Introducation

If your store still runs on Magento 1, an old Magento 2.4.x release, or the default Luma theme, you are carrying risk every day. Security patches are slowing or gone, PHP versions are expiring, and shoppers notice slow pages. The good news is that the right Magento 2 migration services can fix all three problems at once.

Here is the short answer. Magento 2 migration services move your store, data, and customizations from Magento 1 to a supported Magento 2 or Adobe Commerce version, while upgrade services bring an older Magento 2 store up to the current 2.4.x release. The best agencies in the USA combine a written migration plan, extension and code audits, SEO-safe redirects, full QA, and post-launch support. Many now pair the upgrade with a move from Luma to the faster Hyvä frontend.

This guide explains what these services include, the deadlines that matter, how the process works step by step, and which agencies US merchants shortlist for the job.

What Do Magento 2 Migration Services Include?

People often use "migration" and "upgrade" as if they mean the same thing. In practice, Magento projects fall into four groups, and many stores need more than one:

• Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration. A rebuild on a new platform. Data moves across, but themes and extensions must be replaced or rewritten because Magento 2 uses a different architecture.

• Magento 2 version upgrade. Moving from an older 2.x release (such as 2.4.4 or 2.4.6) to the current 2.4.9 line, along with matching PHP, database, and search engine updates.

• Frontend migration (Luma to Hyvä). Replacing the heavy default Luma theme with a lighter frontend to improve speed and Core Web Vitals.

• Replatforming. Moving to or from Magento entirely, for example WooCommerce to Magento 2, or Magento to Shopify when the business case supports it.

A professional Magento upgrade agency handles the planning, code, data, testing, and launch for each of these. It also protects the two things merchants care about most: revenue and search rankings.

Why US Stores Should Not Wait: Magento 1, Old 2.4.x, and PHP Deadlines

Magento 1 Has Had No Official Patches Since June 2020

Magento 1 reached end of life on June 30, 2020. Before that date, Adobe warned that stores remaining on Magento 1 would have increased responsibility for maintaining site security and PCI DSS compliance. Even so, research from Foregenix showed that more than 200,000 sites were still running Magento 1 a week after support ended.

Community forks such as OpenMage keep some Magento 1 stores alive, but the platform, its extensions, and most integrations remain years behind Magento 2.

Older Magento 2.4.x Versions Are Leaving Support

Upgrading to Magento 2 is not a one-time event. According to Adobe's software lifecycle policy:

• Magento 2.4.9 became generally available on May 12, 2026, with standard support through May 31, 2029.

• Magento 2.4.8 has standard support through May 31, 2028.

• Magento 2.4.7 has standard support through May 31, 2027.

• Magento 2.4.6 left standard support on August 11, 2026, and its extended support ends August 31, 2027.

• Extended support for 2.4.4 ended on April 14, 2026, and for 2.4.5 on August 11, 2026.

If your store is on 2.4.6 or earlier, you are already in a shrinking support window. Planning the next move now gives you time to test properly instead of rushing.

PHP End of Life Adds PCI Risk

Adobe's lifecycle policy also notes that PHP 8.1 reached end of life on December 31, 2025, and PHP 8.2 reaches end of life on December 31, 2026. Adobe states that running an unsupported PHP version can put PCI compliance at risk, because new PHP vulnerabilities may go unfixed. For any US merchant taking card payments, that is a strong reason to schedule a Magento 2 upgrade before year end.

Security is not a theoretical concern on Magento. In 2024, the CosmicSting flaw led to thousands of hacked Adobe Commerce and Magento stores, largely because many merchants were slow to patch.

Luma vs Hyvä: Should You Change Your Frontend During the Upgrade?

Luma is the default Magento 2 theme. It works, but it loads a large stack of JavaScript libraries, which makes good mobile scores hard to reach without heavy tuning.

Hyvä is a modern Magento 2 frontend built with Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js. The biggest recent change is cost. Hyvä announced that, starting November 10, 2025, the Hyvä Theme would be free and open source under the OSL3 and AFL3 licenses, the same licenses as Magento Open Source. In its 2025 business review, Hyvä reported about 1,800 unique domains registered for the open-source theme by the end of 2025.

Why does frontend speed matter so much? A Google-commissioned study by Deloitte found that a 0.1-second improvement in mobile site speed lifted retail conversions by 8.4%. Faster pages also support better Core Web Vitals, which helps both shoppers and search visibility.

Consider a Magento Hyvä upgrade alongside your migration if:

• Your mobile PageSpeed scores are low even after caching and image work.

• You are already replacing your Magento 1 theme, so frontend work is happening anyway.

• Your extensions have Hyvä-compatible versions, or the agency can build lightweight replacements.

• You want a faster storefront without the cost and complexity of a fully headless build.

A few points to keep in mind:

• The core Hyvä Theme is free, but Hyvä Checkout and Hyvä Enterprise remain commercial products.

• Hyvä is not a drop-in skin. Every extension that touches the frontend needs a compatibility check.

• If you need an app-like experience across web and mobile, a progressive web app or headless commerce build may be a better fit.

Magento 1 to Magento 2 Migration: Step-by-Step Process

Migrating from Magento 1 to Magento 2 is a structured project, not a weekend task. Experienced Magento 2 migration experts usually follow a process like this:

1. Discovery and store audit. List every extension, custom module, integration, store view, and customer group. Measure current traffic, conversion rate, and top landing pages so you have a baseline.

2. Choose the target edition and version. Decide between Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce, and plan for the current 2.4.9 release with a supported PHP version.

3. Extension mapping. For each Magento 1 extension, decide whether to replace it with a Magento 2 version, rebuild it as a custom module, or retire it. This step often removes years of unused bloat.

4. Theme and UX rebuild. Magento 1 themes cannot be ported directly. Use the move to rebuild on Hyvä or a custom Luma-based theme, and fix known checkout friction.

5. Data migration. Adobe's Data Migration Tool is a command-line tool with three modes: Settings mode for configuration, Data mode for bulk records, and Delta mode for new orders and customers created during the project. Adobe notes that media, storefront design, admin user accounts, and access control lists must be migrated manually.

6. Custom code and integrations. Rewrite custom logic for Magento 2 and reconnect ERP, CRM, payment, tax, and shipping systems. This is where strong ERP integration services and API development skills matter.

7. SEO and redirects. Map every old URL to its new equivalent with 301 redirects, and carry over metadata and structured data.

8. QA and user acceptance testing. Test checkout, payments, taxes, promotions, customer accounts, emails, and integrations across devices. Structured software testing catches problems before customers do.

9. Cutover and delta sync. Freeze admin changes, run the final Delta sync, switch DNS, and monitor orders closely during the first hours.

10. Post-launch support. Watch errors, speed, rankings, and conversion for at least 30 days, then move to a regular patch and upgrade schedule.

Magento 2 Upgrade Process: Moving to 2.4.9

If you already run Magento 2, the path is simpler, but it still needs care. A typical Magento 2 upgrade looks like this:

• Run a compatibility review. Adobe provides an Upgrade Compatibility Tool that scans custom code for issues against the target version.

• Check the server stack. Confirm supported versions of PHP, MySQL or MariaDB, OpenSearch, Redis, Varnish, and Composer.

• Update extensions. Get vendor releases that support the target version, or patch custom modules.

• Upgrade on staging first. Never upgrade production directly. Use a copy of live data on a staging environment.

• Regression test. Recheck checkout, search, indexing, cron jobs, and integrations.

• Deploy with a rollback plan. Keep a tested backup and a clear plan to roll back if something fails.

Upgrading in smaller steps each year is almost always cheaper than jumping several versions at once.

How to Protect SEO During a Magento Site Migration

Lost rankings are the most expensive hidden cost of a poor Magento site migration. Organic traffic took years to build and can drop quickly if URLs break. Google's own guidance on site moves with URL changes recommends mapping old URLs to new ones and using server-side 301 redirects.

Ask your Magento migration services partner to cover these SEO steps:

• Crawl the old site and export every indexable URL, including product, category, CMS, and filtered pages that receive traffic.

• Build a full redirect map from old URLs to the most relevant new pages, avoiding redirect chains.

• Preserve on-page elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, headings, image alt text, and canonical tags.

• Keep or improve structured data for products, reviews, breadcrumbs, and your organization.

• Submit updated XML sitemaps in Google Search Console and monitor crawl errors after launch.

• Benchmark and track rankings and organic revenue for your top pages before and after the move.

If search is a major sales channel, involve your SEO team from day one. Webshark's digital marketing team can work alongside developers so the new store launches with its search equity intact.

Best Magento 2 Migration and Upgrade Agencies in the USA

The agencies below are well known for Magento migration and upgrade work and serve US merchants. Details come from each agency's own website or public directory listings, so confirm current partner status in the Adobe partner program directory before you sign.

1. Webshark Web Services

• Best for: Mid-market and enterprise brands that want one partner for migration, integrations, and long-term support.

• US presence: Office in Atlanta, plus presence in other US locations.

• Migration strengths: Magento 1 to Magento 2 and platform migrations, new Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce builds, custom extensions, B2B portals, headless and PWA storefronts, and performance tuning.

• Integrations: ERP systems such as SAP and NetSuite, Salesforce CRM, 3PL providers, and US sales tax tools such as Avalara and Vertex.

• Worth knowing: Webshark follows a lean extension strategy, favoring custom modules over heavy third-party plugins, which helps future upgrades stay stable. See the Devji Since 1950 luxury Magento case study for an example of its Magento work.

2. scandiweb

• Best for: Large brands that want a big, highly certified team and Hyvä at scale.

• US presence: Office in New York; headquartered in Riga, Latvia.

• Migration strengths: Magento and Adobe Commerce migration, replatforming, Hyvä builds, and ongoing support.

• Worth knowing: scandiweb describes itself as an Adobe Gold Partner and Hyvä Platinum Partner with 894+ Adobe certifications. Enterprise focus may mean higher minimum budgets.

3. Absolute Web

• Best for: Fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands that want strategy, design, and development under one roof.

• US presence: Based in Miami since 1999, with an office in Los Angeles.

• Migration strengths: Magento 2 migration, multi-store setup, performance work, and Magento maintenance. Its public client reviews include several Magento 1 to Magento 2 projects.

• Worth knowing: The agency also works heavily with Shopify and BigCommerce, which helps if you are still comparing platforms.

4. IWD Agency

• Best for: US B2B merchants with ERP-heavy operations, especially NetSuite.

• US presence: The agency's website lists Austin, Texas as headquarters.

• Migration strengths: Magento 1 and legacy replatforming, B2B catalogs, quote workflows, and Hyvä rebuilds.

• Worth knowing: IWD has built on Magento for well over a decade and also develops Magento extensions.

5. Atwix

• Best for: Complex custom builds where deep Magento core knowledge matters.

• US presence: Distributed delivery team serving US merchants.

• Migration strengths: Custom Adobe Commerce development, performance upgrades, B2B, and Hyvä frontends.

• Worth knowing: Atwix is an Adobe Solution Partner and is widely known as one of the most active code contributors to Magento Open Source.

6. Magebit

• Best for: Merchants that want a Hyvä-first frontend modernization.

• US presence: Dedicated US team for Adobe Commerce and Shopify Plus brands.

• Migration strengths: Magento development, Hyvä builds, migration, support, and SEO.

• Worth knowing: Magebit says it was the first Hyvä Platinum Partner in the US, which is relevant if a Luma to Hyvä move is your main goal.

7. Digital Silk

• Best for: Brands that want a design-led rebuild during the migration.

• US presence: Headquartered in New York City.

• Migration strengths: Magento migration services, Magento 1 to Magento 2 upgrades, integrations, and support.

• Worth knowing: Strong on branding and UX, which suits stores that want a visual refresh as part of the move.

How to Choose the Right Magento Upgrade Agency

Every agency on a shortlist will say it is the best. These questions help you separate real Magento 2 migration experts from generalists:

1. Can you show live Magento migrations? Ask for case studies or live stores, not just logos.

2. Who will actually work on my store? Confirm certified Magento developers, a solution architect, QA, and a named project manager.

3. How do you handle extensions? Look for a clear replace, rebuild, or retire plan for each one.

4. What is your data migration approach? Ask how they use the Data Migration Tool, handle custom tables, and run the final delta sync.

5. How do you protect SEO? Expect a redirect map, metadata migration, and post-launch rank tracking.

6. What is your testing process? Ask for test plans covering checkout, payments, taxes, and integrations.

7. What happens after launch? Confirm support hours, response times, and an ongoing patch and upgrade plan, such as enterprise website maintenance.

8. Do your hours overlap with ours? For US merchants, time zone overlap matters during cutover and urgent fixes.

How Much Do Magento 2 Migration Services Cost?

There is no honest flat price for a Magento migration, because two stores with similar revenue can have very different complexity. Public review data gives a rough sense of scale. For example, one Clutch review lists a Magento 2 migration project for a test and safety gear company at $50,000 to $199,999. Smaller stores with few customizations can cost much less, while large B2B programs can cost more.

The main cost drivers for a Magento 1 to 2 migration include:

• Number of products, attributes, store views, and languages

• Number of extensions to replace or rebuild

• Volume of custom code and business logic

• ERP, CRM, PIM, and tax integrations

• Frontend choice (Luma-based theme, Hyvä, PWA, or headless)

• Design and UX changes beyond a straight rebuild

• Hosting and DevOps setup, such as moving to the cloud with cloud migration services

• Depth of QA and post-launch support

A version upgrade within Magento 2 usually costs far less than a Magento 1 migration, especially when the store is kept current every year. The best way to get a reliable number is a paid or free discovery phase that ends in a written scope.

Common Magento Migration Mistakes to Avoid

• Migrating everything. Unused extensions and dead products add cost and slow the new store.

• Treating Hyvä as a skin. Frontend extensions need compatibility work.

• Ignoring redirects. Missing 301 redirects are the fastest way to lose organic traffic.

• Upgrading production directly. Always rehearse on staging with real data first.

• No post-launch plan. A migration starts a support cycle; it does not end one.

Why US Brands Choose Webshark for Magento 2 Migration

Webshark Web Services builds and supports Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce stores for US brands from its Atlanta office and other US locations. Its Magento development services in the USA cover the full migration lifecycle: store audit, extension mapping, data migration, custom module development, integrations, testing, launch, and ongoing maintenance.

What makes the approach practical for migrations:

• Lean extensions. Custom-engineered modules instead of stacks of third-party plugins, so future upgrades are smoother.

• Integration depth. Connections with SAP, NetSuite, Salesforce, 3PL partners, and US tax tools such as Avalara and Vertex.

• Performance focus. Varnish caching, database tuning, and modern frontends such as PWA and headless options.

• Security mindset. Hardened configurations, role-based access control, and PCI DSS-aware builds.

• Wider ecommerce view. If Magento is not the right fit, Webshark also offers ecommerce website development in the USA and Shopify development, so the advice is not tied to one platform.

Still deciding between platforms? Read Webshark's comparison of Magento 2 vs Shopify and its guide to Magento requirements for small vs large stores.

Conclusion: Plan Your Magento 2 Migration Before Deadlines Decide for You

Magento 1 has been unsupported since 2020, older Magento 2.4.x releases are leaving support, and PHP 8.2 reaches end of life at the end of 2026. Waiting only shrinks your options and raises your risk. Professional Magento 2 migration services, on the other hand, let you upgrade securely, clean up technical debt, protect your rankings, and move from Luma to a faster frontend at the same time.

Ready to move from Magento 1 or Luma to a fast, secure Magento 2 store? Talk to Webshark's Magento team for a free consultation. You will get an honest review of your current store, a clear migration or upgrade scope, and a practical plan to launch without losing data, sales, or search visibility.

FAQs

1. How long does a Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration take?

It depends on complexity. A small store with few extensions can often move in a matter of weeks, while large B2B stores with many integrations can take several months. The biggest time factors are custom code, extensions, integrations, and testing.

2. Can I upgrade from Magento 1 to Magento 2 without losing data?

Yes. Adobe's Data Migration Tool moves products, customers, orders, and settings, and its Delta mode syncs new orders created during the project. Media, admin users, and storefront design need manual migration, so an experienced team should verify record counts before launch.

3. Will a Magento site migration hurt my SEO?

It does not have to. Rankings are protected by mapping every old URL to a new one with 301 redirects, keeping metadata and structured data, submitting new XML sitemaps, and monitoring Google Search Console after launch. Missing redirects are the most common cause of traffic loss.

4. Is Hyvä better than Luma for Magento 2?

For most stores, yes. Hyvä uses a much lighter frontend than Luma, which makes fast mobile pages easier to achieve. Since November 2025 the core Hyvä Theme is free and open source, though Hyvä Checkout and Hyvä Enterprise are still paid, and extensions need compatibility checks.

5. How often should I upgrade Magento 2?

Apply security patches as soon as they are tested, and plan a version upgrade at least once a year. Adobe's lifecycle policy gives each 2.4.x release a limited support window, and PHP 8.2 reaches end of life on December 31, 2026, so staying current keeps you secure and PCI-ready.