Whether you're migrating platforms, backing up your catalog, or analyzing competitor stores — here's every method to get Shopify products into a clean CSV file.
Key Takeaways
- Shopify's native export works for your own store — but not for extracting competitor catalogs
- Third-party export apps add scheduling and custom mapping, at a recurring monthly cost
- ProdSift extracts any public Shopify or WooCommerce store in seconds — no API key or app install needed
- Your CSV will include titles, descriptions, variants, SKUs, prices, inventory, and images
There are three main reasons people want to export Shopify products to CSV: backing up their own store, migrating to another platform, or researching what competitors are selling. Each use case calls for a slightly different approach.
In this guide, we cover all three methods in detail — Shopify's native CSV export, third-party export apps, and how to extract any store's catalog with ProdSift (even if you don't own it).
Why you'd want to export Shopify products
The most common reasons store owners and ecommerce entrepreneurs export product data:
- Platform migration — moving from Shopify to WooCommerce (or vice versa)
- Backup — keeping a local copy of your catalog
- Bulk editing — making mass price or description changes in a spreadsheet, then re-importing
- Competitor research — analyzing what products a competing store carries and at what prices
- Supplier catalog comparison — matching your products against a supplier's list
- Dropshipping store setup — launching a store with an existing catalog as a starting point
Method 1: Native Shopify CSV export
If you own the Shopify store, this is the easiest way to export Shopify products to CSV. Shopify has a built-in product export tool in the admin dashboard.
Step-by-step
- Open Products in your Shopify Admin — go to your admin dashboard and click Products
- Click the Export button — top-right corner of the Products page
- Choose what to export — all products, current page, or a specific selection
- Select the CSV format — choose "CSV for Excel, Numbers, or other spreadsheet programs"
- Click Export Products — for small catalogs the file downloads immediately; for large stores Shopify emails you a link within minutes
⚠️ Limitation: This only works for stores you own and have admin access to. If you want to extract a competitor's catalog, skip ahead to Method 3.
Method 2: Third-party export apps
Several Shopify App Store apps extend the native export with features like scheduled exports, custom column mapping, and FTP delivery.
These are useful if you need to export on a schedule, want to filter by collection or product type, or need to transform the data into a specific format for a supplier or marketplace.
Cost: Most export apps are billed monthly. That's worth it for recurring automated exports, but overkill if you just need a one-time export — and none of them help at all when you're extracting competitor data.
Method 3: Extract any store with ProdSift
This is the only method that works on stores you don't own. ProdSift extracts product data from any public Shopify or WooCommerce store — no API key, no app installation, no login required.
It's designed for three main use cases: competitor research, dropshipping store setup, and platform migration.
- Paste any Shopify or WooCommerce store URL
- ProdSift fetches the full product catalog
- Download as CSV — ready for Excel, Shopify import, or WooCommerce import
Export Shopify products to CSV from any store
No admin access, no app install. Paste a store URL and get a clean CSV in seconds. First 5 products free — no credit card.
Try it freeWhat data is included in the CSV?
A standard Shopify product CSV export includes the following columns:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Handle | Unique URL slug for the product |
| Title | Product name |
| Body (HTML) | Product description |
| Vendor | Brand or supplier |
| Type | Product category |
| Variant SKU | Stock keeping unit per variant |
| Variant Price | Selling price |
| Variant Compare At Price | Original/strike-through price |
| Variant Inventory Qty | Current stock level |
| Image Src | URL of the product image |
Importing your CSV into another platform
Once you have the CSV, importing depends on where you're taking it:
- Shopify — Products → Import → Upload CSV. Shopify validates the file before importing and shows you a preview.
- WooCommerce — Products → Import → Run the Importer. You'll need to map the CSV columns to WooCommerce fields.
- Google Sheets / Excel — File → Import → Upload. Use comma as the delimiter.
FAQ
Can I export products from a Shopify store I don't own?
Not through Shopify's native admin — that requires store access. ProdSift can extract products from any public Shopify store without admin credentials.
Do exported images come with the CSV?
Image URLs are included in the CSV. The actual image files aren't downloaded — just the links. You can use a batch download tool or re-upload the URLs directly into your new store.
Is it legal to extract products from competitor stores?
Publicly visible product information is generally accessible, but you should always check a site's terms of service and applicable laws in your jurisdiction before using extracted data commercially.
How many products can ProdSift extract?
The free plan lets you export 5 products as a test — enough to confirm the CSV imports cleanly into your store. Paid plans support full catalog extraction for stores with thousands of products.
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First 5 products are free. No credit card, no setup.
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