Shopware to Shopify
A Shopware to Shopify migration moves your store from self-hosted open-source to a fully managed SaaS platform. Whether you're reducing DevOps overhead, scaling with Shopify's infrastructure, or tapping into its app ecosystem—this guide covers the data mapping, migration steps, and SEO preservation you need.
This technical blueprint helps store owners and developers execute a Shopware to Shopify store migration without losing products, customers, orders, or rankings. We cover API structures, field mappings, migration costs, and step-by-step execution.
Why Migrate from Shopware to Shopify?
Shopware is powerful, but many businesses choose a Shopware to Shopify migration for hosted infrastructure, zero server management, and access to thousands of apps. Key reasons to switch:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
Shopware: Self-hosting, server management, updates, and security are your responsibility.
Shopify: Fully managed. No DevOps. Shopify handles scaling, security, and uptime.
🚀 App Ecosystem
Shopware: Smaller plugin marketplace. Fewer third-party integrations.
Shopify: 8,000+ apps. One-click integrations. Extensive app store.
🛠 Ease of Use
Shopware: Symfony-based. Requires technical knowledge for customization.
Shopify: User-friendly admin. Liquid templating. Non-technical users can manage stores.
⚡ Quick Launch
Shopware: You manage hosting, updates, and technical aspects.
Shopify: Launch fast. Focus on selling, not infrastructure.
Pre-Migration Audit: Shopware vs Shopify
Before migrating from Shopware to Shopify, map how your data translates. Shopware (Symfony/Store API) and Shopify (REST Admin API) use different structures.
What to Check Before Migration
- Shopware version: Shopware 5 or 6? Database structure differs. Migration tools support both.
- API access: Shopware 6 has Store API. Shopware 5 may need a bridge extension for data extraction.
- Shopify setup: Create your Shopify store. Configure API credentials for import.
- Product variants: Shopware option groups map to Shopify variants. Shopify limits 100 variants per product.
- Images: Shopware media must be transferred to Shopify CDN.
Shopware to Shopify Data Mapping
Exact field mappings for a Shopware to Shopify migration. Use SKU for product linking—Shopify generates new IDs.
🛍 Products
| Shopware (Source) | Shopify (Target) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
product.id |
Product.id |
Use SKU for mapping. |
product_translation.name |
Product.title |
Direct transfer. |
product.number |
ProductVariant.sku |
Shopify SKU is at variant level. |
product_price.price |
ProductVariant.price |
Currency conversion if needed. |
product_translation.description |
Product.body_html |
Re-upload images to Shopify CDN. |
product_category |
Collection |
Categories → Collections. |
property_group_option |
ProductVariant |
100 variants/product limit on Shopify. |
👥 Customers
| Shopware | Shopify | Notes |
|---|---|---|
customer.email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
customer.password |
Customer.password |
Migration tools may convert bcrypt. Otherwise, password reset. |
customer_address |
CustomerAddress |
Address mapping. |
📦 Orders
| Shopware | Shopify | Notes |
|---|---|---|
order.order_number |
Order.name |
Preserve order numbers. |
order_state_machine_state |
Order.financial_status |
Map statuses. |
order.price.totalPrice |
Order.total_price |
Currency conversion if needed. |
How to Migrate Shopware to Shopify: 3 Options
Choose based on budget and technical skill:
Automated Migration (Recommended)
Shopware Migration Hub, LitExtension, Cart2Cart
Connects Shopware bridge to Shopify Admin API. Preserves products, customers, orders, and relationships.
- ✅ Handles API complexity, 301 redirects, image transfer
- ❌ $200–$400 depending on data volume
CSV Import
Shopware Export + Shopify CSV Import
Export from Shopware, format for Shopify, import manually. Lower cost, more manual work.
- ✅ Low cost, full control
- ❌ Limited to products/categories; no orders/customers
Custom Script
Shopware Store API + Shopify Admin API
Build your own migration script. Full control, reusable.
- ✅ Complete control
- ❌ $2,500+ developer time
Shopware to Shopify Migration Steps
Using automated migration (recommended for most stores):
Step 1: Prepare Shopify
Create your Shopify store. Complete setup. Configure API access. Use a subdomain for testing—don't point your domain yet.
Step 2: Prepare Shopware
Install the migration bridge on Shopware. Ensure Store API or database access. Keep Shopware live during migration.
Step 3: Connect & Configure
Generate Shopify API credentials. Connect the migration tool to Shopware via bridge. Configure what to migrate.
Step 4: Critical Settings
- 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirect old Shopware URLs to new Shopify URLs.
- Product Variants: Shopify limits 100 variants/product. Consolidate if needed.
- Images: Migrate from Shopware media to Shopify CDN.
- Passwords: Migration tools may convert; otherwise customers reset.
Step 5: Run Migration
Launch the migration. Typical: 5,000 products + 10,000 orders in 2–4 hours.
Step 6: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a Shopify theme.
Shopware to Shopify Migration Cost (2025)
Typical costs for ~2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers:
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated
Average
Agency
Starting
Shopware to Shopify: SEO & Common Issues
SEO Preservation
301 redirects are critical. Shopware and Shopify URLs differ. Automated tools create redirects—verify in Shopify admin. Without redirects, you lose rankings.
Common Migration Issues
- Variant limit: Shopify allows 100 variants per product. Shopware has no limit—consolidate or split products.
- Images: Re-upload from Shopware media to Shopify CDN.
- Passwords: May require customer password reset if tool doesn't support conversion.
- Multi-store: Each Shopware sales channel can migrate to a separate Shopify store.
Ready to Migrate Shopware to Shopify?
A Shopware to Shopify migration gives you hosted infrastructure, zero server management, and access to 8,000+ apps. Use automated tools to preserve products, customers, orders, and SEO rankings.