Wix works well for building a first website, but as your sales grow, you may find the platform lacks the specific tools needed to scale a store. Most merchants eventually reach a point where they need the more specialized eCommerce features Shopify offers. While moving platforms is a sign that your business is growing, it is also a process that comes with real risks.
The biggest concern is usually the safety of your data. You have spent years building your customer lists and your search rankings on Google, and a single technical error during a move can undo that progress. A broken link or a missing database file can lead to lost sales and long-term ranking issues.
This guide explains how to manage the move without those mistakes. We will cover how to export your information from Wix and set up your Shopify store so that your data remains accurate and your customers can still find you.
Wix works well for building a website, but most growing businesses eventually need a platform that is built specifically for selling products at a higher volume. Moving to Shopify is usually the next step when you need more control over your checkout and your day-to-day operations.
Moving your store from Wix to Shopify can be done in several ways, depending on your store’s size and how much technical work you want to handle. Choosing the right method ensures your data, customers, and SEO remain intact.
Shopify offers a free app that connects to your Wix site and automatically imports products and customer lists. This is the fastest and simplest option for small to medium stores. No coding is required, and it handles most of the migration automatically.
Tools like Cart2Cart or LitExtension act as a bridge between Wix and Shopify. They are ideal for larger stores or more complex setups, including detailed order histories. These services are paid, but save time and reduce errors compared with manual migration.
This method involves exporting your Wix data into a spreadsheet and uploading it to Shopify. It is free but requires careful attention to formatting to match Shopify’s structure. Manual import works for smaller stores or when you want full control, but it can be time-consuming and error-prone.
For very large stores or unique technical needs, hiring a Shopify expert is the safest choice. Experts handle the full migration, including design adjustments and SEO redirects, ensuring your store remains fully functional and search-friendly. You can find vetted professionals through the Shopify Experts Directory.
| Migration Method | Time Investment | Difficulty Level | SEO Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shopify Store Migration App | 2–4 hours | Low | Medium |
| Automated Third-Party Services | 1–3 days | Low | Low |
| Manual CSV Export/Import | 5–10+ hours | High | Medium |
| Hiring a Shopify Migration Agency | Varies | None | Very Low |
Following a specific order ensures your data stays organized and your store remains online throughout the migration. Each step focuses on preserving your products, customer information, and SEO while moving safely to Shopify.
Create a complete backup of your Wix store before moving any information. Start by logging in to your Wix account and opening the Site Dashboard. Click the Site Actions button at the top of the screen and select Duplicate Site from the dropdown menu.
This step is critical because Wix’s standard Site History only saves design changes. It does not include your full product database or customer records. By duplicating your site, you secure a complete reference copy and make sure all your data remains safe if anything goes wrong during the migration.
Once your backup is secure, you need to pull your store information out of Wix in a format that Shopify can read. This involves downloading your data as CSV files, which are spreadsheets that hold all your product and customer details.
To Export Your Products:
To Export Your Customers:
It is important to remember that Wix currently limits CSV exports to 100 variants per product. If you have items with many sizes or color combinations, any data over the 100-limit will be missing from your file. You should manually record those specific details now so you can add them to Shopify later and keep your catalog accurate.
Once you have your data files ready, you need to set up the Shopify store that will receive them. This step ensures your settings match your business requirements before any products are imported.
To Set Up Your Shopify Account:
To Configure Your Store Settings:
To Select Your Theme:
Choosing an Online Store 2.0 theme is a critical part of this step. These themes are built with a modular structure that allows you to drag and drop sections easily, similar to how you worked in Wix, but with much faster performance and better search engine visibility.
Now that your Shopify store is ready, you can move your data into your new dashboard. This step uses an automated tool to match your Wix information to the correct sections in Shopify so you do not have to enter everything manually.
To Install the Migration App:
To Upload Your Wix Files:
To Review the Imported Data:
After the import is finished, the app will show you a summary of the results. If any items were skipped or had errors, you can click on the “View Import Results” link to see exactly which products need a manual update in your Shopify product editor.
To move your domain, you need to update your DNS records. This process ensures your website stays active and transitions smoothly from your old host to Shopify.
To Connect Your Domain in Shopify:
To Update Your DNS Records:
It is important to be patient during this step because DNS changes do not happen instantly. It can take up to 48 hours for these updates to spread across the internet. During this period, your site might appear offline to some users, so it is best to perform this update during a time when your traffic is usually lower.
This is the most critical step for protecting your business rankings. Wix and Shopify use different structures for their web addresses, which means every link currently indexed by Google will break the moment you switch. A 301 redirect acts as a permanent forwarding address so that customers and search engines are automatically sent to the correct new page.
How the URL paths change:
Because Wix uses the /product-page/ folder and Shopify uses the /products/ folder, you must map your old links to the new ones. In your Shopify admin, go to the Online Store, select Navigation, and click on URL Redirects. You can enter these manually one by one, or if you have a large catalog, you can use an app like Matrixify to upload a spreadsheet and map all your old Wix links to your new Shopify links at once.
Before you officially open your store to the public, you need to perform a final quality check to ensure the shopping experience is seamless. This is your chance to catch any small errors in the checkout or design before they cost you a sale.
Your Final Launch Checklist:
Once you have verified that everything is working, go to the Preferences section under Online Store and remove your store password. Your new Shopify store is now live and ready for customers.
Moving from Wix to Shopify is a major milestone that sets your business up for long-term scalability. While the technical steps can feel demanding, the reward is a faster, more reliable platform that gives you total control over how you sell. By following this guide, you ensure that your customer data stays secure and your search engine rankings remain protected throughout the transition.
If you prefer to have experts handle the heavy lifting for you, we offer specialized eCommerce migration services to manage the entire process from start to finish. Whether you choose to do it yourself or work with a partner, taking the time to move correctly today will save you from technical headaches tomorrow.
Most migrations take around 3 to 24 hours to complete, depending on the size of your product catalog and the method you choose. Automated tools can speed up the process, while manual data entry or complex custom designs will require more time.
You will not lose your rankings if you correctly set up 301 redirects for all your product and collection pages. These redirects tell search engines exactly where your content has moved, ensuring your old Wix links lead directly to your new Shopify pages.
Yes, but since the native Shopify importer focuses primarily on products and customers, you will need to use a dedicated app like Matrixify or a third-party migration service to move your blog content and preserve your post dates and formatting.
Customer passwords cannot be migrated because they are encrypted for security on the Wix platform. After the move, your customers will need to activate their accounts on your new Shopify store and set a new password.
No, Wix apps are not compatible with Shopify. You will need to find equivalent apps in the Shopify App Store to replace features like your loyalty programs, review widgets, or specialized marketing tools.
Yes, you can keep your existing domain name. You simply need to update your DNS settings to point the domain away from Wix and toward Shopify’s servers, which allows your web address to stay the same.
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