Last Updated: February 18, 2026
If you’re planning to move your blog between Shopify and WordPress, whether you are switching platforms entirely or consolidating content under one system, you are not alone. Platform migrations are common as businesses evolve. What works at launch does not always support long-term growth.
The challenge is not deciding to migrate. The challenge is preserving everything that already works.
Blog posts contain formatting, internal links, images, categories, publication dates, and SEO value. Moving that content without breaking URLs or losing structure requires planning. Done properly, migration can strengthen your site. Done carelessly, it can damage traffic and rankings.
Shopify offers strong ecommerce functionality, but its blogging system is intentionally lightweight. Many brands eventually want deeper SEO control, structured content tools, advanced categorization, or plugin flexibility. WordPress provides that level of control, especially when using a WordPress.com Business or Commerce plan that allows plugins and advanced customization.
At the same time, some businesses prefer centralization. If your primary focus is product sales and you want blog and store management inside one dashboard, moving from WordPress to Shopify can simplify operations.
This guide covers both directions so you can make a clear, informed decision.
We will walk through:
- How to move blog posts from WordPress to Shopify
- Tools required for each process
- Formatting considerations
- SEO precautions and redirect strategy
Quick Answer: You can move a blog between Shopify and WordPress by exporting your posts, converting the data into the correct format for the destination platform, and importing it using tools like Matrixify for Shopify or WP All Import for WordPress.
Most users migrating for long-term content growth move from Shopify to WordPress because it offers stronger SEO control, structured publishing tools, and greater design flexibility. However, moving from WordPress to Shopify can make sense for ecommerce-first brands that want centralized management.
Table of Contents:
- Shopify to WordPress
- WordPress to Shopify
- Cross-Posting or Hybrid Strategy
- 1. Back Up Everything
- 2. Inventory Your Blog Content
- 3. Review Your URL Structure
- 4. Audit Internal Links
- 5. Evaluate Images and Media
- 6. Check Your SEO Metadata
- Option A: Use WP All Import (Recommended)
- Option B: Convert CSV to WordPress XML
- What This Means in Practice
- Important: Domain Changes Increase Complexity

Why One Might Migrate Blogs
Platform migrations usually happen for strategic reasons, not technical curiosity. The decision often reflects a shift in how the business uses content.
Here are the most common scenarios.
Shopify to WordPress
Many businesses start on Shopify because it simplifies ecommerce setup. Over time, however, content marketing becomes more important. Brands begin publishing guides, tutorials, SEO-focused articles, and long-form educational content.
That is where limitations become noticeable.
Common reasons for moving from Shopify to WordPress include:
- Greater control over SEO structure and metadata
- Advanced category and tag organization
- Access to plugins for lead generation and automation
- More flexible blog layouts
- Better long-form content formatting
- Transitioning from Shopify to WooCommerce
For content-driven brands, WordPress often becomes the more scalable foundation.
WordPress to Shopify
This direction is less common but still valid.
Some businesses prioritize operational simplicity. If the blog is secondary to product sales, consolidating everything inside Shopify can reduce backend management. Instead of maintaining hosting, plugins, and updates separately, the entire storefront and blog operate under one system.
This approach makes sense for:
- Small product-focused brands
- Stores with minimal blog content
- Teams that want one admin interface
However, it comes with trade-offs in SEO customization and design flexibility.
Cross-Posting or Hybrid Strategy
Some brands maintain both platforms intentionally.
For example, a company might run its ecommerce store on Shopify while hosting its long-form blog on WordPress under a subdomain. In that case, content synchronization tools or manual cross-posting may be required.
Hybrid setups require more maintenance but allow businesses to optimize each platform for its strengths.
Understanding your long-term goal is critical before initiating migration.
Before You Start: Migration Checklist
Before exporting anything, take time to plan. Migration mistakes often happen because site owners rush into data transfer without auditing what already exists.
Use this checklist before moving your blog.
1. Back Up Everything
Always create a full backup before exporting content. Even if you are only moving blog posts, errors can occur during conversion or import.
2. Inventory Your Blog Content
Note:
- Number of posts
- Categories and tags
- Custom fields
- Featured images
- Embedded media
Knowing your scope helps determine whether you can migrate manually or need automation tools.
3. Review Your URL Structure
Shopify blog URLs typically follow this format:
/blogs/news/post-title
WordPress often uses:
/blog/post-title
If you are keeping your domain, you will need to set up 301 redirects to preserve SEO equity.
Document your current URL patterns before migrating.
4. Audit Internal Links
Many blog posts link to other posts. After migration, those links may still point to old URLs.
Plan to:
- Update internal links after import
- Use search-and-replace tools if needed
5. Evaluate Images and Media
Images often break during migration because URLs change.
Determine:
- Whether images are stored on Shopify CDN
- Whether you will re-upload to WordPress Media Library
- Whether you need bulk image downloading tools
6. Check Your SEO Metadata
If you use custom meta titles or descriptions, confirm whether your export includes that data. Some migration tools do not transfer SEO fields automatically.
If SEO preservation matters, you will need to map those fields carefully during import.
Part 1: How to Move Your Blog from Shopify to WordPress
Moving from Shopify to WordPress is the more common direction, especially for businesses expanding their content strategy.
Shopify’s blog system works well for short updates and product-related announcements. However, when brands begin publishing structured guides, SEO-focused articles, pillar content, or long-form resources, WordPress provides more control.
With WordPress, you gain:
- Custom post types and advanced categorization
- Greater control over metadata and on-page SEO
- Plugin support for content strategy and automation
- More flexible layout and formatting tools
If you are using a WordPress.com Business or Commerce plan, you can install import tools and SEO plugins without maintaining a self-hosted server.
Let’s walk through the migration process step by step.
Step 1: Export Your Shopify Blog Content
Shopify does not provide a built-in native blog export tool. You will need to use an app.
The most commonly used tool is Matrixify (formerly Excelify).
Inside Shopify:
- Install Matrixify from the Shopify App Store
- Select Blog Posts as the export object
- Export as CSV or Excel
- Include the following fields:
- Title
- Body HTML
- Handle (URL slug)
- Published date
- Tags
- Author
- Image URLs
Exporting all relevant fields now reduces cleanup later.
Step 2: Convert Shopify CSV for WordPress
The exported CSV file is not immediately compatible with WordPress.
You have two reliable options:
Option A: Use WP All Import (Recommended)
WP All Import allows you to map CSV fields directly to WordPress post fields.
You will:
- Upload your CSV file
- Map Title to Post Title
- Map Body HTML to Post Content
- Map Tags to WordPress Tags
- Map Categories manually if needed
- Map Publish Date
This method gives you control and reduces formatting errors.
Option B: Convert CSV to WordPress XML
Some users prefer converting CSV to WordPress XML format and importing through:
Tools → Import → WordPress
This method works but offers less granular field mapping.
For large blogs, WP All Import is more reliable.
Step 3: Set Up Your WordPress Site Properly
Before importing, make sure your WordPress environment is ready.
If using WordPress.com:
- Choose the Business or Commerce plan for plugin access
- Configure permalink structure (for example: /blog/post-name/)
- Create your Blog page and set it under Settings → Reading
If using self-hosted WordPress:
- Install necessary SEO plugins
- Confirm your permalink structure
- Ensure backups are active
Permalink structure must be set before import. Changing it afterward can complicate redirect planning.
Step 4: Import Your Posts
Using WP All Import:
- Upload your CSV file
- Map each field carefully
- Run import
- Review imported posts before publishing
Check:
- Formatting consistency
- Heading structure
- Internal links
- Image display
- Category assignment
Avoid bulk publishing before reviewing a sample batch.
Step 5: Re-Upload and Fix Images
Shopify often hosts images on its CDN. After migration, image URLs may still reference Shopify’s domain.
You have two options:
- Leave Shopify image URLs in place
- Download and re-upload images into WordPress Media Library
Option 2 is cleaner long term because it centralizes your assets.
If you have many posts, consider:
- Bulk image downloader tools
- Search-and-replace plugins to update URLs
Broken images are one of the most common migration issues.
Step 6: Set Up 301 Redirects (Critical for SEO)
This step determines whether you preserve traffic.
Shopify blog URLs usually follow:
/blogs/blog-name/post-title
If your WordPress blog uses:
/blog/post-title
You must create 301 redirects from each old URL to its new counterpart.
If you are keeping the same domain:
- Export your old Shopify URLs
- Match them to new WordPress URLs
- Use a redirect plugin such as Redirection
- Test redirects individually
If you are changing domains:
- Set up domain-level redirects
- Update DNS properly
- Submit your new sitemap in Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools
Do not skip this step. Redirect mapping protects your existing SEO equity.
Step 7: Update Sitemap and Reindex
After migration:
- Submit your new XML sitemap
- Request indexing for key pages
- Monitor crawl errors
- Watch for broken links
Search engines usually reprocess migrated content within a few weeks if redirects are properly implemented.
Common Shopify → WordPress Migration Issues
Here are the most frequent problems and how to fix them.
Formatting looks broken
Shopify uses custom HTML classes. Reformat posts inside the WordPress block editor and simplify styling.
Images did not import
Download images manually or use import settings to fetch external images.
Special characters appear incorrectly
Ensure your CSV file is saved in UTF-8 encoding before import.
Categories and tags are inconsistent
Rebuild taxonomy inside WordPress. Shopify tags do not always map cleanly to WordPress categories.
Posts imported as drafts
Check publish status settings inside WP All Import.
Part 2: How to Move Blog Posts from WordPress to Shopify
While less common, moving from WordPress to Shopify can make sense in specific situations.
Most businesses that move in this direction are prioritizing operational simplicity. Instead of maintaining separate hosting, plugins, updates, and blog infrastructure, they want one centralized system that manages products and content together.
Shopify’s blog functionality is more limited than WordPress. You will not have the same level of SEO customization, taxonomy depth, or layout flexibility. However, if your blog primarily supports your product catalog rather than functioning as a content marketing engine, consolidation may be the right move.
Before migrating in this direction, consider how important long-form SEO and structured content are to your growth strategy. If content is secondary to products, Shopify’s blogging system is usually sufficient.
Now let’s walk through the technical process.
Step 1: Export Your WordPress Blog Content
From your WordPress dashboard:
- Go to Tools → Export
- Select Posts
- Download the XML file
This XML file contains your blog content, metadata, and structure.
If you are using custom post types, make sure those are included in your export.
Step 2: Convert WordPress XML to Shopify-Compatible CSV
Shopify does not support XML imports for blog posts. You must convert the file to CSV format.
You can do this using:
- WP All Export to generate a structured CSV file
- An XML-to-CSV conversion tool
- A spreadsheet tool if you are comfortable restructuring data manually
The goal is to create a CSV file that matches Shopify’s required blog import format.
Shopify blog imports typically require:
- Title
- Body HTML
- Author
- Tags
- Published date
- URL handle (optional but recommended)
Ensure your date format follows YYYY-MM-DD to avoid publishing errors.
Step 3: Format the CSV to Match Shopify’s Template
Before importing, verify:
- HTML is clean and does not contain unsupported elements
- Shortcodes are removed
- Custom WordPress blocks are converted to standard HTML
- Internal links are updated if domain changes
Shopify’s editor may strip or modify certain HTML elements. Keep formatting simple to reduce cleanup.
Step 4: Import Posts Using Matrixify
Matrixify is the most reliable way to import blog content into Shopify.
Inside Shopify:
- Install Matrixify
- Upload your formatted CSV
- Map CSV columns to Shopify fields
- Run import
- Review status logs
Do not assume all posts will publish automatically. Some may import as drafts depending on field settings.
Step 5: Review and Clean Up Posts
After import:
- Navigate to Online Store → Blog Posts
- Open several posts to check formatting
- Verify headings and spacing
- Confirm images are rendering correctly
- Check publish dates
- Confirm tags appear properly
WordPress often allows more complex formatting than Shopify. Expect some cleanup.
Step 6: Address URL Structure and SEO
WordPress URLs often follow:
/blog/post-title
Shopify blog URLs typically follow:
/blogs/blog-name/post-title
This means your URL structure will change.
If you are keeping the same domain, you must create redirects from old WordPress URLs to new Shopify URLs.
If you are changing domains, implement domain-level 301 redirects and resubmit your sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.
Failure to implement redirects can result in traffic loss.
Common WordPress → Shopify Migration Issues
Posts do not appear
Check Matrixify import logs and confirm publish status.
Images are broken
WordPress media URLs may not transfer. Download and re-upload images inside Shopify.
Formatting looks inconsistent
Remove unsupported HTML tags. Simplify structure before re-import if needed.
Duplicate posts appear
Check for repeated rows in your CSV file before import.
Published dates are incorrect
Confirm date formatting matches Shopify’s requirements exactly.
Important Strategic Note
Moving from WordPress to Shopify simplifies infrastructure but reduces long-term content flexibility.
If your brand depends heavily on SEO traffic, structured content clusters, or advanced publishing workflows, consider whether centralization outweighs those advantages.
If your blog primarily supports product storytelling and basic updates, Shopify can handle it without complication.
Platform Comparison: Shopify Blog vs. WordPress Blog
Before migrating, it helps to compare how each platform handles blogging at a structural level. Migration should align with long-term goals, not short-term frustration.
Here is a clearer side-by-side breakdown.
| Feature | Shopify Blog | WordPress.com Blog (Business Plan) |
|---|---|---|
| SEO Customization | Basic meta fields | Full control over titles, meta, schema |
| URL Structure | Fixed format | Fully customizable permalinks |
| Categories & Tags | Limited structure | Advanced taxonomy support |
| Rich Formatting | Basic editor | Block editor + custom HTML |
| Plugin Support | None | Thousands of plugins |
| Content Portability | No native export | Built-in XML export |
| Media Management | Basic image hosting | Advanced media library |
| Monetization Options | Limited | Ads, affiliates, memberships |
| Redirect Management | Manual | Plugins or native tools |
Tools & Apps Mentioned
| Tool/App | Use Case | Platform |
| Matrixify | Import/export Shopify blog content | Shopify |
| WP All Import | Import structured content into WordPress | WordPress (plugin) |
| WP All Export | Export blog content from WordPress as CSV | WordPress (plugin) |
| Redirection | Set up 301 redirects in WordPress | WordPress (plugin) |
| Jetpack SEO | SEO tools and redirects | WordPress.com |
What This Means in Practice
If your blog is primarily a support tool for product pages, Shopify’s blog is sufficient. It is simple and integrated.
If your blog drives organic search traffic, long-form education, and structured content strategy, WordPress provides more control and future scalability.
The difference becomes more noticeable as your content library grows.
SEO & Redirect Strategy When Migrating Blogs
This is the most overlooked part of blog migration.
Content migration without redirect planning can cause traffic loss, broken backlinks, and search visibility decline. Whether you are moving from Shopify to WordPress or vice versa, preserving URL equity is critical.
Here are the core SEO principles to follow.
1. Map Old URLs to New URLs Before Migration
Create a spreadsheet with:
- Old URL
- New URL
- Redirect status
Do this before importing content so you understand structural differences.
For example:
Shopify:
/blogs/news/how-to-start
WordPress:
/blog/how-to-start
Every page needs a direct 301 redirect to its new equivalent.
2. Use 301 Redirects, Not 302
A 301 redirect permanently transfers SEO value.
A 302 redirect signals temporary movement and may not pass full ranking equity.
If migrating to WordPress:
- Use a redirect plugin
- Or configure server-level redirects
If migrating to Shopify:
- Use Shopify’s URL redirect tool
- Or import redirects via CSV
3. Preserve Slugs Whenever Possible
If your post slug is:
how-to-start-an-ecommerce-business
Keep that slug unchanged.
Changing slugs unnecessarily creates extra redirect layers and potential indexing delays.
4. Update Internal Links
Even with redirects in place, internal links inside blog posts should be updated to their new URLs.
This improves:
- Crawl efficiency
- Page authority flow
- User experience
Search-and-replace tools can help automate this step.
5. Resubmit Your Sitemap
After migration:
- Generate a fresh XML sitemap
- Submit it to Google Search Console
- Submit it to Bing Webmaster Tools
Monitor crawl errors for several weeks.
Some temporary ranking fluctuation is normal. Severe drops usually indicate redirect errors.
6. Monitor Traffic for 30 Days
Track:
- 404 errors
- Broken image URLs
- Sudden traffic drops
- Index coverage issues
Catching problems early prevents long-term SEO damage.
Important: Domain Changes Increase Complexity
If you are migrating and changing domains at the same time, expect a temporary ranking adjustment.
When possible, migrate platforms first, then change domain later. Separating those changes reduces risk.
FAQ
See common questions and answers
Can I move blog content with images?
Yes, but images may need to be reuploaded manually depending on the export method used.
Will my formatting be preserved?
Some styling may be lost in CSV/HTML translations. Always review post layout after import.
Does Shopify let me export my blog?
Not directly, but Matrixify allows full blog post exports.
Can I keep my URLs the same?
Usually not 1:1, but you can use redirects to preserve SEO authority.
Is it better to blog on Shopify or WordPress?
For flexibility, SEO, and customization, WordPress (especially WordPress.com Business or Commerce plans) wins by a mile.
Can I use plugins to automate blog imports?
Yes, WP All Import (WordPress) and Matrixify (Shopify) are the most flexible options.
Do I need to use a Business plan on WordPress.com?
Yes, if you want to use custom plugins like WP All Import or Redirection.
What happens to my SEO rankings after migration?
Use 301 redirects and preserve metadata to minimize ranking loss.
Can I move just part of my blog, not all posts?
Yes, filter posts by date, category, or tag when exporting/importing.
Can I sync a blog between Shopify and WordPress?
Technically yes, but it requires custom automation or manual duplication. Not ideal long-term.
Do I need to manually recreate my theme or design?
Yes, design doesn’t transfer, just the post content. You’ll need to choose or rebuild your blog layout.
Can I export WordPress content as CSV instead of XML?
Yes, with WP All Export or by converting XML using online tools.
What if my Shopify blog uses multilingual content?
Make sure your export includes language codes and map them appropriately during import.
Final Thoughts
Migrating a blog between Shopify and WordPress is rarely just a technical task. It is usually a signal that your business has evolved.
If your content is becoming a primary traffic driver, if SEO matters more than it did at launch, or if you are building structured content around long-term search visibility, WordPress gives you more control over how that content is organized, optimized, and scaled.
On the other hand, if your blog primarily supports your product catalog and your priority is centralizing operations under one system, Shopify’s integrated approach may simplify your workflow.
The important thing is not which platform is “better.” It is whether your platform aligns with your long-term strategy.
WordPress, particularly through WordPress.com’s Business or Commerce plans, offers a middle ground that many growing brands find appealing. You get:
- Managed hosting
- Plugin flexibility
- Strong SEO infrastructure
- Structured content tools
- Reduced maintenance compared to self-hosted setups
That combination allows businesses to grow their content library without managing server-level complexity.
If you are moving from Shopify to WordPress, take the migration seriously. Preserve URLs. Plan redirects. Audit formatting. A well-executed migration can maintain or even strengthen your search visibility.
If you are moving from WordPress to Shopify, simplify intentionally. Clean formatting before export. Map redirects carefully. Understand the SEO trade-offs.
Platform changes should feel like strategic upgrades, not emergency reactions.
If you are still evaluating where your content should live long term, reviewing WordPress.com vs WordPress.org can help clarify the hosting and flexibility differences before committing to another migration later.
Whatever direction you choose, a structured approach will protect your content and give your blog a stable foundation going forward.

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