Step-by-step Guide to Migrate Your Online Store From Wix to Shopify

Keen to migrate your online store from Wix to Shopify? There are plenty of perks to this simple CMS switch (learn more below), but making sure you get all of the migration steps correct - and in the right order - is essential when it comes to ensuring that your shop migration runs as seamlessly as possible.

So, we created this step-by-step guide to help you migrate from Wix to Shopify successfully. In it, we’ll look at exactly how to migrate from Wix to Shopify either manually or using an app.

We also take a look at the reasons you might want to consider a migration to Shopify. Then finally, we’ll finish up with a few FAQs that might crop up during the process. Read on to learn more. 

How to Migrate from Wix to Shopify

Migrating your online store from Wix to Shopify can be done in three easy steps:

1. Export your shop data from Wix
2. Format the CSV file ready to import your store data to Shopify
3. Import the CSV file into Shopify

Scroll on to learn a little more about the whys and the hows of each step.

Why Should I Migrate from Wix to Shopify?

While Wix and Shopify both have great credentials when it comes to site building tools for ecommerce professionals, they have some subtle - and some not-so-subtle differences. This means that you could decide that Shopify is more appropriate for your shop than Wix. If that’s where your mindset is right now, migrating from Wix to Shopify almost seems like a no-brainer. 

But why might you want to make that switch in the first place? Let’s find out, shall we?

First up is the template designs. Yes, Wix has many pre-built storefront designs for you to choose from. But, you may prefer the templates offered by Shopify. Shopify’s templates could be more in line with your brand ethos, or they could be a better fit for the overall look and feel that you’re striving towards.

Another important point is that you may find Shopify to be more user-friendly than Wix. Wix has two separate dashboards - one you’ll need to use to manage your store’s website and another for handling e-commerce-related actions. Shopify simplifies this by popping everything into a single dashboard. The general consensus appears to be that Shopify’s dashboard design is much less cluttered than Wix’s which should make it much easier to navigate. 

Reasons Why Shopify Might be Preferred Over Wix

Further points in favor of Shopify over Wix include the streamlined shopping cart. Plus customer support tends to be much better with Shopify too which is handy if you require some assistance with the migration, running, or maintenance of your Shopify store.

Another key consideration is that the Shopify App Store boasts more than 8000 apps and plug-ins. But the Wix App Market only has 500+. So if you’re big on apps and plugins, Shopify definitely has the most choice when you compare it and Wix side-by-side.

Then there’s the ecommerce features. While Wix does deliver an impressive set of ecommerce features, it is actually missing some elements when we compare it with those readily available with Shopify. For one, the inventory management feature is much more advanced in Shopify. With stronger analytics, more affordable payment processing options, and access to international currencies and point of sale (POS) features that you will not find with Wix, Shopify is a clear winner for those dropshippers looking to expand globally. What’s more, the cart recovery feature is more advanced and easy to use - even for beginners - with Shopify.

Dropshipping is easier with Shopify’s Spocket integrations. Access reliable US/EU dropshipping suppliers that can ship orders directly to your customers fast. While Wix does offer some dropshipping integrations, it doesn’t have nearly as many apps and features to support dropshippers with their online stores. 

How to Migrate from Wix to Shopify Using an App

There are quite a few different apps you can use to help you migrate the ecommerce data for your store from Wix to Shopify. These include:

• Matrixify
• Migration Pro
• Cart2Cart Store Migration App
• LitExtension Store Migration

Why not test out a few of these different apps to learn which ones offer the most user-friendly interface for your experience level while migrating your store?

How to Manually Migrate from Wix to Shopify

Given that most of the migration will need to be completed manually anyway, you may choose to migrate all of your store’s data manually as well. If so, these easy-to-follow steps will help you migrate a website from Wix to Shopify in little to no time at all. 

Much like when using an app to help with your store’s migration, the Wix to Shopify migration will require you to export multiple spreadsheets of data from Wix. Then, you’ll also need to import that data into Shopify. 

Read on to follow our step-by-step guide for the process of manually importing products. 

Step 1: Start by exporting data from Wix

1. Click on Store Products > Products in Wix
2. Select the More Actions from the dropdown menu
3. Click Export 

Step 2: Next you’ll need to format the CSV file ready for importing to Shopify. This means adjusting the column headers to align with their import headers (corresponding to the way Shopify names fields so that this data can be processed). 

You can learn more about the column headers required for importing your Wix store to Shopify in the Shopify Help Centre.

Step 3: Importing the file into Shopify

Start by heading to your Shopify dashboard and then follow the steps outlined below:

1. Click on Products
2. Hit the Import button
3. Next, click the Add File button and select the CSV file you’ve prepared from your computer
4. Hit Upload and Continue to proceed. 

Then, you’ll need to spend a little time scrolling through the preview of the import to double check everything looks as it should. 

Click on the Import Products button to confirm and complete the migration. 

After a couple of minutes or so, Shopify will redirect you to the Products page. You should now be able to see all of the products you imported from Wix. 

To proceed with migrating your store data from Wix to Shopify, you’ll need to repeat this process by exporting (from Wix) and importing (to Shopify) the other store data including: 

• Customers
• Content
• Orders
• Discounts
• Collections
• Anything else

Migrating From Wix to Shopify: Final Thoughts

Migrating your online store from Wix to Shopify isn’t too complicated. Once you get to grips with exporting your site data from Wix and importing it into Shopify (be it manually or with an app) it should be plain sailing. 

When it comes to redesigning your storefront, stick with a theme that’s similar to the one you had while using Wix. This helps to prevent alienating your existing customer base post-migration. Then all that’s left to do is customize your Shopify site using the same colors, logo, and custom stylings. 

Always make sure you create a backup of your site prior to migrating your store. And never, ever delete your old site until you’re completely happy with the results and ready to re-launch your new Shopify storefront. 

FAQs Related to Wix to Shopify Migration

Why should I think about migrating from Wix to Shopify?

Though both ecommerce platforms has its own pros and cons, there are five key reasons that you might want to think about migrating your ecommerce platform from Wix to Shopify. These are: 

1. Different templates
2. It’s easier to use and consolidates everything you need into one dashboard
3. A much larger number of apps available for site integration
4. Advanced ecommerce features for those looking to expand internationally
5. Dropshipping advantages like direct access to AliExpress, US, and EU dropshipping suppliers through Dropshipping plugins like Spocket

Can I migrate my entire website from Wix to Shopify?

While there’s a lot you can migrate from Wix to Shopify, there are also a few things you can’t. First up, here’s what you can migrate:

• Customer data
• Orders
• Inventory
• Collections
• Companies
• Discounts
• Blog content
• Draft orders
• Payouts
• Pages
• Redirects
• Activity
• Files
• Metafields

But what you won’t be able to directly migrate from Wix to Shopify are some SEO configurations (although you are able to reinstate redirects and migrate metafield data) and most of the design elements.

How can I back up my Wix website before migrating?

Wix actually has a handy backup tool built into its dashboard. But obviously, this will remain on your Wix account. The overall goal during this migration is to retrieve all of the backup data from your Wix account so that this data can be used somewhere else. And so, we suggest exporting the backup data and using the export as a backup. 

To do this follow the steps outlined below:

1. In the Wix dashboard, head to Settings > Site Management
2. Hit the Export Site button
3. Then, save the file on your computer

You can use this file later when it’s time to manually import your store’s data into your Shopify site. And you can even upload it to a migration app if you’re using one. 

What happens to my SEO rankings during the migration?

Your SEO rankings are linked to your domain name, and not the CMS platform you are using. As such your SEO rankings should (in theory) stay the same after the migration from Wix to Shopify is completed. But, there are some really important factors you’ll need to bear in mind:

• If your migration becomes messy, this could lead to broken links, missing images, or incorrectly formatted content which can cause your site to experience a drop in SEO rankings. 
• A new storefront design might be viewed as less user-friendly. If either your site users or Google (or - worst case scenario - both) see it that way, you could see your SERPs drop.