Lightspeed to Shopify
Migrating from Lightspeed to Shopify moves your store to a platform built for online-first and omnichannel retail. In 2025, merchants choose Shopify for unified admin, a large app ecosystem, and migrations run from Shopify admin using apps like Cart2Cart. The migration app connects to Lightspeed and runs entirely from your new Shopify store.
This guide covers Lightspeed data, how it maps to Shopify, and a step-by-step migration path using Shopify apps run from your new store.
1. Why Leave Lightspeed?
Online and Omnichannel
Lightspeed Pain: Lightspeed is strong for POS and retail; online store and multi-channel can feel secondary.
Shopify Gain: Online-first with POS and multi-channel built in. Migration runs from Shopify admin.
Apps and Themes
Lightspeed Pain: App and theme ecosystem is smaller than Shopify.
Shopify Gain: Largest eCommerce app store and theme store. Run migration from one admin.
Checkout and Payments
Lightspeed Pain: Checkout customization and payment options can be limited.
Shopify Gain: Shopify Checkout and many gateways. Migration apps connect to Lightspeed and run from Shopify.
Support and Scale
Lightspeed Pain: Support and pricing vary by product (eCom vs POS).
Shopify Gain: Single platform and support. Migrate using a Shopify app.
2. Pre-Migration Audit
Lightspeed exposes APIs; migration apps connect from Shopify admin and pull products, customers, and orders.
- Lightspeed product: Confirm you use Lightspeed eCom or the product that exposes API for migration.
- Products and variants: Lightspeed items and variants map to Shopify products and variants.
- Categories: Map to Shopify collections.
- Customers and orders: Map to Shopify customers and orders; password reset may be required.
3. Data Mapping
Lightspeed products, customers, and orders map to Shopify when using a migration app run from Shopify admin.
Product Mapping
| Lightspeed (Source) | Shopify (Target) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| item id | id | Use SKU for mapping. |
| description | title | Direct transfer. |
| customSku / variant sku | variants[].sku | SKU at variant level. |
| prices | variants[].price | Per variant. |
| longDescription | body_html | HTML; images re-hosted. |
| categories | collections | Lightspeed categories to Shopify collections. |
| variants / matrix | options and variants | Variants map to Shopify variants. |
Customer and Order
| Lightspeed Field | Shopify Field | Logic |
|---|---|---|
| customer email | email | Unique identifier. |
| password | password (on create) | Password reset recommended. |
| sale id / total | name, total_price | Preserve order ID; map statuses. |
4. Toolkit
Option A: Shopify App (Recommended)
Cart2Cart and similar apps in the Shopify App Store
Install the app in Shopify and run the migration from Shopify admin. The app connects to Lightspeed via API, maps data, and creates redirects.
- Pros: No coding; runs from Shopify admin; products, customers, orders, SEO redirects.
- Cons: Cost scales with data.
Option B: Custom Integration
Lightspeed API + Shopify Admin API
- Pros: Full control.
- Cons: Developer time.
5. Execution: Step-by-Step
Phase 1: Preparation
1.1. Target (Shopify):
Create your Shopify store; enable password protection during migration if desired.
1.2. Source (Lightspeed):
Ensure API access and credentials for the migration app.
Phase 2: Connection from Shopify Admin
2.1. Install the migration app (e.g. Cart2Cart) from the Shopify App Store and open it from your Shopify admin.
2.2. Connect Lightspeed as source. Enter API credentials as instructed.
Phase 3: Migration
- Run from Shopify admin: Select products, customers, orders; start migration.
- Create 301 redirects: Use the app to map old Lightspeed URLs to new Shopify URLs.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
4.1. Customers: If you migrated customers, recommend password reset.
4.2. Verify: Check products, collections, and orders in Shopify admin.
6. Cost of Migration (2025)
Custom Development
Developer Cost
Shopify App (e.g. Cart2Cart)
Typical Range
Agency Service
Starting Cost
7. Troubleshooting and SEO
Common Challenges
- Lightspeed matrix/variants: Item matrix maps to Shopify variants; verify in the app.
301 Redirects
Use the migration app from Shopify admin to map old Lightspeed URLs to new Shopify URLs and preserve SEO.
Ready to Move to Shopify?
Migrate from Lightspeed to Shopify using an app run from your Shopify admin. No coding required. Get products, customers, orders, and SEO redirects in one flow.