Migrating From Wix or Squarespace to Shopify: What to Expect
Outgrowing Wix or Squarespace for selling? Here's how a migration to Shopify works, what transfers, what does not, and how to keep your SEO through the move.
Wix and Squarespace are excellent for simple websites, but when selling becomes the main event, many businesses outgrow them. Shopify's stronger checkout, deeper commerce features and bigger app ecosystem are usually the reason. If you are considering the move, here is what a migration actually involves, and how to do it without losing your search rankings.
Why stores make the move
- A better, higher-converting checkout, which is Shopify's core strength.
- Deeper commerce features (inventory, variants, shipping, taxes, B2B, subscriptions).
- A large app ecosystem for almost any need.
- Scalability as order volume grows.
If your store is simple and selling is a side feature, Wix or Squarespace may still be fine. The migration makes sense when commerce becomes central.
What transfers, and what does not
Be realistic about this part:
- Products and content can be migrated, but Wix and Squarespace do not export as cleanly as some platforms. Expect some reformatting or manual work, especially for product data and page content.
- Your design is rebuilt, not transferred. A migration is a chance to rebuild on a clean, fast Shopify theme (see Dawn vs a custom theme), matched to your brand.
- URLs change, because Shopify's URL structure differs from Wix and Squarespace. This is the part that matters most for SEO.
Protecting your SEO
The single biggest risk in any migration is losing rankings, and it is avoidable:
- Map every important old URL to its new Shopify URL.
- Set up 301 redirects so old links and search results point to the right new page.
- Preserve metadata and content so pages keep their relevance.
- Keep the old site live until the new one is tested and ready, then switch with redirects in place.
- Monitor indexing and traffic after launch and fix anything that slips.
Done this way, you keep your rankings and your momentum through the move. (This is the same discipline covered in the WordPress to Shopify migration guide; the principles apply to any platform.)
How the process works
- Audit your current Wix or Squarespace site: products, pages, URLs, integrations.
- Plan the new Shopify structure and the redirect map.
- Build the store on Shopify and migrate content and products.
- Test everything, especially checkout, on mobile and desktop.
- Launch with redirects live, then monitor.
The takeaway
Migrating from Wix or Squarespace to Shopify is worth it when e-commerce becomes your main focus and you want a stronger checkout, deeper features and room to grow. Expect to rebuild the design and do some manual data work, and treat redirect mapping as non-negotiable so you keep your SEO. Planned properly, it is a smooth step up, not a gamble.
Thinking about moving to Shopify from Wix or Squarespace? Get in touch or see CMS migration.
Frequently asked questions
Why move from Wix or Squarespace to Shopify?
Wix and Squarespace are great for simple sites, but for serious or growing e-commerce, Shopify offers a stronger checkout, deeper commerce features, more apps and better scalability. Many stores migrate once selling becomes the main focus.
Will I lose my SEO moving to Shopify?
Not if the migration is done properly. The key is mapping every old URL to its new Shopify URL with 301 redirects and preserving your metadata and content. Wix and Squarespace URL structures differ from Shopify, so careful redirect mapping matters.
Does everything transfer automatically from Wix or Squarespace?
No. Products and content can be migrated, but Wix and Squarespace do not export as cleanly as some platforms, so parts often need reformatting or manual work. The design is rebuilt on a Shopify theme rather than transferred.
How long does a migration to Shopify take?
Usually 2 to 4 weeks depending on how many products and pages you have and how custom the new store is. You get a clear plan and timeline before anything changes.