚀 App Marketplace
The OpenCart Pain: Extension marketplace small. Twig template lock-in.
The BigCommerce Gain: BigCommerce App Marketplace. One-click integrations. Stencil theme flexibility.
🛠 Product Variants
The OpenCart Pain: Options vs. variants. oc_product_option structure differs.
The BigCommerce Gain: Unlimited product variants. Flexible options. Streamlined catalog management in Admin.
⚡ Admin & Multi-Currency
The OpenCart Pain: Admin UX dated. Multi-store requires extensions.
The BigCommerce Gain: Intuitive BigCommerce Admin. Native multi-currency. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from OpenCart to BigCommerce?
OpenCart to BigCommerce migration suits merchants wanting hosted infrastructure, broader app ecosystem, and zero transaction fees. BigCommerce offers Stencil themes and native multi-currency without OpenCart's extension marketplace limitations.
OpenCart to BigCommerce: Platform-Specific Considerations
Each migration path has its own quirks. For OpenCart → BigCommerce, watch for:
- OpenCart oc_ schema differs from BigCommerce—migration tools map options to variants.
- OpenCart image/ paths differ from BigCommerce CDN—re-upload images.
- OpenCart order_status_id maps to BigCommerce status workflow.
OpenCart to BigCommerce Pre-Migration Checklist
Before moving from OpenCart to BigCommerce, review your source data and prepare the BigCommerce store. Different structures mean mapping matters—get it wrong and you risk data loss.
Understanding the Platform Disconnect
OpenCart and BigCommerce use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- OpenCart Version: 3.x or 4.x? Structure may differ.
- Database: MySQL with oc_ prefix. Direct DB access.
- BigCommerce Setup: Create BigCommerce store. Configure API.
- Product Structure: OpenCart options map to BigCommerce variants.
- Images: image/ directory. Upload to BigCommerce CDN.
OpenCart to BigCommerce Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Correct field mapping from OpenCart to BigCommerce keeps variants, customer history, and order links intact. Reference mappings for developers:
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| OpenCart Field (Source) | BigCommerce Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
oc_product.product_id |
Product.id |
BigCommerce generates new IDs. Use model for mapping. |
oc_product_description.name |
Product.name |
Direct string transfer. |
oc_product.model |
Product.sku |
Direct mapping. |
oc_product.price |
Product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
oc_product_description.description |
Product.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
oc_product_to_category |
Product.categories |
OpenCart categories map to BigCommerce. |
oc_product_option |
Product.variants |
OpenCart options map to BigCommerce variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| OpenCart Field | BigCommerce Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
oc_customer.email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
oc_customer.password |
Customer.password |
Password migration supported. |
oc_address |
Address |
OpenCart addresses map to BigCommerce. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| OpenCart Field | BigCommerce Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
oc_order.order_id |
Order.id |
Preserve OpenCart order ID. |
oc_order.order_status_id |
Order.status |
Map OpenCart statuses to BigCommerce. |
oc_order.total |
Order.total_inc_tax |
Direct mapping. |
OpenCart to BigCommerce Migration Tools
For OpenCart → BigCommerce, three approaches: automated cloud migration (recommended), CSV import, or custom scripts. Compare BigCommerce migration tools for features and pricing.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via OpenCart 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: OpenCart Export + BigCommerce Admin Import
Export from OpenCart, 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: OpenCart DB/API + BigCommerce API
Build a custom script using OpenCart database or API and BigCommerce REST API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from OpenCart to BigCommerce: Step-by-Step
Use this workflow for OpenCart → BigCommerce with automated tools. Full BigCommerce migration guide for planning.
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 (OpenCart):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your OpenCart 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. OpenCart Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to OpenCart data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from OpenCart URLs to BigCommerce URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce supports unlimited variants. OpenCart options map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from OpenCart 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.
OpenCart to BigCommerce Migration Cost (2025)
For a typical store (2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers):
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
OpenCart to BigCommerce: Troubleshooting & SEO
Common issues when moving OpenCart to BigCommerce:
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce supports unlimited product variants. OpenCart options map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: OpenCart structure differs from BigCommerce. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: OpenCart images need re-uploading to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
OpenCart URLs differ from BigCommerce URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in BigCommerce Admin.
OpenCart to BigCommerce: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about OpenCart to BigCommerce—costs, timing, passwords, and SEO.
Can I migrate OpenCart product options to BigCommerce?
Yes. OpenCart product options map to BigCommerce product variants. Migration tools handle the conversion. BigCommerce has no variant limit.
Will OpenCart customer passwords work on BigCommerce?
Migration tools support password transfer when hashing is compatible. Verify tool documentation—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Ready to Migrate from OpenCart to BigCommerce?
Migrating from OpenCart to BigCommerce gives you hosted infrastructure, no transaction fees, and Stencil themes. Run a free demo to confirm your data maps correctly.