The transfer of products from one Shopify store to another involves the safe transfer of all your product-related details, i.e., titles, descriptions, prices, images, SKUs, variants, etc., from one Shopify store to another Shopify store without compromising the accuracy of the details or their SEO value or sales potential. It is required when you are moving to a new brand, opening a regional store, splitting your business, or duplicating your products for wholesale or dropshipping purposes.
Why You May Need to Transfer Products Between Shopify Stores
There are a number of real-world situations where Shopify store owners need to transfer products from one Shopify store to another. These situations are as follows:
- Rebranding or launching a new Shopify store
- Creating a separate wholesale or B2B store
- Expanding into international markets with region-specific stores
- Selling or handing over a Shopify business
- Testing new store designs without affecting the main store
Shopify does not provide a one-click “store-to-store transfer” feature, but there are reliable methods to get the job done correctly.
What Product Data Can Be Transferred
Before you begin, you should be aware of the data you can transfer. This includes:
- Product titles and descriptions
- Prices and compare-at prices
- Product images and galleries
- Variants (size, color, material, etc.)
- SKUs and barcodes
- Inventory quantities
- Product categories and tags
- SEO titles and meta descriptions
Certain pieces of information, such as reviews, sales data, and custom app information, may need additional processing or the use of third-party services.
Method 1: Transfer Products Using Shopify CSV Export and Import
This is the official and most widely used method.
Step 1: Export Products From the Source Store
- Log in to your original Shopify store
- Go to Products → All Products
- Click Export
- Choose:
All products or selected products
CSV for Excel or Google Sheets - Download the CSV file
Step-2: Prepare the CSV File
- Open the CSV in Excel or Google Sheets
- Do NOT change column headers
- Check:
- Product handles
- Image URLs
- Variant rows
- Remove unnecessary products if needed
Step 3: Import Products Into the New Store
- Log in to the destination Shopify store
- Go to Products → Import
- Upload the CSV file
- Choose overwrite options carefully
- Start the import
Pros
- Free
- Full control over data
- Shopify-native method
Cons
- Not beginner-friendly
- No automation
- Large catalogs can be time-consuming
Method 2: Transfer Products Using Shopify Migration Apps
If you want speed and automation, third-party apps are the best choice.
Popular Shopify Product Transfer Apps
- Matrixify (Excelify)
- Store Importer
- LitExtension
- Cart2Cart
How It Works
- Install the app on both stores (or grant access)
- Select products as the data type
- Map fields if required
- Run the transfer
Pros
- Very fast
- Handles large catalogs
- Supports variants, images, SEO data
Cons
- Paid tools
- Some apps charge per product count
Method 3: Duplicate Products Manually (Small Catalogs Only)
For stores with under 10–20 products, manual copying may work.
Steps:
- Open product in source store
- Copy product title, description, price
- Download images and upload manually
- Recreate variants
This method is not recommended for medium or large stores due to high error risk.
Important Things to Check After Transferring Products
Once the transfer is complete, always review:
Product Images
- Ensure all images loaded correctly
- Check image order
Variants & Pricing
- Confirm variant prices and SKUs
- Check inventory tracking settings
SEO Settings
- Meta titles and descriptions
- Product URLs (handles)
Collections
- Reassign products to collections
- Smart collections may need rule updates
How to Transfer Product Reviews
Shopify does not include reviews in product exports.
To move reviews:
- Use review app export/import tools
- Or use apps like Judge.me, Loox, or Ali Reviews
Make sure the product handles match exactly in both stores.
Inventory & Stock Transfer Tips
- Inventory quantities transfer via CSV
- Inventory locations must already exist in the destination store
- Double-check inventory tracking is enabled
For multi-location stores, inventory often needs manual adjustment.
SEO Considerations When Transferring Products
To avoid ranking loss:
- Keep the same product handles if possible
- Set 301 redirects if URLs change
- Preserve meta titles and descriptions
- Resubmit sitemap in Google Search Console
SEO consistency is critical when launching the new store.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Changing CSV column names
- Importing without backups
- Forgetting to assign collections
- Ignoring variant rows
- Overwriting existing products unintentionally
Always back up both stores before importing.
Best Method Based on Store Size
| Store Size | Recommended Method |
|---|---|
| 1–20 products | Manual or CSV |
| 20–500 products | CSV or Matrixify |
| 500+ products | Migration app |
Final Thoughts
Transferring products from one Shopify store to another is an orderly process that involves much more than simply copying data. The safest and most reliable methods involve using Shopify’s CSV export and import feature or using professional migration tools. When properly executed, product transfers will maintain SEO, inventory, and sales readiness.
