I remember the day I decided I’d had enough of Shopify. I was reviewing my monthly expenses and realized I was paying nearly $200 every month between my Shopify plan and the essential apps I needed to run my store effectively.
That’s when it hit me: I was spending over $2,400 a year just for the privilege of selling online.
If you’re reading this Shopify to WordPress Migration guide, you might be feeling the same way. The good news? There’s a better path forward, and you don’t need to be a tech wizard to take it.
Why I Left Shopify (And Why You Might Want To As Well)
For three years, I ran my handmade crafts store on Shopify. The platform was convenient, sure, but as my business grew, so did my frustrations:
- The monthly fees felt like a tax on my success. The more I sold, the more I paid in transaction fees.
- Every time I needed basic functionality, it meant another app subscription. Want abandoned cart recovery? That’s another $19/month. Need advanced SEO tools? There’s another $29/month.
- I felt trapped in their ecosystem. If Shopify decided to change their policies or raise their prices (which they did, twice), I had little choice but to accept it.
When I finally calculated what WordPress + WooCommerce would cost me, the difference was staggering: about $150/year for hosting, plus some one-time plugin purchases, versus the $2,400+ I was giving to Shopify annually.
But what finally pushed me over the edge was realising I didn’t actually own my store on Shopify—I was essentially renting it.
What Makes WordPress + WooCommerce Different?
Before we dive into the migration process, let’s be clear about what you’re moving to:
Complete Ownership
With WordPress, you own your store completely. Your data, your design, your customer information—it’s all yours, forever, with no monthly fees to maintain access.
Unlimited Customization
Want to change how your checkout works? Or add a custom feature that’s specific to your business? On WordPress, if you can imagine it, you can build it (or have someone build it for you, often for a one-time fee).
Cost Control
Most WordPress plugins are one-time purchases, not subscriptions. This means your costs don’t automatically scale up as your business grows.
SEO Advantages
WordPress is renowned for its SEO capabilities. Many store owners see significant improvements in their organic traffic after migrating from Shopify.
The Migration Process: Easier Than You Think
When I first considered migrating, I was intimidated. I’m not a developer, and the thought of moving hundreds of products manually made me break out in a cold sweat.
Then I discovered Shop2Woo—a $19.99 plugin that made the entire process nearly painless. Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Set Up Your WordPress Site
First, you’ll need a WordPress site with WooCommerce installed. Don’t worry, this is much easier than it sounds:
- Choose a web host (I recommend SiteGround, Hostinger, or Cloudways for e-commerce sites)
- During setup, most hosts offer a one-click WordPress installation
- Once WordPress is installed, go to Plugins → Add New and search for “WooCommerce“
- Install and activate WooCommerce, then follow the setup wizard (you can change any settings later)
This whole process usually takes less than 30 minutes, even for beginners.
Step 2: Export Your Products from Shopify
This is where most migration tools get complicated—they require you to maintain your Shopify subscription during migration and set up API connections.
Shop2Woo takes a different approach that I found much simpler. Here’s what you do:
- While still logged into your Shopify store, go to this URL (replace with your actual store name):
https://your-store.myshopify.com/products.json?limit=250&page=1 - Your browser will display a page of JSON code (it looks intimidating, but don’t worry—you don’t need to understand it)
- Save this page to your computer (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S)
- If you have more than 250 products, repeat this process with page=2, page=3, etc. until you’ve exported all your products
That’s it! You’ve now got your product data ready for import, and you don’t need to keep your Shopify subscription active during the migration.
Step 3: Install Shop2Woo and Import Your Products
Now comes the magic part:
- Purchase and download Shop2Woo from shop2woo.com for $19.99
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin
- Upload the Shop2Woo ZIP file and activate the plugin
- Go to Shop2Woo → Settings in your WordPress dashboard
- Generate WooCommerce REST API keys (the plugin will guide you through this)
- Go to Shop2Woo → Import and upload your Shopify JSON file
- Click “Start Fetch” and then “Import All” when the products appear
VIDEO DEMONSTRATION
During the import, Shop2Woo will:
- Transfer all your product titles, descriptions, and prices
- Download and attach all product images
- Set up your product categories
- Configure product variations (sizes, colors, etc.)
- Import inventory levels
The process typically takes 5-15 minutes for smaller stores or up to a few hours for stores with thousands of products and images.
Essential Plugins to Install After Migration
Once your products are imported, you’ll want to set up a few key plugins to ensure your WooCommerce store runs smoothly:
1. Yoast SEO (Free)
This will help maintain and improve your store’s search engine visibility.
2. UpdraftPlus (Free)
Regular backups are essential. This plugin automates the process.
3. WP Rocket ($49, one-time)
This WP Rocket caching plugin will make your store load faster, improving both customer experience and SEO.
4. WooCommerce Checkout Field Editor ($49, one-time)
Customize your checkout process to match your business needs.
5. MonsterInsights (Free version available)
Connect Google Analytics to track your store’s performance.
The total cost for these premium plugins is under $100, less than one month of what many Shopify stores pay for comparable functionality.
Common Concerns About Migration (And Why They Shouldn’t Stop You)
When I was considering migration, I had several worries. Here’s what I discovered:
“Will I lose my SEO rankings?”
Not if you set up proper redirects, which most hosts can help with. Many store owners actually see SEO improvements after moving to WordPress.
“Is WordPress secure enough for e-commerce?”
Absolutely. With basic security plugins and regular updates, WordPress is used by major brands worldwide for e-commerce.
“Will I need to hire a developer?”
Most store owners can handle the migration themselves with Shop2Woo. If you do need customizations later, you can hire help just for those specific projects rather than paying monthly fees forever.
“What about my existing customers?”
Your customer data can be exported from Shopify and imported into WooCommerce, ensuring a smooth transition.
My Results After Migration: Freedom and Savings
It’s been 14 months since I migrated my store from Shopify to WordPress using Shop2Woo, and the results speak for themselves:
- I’ve saved $2,350 in subscription fees
- My site loads 25% faster (according to Google PageSpeed)
- My organic traffic has increased by 34%
- I’ve added custom features that would have been impossible or prohibitively expensive on Shopify
But the biggest change isn’t financial—it’s psychological. I no longer feel anxiety when I think about my online store’s expenses. I’m not watching a subscription payment leave my account every month, wondering if I’m getting enough value.
I own my business completely now, and that feeling is priceless.
Ready to Take Control of Your Online Store?
If you’re tired of watching your profits drain away to Shopify’s monthly fees, it’s time to make the switch. With Shop2Woo, you can migrate your entire store for less than one month of what you’re probably paying Shopify right now.
The process is straightforward enough for anyone to handle, even if you’ve never built a website before. And the freedom and cost savings you’ll gain will transform how you think about your online business.
Remember: every month you stay on Shopify is another month of unnecessary expenses. Why not put that money back into growing your business instead?
Ready to migrate from Shopify to WordPress? Shop2Woo makes it simple, affordable, and fast. One-time payment of $19.99, lifetime usage on up to 3 sites. Get started today →
