PrestaShop to BigCommerce
Switching from PrestaShop to BigCommerce 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 PrestaShop to BigCommerce is a strategic move from a self-hosted open-source platform to a hosted SaaS solution. In 2025, with PrestaShop's server management, Smarty templates, and module ecosystem fragmentation, and BigCommerce's hosted infrastructure, Stencil themes, and App Marketplace, the case for migration has never been stronger.
Key Facts: PrestaShop to BigCommerce
- 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: PrestaShop → BigCommerce
Stores outgrow PrestaShop for various reasons. Here’s what BigCommerce brings to the table:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The PrestaShop Pain: Self-hosting. Smarty templates. Module conflicts. Server management.
The BigCommerce Gain: Hosted SaaS. No server management. Focus on selling. Zero transaction fees.
🚀 App Marketplace
The PrestaShop Pain: Addons marketplace fragmented. Smarty-only customization.
The BigCommerce Gain: BigCommerce App Marketplace. One-click integrations. Stencil theme flexibility.
🛠 Product Variants
The PrestaShop Pain: Combinations vs. variants. Back Office catalog complexity.
The BigCommerce Gain: Unlimited product variants. Flexible options. Streamlined catalog management in Admin.
⚡ Admin & Multi-Currency
The PrestaShop Pain: Multi-store setup manual. PHP version lock-in.
The BigCommerce Gain: Intuitive BigCommerce Admin. Native multi-currency. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from PrestaShop to BigCommerce?
PrestaShop to BigCommerce migration suits merchants tired of self-hosting, server management, and module conflicts. BigCommerce offers hosted infrastructure, no transaction fees, and Stencil theme flexibility without PHP/Smarty complexity.
PrestaShop to BigCommerce: Platform-Specific Considerations
Platform-specific considerations for PrestaShop to BigCommerce:
- PrestaShop ps_ schema differs from BigCommerce—migration tools map combinations to variants.
- PrestaShop img/p/ paths differ from BigCommerce CDN—re-upload images.
- PrestaShop order states map to BigCommerce status workflow.
PrestaShop to BigCommerce Pre-Migration Checklist
Pre-migration prep: verify PrestaShop data and configure BigCommerce. Mapping PrestaShop fields to BigCommerce correctly is essential.
Data Structure Overview
PrestaShop and BigCommerce use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- PrestaShop Version: 1.7 or 8? Table structure may differ.
- Database: MySQL with ps_ prefix. Direct DB or Web Service API.
- BigCommerce Setup: Create BigCommerce store. Configure API.
- Product Structure: PrestaShop combinations map to BigCommerce variants.
- Images: img/p/ directory. Upload to BigCommerce CDN.
PrestaShop to BigCommerce Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Proper data mapping avoids broken variants and lost customer/order links. Below: PrestaShop to BigCommerce field mappings.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| PrestaShop Field (Source) | BigCommerce Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
ps_product.id_product |
Product.id |
BigCommerce generates new IDs. Use reference for mapping. |
ps_product_lang.name |
Product.name |
Direct string transfer. |
ps_product.reference |
Product.sku |
Direct mapping. |
ps_product.price |
Product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
ps_product_lang.description |
Product.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
ps_category_product |
Product.categories |
PrestaShop categories map to BigCommerce. |
ps_product_attribute |
Product.variants |
PrestaShop combinations map to BigCommerce variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| PrestaShop Field | BigCommerce Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
ps_customer.email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
ps_customer.passwd |
Customer.password |
Password migration supported with tool. |
ps_address |
Address |
PrestaShop addresses map to BigCommerce. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| PrestaShop Field | BigCommerce Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
ps_orders.id_order |
Order.id |
Preserve PrestaShop order ID. |
ps_order_state |
Order.status |
Map PrestaShop states to BigCommerce. |
ps_orders.total_paid |
Order.total_inc_tax |
Direct mapping. |
PrestaShop to BigCommerce Migration Tools
Migrating PrestaShop to BigCommerce? 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 PrestaShop 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: PrestaShop Export + BigCommerce Admin Import
Export from PrestaShop, 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: PrestaShop DB/API + BigCommerce API
Build a custom script using PrestaShop database or API and BigCommerce REST API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from PrestaShop to BigCommerce: Step-by-Step
Follow these phases for PrestaShop to BigCommerce. BigCommerce migration overview for context.
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 (PrestaShop):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your PrestaShop 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. PrestaShop Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to PrestaShop data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from PrestaShop URLs to BigCommerce URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce supports unlimited variants. PrestaShop options map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from PrestaShop 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.
PrestaShop to BigCommerce 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
PrestaShop to BigCommerce: Troubleshooting & SEO
What often goes wrong (and how to fix it):
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce supports unlimited product variants. PrestaShop options map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: PrestaShop structure differs from BigCommerce. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: PrestaShop images need re-uploading to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
PrestaShop URLs differ from BigCommerce URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in BigCommerce Admin.
PrestaShop to BigCommerce: Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on cost, duration, password migration, and SEO for PrestaShop to BigCommerce.
Can I migrate PrestaShop combinations to BigCommerce?
Yes. PrestaShop product combinations map to BigCommerce product variants. Migration tools handle the conversion. BigCommerce has no variant limit.
Will PrestaShop customer passwords work on BigCommerce?
Migration tools convert PrestaShop password hashes to BigCommerce format when possible. Verify tool support—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Ready to Migrate from PrestaShop to BigCommerce?
Switching PrestaShop to BigCommerce removes hosting headaches and adds Stencil flexibility. Use a demo migration to verify data before launch.