Migrating from BigCommerce to WooCommerce can be a game-changer for your online store. While BigCommerce is a powerful SaaS-based eCommerce platform, WooCommerce offers more flexibility, cost-efficiency, and customization options. If you're considering BigCommerce to WooCommerce migration, this guide will walk you through the entire migration process step by step.
By the end of this article, you'll know how to migrate BigCommerce to WooCommerce seamlessly without losing your products, customers, or SEO rankings.
Why Migrate from BigCommerce to WooCommerce?
Before diving into the migration process, let's look at some reasons why store owners choose to export BigCommerce to WooCommerce:
1. Cost-Effectiveness
BigCommerce has fixed monthly fees that increase as your sales grow. WooCommerce, on the other hand, is free to use, and you only pay for hosting and optional plugins.
2. Full Control & Customization
WooCommerce is an open-source platform, giving you complete control over design, functionality, and integrations. BigCommerce has limited customization options.
3. No Revenue Limits
BigCommerce imposes revenue limits on lower-tier plans, requiring you to upgrade as you scale. WooCommerce has no such restrictions.
4. Huge Plugin & Theme Library
With thousands of WordPress plugins and themes, WooCommerce allows you to enhance your store’s functionality and design easily.
5. Better SEO Performance
WooCommerce offers superior SEO capabilities, helping you rank higher on search engines.
Now that we understand the benefits, let's explore how to migrate BigCommerce to WooCommerce smoothly.
Step-by-Step Guide to BigCommerce to WooCommerce Migration
There are three main ways to export BigCommerce to WooCommerce:
- Manual Migration – Exporting and importing data manually.
- Using a Migration Plugin – Automating the process using tools like Cart2Cart.
- Hiring a Professional Service – If you want a hands-free migration.
We’ll cover the easiest and most efficient method—using a migration plugin.
Step 1: Set Up Your WooCommerce Store
Before starting the BigCommerce to WooCommerce migration, you need a WooCommerce store ready.
- Choose a Hosting Provider – Select a reliable WooCommerce hosting provider like SiteGround, Bluehost, or Kinsta.
- Install WordPress – Most hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation.
- Install WooCommerce – In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New → Search for WooCommerce → Install & Activate.
- Select a Theme – Choose a responsive WooCommerce theme like Astra, Flatsome, or Storefront.
Once WooCommerce is installed and set up, you’re ready to migrate your data.
Step 2: Backup Your BigCommerce Store
Before migrating, it’s crucial to create a backup of your BigCommerce store to prevent data loss.
- Go to BigCommerce Admin Panel → Server Settings → Backup & Export.
- Export Your Store Data:
- Products
- Customers
- Orders
- Categories
- SEO Metadata
- Download the CSV files to your computer.
Step 3: Choose a BigCommerce to WooCommerce Migration Plugin
To simplify the migration process, use a dedicated migration plugin such as:
✔ Cart2Cart – BigCommerce to WooCommerce Migration
✔ LitExtension – BigCommerce to WooCommerce Migration Tool
These plugins automate the migration, saving time and reducing errors.
Step 4: Connect BigCommerce and WooCommerce Stores
- Install the Cart2Cart or LitExtension plugin on your WooCommerce store.
- Create an account and start a new migration.
- Enter your BigCommerce store details (API Key or Store URL).
- Enter your WooCommerce store details to establish a connection.
Step 5: Select the Data to Migrate
Once the connection is established, choose the data you want to migrate:
✅ Products – Including names, descriptions, images, and prices.
✅ Customers – Usernames, email addresses, and order history.
✅ Orders – Transaction details and purchase history.
✅ Categories – Organizing your products efficiently.
✅ SEO URLs – Preserving your search engine rankings.
You can also enable additional migration options, such as:
✔ Preserving Order IDs
✔ 301 Redirects to Maintain SEO
✔ Migrating Product Variations & Attributes
Step 6: Run a Free Demo Migration
Most migration tools offer a free demo migration to ensure the process works correctly.
✅ Run a test migration with a small dataset.
✅ Verify that all data appears correctly in WooCommerce.
✅ Check product images, prices, and customer details.
If everything looks good, proceed with the full migration.
Step 7: Perform the Full Migration
Once you’re satisfied with the demo migration, start the complete BigCommerce to WooCommerce migration.
🔄 The migration process runs in the background, so you can continue working on your store. Depending on the store size, this may take a few minutes to several hours.
Step 8: Review and Fix Any Issues
After migration, check your WooCommerce store to ensure everything transferred correctly:
✔ Verify Product Listings – Check if all products, images, and categories are in place.
✔ Check Order & Customer Data – Ensure all order details match the BigCommerce records.
✔ Set Up Payment & Shipping Methods – Configure payment gateways like PayPal, Stripe, and shipping options.
If you notice missing data, re-run the migration for specific elements.
Step 9: Set Up 301 Redirects for SEO
One of the most critical steps in BigCommerce to WooCommerce migration is setting up 301 redirects. This ensures that your old BigCommerce URLs redirect to the correct WooCommerce URLs, preventing SEO ranking loss.
- Use the Redirection plugin in WordPress.
- Redirect old product and category URLs to their WooCommerce equivalents.
- Test the redirects using Google Search Console.
Step 10: Test and Launch Your WooCommerce Store
Before going live, perform thorough testing:
✅ Place Test Orders – Ensure checkout, payment processing, and order emails work correctly.
✅ Check Site Performance – Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to optimize loading speed.
✅ Ensure Mobile Responsiveness – Test your store on different devices.
Once everything is set up, launch your WooCommerce store and inform your customers about the migration! 🎉
Final Thoughts
Migrating from BigCommerce to WooCommerce might seem challenging, but with the right migration tools and step-by-step approach, the process can be seamless.
By following this guide, you can successfully migrate BigCommerce to WooCommerce while preserving your products, customers, and SEO rankings.