Shopify to BigCommerce
Switching from Shopify 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 Shopify to BigCommerce is a strategic pivot from one hosted SaaS platform to another with no transaction fees. In 2025, with Shopify's 0.5–2% transaction fees on Basic/Shopify plans, 100-variant-per-product limit, and Liquid template lock-in, and BigCommerce's zero transaction fees, unlimited variants, and Stencil theme flexibility, the case for migration has never been stronger.
Key Facts: Shopify 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: Shopify → BigCommerce
Stores outgrow Shopify for various reasons. Here’s what BigCommerce brings to the table:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The Shopify Pain: Transaction fees. 100-variant limit. Liquid templates. Vendor lock-in.
The BigCommerce Gain: Hosted SaaS. No server management. Focus on selling. Zero transaction fees.
🚀 App Marketplace
The Shopify Pain: App Store lock-in. Liquid-only themes. Checkout customization limits.
The BigCommerce Gain: BigCommerce App Marketplace. One-click integrations. Stencil theme flexibility.
🛠 Product Variants
The Shopify Pain: 100 variants per product cap. Workarounds require splitting products.
The BigCommerce Gain: Unlimited product variants. Flexible options. Streamlined catalog management in Admin.
⚡ Admin & Multi-Currency
The Shopify Pain: Multi-currency needs Shopify Plus. Basic plans lack native B2B.
The BigCommerce Gain: Intuitive BigCommerce Admin. Native multi-currency. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce?
Shopify to BigCommerce migration suits merchants paying transaction fees, hitting the 100-variant-per-product limit, or wanting native multi-currency without Shopify Plus. BigCommerce has no transaction fees on its plans and supports unlimited product variants.
Shopify to BigCommerce: Platform-Specific Considerations
Platform-specific considerations for Shopify to BigCommerce:
- Shopify 100-variant limit—BigCommerce has no limit; consolidate split products if desired.
- Shopify Liquid themes cannot transfer; rebuild with BigCommerce Stencil themes.
- Shopify CDN images require download and re-upload to BigCommerce CDN.
Shopify to BigCommerce Pre-Migration Checklist
Pre-migration prep: verify Shopify data and configure BigCommerce. Mapping Shopify fields to BigCommerce correctly is essential.
Data Structure Overview
Shopify and BigCommerce use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- Shopify Plan: Basic, Shopify, or Plus? API rate limits differ.
- API Access: Shopify REST Admin API for data export.
- BigCommerce Setup: Create BigCommerce store. Configure API access.
- Product Structure: Shopify variants map to BigCommerce variants. No variant limit.
- Images: Shopify CDN. Download and upload to BigCommerce CDN.
Shopify to BigCommerce Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Proper data mapping avoids broken variants and lost customer/order links. Below: Shopify to BigCommerce field mappings.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| Shopify Field (Source) | BigCommerce Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
Product.id |
Product.id |
BigCommerce generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
Product.title |
Product.name |
Direct string transfer. |
ProductVariant.sku |
Product.sku |
Shopify SKU at variant level; BigCommerce uses product/variant SKU. |
ProductVariant.price |
Product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
Product.body_html |
Product.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading to BigCommerce CDN. |
Collection |
Product.categories |
Shopify collections map to BigCommerce categories. |
Product.variants |
Product.variants |
Shopify variants map to BigCommerce variants. BigCommerce has no 100-variant limit. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| Shopify Field | BigCommerce Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
Customer.email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
Customer.password |
Customer.password |
Password migration supported with migration tool. |
CustomerAddress |
Address |
Shopify addresses map to BigCommerce. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| Shopify Field | BigCommerce Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
Order.name |
Order.id |
Preserve Shopify order number. |
Order.financial_status |
Order.status |
Map Shopify statuses to BigCommerce. |
Order.total_price |
Order.total_inc_tax |
Direct mapping. |
Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Tools
Migrating Shopify 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 Shopify 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: Shopify Export + BigCommerce Admin Import
Export from Shopify, 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: Shopify DB/API + BigCommerce API
Build a custom script using Shopify database or API and BigCommerce REST API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce: Step-by-Step
Follow these phases for Shopify 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 (Shopify):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your Shopify 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. Shopify Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to Shopify data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from Shopify URLs to BigCommerce URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce supports unlimited variants. Shopify options map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from Shopify 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.
Shopify 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
Shopify to BigCommerce: Troubleshooting & SEO
What often goes wrong (and how to fix it):
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce supports unlimited product variants. Shopify options map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: Shopify structure differs from BigCommerce. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: Shopify images need re-uploading to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
Shopify URLs differ from BigCommerce URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in BigCommerce Admin.
Shopify to BigCommerce: Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers on cost, duration, password migration, and SEO for Shopify to BigCommerce.
Does BigCommerce charge transaction fees like Shopify?
No. BigCommerce does not charge per-transaction fees on its plans. You pay the subscription; payment gateway fees apply separately. Shopify Basic/Shopify plans charge 0.5–2% unless using Shopify Payments.
Can I migrate Shopify products with 100+ variants to BigCommerce?
Yes. BigCommerce has no variant limit. If you split products on Shopify due to the 100-variant limit, you can consolidate them in BigCommerce.
Will Shopify customer passwords work on BigCommerce?
Migration tools convert Shopify password hashes to BigCommerce format when possible. Verify tool support—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Ready to Migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce?
Switching Shopify to BigCommerce removes hosting headaches and adds Stencil flexibility. Use a demo migration to verify data before launch.