Cart2Cart Alternatives
Cart2Cart has long been the "Coca-Cola" of the eCommerce migration world—ubiquitous, reliable, but increasingly expensive. As we move through 2025, smart merchants are realizing that paying $300+ for a standard migration often isn't necessary. Whether you need a cheaper automated service, a developer-friendly tool, or a specialized solution for BigCommerce, the market is now full of powerful alternatives that offer better value.
We have tested and analyzed the top competitors specifically for BigCommerce migrations to help you find the right tool for your specific needs. Here is the definitive guide to breaking free from the industry giant.
Quick Verdict: Which Alternative is Right for You?
- Best Overall Value: LitExtension (Similar service, lower cost, better support).
- Best Budget Automation: Next-Cart (Starts at ~$20, significantly cheaper).
- Best for Shopify Users: Matrixify (The gold standard for Shopify data handling).
- Best for Developers: Custom Migration Scripts (Complete control via Admin API).
- Best Free Option: BigCommerce Product Import (Free but limited).
Category 1: Direct Competitors (Automated Services)
These services operate exactly like Cart2Cart. You connect your Source Store and BigCommerce via API credentials, and their cloud servers handle the rest, including BigCommerce's product variant structure. The main difference? Pricing and support quality.
1. LitExtension
The "All-in-One" Powerhouse
LitExtension is the primary rival to Cart2Cart. They have built their reputation on two things: transparency and the "All-in-One" package. While Cart2Cart charges you extra for every little add-on (like 301 redirects or preserving Order IDs), LitExtension often bundles these into a single price.
Why it beats Cart2Cart:
- Pricing Model: Starts around $59 - $79. Unlike Cart2Cart's complex estimator that creeps up as you add options, LitExtension's pricing is more predictable.
- Support: They are famous for their 24/7 support which is generally faster and more hands-on than Cart2Cart's tiered support system.
- Re-Migration: They offer a "Smart Update" feature that allows you to re-migrate data (to catch new orders) for free or a low cost within 3 months of your initial migration.
- BigCommerce Handling: Like Cart2Cart, they handle BigCommerce's product variant structure automatically.
- Password Migration: Supports password migration where technically feasible.
Best For: Merchants who want the safety of an automated service but refuse to pay Cart2Cart's premium add-on fees. Handles BigCommerce migrations well.
2. Next-Cart
The "Budget" Automated Solution
Next-Cart is a newer challenger that is aggressively undercutting the market. In 2025, they have become the go-to recommendation for smaller stores because their entry pricing is incredibly low compared to the giants.
Why it beats Cart2Cart:
- Insane Value: Migrations can start as low as $20 - $49 depending on entity count. This is a fraction of the cost of Cart2Cart.
- 100% Uptime: Like the others, it keeps your store live.
- Simple Interface: Their 3-step wizard is arguably even simpler than Cart2Cart's.
- BigCommerce Support: Handles BigCommerce migrations with product variant structure.
- Password Migration: Supports password migration where technically feasible.
Best For: Small to medium store owners (under 1,000 products) who want automation on a shoestring budget. Good for BigCommerce migrations.
Category 2: Platform-Specific Tools
Sometimes you don't need a "universal" tool; you just need one that is perfect for your specific platform combination.
3. Matrixify (formerly Excelify)
The Shopify Specialist
If you are moving to or from Shopify, Matrixify is widely considered superior to any general migration tool. It is a Shopify App that gives you "God Mode" over your data.
Why it beats Cart2Cart for Shopify:
- Granular Control: It allows you to export/import specific fields (like Metafields) that general tools often miss.
- Speed: Because it is native to Shopify, it can process thousands of items per minute without timing out.
- Cost: It has a generous free tier (10 items) and a $20/month plan that covers most standard migrations. You can subscribe for one month, do your migration, and cancel.
- BigCommerce Export: Can export Shopify data in BigCommerce-compatible format for import via automated service or API.
Best For: Anyone migrating from Shopify to BigCommerce. Export from Shopify, then import to BigCommerce using automated service or API.
Category 3: Developer Tools (Maximum Control)
4. Custom Migration Scripts
The "DIY" Professional Tool
Since BigCommerce uses REST APIs (Admin API and Storefront API) and a well-documented data structure, you can create custom scripts (Node.js, Python, PHP, etc.) to transform your source data and push it to BigCommerce via Admin API. This gives you complete control but requires technical expertise.
Why it beats Cart2Cart:
- One-Time Cost: For ~$2,500-$10,000 (developer time), you own the solution forever. Great for agencies migrating multiple clients.
- Data Transformation: You can modify data on the fly. Want to increase all prices by 20% during migration? Want to rewrite category names? You can do that with custom logic.
- No Black Box: You see exactly what data is going where.
- BigCommerce Structure: You can structure data exactly to BigCommerce's API schema and handle product variants as needed.
- Admin API Access: Can use BigCommerce's Admin API for programmatic import.
Best For: Agencies and developers who are comfortable with APIs and want total control. Must account for BigCommerce's API rate limits and product variant structure.
The "Free" Alternative: BigCommerce Product Import
Is it possible to migrate for free? Yes, but there is a catch.
5. BigCommerce Product CSV Import
The Free (But Limited) Option
BigCommerce comes with a built-in CSV Product Importer in the Control Panel. Most platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento) allow you to export products to CSV.
- The Process: Export from Source → Open in Excel → Rename columns to match BigCommerce format → Structure data for BigCommerce product variants → Import to BigCommerce.
- The Risk: You will likely lose your images (unless you manually upload them), your product variants will break if not structured correctly, and you cannot migrate customer passwords, customers, or orders this way.
- Verdict: Only do this if you have fewer than 100 simple products with no options and no order history to save.
Comparison Table: 2025 Pricing & Features for BigCommerce
| Service | Starting Price | Pricing Model | BigCommerce Structure | Password Migration | Best Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cart2Cart | $69+ | Pay per Entity + Add-ons | ✅ Automatic | ✅ Supported | Industry reliability |
| LitExtension | $59+ | Pay per Entity (Bundled) | ✅ Automatic | ✅ Supported | Excellent Support |
| Next-Cart | $20+ | Pay per Entity | ✅ Automatic | ✅ Supported | Lowest Price |
| Matrixify | $20/mo | Subscription (Cancel anytime) | ⚠️ Manual (Export only) | ❌ Not supported | Shopify deep integration |
| Custom Scripts | ~$2,500+ | One-time Development | ⚠️ Manual (You code it) | ⚠️ Possible (You code it) | Unlimited customization |
| BigCommerce CSV Import | Free | Included with BigCommerce | ❌ Manual formatting | ❌ Not supported | Free but limited |
Important BigCommerce-Specific Considerations
1. Password Migration
Good News: BigCommerce supports password migration when the source platform uses compatible hashing. Automated tools (Cart2Cart, LitExtension, Next-Cart) can migrate customer passwords where feasible, preserving customer access. Plan for a smooth customer transition.
2. Product Options and Variants
BigCommerce supports product options and variants with SKUs. Automated tools preserve complex option structures automatically. Manual CSV imports and custom scripts must account for this structure.
3. API Structure
BigCommerce has specific API requirements and product variant structures. Automated tools handle this automatically. Manual imports and custom scripts must structure data exactly to BigCommerce's API schema.
4. Categories
BigCommerce uses "Categories" terminology. Automated tools map categories correctly. Manual imports require you to use BigCommerce's terminology.
5. API Credentials Required
Most automated tools require creating Admin API credentials in your BigCommerce Control Panel. This is a simple process—no file installation required since BigCommerce is a hosted platform.
In 2025, you do not have to pay the "market leader tax."
If you want a smooth, automated experience that rivals Cart2Cart but costs less, LitExtension is the safe bet. If you are on a tight budget, Next-Cart is an incredible value. And if you are a developer looking to build a migration business, Custom Migration Scripts give you total control (but you must handle BigCommerce's API structure yourself).
Recommendation: Before committing to any paid service, always run their Free Demo Migration. If the demo fails or misses images, walk away. If it works and handles BigCommerce's product structure correctly, you can pay with confidence.