How to Import Customer Data from WooCommerce to Shopify

Migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify has become a growing trend among eCommerce businesses seeking improved scalability, user experience, and better platform support. Shopify has solidified its place as one of the top eCommerce platforms, with over 5.23 million active stores as of 2024, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous year.

On the other hand, WooCommerce, which operates as a WordPress plugin, still powers over 3.5 million websites and holds about 20.1% of the global eCommerce market share.

Despite WooCommerce’s strong presence, many businesses are moving from WooCommerce to Shopify due to Shopify’s simplified store management, enhanced built-in marketing tools, and stronger payment gateway integrations.

In fact, by 2025, it’s estimated that 30% of WooCommerce store owners will consider switching to Shopify to capitalize on these advantages.

However, the process of migrating from WooCommerce to Shopify is not without challenges — especially when it comes to transferring customer data. Retaining customer information such as names, emails, order history, and payment details is critical for maintaining customer relationships and business continuity.

The process can be complex due to differences in data structures and formatting between WooCommerce and Shopify.

In this guide, we’ll cover why businesses are switching from WooCommerce to Shopify, the steps required to import customer data successfully, and the common challenges faced during the migration process.

Why Are Businesses Moving from WooCommerce to Shopify?

Shifting from WooCommerce to Shopify is increasingly common among eCommerce businesses looking for a more user-friendly and scalable platform.

While WooCommerce offers deep customization and flexibility through WordPress, Shopify provides an out-of-the-box solution that simplifies the management of products, payments, and marketing.

1. Shopify’s Market Growth

Shopify continues to expand its market share rapidly. By 2025, it’s expected that Shopify’s customer base will grow by another 10%, strengthening its dominance in the eCommerce sector.
Shopify’s ecosystem includes built-in payment gateways, integrated shipping options, and marketing tools, making it easier for store owners to handle day-to-day operations without relying on third-party services.

2. Better User Experience

Shopify’s intuitive dashboard and streamlined product setup process allow even non-technical users to manage their stores efficiently.
WooCommerce, while highly customizable, requires more technical knowledge for setup and maintenance — including handling plugins, hosting, and security.
Shopify’s customer support is available 24/7, offering immediate assistance with technical issues, which WooCommerce (as an open-source platform) lacks.

3. Scalability and Performance

Shopify’s infrastructure is designed to handle high traffic and large inventories without requiring additional hosting support.
WooCommerce’s performance is dependent on the hosting provider and can suffer during traffic spikes if the hosting plan isn’t upgraded.
Shopify handles software updates and security patches automatically, whereas WooCommerce store owners are responsible for updating plugins and maintaining compatibility.

4. Integrated Payment and Marketing Tools

Shopify has integrated payment solutions (like Shopify Payments) that support multiple currencies and payment gateways without requiring extra plugins.
Shopify’s built-in tools for abandoned cart recovery, email marketing, and social media integration help store owners maximize customer engagement.
WooCommerce relies heavily on third-party plugins for these features, increasing the complexity and cost of maintaining the store.

Steps to Import Customer Data from WooCommerce to Shopify

Importing customer data from WooCommerce to Shopify involves a structured process to prevent data loss or misalignment. Following the correct steps will help minimize errors and ensure that customer records remain intact during the transition.

Step 1: Export Customer Data from WooCommerce

WooCommerce does not have a default feature for exporting customer data in a Shopify-compatible format. You’ll need to use a plugin or custom tool to extract the necessary data.

Install a WooCommerce export plugin such as:
- WP All Export – Exports customer data into a CSV file.
- Customer/Order/Coupon Export – Allows specific filtering of customer data for better accuracy.
- Advanced Order Export for WooCommerce – Exports customer and order data with custom field mapping.

Step 2: Prepare the CSV File for Shopify

Shopify requires customer data to follow a specific CSV structure. The exported WooCommerce file must be adjusted to match Shopify’s template.

Download Shopify’s Customer CSV Template from the Shopify Help Center.
Open the WooCommerce CSV file using a spreadsheet application (Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel).
Match the WooCommerce data fields with Shopify’s template:
WooCommerce first_name → Shopify First Name
- WooCommerce last_name → Shopify Last Name
- WooCommerce email → Shopify Email
- WooCommerce phone → Shopify Phone
- WooCommerce billing_address_1 → Shopify Address Line 1
- WooCommerce billing_city → Shopify City

Remove any unnecessary fields that don’t align with Shopify’s format.
Save the file as a CSV after reformatting the data.

Step 3: Import the Prepared CSV into Shopify

Open your Shopify Admin Panel.
Go to Customers → Import Customers.
Upload the prepared CSV file.
Shopify will validate the data. If any fields are incorrect or missing, Shopify will display an error message.
If no errors are shown, confirm the import.
Shopify will process the file and add the customer data to the customer list.

Step 4: Verify Imported Customer Data

Once the import is complete:

Go to the Customers section in Shopify and manually check customer profiles.
Verify that all customer names, email addresses, and order history details match the original WooCommerce data.
Fix any discrepancies manually or re-import the corrected data if necessary.

Challenges in Importing Customer Data

1. Data Structure Misalignment

WooCommerce and Shopify store customer data differently. During migration, misalignment of data fields can cause some information to be lost or stored incorrectly.

2. Missing Data Fields

WooCommerce allows custom data fields for customers (such as user roles or tags). Shopify does not support all custom fields, so some customer data may be excluded unless manually mapped.

3. Export File Size Limitations

Shopify limits the size of imported files, which may cause large WooCommerce stores to encounter upload failures. Splitting large CSV files into smaller parts may be required.

4. Duplicate Customer Records

If the WooCommerce export includes multiple entries for the same customer (e.g., different order records), Shopify may create duplicate profiles unless these records are merged manually.

5. Order History Migration

Importing customer data does not automatically transfer order history. WooCommerce and Shopify have different order data structures, requiring a separate migration process using tools like Matrixify or Cart2Cart.

Must Read: Migrate your WooCommerce products to the Shopify

Alternative Methods for WooCommerce to Shopify Migration

If manual migration feels overwhelming or you have a large customer database, consider these alternative methods:

1. Third-Party Migration Tools

Several automated migration tools simplify the process and reduce the risk of errors:

Matrixify: A Shopify-approved app that facilitates the transfer of customer data, orders, and products from WooCommerce to Shopify.
Cart2Cart: Provides a user-friendly interface to migrate large datasets automatically.
LitExtension: Specializes in WooCommerce to Shopify migration with minimal downtime and automated data alignment.

2. Professional Migration Services

For complex or large-scale migrations, professional Shopify migration services offer hands-on assistance. Experts handle the technical aspects of data transfer and verify data accuracy post-migration.

Best Practices for a Successful WooCommerce to Shopify Migration

✅ Backup Customer Data

Before initiating the migration, create a complete backup of your WooCommerce data. This ensures that you have a recovery point in case of any issues during the transfer.

✅ Test on a Staging Site

Before transferring data to a live Shopify store, test the import process on a staging site. This helps catch formatting errors and data misalignment issues early.

✅ Clean Up Customer Data

Remove duplicate records and outdated customer profiles before the migration. Clean data reduces processing time and minimizes post-import adjustments.

✅ Inform Customers About the Migration

If the migration impacts customer accounts (e.g., log in details or order history), notify your customers in advance to avoid confusion or frustration.

✅ Post-Migration Audit

After completing the migration, audit customer profiles and order data to verify accuracy. Correct any errors promptly to maintain customer trust.

Common Issues and How to Fix Them

Issue	Cause	Solution
Import failure	CSV format errors	Double-check the CSV formatting based on Shopify’s template
Missing customer data	Unmapped fields in the CSV file	Map all WooCommerce fields to corresponding Shopify fields
Duplicate customer records	Data duplication during export	Remove duplicates manually or use a cleanup plugin
Incomplete order history	Order data not included in the export	Ensure that order history is selected during the export process

Final Thoughts

Switching from WooCommerce to Shopify can significantly improve store performance, customer experience, and store management — but the process of importing customer data requires careful planning and execution.

By preparing data properly, using the right tools, and following best practices, businesses can reduce the risk of data loss and customer confusion during migration.

For smaller stores with straightforward data structures, manual migration is sufficient.
For larger stores or complex data, using automated tools like Matrixify or professional migration services is a smarter choice.
Testing on a staging site, cleaning up customer data, and verifying imported data are key to a smooth migration.

By anticipating future trends and improvements in Shopify’s data handling capabilities, businesses that migrate now will position themselves for long-term success in the competitive eCommerce landscape.

Categorized in:

WordPress

Custom Engagement Solutions

Category

Shopify solutions for every industry!