BigCommerce to PrestaShop
A BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration transfers your store's products, customers, orders, and content from BigCommerce to PrestaShop—preserving data integrity, SEO rankings, and customer access. This guide covers data mapping, migration tools, cost, and step-by-step execution.
Migrating from BigCommerce to PrestaShop is a strategic move from a hosted platform to a self-hosted, open-source solution. In 2025, with BigCommerce's plan limits, Stencil theme constraints, and API rate limits, and PrestaShop's unlimited products, full control, and PrestaShop Addons, the case for migration has never been stronger.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Migration: Quick Facts
- Average cost: $69–$400 (automated) vs $2,500+ (custom)
- Typical duration: 2–4 hours (automated) vs weeks (manual)
- Recommended method: Automated cloud migration (Cart2Cart, LitExtension)
- Password migration: Supported with PrestaShop migration module
- SEO preservation: 301 redirects required—automated tools create them
Why Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop? Key Benefits
BigCommerce has served its purpose, but limitations hold you back. Moving to PrestaShop opens specific opportunities:
💰 Cost Control
The BigCommerce Pain: Hosted platform with plan limits. Stencil theme lock-in. API rate limits.
The PrestaShop Gain: Open-source. No platform fees. PrestaShop Addons for modules. Lower hosting costs.
🚀 Full Control & Customization
The BigCommerce Pain: Limited customization. Vendor or platform constraints.
The PrestaShop Gain: PHP/Smarty templates. Web Service API. Full access to Back Office. PrestaShop Addons ecosystem.
🛠 Product Combinations
The BigCommerce Pain: Product options structure can be rigid.
The PrestaShop Gain: Flexible product combinations. Attribute groups. Streamlined catalog management in Back Office.
⚡ Back Office & Multi-Store
The BigCommerce Pain: Dated or limited admin.
The PrestaShop Gain: Intuitive PrestaShop Back Office. Multi-store. Multi-language. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop?
BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration suits merchants hitting plan limits (product caps, order limits), wanting to escape Stencil theme lock-in, or seeking unlimited products without tiered pricing. PrestaShop offers full control over hosting and no per-transaction platform fees.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Platform-Specific Considerations
Every migration path has unique nuances. For BigCommerce to PrestaShop, pay attention to:
- BigCommerce Stencil themes cannot transfer; rebuild frontend with PrestaShop themes.
- BigCommerce API rate limits vary by plan—migration tools throttle requests accordingly.
- BigCommerce multi-currency and tax rules differ from PrestaShop—reconfigure after migration.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Pre-Migration Checklist
Before migrating from BigCommerce to PrestaShop, audit your source data and prepare your PrestaShop environment. BigCommerce and PrestaShop use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
Understanding the Platform Disconnect
BigCommerce uses its own data structure. PrestaShop uses MySQL with ps_ prefix and Web Service API.
- BigCommerce Plan: Standard, Plus, or Pro? API limits differ.
- API Access: BigCommerce REST API for data export.
- PrestaShop Setup: Install PrestaShop 8 on PHP hosting.
- Product Structure: BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop combinations.
- Images: BigCommerce CDN. Download and upload to PrestaShop img/p/.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Accurate data mapping from BigCommerce to PrestaShop preserves product variants, customer history, and order relationships. Below are the field mappings developers need.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field (Source) | PrestaShop Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
Product.id |
ps_product.id_product |
PrestaShop generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
Product.name |
ps_product_lang.name |
Direct string transfer. |
Product.sku |
ps_product.reference |
Direct mapping. |
Product.price |
ps_product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
Product.description |
ps_product_lang.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
Product.categories |
ps_category_product |
BigCommerce categories map to PrestaShop. |
Product.variants |
ps_product_attribute |
BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop combinations. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | PrestaShop Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
Customer.email |
ps_customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
Customer.password |
ps_customer.passwd |
Password migration supported with module. |
Address |
ps_address |
BigCommerce addresses map to PrestaShop. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | PrestaShop Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
Order.id |
ps_orders.reference |
Preserve order ID in PrestaShop. |
Order.status |
ps_order_state |
Map BigCommerce statuses to PrestaShop. |
Order.total_inc_tax |
ps_orders.total_paid |
Direct mapping. |
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Migration Tools
Choose your BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration method: automated cloud migration (recommended), CSV import, or custom development. Compare PrestaShop migration tools for features and pricing.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via BigCommerce database/API and PrestaShop Web Service API or migration module.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for PrestaShop automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400). Requires PrestaShop migration module installation.
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: BigCommerce CSV Export + PrestaShop Back Office Import
Export from BigCommerce, format for PrestaShop, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: BigCommerce DB/API + PrestaShop Web Service API
Build a custom script using BigCommerce database or REST API and PrestaShop Web Service API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Step-by-Step
Follow this BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration process using automated cloud migration. See the full PrestaShop migration guide for detailed planning.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (PrestaShop):
Install PrestaShop 8 on PHP hosting (PHP 8.1+, MySQL 8+). Install migration module if using automated tools. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Use maintenance mode to prevent public access during setup.
1.2. Prepare Source (BigCommerce):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your BigCommerce store live during migration.
Phase 2: Connection Setup
2.1. PrestaShop Access:
Install migration module on PrestaShop. This provides API endpoints for migration tools.
2.2. BigCommerce Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to BigCommerce data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from BigCommerce URLs to PrestaShop URLs.
- Migrate Product Combinations: PrestaShop supports flexible combinations. BigCommerce variants map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from BigCommerce and uploaded to PrestaShop img/p/.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration module. Customer passwords converted to PrestaShop format.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, combinations. Notify customers. Choose a PrestaShop theme from PrestaShop Addons.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop Migration Cost (2025)
For a medium-sized store (2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers):
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Troubleshooting & SEO
Common Challenges
- Combination Mapping: PrestaShop supports flexible product combinations. BigCommerce variants map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: BigCommerce structure differs from PrestaShop. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: BigCommerce images need re-uploading to PrestaShop img/p/.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration module.
- Multi-Store: PrestaShop supports multi-store natively.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
BigCommerce URLs differ from PrestaShop URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in PrestaShop Back Office.
BigCommerce to PrestaShop: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about migrating from BigCommerce to PrestaShop—cost, duration, password migration, and SEO preservation.
How does BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration handle product variants?
BigCommerce variants map to PrestaShop product combinations. Migration tools preserve SKU, price, and inventory per variant. No artificial limits on PrestaShop side.
Will BigCommerce redirects transfer to PrestaShop?
URL structures differ. Automated tools create 301 redirects from BigCommerce URLs to PrestaShop. Export your BigCommerce URL list and verify redirect coverage.
Ready to Migrate from BigCommerce to PrestaShop?
A BigCommerce to PrestaShop migration unlocks open-source control, PrestaShop Addons, and full Back Office customization. Run a free demo to verify your data maps correctly.