Switching from WooCommerce to a JavaScript stack

How to move from WooCommerce to a JavaScript stack

Switching from WooCommerce to Medusa means moving your catalog into a Node.js commerce backend written in TypeScript and connecting a separate storefront, such as Next.js, to its Store API. WooCommerce is a plugin for WordPress, so the move also separates your store from your CMS.

Why stores outgrow WooCommerce

WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin. Its current server requirements are WordPress 6.9+, PHP 8.3+, and MySQL 8.0+ or MariaDB 10.6+. Store features come from more plugins that run in the same PHP application and database as the rest of the site.

Teams usually leave for three reasons: plugin conflicts after updates, a slow storefront under load, and custom logic that doesn't fit hooks and filters. A team that already writes TypeScript also gets one language across backend and storefront.

What Medusa's WooCommerce migration tool does

Medusa's Docs MCP server has a curated WooCommerce guide in its migration tool. You prompt your AI agent ("Migrate my WooCommerce store's products to Medusa") and it builds the import in your Medusa project. The Docs MCP server requires a Medusa Cloud account.

Per the WooCommerce migration tool docs, it migrates products, variants, prices, images, inventory levels, and collections and categories. Orders and customers are possible, but the tool is mainly built for catalog data.

Don't mix both approaches on one store. The CSV path can't key records to WooCommerce IDs, so a later API import fails on duplicate handles.

WooCommerce migration steps

1. Audit plugins. List each active plugin and decide: Medusa core feature, existing integration, or custom module.
2. Products first. Run the migration tool for products. Other entities reference them.
3. Customers. Create registered customers with Copy to clipboardhas_account: true, as the Customer Accounts docs describe. Medusa's emailpass provider hashes passwords with scrypt and the docs don't cover importing WordPress hashes, so plan for customers to set a new password through the reset password flow.
4. Payments. Saved cards stay with your payment provider. Moving them between processors needs the provider's help, for example Stripe's payment data import.
5. Storefront and content. Build the storefront on the Store API. Keep WordPress as a headless CMS or move content to another CMS.
6. Redirects and launch. Map old URLs to new ones with permanent 301 redirects and submit the new sitemap in Search Console, per Google's site move guide.

Medusa vs Shopify vs Vendure as a WooCommerce replacement

Sources: Medusa pricing, Shopify pricing and WooCommerce migration guide, Vendure pricing and WooCommerce page.

Proof: Tekla moved from WooCommerce to Medusa

Tekla, a Copenhagen textile brand, replaced WooCommerce with Medusa and was Medusa's first case (2022, Medusa v1). Tekla reported a 70% higher conversion rate than its WooCommerce store and growth from 2 to 50+ markets.

When Medusa is not the right choice

• You have no developer and a standard catalog: Shopify needs less engineering.
• Your store is mostly content with a few products and WooCommerce performs fine.
• Your team works only in PHP and plans to stay there.