Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Checklist: Steps, Timelines, and Cutover Plan

Table of Contents

1. Why This Migration Demands a Structured Approach
2. Shopify to BigCommerce Migration: What You Need to Know First
3. Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Checklist
4. Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Timeline
5. Cutover Plan: From Shopify to BigCommerce Without Losing Revenue
6. Risks to Avoid in a Shopify to BigCommerce Migration
7. When to Use a Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Agency
8. Why CommerceShop Is a Strong Partner for Shopify to BigCommerce Migrations
9. Frequently Asked Questions

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Why This Migration Demands a Structured Approach

A Shopify to BigCommerce migration is not a file transfer. It is the controlled movement of your entire commerce operation — product catalog, customer data, order history, integrations, SEO equity, and storefront experience — from one platform to another, without breaking revenue continuity in the process.

Getting the process, timing, and cutover right determines whether your business launches stronger on BigCommerce or spends the first 90 days in recovery. A missed redirect can erase rankings built over years. A skipped integration test can break checkout on day one. A rushed cutover during peak traffic can cost more than the entire migration budget.

This guide gives you a practical Shopify to BigCommerce migration checklist, a realistic timeline framework, and a step-by-step cutover plan built around minimizing risk and protecting revenue throughout the transition.

Shopify to BigCommerce Migration: What You Need to Know First

Shopify and BigCommerce are both capable platforms, but they make different architectural choices. BigCommerce offers more built-in functionality without requiring third-party apps, a more open API structure, native B2B features (account hierarchies, custom pricing, quote management), and no transaction fees. Shopify’s strength is ease of use and a large app ecosystem; BigCommerce’s is flexibility, lower total cost at scale, and enterprise-grade features available without custom development.

The decision to replatform usually becomes clear when the current platform starts constraining the business.

Common reasons brands move from Shopify to BigCommerce:

• Catalog complexity that exceeds Shopify’s native variant and option limits
• B2B selling requirements — tiered pricing, quote workflows, buyer portals, account management
• App sprawl and rising monthly costs from third-party tools that BigCommerce handles natively
• Multi-storefront requirements across brands, regions, or channels
• API and customization limitations blocking specific commerce requirements
• Lower total cost of ownership at mid-market and upper mid-market scale

Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Checklist

Phase 1: Define Scope, Risks, and Success Metrics

Before any technical work begins, document exactly what you are moving, what success looks like, and what failure looks like. Migrations that skip this phase routinely scope incorrectly and miss critical dependencies.

• Inventory all active Shopify stores, storefronts, and sales channels (online store, POS, social, markets)
• Define measurable success metrics: SEO traffic stability, conversion rate parity at launch, zero data loss, checkout uptime targets
• Document every integration in use: ERP, CRM, OMS, ESP, loyalty, reviews, payments, tax, shipping, fulfillment, analytics
• Classify catalog complexity: product count, variant depth, bundles, subscriptions, custom metafields, product type logic
• Identify any custom Shopify app functionality that has no direct BigCommerce equivalent
• Confirm internal ownership and decision-making authority for each migration milestone
• Establish a content and catalog change freeze policy for the final migration phase

Phase 2: Data and Content Audit

Run a full audit of what exists on your Shopify store before migrating anything. Migrating unaudited data creates technical debt on the new platform and extends QA time significantly.

Products and catalog:

• Export and review all products: titles, descriptions, variants, pricing, inventory levels, SKUs, tags, metafields
• Identify duplicate products, discontinued SKUs, and obsolete variants to exclude from migration
• Map Shopify collections to BigCommerce category structure — these are not equivalent and require explicit mapping
• Document product metafields and custom attributes that need to carry over

Customers and accounts:

• Export customer records: names, emails, addresses, account tags, purchase history
• Note that Shopify does not export hashed passwords — customers will need to reset passwords on BigCommerce; plan your communication strategy accordingly
• Identify B2B customer accounts requiring custom pricing or account group assignment on BigCommerce

Orders and history:

• Decide what order history to migrate versus archive (common practice: migrate 12–24 months; archive the rest)
• Document order statuses, tags, and custom fields that need to map to BigCommerce equivalents

Content and SEO assets:

• Inventory all static pages, blog posts, FAQs, and policy pages
• Document all existing URLs — product, collection, page, blog — this feeds directly into redirect mapping
• Export all meta titles and meta descriptions from Shopify
• Audit navigation menus and internal linking structure
• Inventory all media assets: product images, lifestyle images, PDFs, documents

Phase 3: BigCommerce Setup and Architecture

Decisions made in this phase affect every subsequent phase. Architecture changes during QA are expensive and compress timelines at the worst possible moment.

• Select the appropriate BigCommerce plan based on GMV, feature requirements (B2B Edition, Multi-Storefront), and support tier
• Decide on storefront architecture: single storefront versus BigCommerce Multi-Storefront for multiple brands or regions
• Confirm B2B feature requirements: customer groups, price lists, quote management, buyer portal
• Decide on theme approach: custom design build, existing BigCommerce theme with customization, or headless frontend
• Map every Shopify app to a BigCommerce equivalent, custom integration, or native feature — document gaps early
• Set up BigCommerce development store for parallel build
• Configure payment gateways and confirm compatibility with existing payment methods
• Confirm tax and shipping configuration approach (native BigCommerce versus third-party)

Phase 4: Data Migration Execution

Data migration is where most timelines slip. Running test migrations early — before integrations are built — catches structural issues while they are still cheap to fix.

• Map Shopify data entities to BigCommerce equivalents: products, collections → categories, metafields → product custom fields, customer tags → customer groups
• Run an initial test migration on a subset of catalog data (100–500 products) and validate against source
• Validate test migration output: pricing accuracy, inventory levels, variant structure, image assignment, URL slugs, SEO metadata
• Run a full catalog test migration and review for structural issues before proceeding
• Migrate customer data with appropriate PCI and data privacy handling; prepare password reset communication
• Migrate historical orders within agreed scope
• Validate all content pages, blog posts, and redirects in the staging environment

Phase 5: SEO and URL Strategy

⚠ SEO is the highest-risk area in any platform migration. Organic traffic does not recover automatically from broken redirects — it requires explicit, systematic handling before, during, and after cutover.

• Export every indexed URL from Shopify using Google Search Console and a crawl tool
• Prioritize high-traffic and high-revenue URLs — these get redirect-verified manually, not just scripted
• Map every Shopify URL to its BigCommerce equivalent and build the complete 301 redirect file
• Confirm BigCommerce URL structure: product URL format, category paths, blog URL pattern
• Carry over all meta titles and meta descriptions exactly — do not rewrite during migration
• Migrate and validate structured data: product schema, breadcrumb schema, review schema
• Set up Google Analytics 4 and Google Tag Manager on the BigCommerce staging environment
• Verify Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools are configured for the new platform
• Submit the updated sitemap to search engines immediately after go-live

Phase 6: Integrations and Apps

Integration failures at go-live cause more post-launch incidents than any other single issue. Test every integration end-to-end in staging before cutover is authorized.

• Install and configure all BigCommerce app replacements for Shopify apps
• Connect and test ERP sync: product data, inventory, pricing, order export
• Connect and test CRM sync: customer records, order history, lifecycle tags
• Connect and test OMS if separate from ERP: order routing, fulfillment status updates
• Test payment gateway end-to-end with real test transactions, including 3DS flows where applicable
• Validate tax calculation for all applicable jurisdictions
• Test shipping rate retrieval, carrier connections, and fulfillment workflows
• Verify ESP integration: subscribe/unsubscribe, abandon cart triggers, post-purchase flows
• Confirm loyalty and reviews platform integration is live and syncing correctly

Phase 7: QA, UAT, and Performance Testing

Every critical customer path needs to be tested on every major device type and browser before cutover is authorized.

Functional testing — critical paths:

• Homepage load and navigation
• Category page browsing and filtering
• Product detail page: all variants, pricing, inventory display, add-to-cart
• Search: keyword results, filters, sort order
• Cart: add, update, remove, coupon and discount code application
• Checkout: guest and account checkout, all payment methods, order confirmation
• Customer account: login, register, order history, address book
• Returns and refund flow if self-service is enabled

Technical and performance testing:

• Cross-device: desktop, tablet, mobile (iOS and Android)
• Cross-browser: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
• Page speed and Core Web Vitals on key pages (PDP, PLP, checkout)
• Load testing appropriate to the brand’s peak traffic profile
• 404 error scan — no legacy Shopify URLs should return a 404 on the live BigCommerce store

Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Timeline

Most mid-market Shopify to BigCommerce migrations take between 10 and 14 weeks. A clean, limited-integration migration can complete in 6–8 weeks. Migrations with complex integrations, B2B features, large catalogs, or a simultaneous redesign typically run 14–20 weeks.

Timeline is driven by three variables: catalog and data complexity, integration count and custom logic, and whether a UX redesign is in scope alongside the replatform.

Sample timeline — mid-market Shopify to BigCommerce migration (12 weeks)

Build in a 1–2 week buffer between UAT sign-off and cutover. Integration edge cases and data validation issues surface during QA — having that buffer means resolving them without compressing the launch window.

Cutover Plan: From Shopify to BigCommerce Without Losing Revenue

The cutover is the highest-risk phase of the entire project. A structured cutover plan, executed in a low-traffic window with clear go/no-go criteria, is what separates a clean launch from a recovery operation.

Pre-Cutover Checklist (1–2 Weeks Before Go-Live)

• Run a final full data migration from Shopify to the BigCommerce staging environment — validate output against source
• Complete a final QA pass across all critical paths in staging
• Validate every redirect in the 301 redirect file — check for chains, loops, and missing entries
• Reduce DNS TTL to 300 seconds (5 minutes) at least 48 hours before cutover
• Confirm all analytics and tracking tags are firing correctly on staging
• Brief internal teams (customer support, warehouse, marketing) on the go-live window and what to monitor
• Confirm uptime monitoring and error tracking are configured and alerting correctly
• Define go/no-go criteria — the specific conditions under which cutover is paused or rolled back
• Implement a content and catalog change freeze on the live Shopify store

Cutover Day Checklist

• Schedule cutover during the lowest-traffic window — typically late night or early morning, midweek
• Run a final incremental data sync to capture orders and customer records created after the pre-cutover migration
• Set the Shopify store to password-protected mode during the DNS transition window to prevent split-order scenarios
• Upload the 301 redirect file to BigCommerce and confirm redirects are active before DNS change
• Update DNS records to point your domain to BigCommerce
• Monitor DNS propagation — do not proceed to live validation until propagation is confirmed in your primary markets
• Validate the live site: homepage, a category page, a product page, cart, and checkout
• Confirm SSL certificate is active and HTTPS is enforcing correctly
• Verify Google Analytics is receiving live traffic data
• Confirm payment gateway is processing live transactions — run a small test order
• Remove Shopify password protection once BigCommerce is confirmed live and stable
• Notify internal teams that go-live is confirmed

Post-Cutover Monitoring (First 7–14 Days)

The first two weeks after launch are when most migration issues surface. Have a dedicated monitoring and rapid-response plan in place before cutover day — not assembled after something breaks.

• Monitor orders and revenue daily — compare against the same period on Shopify as a baseline
• Review error logs and 404 reports daily — catch redirect gaps before they compound into SEO damage
• Track Google Search Console for crawl errors, coverage issues, and indexing status
• Monitor Core Web Vitals and page speed — flag regressions against pre-launch benchmarks
• Check all integration sync logs: ERP, CRM, OMS, ESP — confirm data is flowing correctly
• Review customer support tickets for UX friction patterns: checkout confusion, login issues, missing content
• Run a crawl of the live site to catch internal links still pointing to Shopify URLs
• Submit the updated XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
• Confirm abandoned cart and post-purchase email flows are triggering correctly
• Schedule formal 7-day and 14-day post-launch reviews with your migration team

Risks to Avoid in a Shopify to BigCommerce Migration

1. Underestimating URL and redirect complexity. Shopify and BigCommerce use different URL structures. Missing redirects on high-traffic URLs costs rankings that take months to recover. Audit every indexed URL before migration begins and validate every redirect before and after cutover.

2. Treating it as a lift-and-shift without UX review. Migration is the right moment to fix conversion problems, not recreate them on a new platform. Carry forward what works; address what doesn’t while the store is already being rebuilt.

3. Late integration discovery. Integrations that surface during QA — rather than planning — compress timelines, inflate cost, and create launch pressure. Document every integration in Phase 1 and build and test each one before UAT begins.

4. Migrating dirty or irrelevant data. Shopify stores accumulate years of obsolete SKUs, duplicate customers, and test orders. Migrating unaudited data degrades performance, inflates complexity, and creates ongoing operational overhead on BigCommerce.

5. Skipping performance and checkout testing under load. A store that performs well in QA can degrade under real traffic volume. Load test before cutover, particularly if peak traffic is significantly above daily averages.

6. Inadequate customer communication around password resets. Shopify does not export hashed passwords. Customers cannot carry credentials to BigCommerce. Brands that don’t proactively communicate this create unnecessary support volume and login friction at launch.

7. No rollback plan. Cutover day should have a defined rollback trigger — the conditions under which you revert to Shopify. Keep the Shopify store intact and accessible until BigCommerce has been stable for at least two weeks post-launch.

When to Use a Shopify to BigCommerce Migration Agency

Internal teams can manage a Shopify to BigCommerce migration when the catalog is relatively straightforward, integrations are limited and well-documented, and technical capacity is available for the full duration of the project. Under those conditions, an internally-led migration with selective specialist support is viable.

A specialized BigCommerce migration agency reduces risk and compresses timelines when:

• The catalog is large or includes significant custom data — metafields, bundles, subscriptions
• Multiple integrations need to be rebuilt or replaced, particularly ERP, OMS, or custom middleware
• B2B features — buyer accounts, price lists, quote management — need to be configured and tested
• SEO continuity is a high-stakes requirement with meaningful organic traffic at risk
• The project timeline is fixed and there is no room for internal learning curve overhead
• A UX redesign or CRO improvement is happening alongside the replatform

In any of these scenarios, the cost of migration errors — lost SEO, broken checkout, delayed launch — reliably exceeds the cost of experienced agency involvement.

Why CommerceShop Is a Strong Partner for Shopify to BigCommerce Migrations

CommerceShop is a US-based ecommerce development and CRO agency that specializes in replatforming projects, including Shopify to BigCommerce migrations for mid-market and growth-stage brands. Their migration practice is built around two outcomes that most agencies treat separately: a technically clean migration at launch, and measurable revenue growth in the months after.

What makes CommerceShop a practical choice for brands evaluating BigCommerce migration services:

• End-to-end migration scope — discovery, data audit, BigCommerce architecture, theme build, integration development, SEO and redirect strategy, QA, cutover execution, and post-launch support
• CRO embedded in the migration process — conversion analysis happens alongside the build, so the new BigCommerce store reflects what your actual customers do, not just what your Shopify store looked like
• AI-driven analysis — user behavior, funnel diagnostics, and merchandising performance inform both migration decisions and post-launch optimization
• Structured QA and SEO-safe migration practices — systematic redirect validation, metadata preservation, and analytics continuity built into every engagement
• Mid-market and B2B experience — DTC and B2B brands with catalog complexity, multiple integrations, and revenue-critical requirements

CommerceShop treats go-live as the beginning of a growth program, not the conclusion of an IT project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is involved in a Shopify to BigCommerce migration?It covers moving your full commerce operation — catalog, customer data, order history, integrations, content, and SEO — to BigCommerce through a structured, phased process including audit, data mapping, platform build, integration setup, redirect strategy, QA, and cutover.

How long does a Shopify to BigCommerce migration take?6–8 weeks for a straightforward migration, 10–14 weeks for mid-market with custom integrations and a new UX build, and 16–20 weeks for complex migrations involving multiple storefronts, large catalogs, or legacy ERP systems. Catalog complexity and integration count drive the timeline more than anything else.

Will I lose SEO rankings when migrating from Shopify to BigCommerce?Not with a properly executed redirect strategy. Every Shopify URL needs a 301 redirect to its BigCommerce equivalent, metadata must carry over intact, and structured data must be preserved. A full URL audit before migration and redirect validation before and after cutover are the two steps brands most often skip — and regret.

Can I migrate my orders and customers from Shopify to BigCommerce?Yes. Product data, customer records, order history, and content all migrate. Two caveats: Shopify doesn’t export hashed passwords, so customers must reset credentials on BigCommerce — plan the communication proactively. Most brands migrate 12–24 months of order history and archive the rest.

Do I need an agency to migrate from Shopify to BigCommerce?Not always. Internal teams can handle straightforward migrations with clean catalogs and limited integrations. Agency involvement is the lower-risk path when catalogs are complex, multiple integrations need rebuilding, B2B features are in scope, or organic traffic protection is a hard requirement.

How do I reduce downtime during cutover?Schedule cutover in your lowest-traffic window, reduce DNS TTL to 5 minutes 48 hours in advance, password-protect Shopify during the DNS transition, and define clear go/no-go criteria before cutover day. A well-prepared cutover should involve under 30 minutes of effective downtime.

What happens to my Shopify apps?They don’t transfer. Each app needs to be individually evaluated and replaced with a BigCommerce-native equivalent, a third-party alternative, or a custom integration — or retired if no longer needed. Surface this in Phase 1 planning; discovering app gaps during QA is one of the most common causes of timeline delays.