A growing number of Magento merchants who face rising development costs or crave simplicity begin to see Shopify as a “silver bullet”. They make the switch, hoping for a clean slate: “We’ll migrate to Shopify, and everything will improve: performance, UX, conversions, and costs.”
But that illusion rarely survives contact with reality.
What many realize too late is that a new platform won’t fix what’s broken beneath the surface: poor operations, unclear customer journeys, or outdated marketing strategies. Moving to another platform doesn’t help to resolve any of this. In fact, without serious investment, the migration itself can cause more disruption than progress.
This article is not a warning against Shopify but a call for smarter decisions. We’ll explore two paths forward: staying on Magento and optimizing it, or migrating from Magento to Shopify, but doing it with your eyes wide open.
When Moving from Magento to Shopify Isn’t Smart
We’ve seen brands spend months and tens of thousands migrating to Shopify, only to realize that nothing fundamentally improved. Sales stagnate. Customers remain confused. And the team is left asking: “Wasn’t this supposed to be better?”
Because the truth is: performance comes from focus, not from flipping platforms.
Yes, Shopify has strengths. It's fast to launch. It's hosted. It's known for a smooth UX that is out of the box. But those benefits don’t address what’s really holding your store back.
A slow Magento site? That’s likely a performance optimization or frontend issue, not a platform problem.
Low conversions? That’s often a UX or CRO gap, not something a theme switch alone can fix.
High bounce rates? That’s likely about poor content, irrelevant offers, or unclear navigation, not the tech stack.
Shopify is a tool, and like any tool, it only delivers results when used with clarity and intent. A platform can enable speed, but only if the foundation – your business logic, your funnel, your team – is rock solid. Otherwise, the same issues resurface under a new interface.
Here’s what a platform switch won’t fix:
Poor Speed and Performance – If your store feels sluggish, it’s often a sign of bloated code, unoptimized assets, or inefficient frontend rendering, not the platform itself.
- Broken Customer Journeys – If users struggle to find products or drop off at checkout, a new theme won’t help. Poor UX follows you from platform to platform.
Unclear Brand Positioning – Replatforming doesn’t fix messaging gaps or value clarity.
Low Retention and LTV – Weak post-purchase flows or generic marketing won’t improve just because you switch platforms.
Inefficient Operations – Migrating doesn’t clean up internal workflow issues, tech debt, or siloed teams.
Unless you're solving root problems, the same issues will resurface. In many cases, the smarter move is to stay on Magento and invest in targeted improvements.
The assumption that Magento equals complexity or slowness often stems from poor implementation, not the platform itself. For businesses with custom workflows, large product catalogs, or B2B features, Magento remains a powerful and flexible solution when:
You have complex product types, multi-store setups, or deep B2B requirements
You rely on custom workflows or ERP/PIM integrations that Shopify can’t easily replicate
You want to avoid ongoing platform commissions or app lock-in
You’re ready to optimize performance using solutions like Hyvä frontend
You have developers or a partner who can refactor, streamline, and scale what you already have
Magento isn’t the problem – it may just need to work better for your business.
If you’re dealing with performance issues, outdated UX, or operational slowdowns, Amasty can help you optimize your existing Magento setup. From Hyvä implementation to code cleanup and custom features, we focus on practical Magento improvements that deliver measurable results.
When You Should Migrate from Magento to Shopify
Shopify can be a great choice if you treat migration as a strategic rebuild, not a tech escape. Shopify shines when used by marketing-led teams ready to simplify operations and invest in customer experience (CX)-driven growth. You might consider migrating if:
You’re shifting to DTC and need faster rollout cycles or omnichannel integrations
Your catalog is relatively simple and doesn’t rely on custom logic, tiered pricing, or configurable bundles
Your team is content- and design-focused, and can handle Shopify’s theme and app structure
You’re planning a major rebrand or want a fresh foundation for UX and CRO
You’re ready to commit to Shopify’s cost structure – apps, themes, subscriptions, and transaction fees
Read More: How Much Does Building a Shopify Website Cost
But to move to Shopify and make it work, you should also be ready to:
Invest in Custom Development – Out-of-the-box themes are rarely enough. Expect workarounds, app stacks, and bespoke components.
Rebuild the Customer Journey – Migration is about redefining CX, content, funnel logic, and retention systems.
Plan for Platform Limitations – Shopify trades flexibility for usability. That means fewer backend controls, stricter APIs, and paid app dependencies.
In case you’ve decided that Shopify is the right platform, Amasty’s Magento to Shopify Migration Service is built for precision and reliability. So far, we’ve completed 109 full-scale migrations with a 100% success rate, ensuring zero-issue data migration, smooth transfer of features & extensions, and high-performance UX.
Migration Planning & Audit
Before migrating from Magento to Shopify, pause and assess where you are and why you’re moving. As already mentioned in this article, too many brands rush into migration without fully understanding what’s working, what’s broken, and what could be fixed without replatforming. Others underestimate the complexity of replicating Magento’s capabilities in Shopify’s more opinionated environment.
A proper pre-migration audit should cover:
Current site performance: Speed benchmarks, mobile usability, Core Web Vitals
Feature inventory: What native Magento features or custom extensions are in use?
Workflow review: Are there complex product types, pricing rules, or multistore setups?
Customer journey mapping: Where are users dropping off? What journeys convert best?
SEO baseline: Indexed URLs, top-ranking pages, backlink footprint
This audit helps define scope, avoid unexpected data loss or feature gaps, and ensure that you’re migrating for the right reasons. If Magento still meets your needs and just requires optimization, it might be more cost-effective to stay and upgrade your frontend or workflows. Take time to compare Magento and Shopify against your requirements:
| Feature | Magento (Open Source) | Shopify / Shopify Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Customizability | Full access to backend code (PHP, XML, PHTML) | Limited backend control, customizations via APIs/Functions |
| Multi-Store Capabilities | Native multi-store with separate domains/catalogs | Shopify Markets + expansion stores (less flexible) |
| SEO Control | Advanced control: URLs, metadata, schema, robots.txt | Basic SEO tools, limited access to .htaccess and URL structure |
| Checkout Flexibility | Fully customizable checkout flow | Only customizable on Shopify Plus (via checkout.liquid / Checkout Extensibility) |
| App Dependencies | Many features handled natively or via extensions | Heavy reliance on 3rd-party apps (subscription-based) |
| Platform Fees | No platform fee; hosting is self-managed | $39–$399+/mo or $2,000+ for Plus |
| Transaction Fees | None unless using external payment gateway | 2.9%–2.4% + $0.30/order; additional fee if not using Shopify Payments |
Read More: Magento vs. Shopify
But if Shopify is indeed the right fit, the audit becomes your roadmap for a smart, controlled migration.
Shopify Data Migration Strategy
Once the decision is made to migrate, your next focus is data integrity. Magento stores tend to accumulate years of product data, customer data, historical orders, content, and metadata, much of which is critical for continuity in marketing, customer service, and SEO.
A solid data migration process includes:
1. Full Backup
Before anything else, back up your entire Magento: files, database, media, and theme. A backup of your store data is both a safety net and a historical reference throughout the process.
2. Data Mapping
Magento and Shopify have different data structures. To properly migrate product from Magento to Shopify, and move the rest of your data, you’ll need to map Magento fields to Shopify’s equivalents, including:
Products: SKUs, variants, images, tags, categories (→ Shopify collections), stock levels
Customers: Contact info, purchase history (but not passwords)
Orders: Order IDs, payment status, fulfillment state
Content: Pages & blog posts
SEO metadata: Titles, descriptions, alt text, schema markup, where possible
3. Choosing the Right Tools
You have three main options:
Manual and DIY migration: Suitable for very small catalogs, but time-consuming and error-prone.
Migrator apps: Faster and scalable, but still require validation. Usually best for importing products or other specific data instances.
Custom migration scripts: For complex setups or full control, best handled by a technical partner (like Amasty).
Regardless of the method, plan for multiple test runs. Migrate in a staging environment, spot-check critical records, and validate that all associations (products to collections, customers to orders, etc.) remain intact.
Moving Customer Accounts to Shopify
Migrating customer accounts from Magento to Shopify involves a critical limitation: passwords cannot be transferred.
Magento stores passwords using one-way encryption algorithms that Shopify cannot decrypt. This means that even if you successfully migrate customer records – names, emails, addresses, and order history – customers won’t be able to log in until they reset their passwords.
To handle this gracefully:
Send invitation emails after migration, asking customers to activate their new Shopify accounts. These emails should include:
A clear explanation of the transition
Reassurance about data security
An easy one-click login/reset flow
Time this with your launch so customers aren’t surprised. Use your mailing list, social channels, and pop-ups to let customers know a new login will be required.
Friction at this stage can result in lost trust and missed conversions. Handle it with care, transparency, and good timing. And if you want to create seamless logins from external systems or existing sessions, consider migrating to Shopify Plus and using Multipass. Our next section will cover this and many other perks of the superior Shopify plan.
Magento to Shopify Plus Migration: Perks & Specifics
If you’re moving from Magento Commerce to Shopify Plus, the stakes are higher, but so is the potential for enterprise-level scalability. Here’s what’s different:
Multipass: Easy Migration of Customer Passwords
Once again, on standard Shopify plans, encrypted passwords from Magento can't be imported. But Shopify Plus solves this with Multipass login.
Multipass allows you to authenticate users via a secure token from your existing system, enabling seamless, session-based logins into Shopify without requiring password resets. This means:
Returning customers can log in without friction after migration
You can maintain custom authentication flows (e.g., from headless frontends or membership platforms)
It’s possible to sync customer sessions across domains or systems
Multipass is especially valuable for B2B, subscription-based, or high-retention DTC brands where account continuity is critical for LTV and user trust. But it requires careful token handling and secure implementation, typically handled by your dev team, expert Shopify developers, or a Shopify Launch Engineer.
Magento’s Multi-Store vs. Shopify Markets
Magento’s multistore architecture is one of its strongest differentiators. It allows merchants to manage entirely separate websites – each with its own catalog, language, currency, pricing, and even domain – from a single backend.
Shopify Plus, in contrast, uses Shopify Markets to serve global audiences through a single storefront, segmented by region, language, and currency:
Domain Strategy – Shopify Markets supports international domains or subfolders (e.g., example.com/fr, example.fr). However, you can’t run multiple root domains (e.g., .com, .de, .uk) from one admin without using Shopify Plus expansion stores.
Pricing Flexibility – Shopify Markets allows market-specific pricing using price adjustments (percentage or fixed amount), but not always down to individual SKU or customer group levels, which Magento handles natively.
Language Management – Shopify supports multiple languages with native translation tools and Shopify Translate & Adapt. However, translations are flat content only; dynamic data (like metafields, app outputs, etc.) may need additional solutions from Shopify App Store.
Enhanced Checkout, Automation, B2B Features
Shopify Plus offers powerful features, but ex-Magento merchants need to adapt their mindset from “everything is customizable” to “everything is extensible, within a framework.” Shopify Plus allows for: Custom checkout (via checkout.liquid or Checkout Extensibility), Advanced automation using Shopify Flow, and B2B features like company accounts, custom pricing, and buyer roles (previously separate via apps).
Read More: How to Leverage Shopify for B2B
However, some Magento-native logic may require custom apps or Shopify Functions:
Tiered Pricing per Quantity Bracket – Shopify doesn’t natively support complex tiered pricing (e.g., Buy 10 for $9.99, Buy 100 for $8.99). This requires custom Shopify Functions or apps..
Dynamic Bundles or Configurable Products – Shopify handles simple bundles via apps or custom metafields, but it lacks Magento's native configurable product depth. Custom development is often required.
Custom APIs & Logic – If your Magento store relies heavily on API-driven workflows or tightly coupled ERP/PIM logic, expect to rebuild using Shopify's Admin, Storefront, and Functions APIs and stay within Shopify’s rate limits and permission models.
Increased API Rate Limits
Magento merchants often rely heavily on custom integrations with ERP systems, inventory platforms, CRMs, and PIMs. Shopify API limits can be a bottleneck for these workflows, particularly when syncing large product catalogs or pushing frequent updates.
Yet, Shopify Plus increases API rate limits, offering:
10x higher calls/minute compared to regular Shopify (40 requests vs. 4 per second for Admin API)
Improved GraphQL cost budgets, allowing complex queries without throttling
Higher thresholds for Bulk API jobs (ideal for mass product updates)
This matters because:
Product catalogs with 10,000+ SKUs can sync more efficiently
External systems (like NetSuite, Microsoft Dynamics, Akeneo) stay in real-time sync without delays
Custom middleware or integration layers run more reliably during peak traffic or launches
Read More: A List of the Most Important Shopify Integrations
Access to a Dedicated Shopify Launch Engineer
Shopify Plus merchants get more than just platform access – they’re assigned a Launch Engineer as part of the onboarding process. This dedicated expert can be very helpful, especially during a high-stakes Magento migration.
Here’s what a Launch Engineer helps with:
Architecture guidance – How to map Magento features to Shopify Plus architecture, including Markets, custom apps, and Shopify Functions
Data migration support – Advising on tools, API usage, and best practices for clean, reliable data transfer
App selection strategy – Helping avoid performance-sapping apps by suggesting vetted alternatives
Checkout customization – Planning for checkout.liquid or extensibility APIs
Post-launch review – Ensuring tracking, speed, and conversion goals are being met
Beyond the engineer, Plus merchants benefit from priority support queues and access to the Shopify Plus Partner ecosystem – agencies and tech partners with deep experience in complex replatforming.
For high-volume or resource-constrained teams, these support services can dramatically reduce risk and accelerate ROI during and after migration.
Read More: Best Shopify Plus Development Companies
Post-Migration Optimization & Monitoring
A successful migration doesn’t end at launch. To protect performance and grow your business on the Shopify Platform, you’ll need a solid post-migration optimization strategy.
1. Reconnect Marketing Tools
Ensure that all key tracking systems are reconfigured:
Google Analytics 4 (GA4)
Google Tag Manager
Meta Pixel, TikTok Pixel, or any paid ad pixels
Google Search Console (resubmit sitemap)
Email marketing platform integrations (Klaviyo, Omnisend, etc.)
Without accurate tracking, it’s impossible to measure the success of your new store.
2. Evaluate Store Speed
Post-launch performance often differs from staging. Run speed audits with Shopify’s built-in speed report, Google PageSpeed Insights (Lighthouse), GTmetrix, or WebPageTest.
Optimize apps, defer unused scripts, and compress images. Pay special attention to mobile speed.
Read More: How to Optimize Shopify Store Speed
3. Monitor SEO & Rankings
SEO can take a major hit during a replatforming project if not handled carefully. Magento and Shopify have different URL structures, metadata capabilities, and theme behaviors.
If the Shopify SEO migration process is mishandled, even a high-performing site can lose significant organic traffic. If done well, the migration becomes SEO-neutral or even SEO-positive.
301 Redirects – Shopify’s URL format differs significantly. For example, /product-name in Magento becomes /products/product-name in Shopify.
Use a complete 301 redirect map to preserve SEO equity.Meta Titles & Descriptions – Export these from Magento and reimport them into Shopify. Tools like Matrixify or custom scripts help maintain these fields at scale.
Image Alt Tags & Structured Data – Ensure alt text is retained for accessibility and image SEO. Reimplement schema markup in the new Shopify theme (many themes don’t include this by default).
Test & Monitor – Track crawl errors, URL redirect failures, and index coverage after launch. Submit a fresh sitemap once the new store is live, monitor keyword rankings, and audit internal linking, meta tags, and canonical URLs within your new theme.
4. Optimize Customer Experience
One of Shopify’s main selling points is the abundance of clean, modern themes. But many brands find that rebuilding Magento’s design and functionality requires more customization than expected.
Expect to invest time (or hire developers) for:
Replicating Magento features such as layered navigation, product configurators, or bundled pricing
Custom UX elements like quick views, sticky carts, customer-specific content, or multi-language/multi-currency logic
Design consistency with your brand: colors, typography, and layout often require adjustments beyond drag-and-drop
Use Hotjar or Microsoft Clarity to spot UX bottlenecks
A/B test your new navigation, product page layouts, and checkout flow
Monitor cart abandonment and conversion rates and compare them with pre-migration benchmarks
Read More: How to Build a Custom Shopify Theme
Time & Cost Estimates
One of the most common migration questions: How long will it take, and how much will it cost? The answer to this can’t be set in stone, but we’ll provide the basic factors and figures.
Timeline Overview
Migration timelines vary depending on catalog size, custom features, and team availability.
| Phase | Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Migration Audit | 1–2 weeks | Review SEO, UX, data structure, extensions |
| Data Mapping | 1–2 weeks | Define what data moves and how (SKUs, metadata) |
| Theme Development | 2–4 weeks | Rebuild design and UX in Shopify theme |
| Functionality Setup | 1–2 weeks | Apps, custom features, checkout logic |
| QA & Testing | 1 week | UX flow, speed, redirect testing |
| Launch & Optimization | Ongoing | SEO monitoring, UX fixes, performance tuning |
| Store Size | Estimated Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Small (few SKUs, standard UX) | 2–4 weeks |
| Medium (hundreds of SKUs, basic customization) | 1–2 months |
| Complex (B2B logic, custom themes, third-party integrations) | 3+ months |
Cost Considerations
Migration is rarely “cheaper” in the short term. Cost drivers include:
Development: Theme customization, feature rebuilding, data scripting
SEO: Redirect planning, metadata mapping, schema
Apps: Most Shopify features require third-party apps (with free trials yet subscription-based)
Design: Branding and UX refinements
Ongoing platform costs: Monthly Shopify plan fees + Shopify Payments transaction fees + app costs
| Shopify Plan | Monthly Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic | $39/month + 2.9% + 30¢/order |
| Growth | $105/month + 2.6% + 30¢ |
| Advanced | $399/month + 2.4% + 30¢ |
| Shopify Plus | $2,000+/month |
Read More: Choose Your Shopify Plan Pricing [with a Flowchart]
These fees are predictable, but can add up fast if app usage is high or sales volume increases.
Magento to Shopify Migration Checklist
Use this high-level checklist to ensure a smooth, complete migration process:
Pre-Migration Planning
☑︎ Define goals and KPIs
☑︎ Audit current Magento store (UX, SEO, performance)
☑︎ Back up all data
Data & Content Migration
☑︎ Map products, customers, orders, blog content
☑︎ Export SEO metadata, alt tags, and schema
☑︎ Prepare redirects and URL structure mapping
Design & Theme Setup
☑︎ Choose a Shopify 2.0-compatible theme
☑︎ Rebuild key UX flows and branding elements
☑︎ Identify required apps to match Magento functionality
Customer Accounts & Communication
☑︎ Plan customer password reset flow
☑︎ Prepare welcome/invitation emails
☑︎ Update mailing lists and consent
SEO & Analytics Setup
☑︎ Upload redirects
☑︎ Reinstall tracking scripts
☑︎ Submit new sitemap to GSC
Testing & QA
☑︎ Test site speed and mobile usability
☑︎ Validate checkout, payments, navigation
☑︎ Confirm redirect logic and metadata output
Launch & Post-Migration
☑︎ Schedule launch in low-traffic hours
☑︎ Monitor SEO rankings and traffic
☑︎ Optimize speed, UX, and app load
Final Word: Platforms Don’t Build Businesses, People Do
Replatforming is a high-stakes, high-effort project that only pays off when rooted in strategy. Shopify, Magento, or any other platform won’t transform a business that lacks direction, clarity, or customer focus. What drives real results is a clear understanding of your audience, optimized internal processes, and continuous experience improvement.
Yes, tools matter. But only when used well. The choice of your e-commerce platform is about how you plan to grow, who you’re building for, and whether you’re ready to do the hard work on any platform.
We help brands grow on Magento, Shopify, or wherever their business needs to be
Want to stay on Magento and modernize with Hyvä? We’ll get you there. Plan to switch to Shopify? We’ll safely move your store and provide 2 months of post-launch support.
Wherever you're headed, we bring the technical skills to make it count.
Frequently asked questions
It depends on your business model, internal resources, and long-term strategy.
You should consider migrating to Shopify if:
You’re a DTC-first brand focused on marketing, speed to market, and operational simplicity
Your catalog and pricing logic are relatively straightforward
You have in-house or agency support to manage apps, integrations, and post-launch CRO
You’re comfortable with platform fees and revenue share, in exchange for ease of use and faster feature rollouts
You might be better off staying on Magento if:
You rely on complex B2B logic, tiered pricing, or deeply customized workflows
You want full control over infrastructure, codebase, and data
You already have a Magento setup optimized with Hyvä, solid hosting, and a dev team
Verdict: Migration can work, but it’s not a silver bullet. Platform changes only deliver ROI if backed by smart execution, UX improvements, and marketing investment.
No, Magento and Shopify are separate platforms with fundamentally different architectures and are not directly compatible.
You can’t “connect” Magento and Shopify in a way that lets them operate in sync. However:
You can migrate your data (products, customers, orders, content) from Magento to Shopify using tools or custom scripts
Some businesses use Magento as a backend (e.g., PIM, ERP connector) and Shopify as a frontend via API or headless approach, but this is rare, complex, and typically overkill for most use cases
Treat it as a full replatforming effort, not an integration. Plan for data migration, theme rebuilds, SEO continuity, and app rearchitecture.
Preserving SEO during migration requires a detailed redirect and metadata strategy, tested before launch. Key steps include:
Perform a full SEO audit of your Magento site: top pages, backlinks, URL structure, metadata, schema
Map all Magento URLs to Shopify equivalents. Magento’s clean URLs (e.g., /category/product) often change to Shopify’s format (e.g., /products/product)
Set up 301 redirects for every changed URL. Use Shopify's native redirect feature or apps like Easy Redirects or Matrixify
Migrate metadata (titles, descriptions, image alt tags) and ensure Shopify themes preserve structured data (schema.org)
Resubmit sitemaps in Google Search Console and monitor for crawl errors and ranking drops
Track performance post-launch using Google Search Console, Ahrefs/SEMrush, and page speed tools
A well-executed migration should preserve rankings, and may even improve them—if paired with faster performance, better UX, and a clean SEO handoff.
