Magento 1 to Magento 2
What is Magento to Magento 2 migration? A Magento to Magento 2 migration transfers your store's products, customers, orders, and content from Magento (Adobe Commerce) to Magento 2—preserving data integrity, SEO rankings, and customer access. This guide covers data mapping, migration tools, cost, and step-by-step execution.
Migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 is a necessary upgrade from a legacy PHP 5.x platform to a modern, PHP 8.x–based e-commerce solution. In 2025, with Magento 1 end-of-life, no security patches, and limited extensions, and Magento 2's REST API, improved performance, and active development, the case for upgrade has never been more urgent.
Magento to Magento 2 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 migration extension
- SEO preservation: 301 redirects required—automated tools create them
Why Migrate from Magento to Magento 2? Key Benefits
Magento has served its purpose, but complexity and costs hold you back. Moving to Magento 2 opens specific opportunities:
💰 Reduced Complexity
The Magento Pain: Hosting costs. PHP expertise. Server maintenance. Complex architecture.
The Magento 2 Gain: Modern PHP 8.x. REST API. Improved performance. Active security patches. Composer-based extensions.
🚀 Faster Deployment
The Magento Pain: Lengthy setup. Extension conflicts. Steep learning curve.
The Magento 2 Gain: Quicker setup. Streamlined admin. Faster time to market.
🛠 Lower Maintenance
The Magento Pain: Security patches. PHP upgrades. Extension compatibility.
The Magento 2 Gain: Managed updates. Less technical overhead. Focus on selling.
⚡ Cost Efficiency
The Magento Pain: Dedicated hosting. Developer costs. Extension licensing.
The Magento 2 Gain: Predictable pricing. Lower total cost of ownership. Built-in features.
Magento to Magento 2 Pre-Migration Checklist
Before migrating from Magento to Magento 2, audit your Magento data and prepare your Magento 2 environment. Magento and Magento 2 use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
A. Understanding the Platform Disconnect
Magento uses EAV entity structure with REST API. Magento 2 uses its own data model.
- Magento 1 Version: 1.9.x? Table structure may differ.
- Database: Direct MySQL access. Magento Data Migration Tool available.
- Magento 2 Setup: Fresh install. Use Data Migration Tool or third-party.
- Product Structure: EAV to flat tables. Migration tools handle conversion.
- Images: media/ directory. Copy to Magento 2 pub/media.
Magento to Magento 2 Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Accurate data mapping from Magento to Magento 2 preserves product variants, customer history, and order relationships. Below are the field mappings developers need for products, customers, and orders.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| Magento Field (Source) | Magento 2 Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
entity_id |
product.entity_id |
Magento 2 uses new entity structure. Map by SKU. |
name (catalog_product_entity_varchar) |
product.name |
Direct string transfer. |
sku |
product.sku |
Direct mapping. |
price (catalog_product_entity_decimal) |
product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
description |
product.description |
HTML content. Images need path updates. |
category_ids |
catalog_category_product |
Category structure may need mapping. |
configurable_options |
configurable_options |
Configurable product structure similar. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| Magento Field | Magento 2 Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
customer_entity.email |
customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
customer_entity.password_hash |
customer.password_hash |
Magento 1 and 2 use compatible hashing. |
customer_address_entity |
customer_address |
Address structure similar. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| Magento Field | Magento 2 Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
sales_order.increment_id |
order.increment_id |
Preserve order numbers. |
sales_order.state |
order.state |
Map Magento 1 states to Magento 2. |
sales_order.grand_total |
order.grand_total |
Direct mapping. |
Magento to Magento 2 Migration Tools: Automated vs Manual vs Custom
Choose your Magento to Magento 2 migration method: automated cloud migration (recommended), CSV import, or custom development. Compare Magento migration tools for features and pricing.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via Magento REST API or database and Magento 2 API or migration extension.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for Magento 2 automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400). May require target platform extension.
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: Magento Export + Magento 2 Admin Import
Export from Magento, format for Magento 2, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required, may lose some data relationships. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: Magento REST API + Magento 2 API
Build a custom script using Magento REST API and Magento 2 API or database.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming. Must handle both platform structures.
How to Migrate from Magento to Magento 2: Step-by-Step Guide
Follow this Magento to Magento 2 migration process using automated cloud migration—the industry standard for zero-downtime cutovers. See the full Magento migration guide for detailed planning.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (Magento 2):
Create or install Magento 2 store. Do not point your domain there yet. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Use maintenance mode or staging to prevent public access during setup.
1.2. Prepare Source (Magento):
Ensure Magento REST API or database access. Keep your Magento store live during migration.
Phase 2: The Connection Setup
2.1. Magento Access:
Provide Magento REST API credentials or database connection. Migration tool connects to Magento data source.
2.2. Magento 2 Access:
Provide Magento 2 API credentials or admin access. Migration tool connects to Magento 2 target.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Be careful with these specific settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Check this box if using custom domain. It creates redirects from Magento URLs to Magento 2 URLs. Without this, your SEO dies.
- Migrate Product Options: Magento 2 supports variants/options. Magento configurable products map to Magento 2 variants automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images are downloaded from Magento pub/media and uploaded to Magento 2's media system automatically.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration extension. Customer passwords are migrated and converted to Magento 2 format.
Phase 4: The Full Migration
Launch the process. The migration tool handles Magento data extraction and Magento 2 import automatically.
Time Estimation: 5,000 products + 10,000 orders usually takes 2–4 hours.
Phase 5: Post-Migration Cleanup
5.1. Customer Communication:
Notify customers about the migration. With password migration support, customers can log in immediately.
5.2. Verify Products:
Check all products migrated correctly. Verify images, prices, and product options.
5.3. Design & Customization:
Choose or customize Magento 2 theme. Magento themes cannot be migrated, but Magento 2 offers themes and templates.
Magento to Magento 2 Migration Cost (2025)
Magento to Magento 2 migration cost depends on method and data volume. For a medium-sized store (2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers), here is the breakdown.
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
Magento to Magento 2 Migration: Troubleshooting & SEO Preservation
Common Magento to Magento 2 Migration Challenges
- Option Mapping: Magento configurable products map to Magento 2 variants/options. Migration tools handle conversion automatically.
- Database/API Structure: Magento EAV structure differs from Magento 2. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: Magento images in pub/media need to be re-uploaded to Magento 2's media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration extension.
- Multi-Store: Magento 2 may have different multi-store handling—verify before migration.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO During Magento to Magento 2 Migration
Magento URLs differ from Magento 2 URLs. Create 301 redirects from old Magento URLs to new Magento 2 URLs to preserve search rankings. Automated migration tools create redirects automatically—verify before going live.
Magento to Magento 2 Migration: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about migrating from Magento to Magento 2—cost, duration, password migration, and SEO preservation.
How long does Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration take?
Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration takes 4–12 hours for automated tools (5,000 products, 10,000 orders). The official Magento Data Migration Tool or third-party tools (Cart2Cart, LitExtension) handle EAV-to-flat conversion. Manual migration can take weeks.
How much does Magento 1 to Magento 2 upgrade cost?
Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration costs $69–$400 for automated tools, depending on data volume. Custom development runs $2,500+. The official Magento Data Migration Tool is free but requires technical setup.
Can I migrate Magento 1 customer passwords to Magento 2?
Yes. Magento 1 and Magento 2 use compatible password hashing. Automated migration tools and the official Data Migration Tool preserve customer passwords so customers can log in immediately.
Will my SEO survive Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration?
Yes, if you create 301 redirects from old Magento 1 URLs to new Magento 2 URLs. Magento 2 uses different URL structures. Automated tools and the Data Migration Tool can create URL rewrites. Submit your new sitemap to Google Search Console.
What data can I migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2?
You can migrate products, categories, customers, orders, coupons, reviews, and CMS pages from Magento 1 to Magento 2. Configurable products, customer addresses, and order history are preserved. Images copy from media/ to pub/media.
Ready to Migrate from Magento to Magento 2?
A Magento to Magento 2 migration simplifies your stack: less complexity, lower costs, faster deployment. Run a free demo migration to verify your data maps correctly before going live.