If you’re thinking of switching platforms to scale your eCommerce business, you’re not alone. Many store owners outgrow Wix’s limitations and start exploring more flexible and powerful solutions. One of the most popular destinations? WooCommerce—a free, open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that offers greater control, customization, and scalability.
However, before you start the transition, it’s crucial to understand what the Wix to WooCommerce migration process entails—and how much it might cost. In this article, we break down the various cost factors you need to consider so you can plan your migration budget effectively.
Why Move from Wix to WooCommerce?
Before we dive into costs, let’s talk about why so many merchants choose to migrate Wix to WooCommerce:
- Flexibility: WooCommerce offers thousands of plugins and themes, allowing you to customize nearly every aspect of your store.
- Scalability: Ideal for businesses that are growing quickly or expect high volumes of traffic and orders.
- Ownership & Control: With WooCommerce, you own your data, unlike Wix, which is a closed platform.
- SEO Advantages: WooCommerce + WordPress provide powerful SEO tools for long-term organic growth.
Now that we’ve covered the “why,” let’s explore the cost components of the migration journey.
1. Domain and Hosting Costs
Unlike Wix, which includes hosting in its monthly subscription, WooCommerce requires you to choose your own hosting provider.
Typical Costs:
- Domain Name: $10–$20/year (if not already owned)
- Web Hosting: $5–$30/month for shared hosting; $30–$100+ for managed WordPress hosting
Popular Hosting Options:
- SiteGround
- Bluehost
- Kinsta
- WP Engine
Some WooCommerce hosts also offer free migration assistance, which can save time and cost.
2. Website Design and Theme Customization
Wix offers drag-and-drop templates, but WooCommerce gives you more control through thousands of themes—both free and premium.
Typical Costs:
- Free WooCommerce themes: $0
- Premium themes: $30–$150 (one-time or yearly license)
Customization (logo placement, font tweaks, layout changes) may require:
- A page builder like Elementor ($49/year)
- Developer support ($100–$500+ depending on complexity)
3. Plugin and Extension Costs
To match or enhance the features you had on Wix, you’ll likely need a few essential plugins for WooCommerce.
Examples:
- SEO Plugin (Yoast or Rank Math): Free or $99/year
- Security Plugin (Wordfence): Free or $119/year
- Backup Plugin (UpdraftPlus): Free or $70/year
- Email Marketing (MailPoet, Klaviyo): Free plans available
- Custom Fields or Forms: $40–$80/year
Estimated plugin budget: $100–$300/year
Note: Many plugins offer lifetime deals or bundles to reduce long-term costs.
4. Data Migration Costs
Migrating your data—products, customer information, order history—from Wix to WooCommerce can be one of the most critical and complex steps.
4.1 Manual Migration (Free but Time-Consuming)
- Export/import products using CSV files
- Copy/paste content for pages and posts
- Manual customer data entry
Cost: $0 (your time is the currency)
4.2 Automated Tools
Services like Cart2Cart or LitExtension automate much of the data transfer.
Typical Costs:
- $69 to $199 for small stores
- $199 to $500+ for stores with thousands of products or customer records
4.3 Developer Assistance
Hiring a freelancer or agency to handle the migration:
- Basic store: $300–$800
- Advanced store with custom features: $800–$2000+
This is often the safest route if you’re non-technical or your store has complex data.
5. Payment Gateway Setup
Wix includes built-in payments, but with WooCommerce, you need to install and configure your own gateways like Stripe, PayPal, or Authorize.Net.
Most gateways are free to install but charge transaction fees:
- Stripe/PayPal: ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Authorize.Net: $25/month + transaction fees
Setup Cost: Typically free
Ongoing Cost: Transaction fees
6. Shipping and Tax Configuration
WooCommerce offers flexible shipping and tax management, but advanced needs may require additional plugins or integrations.
Free Plugins:
- WooCommerce Shipping & Tax
- USPS, DHL, FedEx integrations
Paid Plugins:
- Table rate shipping: ~$79/year
- Real-time tax calculation (e.g., TaxJar, Avalara): $20–$50/month
Estimated Budget: $0–$100/year depending on complexity
7. Developer and Maintenance Costs
Even if you’re using a DIY approach, you might run into occasional issues that require professional help.
- Freelance developer: $25–$100/hour
- Ongoing maintenance plan: $30–$150/month
- One-time bug fixes or enhancements: $50–$500+
While not always necessary, budgeting for at least minor developer support is a smart move—especially after migrating from a platform like Wix.
8. Training and Learning Curve
Moving from Wix’s drag-and-drop interface to WooCommerce’s backend can be a learning curve. Consider investing in:
- Courses: $50–$200 for WooCommerce or WordPress-specific training
- Tutorials and guides: Free on YouTube or WordPress.org
You may also need time to learn order management, plugin settings, and SEO configuration in your new environment.
Total Estimated Cost of Wix to WooCommerce Migration
| Category | Cost Estimate |
|---|---|
| Domain & Hosting | $60–$360/year |
| Theme & Design | $0–$500 (one-time) |
| Plugins & Extensions | $100–$300/year |
| Data Migration (tools/devs) | $0–$2000 (one-time) |
| Payment/Shipping Setup | $0–$100/year |
| Developer/Maintenance | $0–$150/month |
| Training & Learning | $0–$200 (one-time) |
| Estimated Total (First Year) | $300–$3,500 |
Note: Your actual cost will vary depending on store size, complexity, and whether you handle parts of the migration yourself.
Final Thoughts
Wix to WooCommerce migration is a powerful move that can unlock endless growth potential for your online store. While it comes with upfront costs, the long-term value—better SEO, scalability, and control—is often well worth the investment.
By breaking down the potential expenses, you can migrate with confidence and avoid unexpected surprises. Whether you choose a DIY path or partner with professionals, proper planning will help you make a smooth, budget-friendly transition.
