Moving your online store from Wix to Shopify involves more than transferring products. You also need to plan for customer data, collections, store design, SEO settings, URL redirects, payment methods, and the features your customers rely on.
A successful Wix to Shopify migration starts with understanding what can be transferred, what needs to be rebuilt, and how to test the new store before launch.
This guide explains how to migrate your Wix store to Shopify, choose the right migration method, preserve important SEO elements, and avoid common problems during the transition.
What Should You Know Before Migrating from Wix to Shopify?
Wix and Shopify organize store data and website functionality differently. As a result, not every part of your Wix website will transfer directly to Shopify.
Before starting, review the information and features your business needs to retain.
| Store element | What to expect during migration |
|---|---|
| Products | Product details can be exported and imported, but some fields may require adjustments. |
| Product images | Images may need to be downloaded, mapped, or checked after import. |
| Product variants | Options, variant combinations, and inventory need to be verified. |
| Collections and categories | Wix categories may need to be reorganized into Shopify collections. |
| Customer records | Supported customer data can be transferred, subject to export and import limitations. |
| Order history | Historical orders may require a supported migration tool or specialist process. |
| Website design | Wix layouts generally need to be recreated using a Shopify theme or custom development. |
| Blog content | Posts, images, formatting, and URLs may require manual adjustments. |
| SEO settings | Titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, and URL redirects need to be checked. |
| Custom functionality | Wix-specific apps, integrations, and Velo code may need Shopify alternatives or redevelopment. |
The exact scope depends on your Wix setup, the migration method, and the capabilities of the tools you use.
For a more detailed breakdown, read our guide to what can be migrated from Wix to Shopify.
How Do You Migrate from Wix to Shopify?
Follow these steps to move your store while minimizing data issues, SEO problems, and disruption to customers.
Step 1: Audit Your Existing Wix Store
Before exporting anything, create an inventory of your current website.
Record the number of products, product variants, collections, customers, blog posts, important landing pages, and active integrations. Identify custom features that support your sales process, such as subscriptions, product customization, or special shipping rules.
Also, record the URLs of pages that already receive organic traffic or attract backlinks. These pages deserve particular attention during the migration.
Your audit should answer three questions:
What information must be transferred?
What functionality needs to be replaced or rebuilt?
Which URLs must remain accessible after the move?
Having these answers before starting makes it easier to select the right migration method and estimate the work involved.
Step 2: Back Up and Export Your Wix Store Data
Export the data that Wix makes available for your store and retain a secure copy of the original files.
Depending on your setup, this may include product details, SKUs, prices, inventory, customer information, and other supported records.
Before proceeding, check the exported files for missing fields, inconsistent formatting, duplicate records, and incorrect character encoding.
Pay particular attention to product variants. A product with several sizes and colors may require a different structure in Shopify, so simply importing the product name and price is not enough.
Do not assume that one export will contain every part of your website. Blog content, images, historical orders, custom fields, and certain other records may require separate handling.
Pro tip: Keep a migration checklist with the number of records exported and imported for each data type. Comparing the two counts helps you identify missing information before the new store goes live.
Step 3: Set Up Your Shopify Store
Create your Shopify store and configure its basic settings before transferring the full catalog.
Start with:
Store name and business information
Currency and market settings
Payment providers
Shipping zones and rates
Tax settings appropriate to your business
Customer account settings
Domain and notification preferences
Next, plan your product organization. Shopify collections may not correspond exactly to Wix categories, so decide how customers should browse your products before importing a large catalog.
You should also identify the Shopify apps needed to replace essential Wix functionality. Avoid installing unnecessary apps simply because similar features were available on Wix.
Step 4: Choose How You Will Transfer Your Data
There are three common ways to migrate a Wix store to Shopify.
| Migration method | Best suited for | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Manual migration | Smaller stores with straightforward requirements | Gives you control but requires more hands-on work. |
| Migration app | Stores with supported data and relatively standard requirements | Can automate parts of the transfer, but compatibility and data mapping must be checked. |
| Expert-assisted migration | Larger catalogs, complex integrations, custom functionality, or sensitive SEO requirements | Provides additional technical support but generally involves a higher budget. |
Manual migration may be practical when you have a manageable catalog and limited custom functionality.
Migration apps can reduce repetitive work, particularly for supported product and customer records. However, they do not automatically guarantee that your design, SEO, integrations, or every historical record will transfer correctly.
Expert-assisted migration may be appropriate when the store depends on complex product options, custom code, extensive integrations, or carefully managed organic traffic.
For a more detailed comparison, see our Wix to Shopify migration apps guide.
Step 5: Transfer Products, Customers, and Other Supported Data
Once your Shopify store is configured and your migration method is selected, begin transferring the required data.
Start with a small sample when possible. Import a few products, review their details, and confirm that the process works as expected before moving the entire catalog.
Check the following after importing products:
Product titles and descriptions
Prices and SKUs
Product options and variant combinations
Inventory quantities
Images and image order
Product status and availability
Collections and product organization
Review customer records separately. Confirm that supported fields have transferred correctly and that you understand any limitations involving passwords, consent records, or customer account access.
Historical order data may require a separate process. Do not assume that importing customers will also recreate their complete order histories.
If your Wix store relies on custom fields, specialized product configurations, or business-specific workflows, test those separately before proceeding.
Step 6: Rebuild Your Store Design in Shopify
Your Wix design will not necessarily become a working Shopify theme automatically.
Shopify uses its own theme system, templates, sections, and customization options. You will need to choose a suitable theme, recreate important layouts, and configure your storefront for the new platform.
Begin with the pages that matter most to customers:
Homepage
Collection pages
Product pages
Cart and checkout experience
About and contact pages
Shipping, returns, and other policy pages
Pay attention to navigation, product filters, mobile usability, page speed, and the path from product discovery to checkout.
You do not have to reproduce every detail of the old website. Migration can also be an opportunity to simplify navigation or improve product pages, provided you preserve useful content and functionality.
If recreating the storefront is a major part of your project, read our guide to Wix to Shopify design migration.
Step 7: Preserve Your SEO and Set Up URL Redirects
SEO needs attention before you change your domain or launch the Shopify store.
Your existing Wix pages may have accumulated organic traffic, backlinks, and search visibility. If their URLs change, visitors and search engines need a clear path to the corresponding pages on Shopify.
Start by exporting or recording your important Wix URLs. Match each one to the most relevant new Shopify URL.
For example:
| Old Wix URL | New Shopify URL | Action |
|---|---|---|
/product-page/wireless-lamp |
/products/wireless-lamp |
Redirect if the old URL is changing. |
/shop |
/collections/all |
Redirect if this is the appropriate equivalent. |
/post/choosing-a-desk-lamp |
The corresponding Shopify blog article URL | Map to the actual article destination. |
These are examples, not guaranteed URL mappings. Use the actual URLs from your store and choose relevant destinations.
Implement permanent redirects for old URLs that have equivalent new pages. Avoid redirecting every old URL to the homepage, because that may not satisfy the original visitor’s intent.
Also review:
Page titles and meta descriptions
Canonical URLs
XML sitemap
Internal links
Image alt text
Indexability settings
Structured data
Analytics and Search Console verification
Keep your old URL inventory after launch. It will help you investigate crawl errors and unexpected drops in organic traffic.
For guidance on Google’s approach to redirects and site moves, consult the Google Search Central documentation on site moves.
Step 8: Test Your Shopify Store Before Launch
Do not make the new store public until the essential customer journeys have been tested.
Place test orders using the available testing options. Check the cart, discount codes, payment flow, shipping calculations, order confirmation emails, and inventory updates.
Test the storefront on desktop and mobile devices. Check product variants, navigation, search, filters, contact forms, and links to policies.
For SEO, test a sample of old URLs to confirm that redirects reach the correct new pages. Check that important pages are indexable and that the sitemap contains the intended canonical URLs.
Compare the migrated catalog against your original inventory to identify missing products, images, or fields.
Pro tip: Create a launch checklist with a named owner for each task. It is much easier to fix a missing redirect or broken checkout before launch than after customers begin using the new store.
Step 9: Connect Your Domain and Launch
When the store passes testing, prepare the domain change and launch.
Before switching over, confirm that the domain settings are correct, the Shopify storefront is ready, redirects are in place, and your analytics tools are configured.
After launch:
Open the homepage and important landing pages.
Test product pages and complete a test purchase.
Check redirects from the old Wix URLs.
Verify analytics and conversion tracking.
Submit or verify the Shopify sitemap in Google Search Console.
Monitor crawl errors, indexing, organic clicks, and sales.
Avoid making unnecessary URL changes during the same period. Keeping the launch focused makes it easier to identify and resolve problems.
Step 10: Monitor the Store After Migration
A migration is not finished just because the new storefront is live.
During the following weeks, monitor Google Search Console for indexing issues, unexpected query changes, and pages that lose impressions. Review analytics to see whether organic landing pages and conversion paths are working as expected.
Check product feeds, third-party integrations, customer support workflows, and any automated processes that may have depended on Wix.
If organic traffic drops, investigate the affected URLs, redirects, canonical tags, page availability, and content differences before assuming that the migration itself caused a permanent ranking loss.
How Much Does It Cost to Migrate from Wix to Shopify?
Your Wix design will not necessarily become a working Shopify theme automatically.
Shopify uses its own theme system, templates, sections, and customization options. You will need to choose a suitable theme, recreate important layouts, and configure your storefront for the new platform.
Begin with the pages that matter most to customers:
Homepage
Collection pages
Product pages
Cart and checkout experience
About and contact pages
Shipping, returns, and other policy pages
Pay attention to navigation, product filters, mobile usability, page speed, and the path from product discovery to checkout.
You do not have to reproduce every detail of the old website. Migration can also be an opportunity to simplify navigation or improve product pages, provided you preserve useful content and functionality.
If recreating the storefront is a major part of your project, read our guide to Wix to Shopify design migration.
What Are the Most Common Wix to Shopify Migration Mistakes?
Assuming All Data Transfers Automatically
Different tools support different data types. Verify what your chosen method can transfer and identify records that need a separate process.
Rebuilding the Design Without Reviewing SEO
A new theme can change headings, content, navigation, internal links, and page templates. Check these elements before publishing the new storefront.
Forgetting Old URL Redirects
A storefront may look correct while payment settings, shipping rules, discount codes, or notifications are not working as expected.
Ignoring Custom Functionality
Wix-specific apps and Velo code may not have direct Shopify equivalents. Identify replacements or redevelopment requirements before the migration begins.
Making Too Many Changes at Once
Changing the domain, URL structure, product organization, content, and design simultaneously can make troubleshooting more difficult. Document important changes and validate each stage.
Is It Better to Migrate from Wix to Shopify Yourself or Hire an Expert?
The right approach depends on the complexity of your store and your available time.
A DIY migration may work well when you have a small catalog, standard products, limited integrations, and enough time to handle testing.
A migration app may help automate supported data transfers, but you will still need to review the results and handle unsupported functionality.
An experienced migration specialist may be worth considering if your store has a large catalog, complicated variants, custom integrations, extensive SEO history, or a design that needs substantial redevelopment.
Before choosing, compare the full scope of work rather than just the quoted transfer price. Ask what data is included, how redirects are handled, what testing is performed, and whether post-launch support is available.
Final Thoughts
Migrating from Wix to Shopify requires a plan for more than products and customer records. You also need to account for store design, functionality, SEO, redirects, payments, and post-launch testing.
Start by auditing your existing store, choosing the appropriate migration method, and identifying what must be transferred or rebuilt. Test the new storefront thoroughly before launch, then monitor indexing, traffic, and sales to catch issues early.
If you need help planning a more complex migration, WebyKing can help you evaluate the technical requirements, data transfer, design work, and SEO considerations involved in moving your store to Shopify.
Planning a Wix to Shopify migration? Contact WebyKing to discuss your store’s requirements and the work involved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I migrate my Wix store to Shopify without losing SEO?
You can reduce SEO risks by preserving useful content, mapping old URLs to relevant Shopify pages, implementing appropriate redirects, maintaining important metadata, and monitoring indexing after launch. However, no migration process can guarantee that rankings or traffic will remain unchanged.
Can I transfer my Wix products to Shopify automatically?
Supported product information can often be transferred using exports, imports, or migration tools. You should still check product options, images, inventory, collections, and fields that may not map directly between the platforms.
Will my Wix website design transfer to Shopify?
Your existing design generally needs to be recreated using a Shopify theme or custom development. Some visual elements can be reproduced, but Wix layouts and platform-specific functionality do not automatically become a Shopify theme.
Can I transfer my Wix domain to Shopify?
You can connect a domain to Shopify or transfer its registration where supported. Connecting a domain and transferring its registration are different processes. Confirm your registrar’s requirements and Shopify’s current domain guidance before making changes.
Will my customers' passwords transfer to Shopify?
Do not assume that existing passwords can be transferred. Customer account systems differ between platforms, and the available options depend on the migration method and account setup. You may need to guide customers through account activation or password reset.
How long does a Wix to Shopify migration take?
The timeline depends on the catalog, content, design, integrations, and testing requirements. A straightforward store may take considerably less time than a complex store that needs custom development or extensive data cleanup. Estimate each phase before committing to a launch date.
Should I redesign my website during the migration?
You can retain a similar look or redesign the storefront during the move. A redesign may improve usability, but it also increases the scope of work and requires careful review of important content, URLs, and SEO elements.
