Note: This article covers makeshop, an e-commerce platform available only in Japan. This will not be relevant if you are not evaluating platforms for the Japanese market.
If you run an e-commerce site and are considering migrating from makeshop to Shopify, you may have concerns about data migration, costs, and the work involved.
In this article, we clearly explain the differences between makeshop and Shopify, and introduce in detail the pros and cons of migration along with the specific data migration steps. We'll cover how to migrate smoothly to Shopify while minimizing the impact on SEO and sales.
What Are the Differences Between makeshop and Shopify?
Let's first check the differences between makeshop and Shopify.
makeshop: Profits Rise Easily as Sales Grow
Image source: makeshop
makeshop is an e-commerce platform with a high transaction volume, used by many shops in Japan. One of its key attractions is that the sales commission is ¥0, and credit card payment fees start from as low as 3.14%, among the lowest in the industry. This means that the more your sales grow, the more solidly you can secure your profits.
makeshop also offers extensive support. From launching your store through to after it opens, a dedicated support team provides free backup for consultations about boosting sales and design. makeshop reports a support satisfaction rate of 98%, which shows that it has earned the trust of many users.
Shopify: Easy Cross-Border E-Commerce and High Customizability
Image source: Shopify
Shopify is used in more than 170 countries outside Japan, and to date millions of stores have been launched on it worldwide. Shopify excels at multi-language and multi-currency support, supporting more than 50 languages and over 130 currencies, making it easy to run cross-border e-commerce and sell smoothly to customers around the world.
Another major appeal of Shopify is that you can add features such as marketing and inventory management to match your needs. Since there's no limit on the number of products you can register, it's also ideal for companies handling a wide range of products.
Differences in Cost Between makeshop and Shopify
Shopify has a setup fee of ¥0, and the monthly fee varies by plan, ranging from ¥3,650 for the Basic plan to ¥44,000 for the Advanced plan, with card payment fees also differing by plan. If you use Shopify Payments, the transaction fee is ¥0. However, if you don't use Shopify Payments, a fee of 0.2–2% applies.
makeshop, on the other hand, has a relatively high setup fee of ¥11,000 and a monthly fee of ¥12,100. However, its transaction fee is 0%, and card payment fees are also low, at 3.19% for the Premium plan, so profits increase as sales grow.
Shopify's appeal is that you can start at low cost, but fees are charged as the number of transactions and sales increase, so it's important to choose based on your company's sales scale and required features.
| Service Name | Shopify (as of October 2024) | makeshop (as of October 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Setup fee | ¥0 | Premium plan: ¥11,000 Enterprise plan: from ¥11,000 |
| Monthly fee *with annual payment |
Basic: ¥3,650 Shopify: ¥10,100 Advanced: ¥44,000 *Plus starts at a minimum of $2,300 |
Premium plan: ¥12,100 Enterprise plan: from ¥55,000 |
| Card payment fee | Basic: 3.55–3.9% Shopify: 3.4–3.85% Advanced: 3.25–3.8% Plus: 2.9–3.75% *Varies by card brand |
Premium plan: 3.19% Enterprise plan: 3.14% |
| Transaction fee | Using Shopify Payments: 0% *If not used, 0.2–2% depending on plan |
0% |
Differences in Features and Customization Between makeshop and Shopify
Shopify offers more than 190 design themes, making it easy even for beginners to launch a shop. It also lets you customize your design more freely using its proprietary Liquid language. Furthermore, with more than 16,000 apps available, you can add features as your shop grows.
makeshop, on the other hand, offers 17 free themes and 89 extensions. It also integrates with WorldShopping BIZ, allowing shipping to 228 countries, though it supports only 4 languages.
Both platforms support custom domains, letting you build an online store that matches your brand image.
| Service Name | Shopify (as of February 2026) | makeshop (as of October 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Design themes | 190+ (free and paid) | 17 patterns (free only) |
| Theme customization | HTML/CSS/Liquid | HTML/CSS |
| Extensions (apps) | 16,000+ | 89 |
| Product registration | Unlimited | Premium plan: 10,000 items Enterprise plan: 50,000 items |
| Custom domain | 〇 | 〇 |
| SSL/TLS | Supported | Premium plan: ¥13,200/year Enterprise plan: Free (custom SSL also supported) |
| International support | 50+ languages, currencies for 130+ countries | Automatically integrates with WorldShopping BIZ *Ships to 228 countries and regions *Supports 4 languages |
＜Calculation Conditions＞※Setup fees are not included
- makeshop Premium plan
- Monthly fee: ¥12,100 (tax included)
- Card payment fee: 3.19% (VISA/MASTER/JCB AMEX/DINERS)
- Transaction fee: 0%
- Shopify Basic plan
- Monthly fee: ¥3,650 (tax included) *Monthly rate when paid annually
- Card payment fee: VISA/MASTER/JCB 3.55% / AMEX/DINERS 3.90%
- Transaction fee: 0% (assuming use of Shopify Payments)
*Calculated assuming card sales account for 60% of total sales, an average order value of ¥10,000, a VISA/MASTER share of 70%, a JCB share of 24%, and other payment methods accounting for 6%.
Benefits of Migrating from makeshop to Shopify
We recommend migrating to Shopify for companies aiming for global expansion or wanting to strengthen their brand image.
You can customize your store to match your company's vision, whether that's running cross-border e-commerce with an eye on international markets or easily building a distinctive design. For those wanting to start at low cost, the Basic plan at ¥3,650 per month is also appealing.
Given these strengths, Shopify can be said to be an excellent platform for companies considering global expansion or wanting to develop a more distinctive store.
Steps to Migrate from makeshop to Shopify
There are mainly two ways to migrate from makeshop to Shopify.
- Copy makeshop data into Shopify's CSV file and upload it to Shopify
- Migrate using the Shopify app "Matrixify"
Since some items can't be migrated using a CSV file alone, we generally recommend using Matrixify.
Data That Can Be Migrated from makeshop to Shopify
Here's a summary of the data that can be migrated from makeshop to Shopify. Product data, order data, and customer data can be migrated by editing Shopify's CSV file.
For images, register the image data in Shopify before migrating the CSV file, and specify the file name. Points accumulated through purchases can be migrated by using a Shopify app.
| Data | Method |
|---|---|
| Product data | Import via CSV Use the Shopify app "Matrixify" |
| Customer data | Import via CSV Use the Shopify app "Matrixify" *makeshop customer password information cannot be migrated *Since makeshop's customer data combines first and last name into a single field, you need to split it into first name and last name when migrating to Shopify's CSV |
| Order data | Import via CSV Use the Shopify app "Matrixify" |
| Product image data | Manually add images to media from Shopify's product registration screen Specify the image file name when importing via CSV |
| Point migration | Possible in some cases depending on the app For details, please contact each points app vendor in advance |
Data Migration Using Shopify's CSV Data
Here we introduce how to migrate product data and customer data, which can be migrated using a CSV file.
1. Set Up Shopify
Go to the official Shopify website and register an account by entering your email address.
Click "I'm already selling online or in person"
Select "makeshop"
After this, proceed with setup by selecting the products you'll sell, and so on.
The steps for setting up a Shopify store are explained in detail in the blog post below. Please use it as a reference.
2. Download the Sample CSV from Shopify to Migrate makeshop Data
To import product data, go to Product management, select Import, and click "Download sample CSV."
To migrate customer data, go to Customer management, select Import, and download the sample CSV.
3. Import the Sample CSV Downloaded from Shopify into Google Sheets
Create a new Google Sheets document, and click Import from the File menu in the top left. We recommend working in Google Sheets to prevent character encoding issues.
When the import screen appears, select Upload
Upload the Shopify CSV file and the makeshop CSV file
- Import location: Insert new sheet(s)
- Separator type: Detect automatically
4. Paste the makeshop CSV Data to Match Shopify's Sample CSV Data
Since Shopify is an e-commerce platform that originated in Canada, its CSV file is in English.
For detailed information about each field, please refer to:
- The official Shopify blog, "The Definitive Guide! Let's Add Products to Your Store Using a CSV File!"
- The official Shopify blog, "Let's Import Customer Information into Your Store Using a CSV File!"
Please check the above.
We recommend first registering your makeshop products directly on the Shopify site. If you export a CSV file from Shopify while you have registered data, you can work while comparing it against the sample CSV file.
5. Download the Shopify Sheet You Created
Select Download from the File menu, and download it in comma-separated format (.csv).
6. Import Each CSV File from Product Management or Customer Management
When you import the CSV file, a preview will be displayed. Check the preview screen and complete the import.
Data Migration Using Matrixify
Image source: Shopify app store
Matrixify is a convenient app that lets you bulk-import makeshop data into Shopify, but it doesn't support Japanese. Also note that while the Demo version is free for up to 10 product records, a monthly fee applies depending on the plan.
Matrixify is explained in detail in the blog post below. Please use it as a reference. What Is "Matrixify," a Tool for Importing and Exporting Shopify Data?
Points to Watch Out for During Migration
When migrating from makeshop to Shopify, setting up redirects is essential. A redirect is a mechanism that automatically forwards an existing page URL to a new URL.
Setting this up prevents the "Page Not Found" 404 error page and helps you avoid a decline in your SEO evaluation. In particular, if existing customers have bookmarked the old URL, they may be unable to access it and become disappointed if redirects aren't set up. This could cause them to never visit again.
As this shows, failing to set up redirects can cause you to lose user trust and miss opportunities to attract customers, so be sure to set up redirects during migration.
The specific steps for setting up redirects are introduced in the blog post below. Please use it as a reference.
Migrate from makeshop to Shopify and Expand Your Sales
Migrating from makeshop to Shopify offers major benefits for businesses seeking global expansion, advanced customizability, and extensibility. When migrating from makeshop to Shopify, you can import a CSV file into Shopify, but to migrate your data efficiently and reliably, make use of Matrixify.
