Quick Answer
To move from Shopify to an Indian platform, export your Shopify product CSV, bulk-import it into HOD Media (the importer auto-detects the Shopify format), map variants and images, connect your own Razorpay or Cashfree keys, re-group collections, then point your custom domain. No per-sale commission.
Why Indian sellers move off Shopify
Shopify charges in dollars, adds transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments (which, at the time of writing, isn't available to Indian sellers), and leaves you juggling third-party apps for GST invoices, COD and Indian couriers. On HOD Media the money settles directly into your own gateway, GST-style invoicing is built in, and there is no per-sale commission. Plans are rupee-priced with a free 3-month trial and no card required, so you can build and test your new store before you cut over.
Step 1: Export your Shopify catalogue
In Shopify admin, open Products → Export and download all products as a CSV (choose "plain CSV file"). This file holds your handles, titles, descriptions, variants, prices, compare-at (MRP) prices, SKUs, weights and image URLs. Export your collections and customer list separately if you want them too.
Step 2: Bulk-import into HOD Media
HOD Media's bulk CSV importer auto-detects the Shopify format (as well as Wix and native), so you usually upload the same file without reformatting. It parses the file in-memory, upserts products by handle, and brings across your catalogue in one pass. Because import is by handle, you can re-run it safely to fix and re-sync without creating duplicates.
Variants, images and collections
Each product keeps its variants with per-variant price, weight and image. Compare-at prices carry over as MRP strike-throughs, SKUs stay attached for your barcode scanner, and product images map from the CSV. After import, verify variant titles and re-group products into collections. You can then enrich listings with HOD-native touches Shopify charged apps for: product and per-variant video, shoppable reels, subtitles/units, out-of-stock badges and a barcode inventory scanner.
Step 3: Connect your own payment keys
This is the big money difference. On HOD Media you connect your own Razorpay or Cashfree keys — both are live for checkout and settlement lands directly in your account. UPI runs through whichever gateway you connect. Native COD is built in, and COD partial-advance lets you collect part of the amount online to cut RTO losses. PayU keys can be stored (checkout wiring is coming soon); Stripe and PayPal are there for international, connect-your-own, and stay inert until set.
| What matters in India | Shopify (typical) | HOD Media |
|---|---|---|
| Per-sale commission | Transaction fee unless Shopify Payments (not in India) | None — connect your own gateway |
| Payment gateways | Third-party, extra fee | Your own Razorpay or Cashfree keys |
| COD & partial-advance | App-dependent | Native COD + partial advance to cut RTO |
| GST invoices & HSN | Paid app | Built-in, with place-of-supply |
| Indian couriers | App-dependent | Shiprocket, Delhivery, Zippyy, ShippingXpress |
| Pricing | USD | Rupee plans, free 3-month trial, no card |
Step 4: Set up shipping and GST
Add your couriers — HOD supports multiple couriers per store (Shiprocket, Delhivery, Zippyy/"HOD Shipping", ShippingXpress, plus Shipday for last-mile). You get live rates, weight-based rates, free-shipping thresholds, per-order "Ship with X", and printable 4x6 thermal/A4 labels with manual courier/AWB fill-in. Buyers track parcels on your branded tracking page, and tracking syncs automatically via a per-tenant webhook. For tax, switch on GST-style invoices with HSN codes and the charge-GST toggle, and generate invoices per order or in bulk. (Treat GST registration thresholds as general guidance and confirm your own position with an accountant.)
Step 5: Point your custom domain
Once the catalogue, payments and shipping look right on a test order, connect your own custom domain and pick from 62 niche themes, each a distinct premium layout, with Hindi and English storefronts and responsive per-device images. Update your DNS to HOD, confirm the storefront resolves, and place a small live test order end to end — product, COD and prepaid, GST invoice, label print — before you switch traffic away from Shopify.
Go-live checklist
- Catalogue: variants, MRP, images and collections verified after import.
- Payments: Razorpay or Cashfree keys connected; COD and partial-advance tested.
- Shipping: couriers added, rates showing, labels printing, tracking page branded.
- GST: invoices, HSN and place-of-supply configured.
- Marketing: Meta Pixel + Conversions API, GA4, Google Merchant feed and product reviews enabled.
- Domain: custom domain live, SSL resolving, one real order placed.
Migration is mostly a CSV export, one bulk import, and a gateway connection. Start free on hodmedia.in, rebuild in parallel, and keep every rupee of every sale.
Will my Shopify product CSV import without reformatting?
In most cases, yes. HOD Media's bulk importer auto-detects the Shopify CSV format alongside Wix and native formats, and upserts products by handle. Variants, prices, compare-at MRP, SKUs, weights and image URLs map across. Because it matches by handle, you can safely re-run the import to fix and re-sync without creating duplicates.
Does HOD Media take a cut of each sale like some Indian platforms?
No. HOD Media charges rupee-priced plans with no per-sale commission. You connect your own Razorpay or Cashfree keys, so customer payments settle directly into your account. The platform never sits between you and your money on a transaction, unlike gateways or platforms that deduct a percentage per order.
Can I keep COD and reduce RTO after moving from Shopify?
Yes. Native COD is built in, and you can enable COD partial-advance to collect part of the order value online at checkout. Taking an upfront amount filters out non-serious COD buyers and reduces return-to-origin losses, which is a common pain point for Indian tier-2 and tier-3 orders.
How are GST invoices handled on HOD Media?
GST-style invoices are built in with HSN codes, place-of-supply and a charge-GST toggle, plus bulk invoice generation. You can produce a GST invoice and shipping label per order. Treat GST registration thresholds and rules as general guidance and confirm your specific obligations with your accountant or CA.
Do I lose SEO or my domain when I migrate?
You keep your own custom domain, so you simply repoint DNS to HOD Media rather than changing your web address. To protect rankings, rebuild your catalogue and collections in parallel, verify URLs, and set up the Google Merchant Center product feed and Meta Pixel before switching traffic. Place a live test order end to end before going fully live.