Switching to a new shop system is one of the biggest decisions in e-commerce. Many owners of existing Magento shops eventually reach their limits, whether due to rising hosting costs, complex maintenance, or a lack of developer resources.

At the same time, merchants on Shopify are also realizing that they need more technical freedom when faced with highly individual requirements.

This is precisely where the idea of an e-commerce migration comes in: away from constant workarounds, towards a platform that is a better fit for the business model in the long term.

Whether the path leads from Magento to Shopify or vice versa : the strategic decision needs to be well prepared.

Because in addition to data transfer, SEO structure, redirects, payment providers, product variants and customer logins must also be taken into account.

This guide will show you how to plan your migration, which pitfalls to avoid, and when a professional migration partner is worthwhile. If you'd like to get an initial overview of the market beforehand, our shop system comparison will help you decide which of the most important platforms to choose.

Shopify vs. Magento: Which system is better suited to your growth?

Although Shopify and Magento may seem to serve the same purpose at first glance, they differ fundamentally in structure and operation. Shopify functions as a fully hosted solution where hosting, security, and updates are automatically included.

This makes getting started significantly faster, even without prior technical knowledge. Merchants can create products, customize designs, and activate payments without needing their own IT department.

Magento takes a different approach. The platform is open source, thus offering maximum control over code, database, and functional logic. Those who require highly complex product catalogs, individual pricing rules, or in-depth integrations with ERP and PIM systems can customize every detail in Magento.

The downside is the increased effort required for maintenance, performance optimization, and security.

For dynamically growing brands that want to scale quickly, an e-commerce agency is not a mandatory factor on Shopify, because many processes can be handled internally.

However, those who want to map a technically demanding business model with multi-stage product configurators or their own logic rules benefit from the flexibility of a Magento system.

In the next section, we will look at when switching from Magento to Shopify makes sense and what advantages this offers.

Reasons for migrating from Shopify to Magento

Although Shopify offers the ideal entry point for many merchants, there are business models where the platform reaches its limits.

Companies with highly complex product configurations, multi-stage pricing rules, or individual checkout processes, in particular, will sooner or later look for a system that allows deeper interventions in the technical structure.

Magento offers precisely this freedom. As an open-source system, every logic, every data structure, and every interface can be fully customized.

Those who operate their own IT department or work closely with development teams can build a technical infrastructure that is precisely tailored to internal processes.

Typical reasons for switching from Shopify to Magento include:

Individual discount and pricing logics that deviate from standard functions
close integration with ERP, PIM or logistics systems
Need for multi-store structures with different catalogs or languages
full access to databases and source code

However, the switch also means more responsibility : security, updates and performance must be guaranteed permanently, either internally or via external partners.

Many companies underestimate the effort involved in the initial system migration . Those who want to choose Magento as a long-term platform should not only think technically, but also plan for ongoing operational organization.

That's precisely why some retailers are opting for a hybrid approach. They use Shopify as the frontend and integrate Magento or other enterprise systems in the background. Such scenarios demonstrate that it's not always an either-or situation, but rather that strategies for phased migrations also exist. Those interested in exploring this path will find additional comparison options in a Shopware alternative .

The next section discusses which technical and structural aspects must be considered in every migration, regardless of the direction.

What needs to be considered during migration

Switching platforms often sounds simpler than it actually is. Even if a tool automates the data transfer, many details remain that determine success or frustration. These include not only technical aspects but also strategic planning before the actual migration.

Basically, three areas should be clearly defined before any migration :

What data will be transferred? Only products, categories, and customers – or also orders, reviews, coupons, and meta data fields?
What URL structure should apply in the future? A change from /productname.html to /products/slug must not happen without redirects.
Which functions must be retained? Shipping logic, payment providers, pricing rules, B2B groups, configurators – the entire ordering process often depends on these.

A common mistake is to overhaul design and technology simultaneously. Those who migrate and relaunch at the same time easily lose track of potential problems.

A clear sequence is significantly safer : First transfer structures, then adapt functionalities, and only in the last step expand design and conversion optimization.

Especially in the area of SEO, caution is advised. Every change to URL structure, metadata, or internal linking directly impacts rankings. Those who act without a plan risk losing visibility. However, those who work with a Shopify migration checklist early on can document and thoroughly monitor each step.

In the next section, we will delve deeper into the process of migrating from Magento to Shopify , including useful tools and best practices.

Migration from Magento to Shopify – process and best practices

Migrating from Magento to Shopify is not a weekend project. Even if a migration tool automates many steps, careful preparation remains key to success. Merchants who plan ahead avoid data loss, downtime, and ranking drops.

The following steps have proven effective in practice :

Create a complete backup
First, back up all data from your Magento shop. This includes product and customer data, orders, meta fields, media, templates, and custom extensions. Only with a complete backup will you have a functioning fallback solution in case of an emergency.
Select a Shopify plan and prepare the basic structure
Check which Shopify plan best suits your needs. For growing brands, it's worth choosing a plan with more features and API access right from the start. At this stage, you'll also define payment methods, shipping options, and tax rules.
Planning URL structure and redirects
Compare your existing Magento URLs with the automatically generated Shopify URLs. Create a complete redirect list for products, categories, and CMS pages. This is the only way to maintain your visibility in search engines.
Export and clean data
Export your Magento data using the native function, via phpMyAdmin, or with a migration tool like Cart2Cart. Clean up outdated products, duplicate customer records, and no longer needed categories before starting the import.
Preparing a Shopify store for import
Choose a theme, install the necessary apps, and check that all important functions are covered. Some apps must be installed before data import to ensure they correctly assign data.
Import and test data
Strategically divide the import into product data, customer data, and orders. This will allow you to identify and fix errors more quickly. Run test orders and check the checkout process, mobile display, and loading times.
Activate 301 redirects and plan go-live
Once everything is tested, activate the prepared redirects, inform your customers about the move, and go live. Actively monitor your SEO ranking, Core Web Vitals, and conversion rate during the first few weeks.

Implementing these steps consistently reduces the risk of data loss and performance issues. The process becomes even more efficient with professional support. An experienced Shopify Plus Development Agency can not only manage the transfer but also create the infrastructure for future growth.

In the next section, I will show you how to plan the reverse process, i.e., the migration from Shopify to Magento , in a structured way.

Migrating from Shopify to Magento – when the reverse approach is worthwhile

Switching from Shopify to Magento is less common, but strategically beneficial in specific cases. Larger retailers, in particular, with complex pricing logics, B2B structures, or deep ERP/PIM integrations, sometimes require a system that allows for the control of every single database row.

Shopify offers stability and speed, while Magento offers maximum customizability.

Typical scenarios for switching to Magento include:

Distribution across multiple brands or countries with separate catalogs
B2B portals with customer-specific prices , discounts, or payment terms
Extensive product configurators that cannot be mapped using standard apps.
complete control over checkout, database and code level

Anyone considering migrating to Magento should first determine whether the additional technical effort is sustainable in the long run. While Shopify automates infrastructure and security in the background, these tasks require ongoing planning and monitoring in Magento , either internally or through external teams.

To prevent the decision from being made on gut feeling, a thorough preliminary review is helpful.

Checklist: 5 questions before migrating from Shopify to Magento

Are there any business logics that only work with Shopify via costly workarounds? Is there already an in-house IT or development department that can provide long-term support?
Do pricing and role models need to be fully customizable at the customer level?
Are ERP, CRM, or logistics systems so deeply integrated that open code access is mandatory?
Is the international scaling so complex that multiple backend instances are needed?

If at least three of these questions are answered with " yes, " Magento can provide the better infrastructure in the long run. However, it's important not to underestimate the initial setup.

The transition should be strategic, not driven by frustration. It should be supported by clear planning, a clean data structure, and appropriate technical implementation.

Anyone who wants to start directly with a robust setup should review the architecture together with an experienced Shopify Advanced vs Shopify Plus consultant before moving any data.

The next section discusses what data can be transferred and what limitations exist in both systems.

Which data can be transferred during migration and which cannot.

Regardless of the direction of the migration, the same question always arises: Which data can be fully transferred, and where does automation end? Not every system speaks the same language, so a clear distinction between transferable core information and content that requires individual post-processing is worthwhile.

The following can usually be migrated without problems :

Product data such as title, SKU, description, price, meta fields and media
Categories and collections , including hierarchy and visibility
Customer accounts with email address and contact information
Orders including status, amounts, items and invoice data
Vouchers and discount codes , provided they are compatible with the system.
Evaluations , provided they are structured

The following are not readily transferable :

Customer passwords , as these are stored encrypted for security reasons.
Plugins, extensions, or apps that rely on specific API structures
Individual checkout customizations are necessary because Shopify and Magento use completely different processes.
Special logics for price tiers or customer groups , if they cannot be exported as structured data

Many retailers expect a completely lossless, one-to-one migration at this point. In practice, this only works for shops with very clear data structures. More complex catalogs require targeted preparation so that import tools can function reliably.

Those who skip this intermediate step risk duplicate versions, orphaned media, or missing links between products and categories.

The most thorough preparation is achieved through a structured inventory. Deciding early on which data needs to be retained and which is no longer relevant significantly reduces project duration.

Ideally, the move is used to update product texts, simplify categories and re-optimize media, especially if the new shop is intended to serve as a basis for optimizing a stable online shop in the long term .

The next section deals with typical sources of error and how to avoid them before they even occur.

Typical sources of error during migration and how to avoid them

Most problems during a system migration arise not during the data transfer itself, but in the preparation. Those who start without a plan quickly lose track of redirects, data consistency, or functional logic.

To avoid falling into the same traps as many other retailers, it's worth taking a look at the most common causes of failure and how to specifically eliminate them.

The biggest risk factors during migration are :

Missing URL redirects , leading to ranking losses and 404 errors.
Inconsistent data sources , for example duplicate SKUs or conflicting customer entries
Forgetting metadata causes products to lose visibility after migration.
Incompatible product variants , such as combinations that Shopify or Magento do not natively support.
Timing problems , for example, if orders continue to come in during the move and are later missing.

Many of these risks can be eliminated by starting the import with test data. A small trial run often uncovers more problems than any theoretical planning. Only when product and customer data are displayed flawlessly in the new environment is a full transfer worthwhile.

Another critical point is mobile performance after the go-live. New themes or apps can unnoticed worsen loading times.

Those who use migration as an opportunity to simultaneously redesign their site should test their Shopify conversion rate with test purchases and performance tools before going live. Every additional second of loading time costs revenue.

The next section therefore addresses the question of whether a migration should be carried out alone or whether external support not only speeds up the process but also makes it more secure.

Carry out the migration yourself or implement it with a partner?

Many retailers initially consider handling the platform migration entirely on their own. After all, export and import functions seem simple at first glance, and migration tools promise automation with just a few clicks.

In practice, however, it quickly becomes apparent that a migration is not just a technical transfer, but a strategic restructuring of the entire shop infrastructure.

An internal do-it-yourself approach can work if :

the amount of data is manageable
Only product and customer data need to be transferred.
There are no complex pricing logics or interfaces involved.
the team already has experience with shop systems

However, as soon as orders, variants, redirects, meta fields, or API connections are affected, the effort increases exponentially. Errors then don't become visible immediately, but only weeks later, for example, when existing customers can't log in or Google rankings plummet.

Working with an experienced implementation partner offers several advantages :

clear project structure and timeline
Clean data preparation through tested templates
Automated redirect strategies without ranking loss
comprehensive testing before go-live
direct coordination of theme, app stack, and checkout logic

In the long run, professional support pays off especially when the goal is not just to copy the new shop, but to optimize it from the outset. Those who use the transition to streamline processes, improve loading times, and reduce conversion barriers won't start the new environment burdened with baggage.

Ideally, a specialized partner not only handles the technical transfer but also provides holistic support for the setup. A Shopify Plus Consulting structure combines migration, strategy, and growth.

Conclusion: Which migrations are truly worthwhile?

Both Shopify and Magento can be the right platform. The crucial factor isn't the technology itself, but the underlying business model. For those needing rapid scaling, a clear cost structure, and efficient sales processes, Shopify is the better long-term choice .

However, those who need maximum freedom at the code and database level and are prepared to invest in technical know-how on a permanent basis can build a stable development foundation with Magento.

In summary :

Switching from Magento to Shopify is worthwhile for companies that want to reduce costs, streamline processes, and implement marketing faster.
Switching from Shopify to Magento is beneficial for merchants who require extremely customized pricing rules, complex integrations, or in-depth B2B structures.
Hybrid or headless models offer a third option when frontend convenience and backend flexibility need to be combined.

What matters is not just the technical transfer, but what happens afterward. A migration is not simply a data transfer, but a strategic reboot. Those who use it correctly gain not only a new system, but also greater control over scalability, performance, and conversion potential.

This is precisely where our team comes in. We not only support the migration, but also plan the platform with you in such a way that it won't need to be replaced again for years to come. Whether it's a direct relaunch, a headless build, or a phased migration.

We develop migration strategies that not only work, but are sustainable in the long term.

Shopify to Magento Migration: A Guide to Switching Platforms