BigCommerce to Shopify Plus Migration: Step-by-Step Guide

Many brands are moving from BigCommerce to Shopify Plus. They want more flexibility, better apps, and simpler customization. If you are thinking about this switch, this guide is for you.

You will learn how the platforms compare. Then we walk through the migration step by step. By the end, you will know exactly what to expect.

Why Brands Switch from BigCommerce to Shopify Plus

Both platforms are good. But they serve different needs. Here is why brands often choose to move.

Larger App Ecosystem

Shopify has nearly 8,000 apps. BigCommerce has fewer options. If you need a specific feature, Shopify likely has an app for it.

More apps mean:

More choices for each function
Better competition on price and quality
More innovation from developers

Easier Theme Customization

BigCommerce themes can be hard to modify. Many store owners report needing developers for simple changes.

Shopify themes are more flexible:

Visual editor for easy changes
Sections and blocks for drag-and-drop editing
Better documentation for developers

Higher Conversion Rates

Studies show Shopify stores convert visitors to customers about 12% better than average. This comes from:

Optimized checkout flow
Faster page loads
Better mobile experience
Shop Pay for returning customers

Shopify powers over 4.6 million live stores. It holds 28% of the US ecommerce market. Among top direct-to-consumer brands, Shopify has nearly 73% market share.

This matters because:

More developers know Shopify
More partners support Shopify
More resources are available

Feature Comparison: BigCommerce vs Shopify Plus

Let us compare key features.

Pricing

BigCommerce Enterprise

Based on annual sales volume
Can trigger automatic upgrades
Pricing varies by negotiation

Shopify Plus

Starts at $2,300 per month
Small percentage of sales (0.35% to 0.4%)
More predictable costs

Winner: Depends on your sales volume. Shopify Plus is often simpler to predict.

Checkout

BigCommerce

Good checkout experience
Some customization options
Can add scripts and modifications

Shopify Plus

Highly optimized checkout
Shop Pay boosts conversion
Full customization with Checkout Extensibility

Winner: Shopify Plus for conversion and customization.

B2B Features

BigCommerce

B2B edition available
Customer groups
Custom pricing

Shopify Plus

Native B2B features
Company accounts
Custom price lists
Net payment terms

Winner: Close, but Shopify Plus B2B is improving fast.

Multi-Storefront

BigCommerce

Multi-storefront available
Good for multiple brands

Shopify Plus

Nine expansion stores included
Each can have its own theme
Easy to manage from one admin

Winner: Shopify Plus for included expansion stores.

Headless Commerce

BigCommerce

Strong headless support
Good API coverage

Shopify Plus

Hydrogen framework
Oxygen hosting included
Purpose-built for Shopify

Winner: Both are strong. Shopify Plus has Hydrogen advantage.

Step-by-Step Migration Process

Ready to migrate? Follow these steps.

Step 1: Prepare Your BigCommerce Store

Before you move anything, get organized.

Back Up All Data

Export and save:

Products (with all variants)
Customers
Order history
Categories
Blog posts

BigCommerce lets you export most data as CSV files.

Audit Your Current Setup

Document:

All product fields you use
Custom attributes
Integrations with other tools
Apps and their functions

Check Your SEO

Note your current:

URL structure
Meta titles and descriptions
Redirects already in place

Step 2: Set Up Your Shopify Plus Account

Get your new store ready.

Contact Shopify Plus

Reach out to Shopify or a partner. They will:

Set up your account
Assign a launch engineer
Start your onboarding

Configure Basic Settings

Set up:

Store name and details
Payment providers
Shipping zones
Tax settings

Choose Your Theme

Pick a theme that fits your brand:

Premium themes cost $150 to $400
Custom themes cost $10,000 to $50,000+
Factor this into your timeline

Step 3: Choose Your Migration Method

You have three main options.

Option 1: Manual CSV Migration

Export from BigCommerce. Import to Shopify.

Pros:

Free
Full control

Cons:

Time consuming
Some data types do not transfer
Higher chance of errors

Best for: Small stores with simple products.

Option 2: Migration App or Tool

Use tools like LitExtension, Cart2Cart, or Matrixify.

Pros:

Faster than manual
More data types transfer
Less error prone

Cons:

Costs money ($100 to $500+)
May need manual cleanup

Best for: Most stores.

Option 3: Professional Migration

Hire a Shopify Plus agency or expert.

Pros:

Experts handle everything
Lower risk of problems
Custom needs addressed

Cons:

Higher cost ($5,000 to $20,000+)

Best for: Large or complex stores.

Step 4: Migrate Your Products

Products are the core of your store.

What Transfers

Product names and descriptions
SKUs
Prices
Images
Variants
Categories (become collections)

Watch Out For

Variant limits: Shopify Plus now supports 2,048 variants with Combined Listings
Custom fields: Use metafields in Shopify
Product options: Structure may need adjusting

Steps to Follow

Export products from BigCommerce as CSV
Map fields to Shopify format
Import using your chosen method
Verify a sample of products
Fix any issues
Verify all products

Step 5: Migrate Your Customers

Your customer data is valuable.

What Transfers

Names
Email addresses
Shipping and billing addresses
Order history

What Does Not Transfer

Passwords (for security reasons)
Payment information stored with BigCommerce

Handling Password Reset

Customers need to create new passwords. Plan for this:

Email customers before migration
Explain the change
Provide easy reset link
Offer help if needed

Step 6: Migrate Your Orders

Historical orders matter for:

Customer service
Returns and exchanges
Reporting

What Transfers

Order details
Items purchased
Shipping information
Order status

How to Transfer

Migration tools handle orders well. Manual transfer is harder. Consider:

Using a migration tool for orders
Keeping BigCommerce access for old order lookups
Importing only recent orders if needed

Step 7: Set Up Redirects for SEO

Do not lose your search rankings.

Map Your URLs

Create a spreadsheet:

Old BigCommerce URL	New Shopify URL
/product-name/	/products/product-name
/category-name/	/collections/category-name

Set Up 301 Redirects

In Shopify Admin:

Go to Online Store > Navigation
Click URL Redirects
Add each redirect

For many redirects, use a CSV import.

Monitor After Launch

Check Google Search Console for errors
Fix any broken links
Watch ranking changes

Step 8: Replace Your Apps

Find Shopify versions of your BigCommerce apps.

Common Replacements

BigCommerce App	Shopify Alternative
Mailchimp	Klaviyo or Mailchimp
ShipperHQ	ShipStation or Shopify Shipping
Yotpo Reviews	Yotpo, Judge.me, or Stamped
LiveChat	Gorgias, Zendesk, or Tidio

Test Each Integration

After installing apps:

Configure settings
Test functionality
Verify data sync

Step 9: Design and Build Your Theme

Your theme is your storefront.

Options

Use a Premium Theme: Quick and affordable. Customize with built-in editor.
Customize a Premium Theme: Modify code for your needs. Faster than building from scratch.
Build Custom Theme: Full control over design. Takes longer and costs more.

Key Pages to Focus On

Homepage
Collection pages
Product pages
Cart and checkout
About and contact pages

Step 10: Test Everything

Before launch, test your store completely.

Functional Testing

Add products to cart
Apply discount codes
Complete checkout
Test all payment methods
Verify order confirmation emails

Data Verification

Check product details
Verify customer accounts
Review order history

Mobile Testing

Browse on multiple devices
Complete mobile checkout
Check all buttons and links

Speed Testing

Run PageSpeed Insights
Check load times
Optimize images if needed

Step 11: Launch Your New Store

Time to go live.

Pre-Launch Checklist

All products imported and verified
Customer data migrated
Redirects in place
Apps configured
Theme complete
Testing done

Launch Day

Update DNS to point to Shopify
Test the live site
Place a test order
Monitor for issues

First Week After Launch

Watch for errors
Check order flow daily
Respond to customer issues fast
Monitor analytics

Timeline Expectations

How long does this take?

Simple Store

Products: Under 500
Customizations: Minimal
Timeline: 3-5 weeks

Standard Store

Products: 500-5,000
Customizations: Moderate
Timeline: 6-10 weeks

Complex Store

Products: 5,000+
Customizations: Heavy
Timeline: 12-20 weeks

Your BigCommerce store stays live during migration. Zero downtime for customers.

Common Migration Challenges

Watch out for these issues.

Challenge 1: Product Option Differences

BigCommerce and Shopify handle product options differently.

Solution: Review your product structure. Adjust options before migrating. Use apps like Infinite Options if needed.

Challenge 2: URL Structure Changes

BigCommerce URLs look different from Shopify URLs.

Solution: Create comprehensive redirect mapping. Use tools to generate redirects in bulk.

Challenge 3: Design Recreation

Your BigCommerce theme will not work on Shopify.

Solution: Plan for theme work. Either customize a premium theme or budget for custom development.

Challenge 4: Integration Reconnection

Your connected tools need new integrations.

Solution: List all integrations early. Find Shopify alternatives. Test each one before launch.

FAQ: BigCommerce to Shopify Plus Migration

Does my BigCommerce store stay live during migration?

Yes. Your current store keeps running. You build the new Shopify Plus store separately. Switch only when ready.

How much does the migration cost?

DIY with free tools: Free but time consuming. Migration tools: $100-$500. Professional migration: $5,000-$20,000+. Add theme costs if building custom.

Will I lose SEO rankings?

With proper redirects, no. Map all URLs. Set up 301 redirects. Rankings should stay stable.

Can I migrate customer reviews?

Yes. Apps like Yotpo, Judge.me, and Stamped can import reviews. Some migration tools also transfer reviews.

What about my transaction history?

Order history can transfer. But payment processing stays with BigCommerce. New orders use Shopify Payments.

Do customers need new passwords?

Yes. Passwords cannot transfer for security reasons. Plan a password reset communication.

Next Steps

Ready to start your migration?

Audit your current store - List products, apps, integrations
Get Shopify Plus pricing - Contact sales or a partner
Choose your migration method - DIY, tool, or professional
Plan your timeline - Allow enough time for testing
Find the right partner - If you need help

Migration from BigCommerce to Shopify Plus takes work. But many brands find the result worth it: a more flexible platform, better apps, and room to grow.