To migrate between Shopify and WooCommerce in Europe, export products, customers and orders, map them to the new platform, recreate VAT, shipping and payment settings, set up redirects for every old URL, test checkout in each market, then switch DNS. Plan around GDPR and cookie consent.
Moving a European online shop between Shopify and WooCommerce is more than copying products. VAT rules, languages, payment methods and search rankings all have to survive the move. This guide walks through what to export, what to rebuild, how to protect SEO and how to launch with confidence.
Key takeaways
- Decide the reason for moving first, because it shapes what you keep, rebuild or drop.
- Products, customers and orders move well; passwords, apps and some reviews need special care.
- Every old URL needs a redirect plan, especially product and collection paths that differ between platforms.
- VAT, OSS, shipping and payment methods must be tested market by market before launch.
- Cookie consent, privacy notices and accessibility checks should be part of the launch checklist.
1Why do European shops move between Shopify and WooCommerce?
Shops move for control, cost, features or integrations, and the right direction depends on your team and your catalogue, not on a general rule.
Towards WooCommerce
Teams that want deep customisation, self-hosting choices or WordPress content in one place.
Towards Shopify
Teams that want a hosted platform with less maintenance and a managed checkout.
Between regions
Shops adding new EU markets that need local languages, currencies and payment methods.
Compare total cost of ownership, including apps, hosting and developer time, before deciding.
2What data should you export and rebuild?
Export everything you need to keep, and list what must be rebuilt by hand because it does not transfer.
| Item | Usually moves? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Products and variants | Yes | Check images, SKUs and options |
| Customers | Yes | Passwords cannot be moved; plan a reset email |
| Orders | Yes | Keep for accounting and support |
| Discount codes | Often | Rules may need rebuilding |
| Apps and plugins | No | Find equivalents |
Our Shopify and WooCommerce migration service starts with this audit.
3How do you keep your search rankings?
Keep rankings by mapping every old URL to its closest new URL with a permanent redirect, and by keeping titles, descriptions and content as close as possible.
- Crawl the old shop and list every indexable URL.
- Map each to the new equivalent, such as product and collection paths.
- Implement 301 redirects and test them in bulk.
- Carry over metadata, canonical tags and structured data.
- Submit the new sitemap and monitor Search Console after launch.
See our guide to SEO-safe website migration for the wider checklist.
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4How do VAT, OSS and shipping settings carry over?
Tax and shipping settings do not migrate as data, so recreate them carefully and test orders for each country you sell to.
VAT and OSS
Confirm how your business handles destination-country VAT and the One Stop Shop scheme with your accountant, then configure the new shop to match.
Shipping zones
Rebuild zones, rates and delivery estimates, including non-EU destinations.
Invoices
Check invoice numbering, VAT lines and any e-invoicing needs for your markets.
5What about payments, languages and currencies?
European customers expect local payment methods and their own language, so test them before launch rather than after complaints.
Common methods vary by country and may include cards, bank debit, instant bank payments and buy now pay later options, subject to your provider. Strong customer authentication rules apply to many card payments, so test the full checkout flow. For multi-language stores, set up language versions and hreflang tags properly; our multi-region website service covers this in detail.
6Which legal and quality checks belong in the launch plan?
Include GDPR, cookie consent, accessibility and basic performance checks in your launch checklist, and confirm legal points with your adviser.
Privacy and cookies
Update privacy notices, consent banners and data processor lists for the new platform and apps.
Accessibility
Check whether the European Accessibility Act applies to your shop and test keyboard and screen reader basics.
Performance
Compare page speed before and after, and fix heavy images and scripts.
More practical guides are on our blog.
7How does ERPHUBs run the move?
ERPHUBs is an independent Zoho Authorized Partner and web migration team. We audit, map, migrate, test and launch with a rollback plan, and connect your shop to CRM and accounting when you are ready.
Book a free consultation and we will review your current shop, list the risks and propose a timeline before any work begins.
Shopify and WooCommerce migration
Audit, data migration, redirects, tax and payment setup and launch for European shops.
Frequently asked questions
No. Passwords are stored securely and cannot be exported in a usable way. Plan a welcome-back email with a password reset link and explain the change to customers in advance.
Rankings can dip briefly, but a complete redirect map, preserved metadata and good monitoring reduce the risk. No one can guarantee results, so track performance closely after launch.
A small shop can move in a few weeks and a large multi-market shop takes longer. Catalogue size, custom features and testing across countries are the main factors.
Usually not. The new shop is built and tested on a staging site, then you switch DNS in a quiet window. Orders placed near cut-over need a clear handling rule.
Confirm your approach with your accountant, then configure tax rules and test orders for each destination country. Keep invoices and records consistent with your accounting system.
Reviews can sometimes be exported and imported depending on the tool, but apps do not transfer. List every app you rely on and choose equivalents before the move.