If you want to stop struggling with complex setups, slow loading speed, and all the nuisances that come with OpenCart, switching to Shopify will relieve you from all the headaches. Fortunately, with an automated migration service, OpenCart to Shopify migration can be done within just a few taps of your fingertips.
Keep reading to unveil all the steps you need to do to migrate from OpenCart to Shopify, how much does the migration cost, and why Shopify is the optimal solution for you.
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Outline
- Why Migrate from OpenCart To Shopify?
- How Much Does OpenCart To Shopify Migration Cost?
- OpenCart to Shopify Migration Pre-Migration Checklist
- How to Migrate OpenCart to Shopify In 3 Steps?
- OpenCart to Shopify Post-Migration Checklist
- OpenCart to Shopify Migration - FAQs
- Ready to Migrate from OpenCart to Shopify?
Why Migrate from OpenCart To Shopify?
If you're thinking about moving to Shopify, here are 4 reasons why it might be a good choice:
#1. OpenCart’s technical complexities are too much
If dealing with the technical complexity of OpenCart is too hard for you, Shopify can make things easier. Open-source solutions like OpenCart require special technical skills to set up and maintain your online store.
Over time, this involves more work, like managing servers and databases and keeping everything secure with updates.
In contrast, Shopify is like a pre-made home that handles all the tricky technical stuff. It lets you focus on your business instead of worrying about the technical details.
#2. Shopify websites are more well-responsive
If you want your online store to work well on phones and tablets, Shopify can also help. Lots of people use their smartphones to shop online, so it's essential that your store looks good and works perfectly on these small screens.
Fortunately, this platform comes with hundreds of the best Shopify themes that automatically adjust to different screen sizes, so your customers will have a great shopping experience using a phone, computer, or tablet.
Shopify comes with a wide range of mobile-responsive themes
#3. Shopify offers more security
If you're worried about keeping your store safe, don't be! Shopify takes care of that too. It's like having a security guard for your online shop. Shopify handles all the essential security stuff, like updates and backups, so your store stays safe from harmful things like hackers or data loss.
They even follow PCI DSS rules and use SSL encryption to secure everything. Since Shopify is like a fully managed store, they have special teams who make sure everything runs smoothly. This means you don't have to worry about the technical side of things and can focus on growing your business.
#4. Shopify offers greater support
Shopify staff are famous for their fantastic customer support. You can get help anytime, day or night, through live chat, email, or phone. Plus, there's a friendly community of other store owners and experts ready to advise and help with any problems you run into. 
Shopify Help Center
To learn more about the pros and cons of Shopify, please check out our article here!
How Much Does OpenCart To Shopify Migration Cost?
It depends. If you choose to hire an OpenCart to Shopify migration expert to perform the migration, this can cost you at least $1,000. This number can go all the way to a few grands, depending on the complexity of your migrations.
And that’s why we recommend using LitExtension’s automated migration service. This is because their service only costs you $79 to $139 per full migration. Here are the detailed pricing information for your reference:
Basic Package ($79)
- This budget-friendly package includes essential migration features.
- You'll also have access to some free options, such as clearing data on the target store before migration, creating product variants based on combinations of options, and migrating images from products, categories, and blog post descriptions.
- If you require the "Preserve Product, Order, Customer IDs on Target Store" option, there's an additional cost of $39.
All-in-One Package ($139)
- With this comprehensive package, you'll enjoy all additional options at no extra charge.
- It provides a more comprehensive solution for a seamless migration experience.
LitExtension All-in-One Migration Benefits
OpenCart to Shopify Migration Pre-Migration Checklist
Before rushing into the migration part, you need to finish two important tasks first– backing up your OpenCart store data and setting up a new Shopify website to which you’ll migrate your data.
#1. Back up your OpenCart store important data
In case something goes wrong during the migration process, you first need to back up your OpenCart store’s crucial data.
Navigate to System>Backup/Restore. Herein, you can get a backup of your OpenCart store's existing database or restore the database to the administration.
The Backup section below consists of all the downloadable data tables listed in the MySQL database. Simply click on the files that you want to download. Next, select the Export button, and the tables you've picked will be downloaded to your PC.
Backup OpenCart store
#2. Set up your new Shopify store
After you've saved your store data, you'll need to create a new Shopify store so you can transfer your data. Here is a quick guide to get you started:
- If you haven't already, sign up for a Shopify account.
- Pick a visually appealing Shopify theme and customize it to your theme
- Configure your payment gateways to accept payments and transactions from your customers. If you are valid, we highly recommend enable Shopify Payments to avoid third-party payment gateway transaction fees
- Define shipping zones, rates, and delivery options
- Based on your business location, configure tax settings
How to Migrate OpenCart to Shopify In 3 Steps?
Now that you have backed up your WooCommerce store’s crucial data and done basic Shopify setups, let’s get to the main point– migrating from OpenCart to Shopify.
However, the biggest issues with OpenCart to Shopify migration are human errors (for manual method) or excruciating costs (of hiring an expert).
That’s why we’ll show you how to do the migration with the optimal method– using LitExtension’s automated migration service.
#1. Set up Source Cart & Target Cart
On the Migration Page, hit the Create New Migration button. Select Opencart as the Source Cart Type and provide its URL in the blank bar.
Afterward, click LitExtension Connector to download the connector. Extract the connector zip file, and upload the connector to OpenCart’s root folder.
Next, choose Shopify as Target Cart Type > Type in your Shopify store’s URL, and enter your Shopify API.
Choose Shopify as your target cart
#2. Select the entities to migrate
Moving along, choose the entities you want to migrate from OpenCart to Shopify. LitExtension’s migration service covers all the essential data attributes like product listings, reviews, collections, customers, orders, and discounts.
And the incredible part is that you can select advanced migration options like image migration, automatic 301 redirects, and more.
Choose the entities you want to migrate from OpenCart to Shopify
#3. Perform OpenCart to Shopify migration
After you have chosen the types of data to migrate, your migration is only a few clicks away. However, if this is the first time you’ve used LitExtension’s migration service, we highly advise you to try a migration demo to test out the water first.
Otherwise, you can choose to skip the demo and move straight to the real migration. After the migration is activated, the data transferring will happen seamlessly and securely on LitExtension’s server. This means you will not have to keep your PC on during the migration process.
Perform full migration from OpenCart to Shopify
Once the migration has been completed, you will receive an email notification, so don’t forget to check your mailbox.
And that is how easy-peasy it is to perform the Shopify migration using LitExtension’s automated migration service.
OpenCart to Shopify Post-Migration Checklist
After you have finished migrating your store data from OpenCart to Shopify, there is still work to do before bringing your customers in.
#1. Check OpenCart to Shopify migration results
Though most migrations are error-free with LitExtension’s automated migration service, we still highly advise you to check your OpenCart to Shopify migration results after the migration.
For instance, review and ensure your migrated products have descriptions, high-resolution images, and accurate pricing information.
Besides product data, if you migrate other entities from OpenCart to Shopify, like customer profiles or orders, check those attributes as well.
#2. Customize a new Shopify theme
Since you cannot migrate your theme from OpenCart to Shopify, the next thing you should do is pick a new theme from the Shopify Theme Store and customize it to your brand style. When choosing a theme from Shopify Theme Store, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Use the sidebar filter to sort out the theme that offers the features or visual designs you need. (e.g., a color swatch on product pages or theme with special effects)
- Themes on the Shopify Theme Store don’t require you to pay unless you publish your theme. So, remember to test out your chosen theme carefully before purchasing it
Choose your theme carefully on the Shopify Theme Store
This won't take much time, as you can easily customize your Shopify theme with a drag-and-drop editor. But if you want to add features or sections the theme doesn’t support, installing Shopify apps like PageFly will help– which we’ll discuss next.
#3. Install necessary Shopify apps
Shopify’s built-in eCommerce features are robust. However, if you want to scale up your online store, and grow steady sales, installing the best Shopify apps to increase sales is a must, not a plus.
However, don’t just install any random app you come across among 8,000 apps in the Shopify App Store, as this might slow down your Shopify page speed– a crucial SEO ranking factor. Hence, make sure that you only install the needed ones.
From our experience, here are the best Shopify apps in their respective categories:
- Page builder: Your visual storefront can be a deal maker or breaker. So, touch it up with PageFly, EComposer, or Shotgun.
- SEO: Growing organic traffic is crucial to your store’s long-term success. Therefore, we recommend installing Avada SEO or Booster SEO. And don’t forget to complete this Shopify SEO checklist to better optimize your store.
- Product reviews: Trust is a pillar of any high-converting product page. Luckily, with Ali Reviews, Judge.me or Loox, you can add thousands of product reviews to your store in clicks,
- Globalization solution: If your store targets global customers, install Transcy to allow international shoppers to shop comfortably in their local language and currency.
Installing Shopify apps is the next thing you should do
#4. Place an order test
And last but not least, don’t forget to place an order test on your Shopify store. Your efforts will go in vain if your customers get stuck at the checkout page.
Therefore, before launching your Shopify store– the last thing you must do is place an order test and make sure that your customers can make it all the way to the thank you page.
OpenCart to Shopify Migration - FAQs
How do I migrate my OpenCart website?
To migrate your OpenCart website to Shopify, you can use the official Shopify migration tool or hire a Shopify expert to assist you with the process.
How do I migrate to Shopify without losing SEO?
To migrate to Shopify without losing SEO, ensure proper 301 redirects from your old URLs to new ones on Shopify, maintain high-quality content, optimize meta tags and descriptions, and submit an updated sitemap to search engines.
How do I export orders from OpenCart?
To export orders from OpenCart, use the built-in export feature in your OpenCart admin panel to export order data in CSV format, which can then be imported into Shopify.
How long does it take to migrate to Shopify?
The time it takes to migrate to Shopify varies depending on the complexity of your store, the amount of data to be transferred, and your familiarity with the platform. It can range from a few hours for a simple store to several weeks for a complex one.
Ready to Migrate from OpenCart to Shopify?
If you want a more user-friendly platform with robust eCommerce features that allow you to easily run, manage, and grow your online business, migrating from OpenCart to Shopify is the right answer. We hope after reading this article, you will know how to perform OpenCart to Shopify migration properly.
