Shopware to WooCommerce
A Shopware to WooCommerce migration moves your store from self-hosted open-source to WooCommerce. Whether you're reducing DevOps overhead, scaling infrastructure, or tapping into its 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 WooCommerce 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 WooCommerce?
Shopware is a powerful open-source eCommerce platform, but it often becomes limiting for businesses that need hosted infrastructure and minimal technical maintenance. Moving to WooCommerce opens specific opportunities:
💰 WordPress Integration
The Shopware Pain: Shopware requires self-hosting, server management, and technical maintenance. You're responsible for updates, security, and performance optimization.
The WooCommerce Gain: Integrate e-commerce with WordPress CMS. Leverage WordPress ecosystem.
🚀 App Ecosystem
The Shopware Pain: Shopware has a smaller plugin marketplace compared to major hosted platforms. Limited third-party integrations.
The WooCommerce Gain: Access to thousands of WooCommerce apps. One-click integrations. Extensive app store.
🛠 Content & Commerce
The Shopware Pain: Shopware requires technical knowledge for advanced customization. Limited built-in content management.
The WooCommerce Gain: Combine powerful content management with e-commerce. Blog and store together.
⚡ Familiar Platform
The Shopware Pain: Shopware requires you to manage hosting, updates, and technical aspects yourself.
The WooCommerce Gain: If you know WordPress, you know WooCommerce. Easy learning curve.
Pre-Migration Audit: Shopware vs WooCommerce
Before migrating from Shopware to WooCommerce, map how your data translates. Shopware (Symfony/Store API) and WooCommerce use different structures.
What to Check Before Migration
Shopware uses Symfony entity structure with Store API. WooCommerce uses REST Admin API for data import.
- Shopware Version: Are you on Shopware 5 or 6? Database structure differs. Migration tools handle both versions.
- API Access: Shopware 6 provides Store API. Shopware 5 may require bridge extension. Migration tools use bridge for data extraction.
- WooCommerce Setup: Ensure WooCommerce store is set up and ready. Configure API access if required.
- Product Structure: Shopware products with option groups map to WooCommerce products with variants. WooCommerce has 100 variant limit per product.
- Images: Shopware images are in media system. Need to be transferred to WooCommerce CDN.
Shopware to WooCommerce Data Mapping
Exact field mappings for a Shopware to WooCommerce migration. Use SKU for product linking—WooCommerce generates new IDs.
🛍 Products
| Shopware (Source) | WooCommerce (Target) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
product.id |
Product ID |
WooCommerce generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
product_translation.name |
Product Name |
Direct string transfer. |
product.number |
SKU |
Shopware SKU at product level. WooCommerce SKU at variant level. |
product_price.price |
Price |
Direct mapping with currency conversion if needed. |
product_translation.description |
Description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading to WooCommerce CDN. |
product_category |
Category |
Shopware categories become WooCommerce collections. |
property_group_option, product_configurator_setting |
Variants/Options |
Shopware variants map to WooCommerce variants. WooCommerce limits 100 variants per product. |
👥 Customers
| Shopware Field | WooCommerce Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
customer.email |
Email |
Unique identifier. |
customer.password (hashed) |
Password (on create) |
Password migration depends on WooCommerce support. Shopware uses bcrypt. Migration tool handles conversion if supported, otherwise customers must reset passwords. |
customer_address |
Address |
Shopware addresses map to WooCommerce customer addresses. |
📦 Orders
| Shopware Field | WooCommerce Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
order.order_number |
Order Number |
Preserve Shopware order number in WooCommerce order field. |
order_state_machine_state |
Order Status |
Map Shopware order states to WooCommerce's dual status system. |
order.price.totalPrice |
Total |
Direct mapping with currency conversion if needed. |
How to Migrate Shopware to WooCommerce: 3 Options
Choose based on budget and technical skill:
Automated Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Shopware Migration Hub, LitExtension, Cart2Cart
Specialized tools that connect via Shopware bridge extension and WooCommerce Admin API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles API complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for WooCommerce automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200 - $400). Requires bridge extension on Shopware.
CSV Import
Tools: Shopware Admin Export + WooCommerce CSV Import
Export from Shopware, format for WooCommerce, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required, may lose some data relationships. Limited to products and categories.
Custom Script
Tools: Shopware Store API + WooCommerce Admin API
Build a custom script using Shopware Store API and WooCommerce Admin API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming. Must handle both platform structures.
Shopware to WooCommerce Migration Steps
Using automated migration (recommended for most stores):
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (WooCommerce):
Set up your WooCommerce store. Complete WooCommerce setup wizard. Configure API access if required. Do not point your domain there yet. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Use password protection to prevent public access during setup.
1.2. Prepare Source (Shopware):
Install migration bridge extension on Shopware. Ensure Store API or database access is available. Keep your Shopware store live during migration.
Phase 2: The Connection Setup
2.1. WooCommerce Access:
Generate API credentials in WooCommerce admin. Create private app with write permissions for products, customers, and orders.
2.2. Shopware Access:
Bridge extension connects to Shopware. Migration tool authenticates via bridge extension API.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Be careful with these specific settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Check this box if using custom domain. It creates redirects from Shopware URLs to WooCommerce URLs. Without this, your SEO dies.
- Migrate Product Variants: WooCommerce limits 100 variants per product. May need to consolidate if Shopware has more.
- Migrate Images: Images are downloaded from Shopware media system and uploaded to WooCommerce CDN automatically.
- Password Migration: Depends on WooCommerce support. Customer passwords may be migrated if supported, otherwise customers must reset passwords.
Phase 4: The Full Migration
Launch the process. The migration tool handles Shopware data extraction and WooCommerce API import automatically.
Time Estimation: 5,000 products + 10,000 orders usually takes 2-4 hours. Large catalogs migrate efficiently via automated tools.
Phase 5: Post-Migration Cleanup
5.1. Customer Communication:
Notify customers about the migration. They may need to reset passwords depending on WooCommerce password migration support.
5.2. Verify Products:
Check all products migrated correctly. Verify images, prices, and product variants. Note WooCommerce's 100 variant limit.
5.3. Design & Customization:
Choose or customize WooCommerce theme. Shopware themes cannot be migrated, but WooCommerce offers extensive theme store.
Shopware to WooCommerce 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 WooCommerce: SEO & Common Issues
SEO Preservation
301 redirects are critical. Shopware and WooCommerce URLs differ. Automated tools create redirects—verify in WooCommerce admin. Without redirects, you lose rankings.
Common Migration Issues
- Variant limit: WooCommerce allows 100 variants per product. Shopware has no limit—consolidate or split products.
- Images: Re-upload from Shopware media to WooCommerce CDN.
- Passwords: May require customer password reset if tool doesn't support conversion.
- Multi-store: Each Shopware sales channel can migrate to a separate WooCommerce store.
Ready to Migrate Shopware to WooCommerce?
A Shopware to WooCommerce migration gives you hosted infrastructure and ecosystem access. Use automated tools to preserve products, customers, orders, and SEO rankings.