BigCommerce to Shopify: What Transfers Cleanly, What Does Not, and What It Actually Costs
BigCommerce-to-Shopify is one of the smoother platform migrations because the two platforms are architecturally similar. Budget $3,000–$20,000, expect 4–10 weeks, and know that the hardest part is replacing BigCommerce-native features that need apps on Shopify.
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Last reviewed May 2026. BigCommerce-to-Shopify is one of the smoother platform migrations in ecommerce because both platforms are SaaS, both are hosted, and both use an app-based architecture. Budget $3,000–$20,000 with an agency, expect 4–10 weeks, and know that the hardest part is usually replacing BigCommerce-native features that require paid apps on Shopify.
If you are on BigCommerce and considering the switch, the good news is that your data transfers more cleanly than from almost any other platform. The trade-off is that some features BigCommerce includes for free will cost you monthly app fees on Shopify. Let me walk you through the full picture.
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Get Matched FreeWhy BigCommerce Merchants Switch to Shopify
- Larger app ecosystem — Shopify's App Store has roughly 5x more apps than BigCommerce's marketplace
- Shopify Plus B2B features now surpass BigCommerce's native B2B offering for most use cases
- Significantly larger agency and developer talent pool — easier to find help when you need it
- Shopify's checkout converts at higher rates (Shop Pay alone is 1.72x better than standard guest checkout)
- Broader theme ecosystem with more design flexibility
What Transfers and What Does Not
| Data Type | Transfers? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Products, variants, images | Yes | Clean transfer via CSV export/import |
| Customer accounts | Yes | Passwords require reset on first login |
| Order history | Yes | Transfers for record-keeping (not reprocessable) |
| Reviews | Partial | Depends on review app — Yotpo, Judge.me have migration tools |
| Blog content | Yes | May need formatting cleanup after import |
| SEO metadata | Yes | Export and import via CSV — title tags, meta descriptions |
| Gift certificates | No | Must be recreated as Shopify gift cards |
| Price lists (customer group pricing) | No | Requires Shopify Plus or apps like Bold Custom Pricing |
| Customer groups | No | Requires Shopify Plus company profiles or tag-based access with Locksmith |
| BigCommerce Script Manager scripts | No | Must be rebuilt as Shopify Scripts (Plus) or apps |
Cost Breakdown
| Store Size | Agency Cost | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 500 products, standard features) | $3,000–$6,000 | 3–5 weeks |
| Mid-size (500–5,000 products, custom features, integrations) | $6,000–$15,000 | 5–8 weeks |
| Large (5,000+ products, B2B, multi-storefront, complex integrations) | $15,000–$40,000 | 8–14 weeks |
BigCommerce Features That Need Shopify Workarounds
BigCommerce includes several features natively that Shopify handles through apps or Plus-only features. Budget for these additional monthly costs.
| BigCommerce Feature | Shopify Solution | Additional Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Native price lists | Shopify Plus B2B or Bold Custom Pricing app | $0 (Plus) or $20–$60/month (app) |
| Customer groups | Shopify Plus company profiles or tagging + Locksmith app | $0 (Plus) or $9–$25/month (app) |
| Built-in product filtering | Shopify Search & Discovery (free) or Boost Commerce | $0–$70/month |
| Built-in faceted search | Improving natively; Algolia or Boost Commerce for advanced | $0–$100/month |
| Promotions engine | Shopify automatic discounts or Scripts (Plus) | $0 (built-in discounts) or $0 (Plus Scripts) |
💡 Pro Tip
BigCommerce's built-in feature set is broader than Shopify's out of the box. The trade-off is that Shopify's app ecosystem is roughly 5x larger. Budget for $100–$300/month in additional app costs when moving from BigCommerce to Shopify — you are replacing built-in features with paid apps.
Step-by-Step Migration Process
- 1.Audit your BigCommerce store — catalog all products, active features, integrations, customer groups, and custom scripts.
- 2.Identify Shopify app replacements for every BigCommerce-native feature you use.
- 3.Set up your Shopify store — choose plan, select theme, install replacement apps.
- 4.Migrate data — products, customers, orders via CSV export/import or migration app (Cart2Cart, LitExtension).
- 5.Set up 301 redirects for all URL changes.
- 6.Configure replacement apps and test all functionality.
- 7.Rebuild any custom scripts or integrations.
- 8.Run full QA — test checkout, payment processing, email flows, and customer account access.
- 9.Go live — point DNS to Shopify, submit new sitemap to Google Search Console.
- 10.Monitor for 30 days — watch for 404 errors, SEO traffic changes, and customer-reported issues.
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Shopify better than BigCommerce?
- For most merchants, Shopify offers a larger app ecosystem, bigger developer talent pool, and higher-converting checkout. BigCommerce has a broader built-in feature set (no apps needed for things like price lists and customer groups). The right choice depends on whether you prefer built-in features (BigCommerce) or ecosystem breadth (Shopify).
- How much does it cost to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify?
- Small stores: $3,000–$6,000. Mid-size: $6,000–$15,000. Large or complex: $15,000–$40,000. Plus $100–$300/month in additional app subscriptions to replace BigCommerce-native features.
- Can I migrate BigCommerce to Shopify without losing SEO?
- Yes, with proper 301 redirects, metadata preservation, and sitemap resubmission. BigCommerce and Shopify URL structures are similar but not identical, so redirects are still necessary. Follow a migration SEO checklist to protect your rankings.
- Do BigCommerce apps work on Shopify?
- No. BigCommerce apps and Shopify apps are completely separate ecosystems. You will need to find Shopify equivalents for every BigCommerce app you use. Most popular apps (Klaviyo, Yotpo, Judge.me) work on both platforms, so the transition is often straightforward for major tools.
- How long does a BigCommerce to Shopify migration take?
- Small stores: 3–5 weeks. Mid-size: 5–8 weeks. Large or complex: 8–14 weeks. BigCommerce-to-Shopify is one of the faster migrations because both platforms are SaaS with similar architecture.
The Bottom Line
BigCommerce-to-Shopify is one of the smoothest migrations you can make. The platforms are architecturally similar, data transfers cleanly, and the main work is replacing BigCommerce-native features with Shopify apps. Budget for the ongoing app cost difference, get your redirects right, and the transition should be straightforward.
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