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Magento, E-Commerce, Shopify

Magento to Shopify migration: What, why, how, and is it worth it?

Kateryna Kornieva

Kateryna Kornieva

Market Researcher

Author

Kateryna Kosmyna

Kateryna Kosmyna

Market Researcher

Author

Magento to Shopify migration: What, why, how, and is it worth it?

Time to read: 15 minutes

Content

  1. When it makes sense to migrate from Magento to Shopify
  2. What benefits your business will get with migration from Magento to Shopify
  3. What challenges does Magento to Shopify migration service presume and how to solve them
  4. A step-by-step roadmap to moving from Magento to Shopify
  5. How to find a reliable partner for your Magento to Shopify (Plus) migration
  6. Time to wrap it up
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If you're running a business that's already operating on Magento and starting to question whether it's still the right fit, you're in familiar territory. You’d be joining brands like Gymshark, Hasbro, Heinz, and Staples Canada, who also made the move from Magento to Shopify in search of greater agility and operational ease.

But what exactly pushes established businesses to make such a significant shift? In most cases, it’s not about platform trends. It’s about day-to-day friction that starts piling up until it gets in the way of growth.

Maybe your development backlog is constantly full with fixes, not improvements. Maybe every small change — updating a product page, tweaking your checkout flow — requires a developer and a lot more time than it should. Or maybe you're spending more on maintenance than on moving your business forward. All of these calls for serious changes in your technical foundations.

However!

Replatforming isn’t just a technical switch — it’s a business operation. It changes →

If you’ve already invested time and budget into Magento, the idea of moving to Shopify is a serious strategic shift, not something to take lightly.

To help you grasp the idea better, with this guide, we’ll break down what migrating from Magento to Shopify actually involves — from when it makes sense to switch, how to migrate from Magento to Shopify (technical and business realities), and to what you’ll need to prepare for. If you’re actively considering the move, this will help you understand exactly what you're walking into and whether it’s worth it.

Important note: So that you’re rest assured while reading the article, all the materials were provided and reviewed by our Magento and Shopify teams, as well as our CTO.

When it makes sense to migrate from Magento to Shopify

Migrating Magento to Shopify isn't something businesses do on impulse. It’s a decision shaped by real, repeatable signals:

While Magento can be incredibly powerful, there’s a point at which flexibility turns into friction. Below are some of the clearest signs that migration is not just reasonable — it’s strategic.

Some of the possible signals that it’s time to transfer Magento to Shopify

These aren’t hypotheticals — they’re the most common triggers we’ve seen in real-world migrations:

  1. Too much custom work, too little return. If every small change to your store requires developer input, or your storefront has become patchwork through constant workarounds, it might be worth evaluating whether your current platform is still supporting your goals — or slowing you down.
  2. Rising costs with limited scalability. While Magento Open Source has no license fee, associated expenses like hosting, maintenance, custom development, and performance optimization can add up. On the other hand, platforms like Shopify Plus offer a more consolidated pricing model, which may reduce overhead for certain business types — but not all.
  3. A backlog full of fixes instead of improvements. If your development team is stuck in a loop of patches and maintenance instead of shipping new features, the issue might lie deeper in the platform’s operational demands.
  4. Performance and UX issues. Frequent slowdowns, mobile glitches, or challenges managing multi-regional storefronts may indicate it's time to consider other architecture, whether that's a restructured Magento setup or a shift to a platform with built-in performance handling.
  5. Scaling adds tech complexity. Growing product catalogs, entering new markets, or launching advanced features like bundles or multi-location inventory can increase technical overhead. Whether you're using Magento or considering alternatives like Shopify, it’s important to assess if your platform can scale efficiently without multiplying development effort.

Read also: Shopify vs Shopify Plus: Which One Fits You Better?

Types of businesses that benefit most from migrating and can safely make the switch

Migration makes the most sense for businesses that:

Magento to Shopify migration: Best candidates for migration

If your business fits the following profile, you can likely migrate Magento to Shopify with minimal compromise and major long-term gains:

Who should probably stay on Magento

The Shopify platform — even with the Shopify Plus plan — isn’t for everyone. Some businesses rely on workflows or product logic that go far beyond what Shopify’s architecture was built for.

Here are the types of businesses that should approach migration cautiously:

For example, Dinarys worked on the Mon Tresor Bebe project, where our client required Shopify to Magento migration because of Shopify limits in customization.

Magento to Shopify migration service: The MonTresor case study by Dinarys

Facing operational constraints on Shopify, they migrated to Magento 2 to support advanced workflows like editable orders and invoices, installment payments, user moderation, and QuickBooks synchronization. Over a six-month effort, we custom‑built these features — plus shipment adjustments and catalog exports — creating a flexible, scalable platform tailored to their specific business logic and payment complexity.

NEED HELP IN DETERMINING WHETHER YOUR STORE REQUIRES MIGRATION?

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Bottom line

Magento gives you control. Shopify gives you speed. The right time to migrate is when that control starts holding you back from delivering value fast. And for many modern D2C brands, that moment comes sooner than expected.

Read also: Shopify vs Magento: What’s better for your business?

What benefits your business will get with migration from Magento to Shopify

Before we dive in: The benefits below apply to businesses that are truly a good fit for Shopify — the ones we outlined earlier: direct-to-consumer brands, product-focused businesses with relatively standard operations, and teams looking for more autonomy and fewer infrastructure headaches.

If you're running complex B2B workflows, deep backend customization, or rely heavily on Magento’s extensibility, you might not experience the same upsides or at least not without significant compromise.

With that said, for the right business, migrating from Magento to Shopify can unlock a range of operational, performance, and growth benefits.

1. Lower total cost of ownership (TCO)

What you get with Shopify:

Compared to Magento. Magento Open Source may appear “free,” but in reality, you're paying for:

💡 If you're constantly spending on infrastructure or firefighting bugs, Shopify centralizes and simplifies it all. Often at a lower long-term cost.

For example, it was one of our primary goals on the myfelt project.

Migration from Magento to Shopify: The Myfelt case study by Dinarys

By moving their eco-friendly felt products store from Magento to Shopify, the Dinarys team significantly reduced their hosting, maintenance, and development overhead. Shopify’s unified pricing model, built-in infrastructure, and app-driven features eliminated costly server management and developer-intensive updates.

As a result, myfelt not only cut recurring technical expenses, but also accelerated their release cycles — of their new Shopify store — without the budget surprises that came with keeping Magento alive.

2. Faster time to market

With Shopify, you can:

Compared to Magento:

💡 The speed advantage of Shopify gives you more flexibility to respond to market changes and customer needs in real time.

3. Improved performance and mobile UX

Shopify's frontend is optimized for speed out of the box, including:

Compared to Magento:

💡 If you’re seeing mobile bounce rates or sluggish load times on Magento, Shopify can deliver faster, more consistent UX across devices.

Dinarys had a similar project. Although we didn’t migrate from Magento, but from WooCommerce, our goal still was to improve performance via Shopify migration on the ALEXASCHA project.

Magento to Shopify Plus migration: The ALEXASCHA project by Dinarys

Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify, ALEXASCHA saw a significant lift in key performance metrics. Thanks to Shopify’s optimized infrastructure and a revamped checkout flow, page load times dropped dramatically, bounce rates decreased, and user engagement increased. This led to higher conversions per visit and better overall retention, allowing the marketing team to scale campaigns confidently without sacrificing site performance or user experience.

4. Easier day-to-day store management

With Shopify, your internal team can:

Magento’s admin panel is powerful, but:

💡 If you're aiming to reduce reliance on developers for routine tasks, Shopify makes it far more manageable.

5. Built-in scalability without the overhead

Shopify Plus supports multi-store management, localized experiences, and advanced automation tools — without requiring you to rethink your infrastructure.

Magento scalability is real but:

💡 With Shopify Plus, brands can scale into new markets, add languages or currencies, and handle surges in traffic — all without touching server settings.

6. Access to a powerful app ecosystem

Shopify’s App Store gives you:

In Magento:

💡 Shopify simplifies extensibility without sacrificing flexibility—great for teams that want to build smarter, not bigger.

7. Enhanced marketing capabilities and conversion tools

Shopify makes it easier to:

Magento is less agile in this area:

💡 If marketing velocity is key to your growth, Shopify gives your team more autonomy and more data to iterate faster.

8. Safer, more predictable technical environment

With Shopify:

On Magento:

💡 If you're tired of worrying about site stability or security breaches, Shopify’s fully hosted model eliminates most of those concerns.

Magento to Shopify: What you get in case of a successful migration

If you’re the kind of business that’s outgrown the complexity of Magento — or never fully needed it in the first place — Shopify offers a clean, modern alternative. It may not give you full backend control, but for most growing D2C brands, it offers something more valuable: the ability to move faster with fewer trade-offs.

Read also: Magento vs Shopify Plus: Complete Guide

What challenges does Magento to Shopify migration service presume and how to solve them

Magento 2 to Shopify migration can provide real business value, but it’s not without its technical and operational hurdles. For teams used to Magento’s flexibility and control, the move to Shopify’s closed architecture may require rethinking how certain features are implemented, or even rebuilt.

Below, we’ve outlined the most critical challenges companies face during this transition and how experienced developers recommend solving each of them.

Challenge #1: Data structure differences: from flexible to opinionated

Magento allows for highly customized product types, attributes, and catalog structures. Shopify, by contrast, has a more opinionated model: no custom entity types, fewer product variants, and stricter limits (e.g., 100 variants per product, 3 options max).

What can break:

Dinarys recommendation:

“We typically start with a mapping workshop to translate Magento’s product schema into Shopify’s structure. In most cases, what looks like a hard limit can be worked around with metafields or custom app logic.”
Lead Shopify Developer, 8+ years in eCommerce

Challenge #2: Bundled product logic doesn’t transfer 1:1

Magento supports advanced product types like grouped, configurable, and bundled products. Shopify doesn't natively support this level of logic out of the box.

Common issue: Stores using kits, sets, or dynamic product assembly (e.g. rugs in custom sizes or component bundles) may find their flows broken post-migration.

Dinarys recommendation:

“We usually recreate this logic through custom apps or combine native Shopify features with scripts and Flow automations — especially on Plus. In some cases, we build custom bundle apps when off-the-shelf ones fall short.”
Shopify Solutions Architect

Challenge #3: Loss of custom checkout functionality

Magento allows full control over checkout logic. Shopify limits this unless you're on Shopify Plus, and even then, only to a degree.

Examples of what may be affected:

Dinarys recommendation:

“We tell clients early: if your checkout is heavily customized, you’ll need Shopify Plus — and even then, expect to simplify. Most businesses end up with a faster, cleaner checkout, but with some trade-offs on complexity.”
eCommerce Delivery Lead

Challenge #4: Third-party integrations must be rebuilt or reconnected

Magento integrations are often built through custom APIs, middlewares, or direct database queries. Shopify works strictly through APIs — no database access, and webhook-driven.

What this impacts:

Dinarys recommendation:

“We handle this by reviewing existing integrations and replacing them with Shopify-native connectors or middleware like Patchworks or Alloy. For custom flows, Shopify APIs and webhooks are stable — but the logic has to be refactored.”
Senior Backend Developer

Challenge #5: Content pages and CMS blocks need to be recreated

Magento’s CMS blocks and layout XMLs don’t carry over. Shopify uses JSON sections, Liquid templates, and a different structure entirely.

What this impacts:

Dinarys recommendation:

“We rebuild landing pages in Shopify using sections and metafields. In some cases, we use Page Builder apps like Shogun or native Shopify tools depending on the team’s in-house capacity post-launch.”
Frontend Developer, UI/UX focused

Challenge #6: SEO and URL structure mismatch

Magento URL structure is customizable and often optimized over time. Shopify has a fixed URL format (e.g., /products/, /collections/) and doesn’t allow deep control over certain slugs.

Risks:

Dinarys recommendation:

“We audit every live URL before migration, set up 301 redirects, and ensure structured data is preserved. It’s not possible to fully replicate Magento’s URL logic, but you can retain SEO performance with careful planning.”
— Technical SEO & Shopify Migration Specialist

Challenge #7: Loss of custom admin tools or internal dashboards

Magento stores often run on complex admin setups, including dashboards, custom reports, approval flows, and vendor tools. Shopify's admin panel is simpler and not natively extensible to the same degree.

Dinarys recommendation:

“When admin tools are critical, we build lightweight internal apps or dashboards using Shopify’s Admin APIs. It takes planning, but you can replicate most reporting and workflow tools in a more user-friendly format.”
Shopify App Developer

Challenge #8: Change management for the internal team

Migrating platforms also means retraining your internal team — marketers, merchandisers, support, ops — to work with a new backend, new workflows, and possibly new KPIs.

Dinarys recommendation:

“We always involve internal users early — during UAT and training. Shopify is easier to use, but every team has muscle memory from Magento. Training and handover support are just as important as technical QA.”
eCommerce Project Manager

Migration isn’t just about moving data. It’s about rethinking how your store runs and how your team works with it. The most successful Magento 1 to Shopify migrations happen when the limitations are acknowledged early, the right solutions are scoped with experienced developers, and the internal team is part of the process, not just handed a finished product.

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A step-by-step roadmap to moving from Magento to Shopify

Migrating from Magento to Shopify is a full business transition that reshapes how your team operates and how your store runs behind the scenes. If you're aiming to avoid disruption and preserve performance, it’s important to know what the migration truly involves and how to do it right, step by step.

Below is a complete roadmap (which you can also use as your Shopify migration checklist) that outlines each phase of a full Magento migration to Shopify, including who’s responsible for what, where the technical friction points are, and what’s actually included in a successful end-to-end migration.

Step 1: Pre-migration discovery & audit

Magento to Shopify data migration: Step 1 in Shopify migration

“You can’t migrate cleanly without understanding what you’ve actually built over the years. The discovery phase helps prevent ‘surprise’ gaps during implementation.”
Senior Solution Architect

This phase is about clarity. You’re taking stock of everything your Magento store currently does — from catalog structure to backend logic — to figure out what can (and should) be carried over. It’s also the right moment to create a full data backup to ensure nothing is lost as you prepare for migration.

What’s included:

Step 2: Migration roadmap & Shopify architecture planning

Magento to Shopify Plus: Step 2 in Shopify migration

“This is where we decide what’s staying, what’s changing, and what’s getting rebuilt. We scope workarounds early so there are no surprises mid-sprint.”
Shopify Technical Lead

Once you know what you’ve got, the team maps that to Shopify’s environment — deciding which features will be replicated, replaced, or dropped.

Key planning elements:

Step 3: Store environment setup & theme development

Transfer Magento to Shopify: Step 3 in Shopify migration

“We often use this phase to clean up UX debt. The move to Shopify is a great chance to simplify front-end complexity while keeping the brand feel.”
Lead Frontend Developer

This is where your new store starts to come to life, visually and structurally.

What’s included:

Step 4: Data migration & validation

Migrating from Magento to Shopify: Step 4 in Shopify migration

“You can’t just export data and import data. We map, reformat, clean, and validate. If that’s done right, the store launches without data shocks.”
Data Migration Engineer

Now it’s time to actually move the data, but that doesn’t just mean copy/paste. It means transformation and restructuring.

What’s included in a full Magento to Shopify data migration:

Common tools:

Step 5: Rebuilding core functionality & integrations

Magento 1 to Shopify migration: Step 5 in Shopify migration

“In Shopify, we don’t ‘port’ extensions. We recreate business logic using apps, Flow automations, or custom scripts. It’s not always 1:1, but it’s usually leaner.”
Shopify App Developer

Magento stores often rely on a mix of integrations and custom logic. In Shopify, that same functionality often comes from apps or custom app development.

What gets rebuilt or integrated:

Step 6: SEO, redirects, and testing

Migrate products from Magento to Shopify: Step 6 in Shopify migration

“Even if you’re improving UX, Google needs help understanding that nothing broke. Redirects and schema matter just as much as speed.”
Technical SEO & Shopify Migration Specialist

No migration is complete without preserving your search rankings and testing every customer-facing and backend function.

What’s included:

Step 7: Launch & Post-migration support

Migrating Magento to Shopify: Step 7 in Shopify migration

“After launch, we always leave a buffer. Things like fulfillment logic or edge-case issues tend to surface only after real users hit the system.”
Delivery Manager

Going live isn’t the final step and it's not the time to consider the whole migration process a successful migration. It’s just the start of live monitoring, team onboarding, and final optimization.

Final phase deliverables:

A full Magento to Shopify migration is a transformation of how your business sells, manages, and grows. When done right, it replaces friction with flexibility and maintenance with momentum. But it only works if you treat it as a rebuild and not just a transfer. And that’s exactly what this roadmap is here to help you do.

LOOKING FOR A TEAM TO GUIDE YOU THROUGH EVERY STEP?

We can help you plan, execute, and optimize your Magento to Shopify migration — with the right specialists involved at every stage.

Learn about our team

How to find a reliable partner for your Magento to Shopify (Plus) migration

Choosing the right technical partner for your migration is about making sure it’s done right. The best partners don’t just build. They advise, translate business needs into tech decisions, help you avoid unnecessary rebuilds, and ensure your store runs better after the move, not just differently.

Whether you’re looking for end-to-end delivery or a fractional development team to support your internal operations, here’s what to look for when choosing a migration partner:

Experience with similar migrations

Why it matters: Magento to Shopify migration is not a generalist job. A reliable partner should have completed multiple replatforming projects, preferably for businesses similar in size, industry, or complexity to yours.

What to ask:

Verified presence on review platforms

Why it matters: Word of mouth is great. Independent, verified feedback is better. Review platforms like Clutch, Pangea, or DesignRush give you a sense of a partner’s professionalism, responsiveness, and real-world results, not just promises.

Where to look:

Migrate Magento to Shopify: Dinarys presence on Clutch
Migrate from Magento to Shopify: Dinarys presence on DesignRush


 

Magento 2 to Shopify migration: The example of the similar project by Dinarys

Pro tip: Look beyond 5-star ratings. Read how clients describe the team’s communication, flexibility, and problem-solving.

Platform certifications and partnership status

Why it matters: If a vendor holds certifications from Adobe (Magento) and Shopify, it shows they’ve put in the time to understand both ecosystems — backend logic, platform limitations, and migration workflows.

What to look for:

For example, Dinarys holds a number of certifications and partnership badges:

Magento to Shopify product migration: Platform certifications and partnership status

Read also: BigCommerce to Shopify Migration [Practical Tips Included]

Strong technical and soft skillset

Why it matters: You want a team that can build efficiently and communicate clearly. Look for developers and leads who combine technical depth with project ownership, documentation habits, and consultative thinking.

Ideal hard skills:

Ideal soft skills:

Fractional team flexibility

Why it matters: You may not need a full-time dev team — just the right experts, at the right times. A good migration partner should be able to assemble a fractional team around your needs: tech lead, frontend developer, backend integrator, QA, etc. without overstaffing.

Ask about:

Time to wrap it up

If you’ve been running your business on Magento and feel like you’re working harder just to stand still, you’re not imagining it. For many established brands, the problem isn’t with how Magento was set up.

It’s with what it demands over time.

Migration to Shopify isn’t a light switch. It’s a deliberate decision to trade control for clarity, complexity for speed, and ongoing overhead for focus. And for businesses that have already learned what it takes to maintain a Magento store, that trade-off often makes more sense the second time around.

The move to Shopify won’t solve everything overnight. But if your team is tired of slow updates, constant firefighting, and growing tech debt, this isn’t just a technical migration — it’s an operational reset.

Done right, it frees you to grow.

READY TO EXPLORE YOUR MIGRATION POTENTIAL?

Talk to our CTO to see whether Shopify is the right next step — and what a smart, cost-efficient path forward could look like for your business.

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