WooCommerce to Shopify migration without losing SEO

To migrate from WooCommerce to Shopify without losing Google rankings, you need three things: every old URL redirected (301) to its new one, the titles and copy that were already working carried over to the new store, and the switch monitored in Search Console for the following weeks. The rest is organisation. Below is the plan I use on the migrations I run.

Before touching anything: the inventory

Most migration problems come from things nobody knew existed. Before starting, I list:

• Every page that gets Google traffic: products, categories, static pages and blog posts. Search Console shows which ones get clicks.
• Products and variants: how many, which attributes they use (size, colour, material), and whether any product has more combinations than Shopify allows by default.
• Plugins and integrations: invoicing, shipping, stock, marketing and reviews. Each one needs an equivalent app or solution on Shopify.
• Customers and orders: the history you want to keep.

The written plan

With the inventory done, I write a plan of what moves, how and when. It always includes a rollback plan: if anything goes wrong on switch-over day, we know exactly how to return to the old store within minutes. It's rarely needed, but it gives everyone peace of mind.

The migration, step by step

1. Build the new store in parallel. The WooCommerce store keeps selling while Shopify is set up in a private preview.
2. Import products. Titles, descriptions, prices, variants, photos and collections. I fix what was wrong, without changing what Google already knows well.
3. Import customers and orders, so you can still see each customer's history.
4. Rebuild integrations. Invoicing, shipping, stock and marketing, with the right apps.
5. Map the URLs. Every old URL gets a matching new one. In WooCommerce, products usually live at /product/name; on Shopify they're at /products/name. Without redirects, all of those URLs would return a 404 error.
6. Create 301 redirects. Shopify has a built-in tool for this, and the list can be imported in one go.
7. Review SEO on every important page: titles, meta descriptions, copy and image alt text.
8. Test everything. Test orders with every payment method, shipping to different zones, invoices and emails.

Switch-over day

• Point the domain to Shopify.
• Confirm the redirects work by testing a sample of old URLs.
• Place real test orders.
• Submit the new sitemap in Search Console.

After the switch

The following weeks matter most. I watch Search Console for 404 errors and pages that dropped out, and add any missing redirects. Some movement in rankings during the first days is normal while Google reads the new store. With the right redirects, pages recover their place.

What it costs and what drives the price

The cost of a migration depends mainly on four things: the number of products and variants, the integrations that need rebuilding (invoicing, stock, shipping), how many pages with traffic need redirects, and how much you want to change the design. A store with 200 simple products and few integrations is very different from one with thousands of variants connected to an ERP. With me, migrations start at €3,000 + VAT, with the price fixed in writing after the inventory with staged payments.

Mistakes I see often

• Migrating without redirects. The most expensive mistake: every old page starts returning errors.
• Rewriting all the copy at the same time. If you want to rewrite content, do it after the migration settles.
• Forgetting images. Alt text and file names count too.
• Not testing payments. A payment method that fails on day one costs sales and trust.

For what it costs to run the store after the move, see how much a Shopify store costs. If you'd rather I handle the migration, see the WooCommerce to Shopify migration page. I work with stores in Portugal, Ireland, the UK, Spain and the US.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a WooCommerce to Shopify migration take?

It depends on the number of products and integrations. The new store is built in parallel, so the switch itself happens in a single day, and the old store keeps selling until then.

Do customers need to create their accounts again?

Customer data moves to Shopify, but passwords don't. Customers who want to use their account on the new store need to activate it, usually through an email invitation.

Will I lose my Google rankings?

With 301 redirects for every old URL and the same titles and copy, the goal is not to. There may be some movement in the first days while Google reads the new store.

Can I migrate from PrestaShop or Magento the same way?

Yes. The plan is the same: inventory, written plan with a rollback plan, parallel build, import, redirects and aftercare.