Steps to migrate from PrestaShop to Shopify

  1. Scope the data and functions. Define what to transfer, replace or archive, with named owners for acceptance.
  2. Prepare the Shopify store. Choose the theme and functions, organize the catalog and set up the necessary connections.
  3. Test imports. Prepare mappings, import a representative sample and reconcile results with the source.
  4. Prepare SEO and acceptance testing. Map URLs and check order journeys, accounts and external tools.
  5. Capture changes and switch. Update data since the trial, then check the domain, orders and old URLs after opening.

Which PrestaShop data should move to Shopify?

Source item Decision to make Acceptance check
Products and combinations Mapping to target products and variants Consistent SKUs, prices, images and inventory
Categories and content Organization into relevant collections and pages Usable navigation and destinations for old URLs
Customers and addresses Identities to transfer and duplicates to resolve Correct customer linked to the correct contact details
Orders and credit notes History to transfer or keep accessible elsewhere Verified totals, statuses and customer relationships
Modules and theme Functions to keep, replace or retire Behavior tested in Shopify

Choose a method for each dataset: CSV when its format meets the need, an appropriate app after a trial, or a specific transfer process when a constraint justifies it. Adapt the PrestaShop export to its destination; a field's presence in the file does not prove it will be usable.

Start by taking stock of the data you actually use

List what your PrestaShop store contains: active and inactive products, combinations, images, categories, content, translations, customers, addresses, orders, credit notes, discount codes and any fields added by modules. For each group, record its volume, quality, who can validate it and where it belongs in Shopify.

Not everything needs to move. An old, inactive product page can stay archived; data essential to customer support must remain accessible. Make these decisions before importing. The Shopify migration documentation describes different methods depending on the data: manual copying, CSV files, specialist apps or API development. One tool will not necessarily handle the whole migration.

The first useful deliverable is a mapping table: source data → target data → transformation → expected check. For example, a PrestaShop combination may become a Shopify variant, but its SKU, inventory, price and image must be checked together.

Handle the catalog without overlooking difficult cases

Do not validate an import using ten straightforward products. Your sample should include variants, out-of-stock products, multiple images, promotions, special characters, translations and features introduced by your modules. Compare expected and imported counts, then inspect exceptions manually.

Keep a dated source export and a record of transformations. If a row fails, you should be able to isolate and correct it without silently changing the source. Shopify also recommends backing up your data before a CSV import.

A multilingual store or a multi-store setup needs separate planning: markets, domains, currencies, catalogs and pricing rules cannot be inferred from a simple product export. This is the point to decide whether Shopify's existing features meet your needs or whether adaptations are required.

Customers and orders are two separate migrations

Importing customer records does not automatically transfer their purchase history. The Shopify customer CSV does not import orders. Passwords from the old store cannot be transferred through this CSV either: you need to plan how customers will access their accounts after the switch.

Order history calls for an explicit business decision. Which periods need to remain accessible? Will open orders, returns, refunds and credit notes be handled in Shopify or in the old system during a transition? If you import order history, check the relationships between orders, customers and products, along with totals and statuses. Shopify specifies the sequence: products first, then customers, then historical orders.

Preserve the URLs that really matter

Before switching platforms, export your PrestaShop URLs and identify those that attract traffic, links or sales. Map each old URL to a relevant destination: product to product, category to collection, guide to equivalent content. Redirecting everything to the homepage does little for someone looking for a specific item.

Shopify supports importing redirects, but there are limitations, including certain reserved paths and URLs that still return a valid page. Test real cases after launch using the old URLs, then monitor errors in Search Console. Preserve useful titles, descriptions and content before rewriting them, too: combining a technical migration with an editorial overhaul creates more potential causes to investigate.

Reconnect your tools before changing the domain

Payments, shipping, invoicing, ERP, CRM, email marketing, reviews, consent and customer support may all depend on PrestaShop or its modules. For every data flow, record who sends what, when, and what happens if an exchange fails. A synchronization that works for a test product can still fail on refunds or stock adjustments.

Acceptance testing should cover complete orders: mobile cart, payment, emails, order preparation, delivery, cancellation and returns. Check the data received by external tools as well. Design goes beyond appearance: navigation, filters, product pages and the cart must remain usable for returning customers.

Plan a controlled switch

Set a date for the initial export, then define how to capture subsequent changes: new customers, orders, inventory, prices and content. Prepare a checklist with an owner for each item. Before opening the store, test the domain, certificate, payments, shipping, transactional emails, redirects, analytics and team access. Shopify includes these checks in its migration checklist.

Define clear criteria for launching or postponing. If an essential data flow is unreliable, resolve it before the problem appears in real orders. After launch, reconcile new orders and monitor customer journey and URL errors during the first few days.

How can you tell whether your migration is straightforward?

Product count alone is not enough. A store with a small catalog but B2B pricing, an ERP, subscriptions or extensive customer history may require more work than a larger, more standard catalog. Conversely, a straightforward store can be migrated without building a custom architecture.

To estimate the work involved, you need to know at least the data volumes, specific features, connected tools, markets served and continuity requirements. Tell us about your store: we can define what needs to move and what can be simplified before choosing migration tools.

What determines PrestaShop to Shopify migration cost and timeline?

A quote should separate data cleanup, imports, design, module replacement, integrations, redirects and acceptance testing. Product count alone does not measure difficulty: duplicate customers, complex history or special pricing can require more validation than a large standard catalog.

Prepare your store URL, data volumes, module list, connected tools and preferred launch date. Ask which deliverables are included, who approves exceptions and how changes between the trial and launch will be captured. Include recurring Shopify and selected app costs. The schedule needs to allow time for your team's validation, as well as the technical transfer.

Starting from WordPress instead? Our WooCommerce to Shopify migration guide covers the plugins, content and data specific to that platform.

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