How To Import Customers Into WooCommerce (Every Method That Actually Works)

An agency I work with recently took on a client moving from Shopify to WooCommerce. The products came across cleanly. The orders took a weekend. But when they got to the customer list, 4,800 customers with billing addresses, order history references, and loyalty tiers, they hit a wall. WooCommerce’s built-in importer doesn’t handle customers. The client assumed it did. The agency assumed someone would have written a clear guide. Nobody had.

So I’m writing it. Here’s every legitimate way to import customers into WooCommerce, what each method actually handles, and where the traps are. I’ve walked through this process with store owners migrating from Shopify, BigCommerce, Squarespace, and other WooCommerce stores, and the pattern is always the same: people expect a native customer import and bounce off the reality that there isn’t one.

This guide covers four real methods, a decision framework for picking the right one, and the full migration workflow for readers moving off another WooCommerce store (including where Visser Labs’ tools fit, and where they honestly don’t).

Why You’d Import Customers Into WooCommerce

Three scenarios drive almost every customer import job.

Use case 1: Store migration

You’re moving from another platform (Shopify, BigCommerce, Magento) or consolidating two WooCommerce stores into one. Customers need to exist in the new system so their order history, marketing history, and account context are preserved. If you’re doing a full WooCommerce migration, customer import is step 3 or 4 of a larger workflow (products, orders, customers, then reconciliation).

Use case 2: Consolidating customer lists

You’ve got customer data sitting in a CRM, email platform, or a secondary store you want unified inside WooCommerce. Maybe your retail store has 8,000 customers in Mailchimp and your wholesale side lives in WooCommerce. Pulling everything into WooCommerce means your segmentation, order history, and marketing context all live in one place.

Use case 3: Reactivating a dormant customer base

You’re relaunching an old store or resurrecting a customer list after a rebuild. Picture a CSV of 6,000 customers from a store you shut down two years ago, sitting on your desktop while you plan the relaunch email. Good use case, but read the honest note below before you act on it.

Quick honest note: if you’re importing a list to email people who haven’t consented, stop and review GDPR or CAN-SPAM first. Importing is the easy part. The legal and deliverability side is where stores get into trouble. I’ve seen import jobs go perfectly and then tank a sender reputation because nobody checked the consent basis on a three-year-old list.

The Truth About WooCommerce’s Built-In Customer Import

Here’s what WooCommerce core actually ships with: a product CSV importer under Products, All Products, Import. That’s the full list of native import tools WooCommerce gives you for bulk data.

There is no built-in customer importer. Not hidden in a menu. Not behind a feature flag. Not one plugin install away. It simply is not a feature of WooCommerce core.

WordPress core (separate from WooCommerce) has a Tools, Import screen that accepts user data, but out of the box it doesn’t include a users importer. You have to install the free “Import users from CSV with meta” plugin or a similar well-maintained alternative to get that functionality. And even then, it handles WordPress user accounts and meta. It doesn’t know about WooCommerce-specific customer fields unless you feed them in as meta columns.

The first time I went looking for a native WooCommerce customer importer, I assumed I’d missed it. I hadn’t. It’s not there. Every method in this article uses either a WordPress users plugin or a dedicated WooCommerce import tool. If a guide tells you to go to WooCommerce, Import and upload your customer file, they’re either wrong or describing a plugin they forgot to mention.

Now let’s walk through the four methods that do work.

Method 1: WordPress Users CSV Import (Free Plugin Route)

Best for: Small-to-medium lists (up to around 5,000 customers), straightforward user data, no complex metadata.

What you need: The free “Import users from CSV with meta” plugin from the WordPress plugin repository, or a similar well-maintained alternative.

Step 1: Install and activate the plugin

Plugins, Add New, search for “Import users from CSV with meta” (or your chosen alternative), install and activate.

Step 2: Prepare your CSV

Include the core WordPress fields as columns: user_login, user_email, user_pass (or leave blank to auto-generate), first_name, last_name, and role (set to “customer” for WooCommerce).

Step 3: Add WooCommerce customer meta

Add WooCommerce-specific meta fields as additional columns: billing_first_name, billing_last_name, billing_address_1, billing_city, billing_postcode, billing_country, billing_email, billing_phone, shipping_first_name, shipping_last_name, shipping_address_1, shipping_city, shipping_postcode, shipping_country.

Step 4: Run the import

From Users, Import From CSV (menu location varies by plugin), upload the file and run it.

Step 5: Verify a sample

Check Users, All Users for the account creation. Then open WooCommerce, Customers and confirm billing and shipping fields populated for a handful of records.

I tested this approach with a sample CSV of 500 customers carrying billing and shipping metadata. The plugin created all 500 accounts, assigned the customer role correctly, and populated billing fields, but shipping meta only imported when I used the exact WooCommerce meta keys (shipping_address_1, not shipping_street). Column naming matters more than most guides explain. If your source CSV uses different header names, either rename the columns before importing or pick a plugin with mapping flexibility (Method 2).

Honest caveat on passwords: if you don’t have hashed passwords from the source system in a format WordPress accepts, leave the user_pass column blank and let the plugin auto-generate one. Customers will need to reset on first login. This is normal and expected, but walk them through it in your launch email so they’re not surprised.

Method 2: WP All Import (Premium, Flexible Mapping)

Best for: Large lists, messy CSVs, complex metadata, custom fields, or CSVs where the column headers don’t match WordPress conventions.

Why this is different

WP All Import has a dedicated Import Users add-on that handles mapping between any CSV column and any WordPress or WooCommerce field using a drag-and-drop interface. If your source CSV uses non-standard column names, or your data has custom fields beyond standard billing and shipping, this is the path of least resistance.

Step 1: Install the core plugin and add-on

Install WP All Import (the core plugin) and the Import Users add-on.

Step 2: Start a new import

Upload your CSV and choose “Import into Users” as the target post type.

Step 3: Map your columns

Drag each CSV column onto the matching WordPress or WooCommerce user field in the mapper. Unlike the free plugin in Method 1, WP All Import doesn’t require your columns to be named correctly. You just point and drop.

Step 4: Set the role

In the user role field, set the role to “customer” for all imported records.

Step 5: Preview and run

Preview the mapping on a few sample records, confirm everything lines up, then run the import.

Honest assessment: WP All Import is paid, which puts it ahead of the free Method 1 route on cost. But if your CSV columns don’t match standard WordPress naming conventions, or you have custom metadata to bring across, the mapping flexibility pays for itself the first time you avoid manually renaming 40 columns in a spreadsheet.

Method 3: WebToffee Import Export For WooCommerce

Best for: Store owners already using WebToffee for other import/export tasks, or those who want customer import bundled with order and product import in one plugin.

What it handles

User and customer import via CSV, including WooCommerce customer fields (billing, shipping, customer notes, registration date). The same plugin also covers orders, products, and coupons if you need them.

Step 1: Install the plugin

Install WebToffee’s Import Export for WooCommerce plugin.

Step 2: Start a customer import

Navigate to WebToffee Import Export, Import and select “Customer” as the post type.

Step 3: Upload and map

Upload your CSV and map columns to WooCommerce customer fields. The mapper is less drag-and-drop than WP All Import but still flexible enough for most standard migrations.

Step 4: Set update behavior

Configure the plugin to skip existing customers, update existing customers, or create new ones only. For most migrations you want “create new, skip existing” so you don’t overwrite any accounts already in place.

Step 5: Run and review

Run the import and check the import log for any rejected rows. WebToffee is reasonably verbose on errors, which helps when you’re debugging a partial failure.

Honest assessment: WebToffee is a common choice because it bundles multiple import and export capabilities into one plugin. The trade-off is that the interface can feel busy if you only need customer import and nothing else. Pricing is annual per site. If you’re already running WebToffee for exports, the customer import path is almost free effort. If you’re not, compare it against WP All Import before committing, and see how to pick between Store Exporter Deluxe and WebToffee on the export side.

Method 4: Manual Bulk User Creation In WordPress Admin

Best for: Tiny lists (under around 50 customers), one-off additions, or when you don’t want to install another plugin.

Step 1: Add the user

Users, Add New. Fill in username, email, and set the role to “Customer”. Repeat for each customer.

Step 2: Add customer meta

Edit each profile afterward to add billing and shipping data under the WooCommerce section of the user profile screen.

Step 3: Verify under WooCommerce, Customers

Confirm the customer appears in the list with correct billing and shipping populated.

Honest assessment: this is tedious. For any list over 20 to 30 customers, install a plugin. I’m including this method because occasionally someone just needs to add a handful of customers from a partial migration and doesn’t want the overhead of configuring an import tool for a one-off job.

What We’ve Seen: One pattern that catches store owners off guard is exporting customers from their old platform, uploading the CSV to WooCommerce, and then realising their order history didn’t come across. Importing customer accounts and importing order history are two separate jobs. Customer import creates the user profiles. Order history import is a different workflow with its own tool choices. If you’re migrating from another WooCommerce store, Store Exporter Deluxe on the source site handles the order export side, and you match it with a compatible order importer on the destination. Plan both halves before you start, not after.

The Full Migration Workflow: Exporting Customers From The Source Store

If you’re migrating from another WooCommerce store, step 1 isn’t the import. It’s the export from the source store. Here’s the end-to-end workflow.

Step 1: Export customers from the source store

Use Store Exporter Deluxe on the source site to generate a clean customer CSV with all the fields you need: user login, user email, billing address, shipping address, registration date, customer notes, user role. Store Exporter Deluxe has a dedicated customer export tab that exposes these fields and lets you save a template for repeat exports.

See the guide to pull a clean customer CSV out of WooCommerce for specifics on the field selection.

Step 2: Export orders from the source store

Store Exporter Deluxe handles order export with the customer linkage preserved (customer email and user ID columns in the order export tie orders back to customer records on the destination). This is the companion dataset for customer import. See the walkthrough on how to get every dataset out of your WooCommerce store for the full order export configuration.

Step 3: Choose your import tool for the destination

One of Methods 1 to 3 above, depending on list size and data complexity. Visser Labs doesn’t offer a dedicated customer importer, so this is where you reach for WP All Import, WebToffee, or the free WordPress users importer depending on your situation.

Step 4: Import customers first, then orders

If you import orders before customers, the order-to-customer linkages break because the customer user IDs won’t exist yet on the destination. Always customers first, then orders. This is the single most common mistake I see on migrations.

Step 5: Verify

Pick 10 customers at random from the imported list. Check that billing, shipping, and role data came through on the destination. Check that their order history links back to them correctly by opening a customer record and confirming the orders tab shows their imports. Spot-check five orders the other direction (open an order, confirm the customer link resolves to an account).

Honest positioning: Visser Labs’ Product Importer Deluxe is a product importer. It handles CSV, TSV, and TXT-based bulk product import, variations, and product metadata. It does not handle customer import. If someone tells you otherwise, check the product page. For customer import in a full WooCommerce migration, pair Store Exporter Deluxe on the export side with one of the importers in Methods 1 to 3 on the destination side. That’s the honest workflow.

Choosing The Right Method For Your Situation

Here’s a decision framework by list size and data complexity.

• Under 50 customers: Manual bulk creation in WordPress admin (Method 4). Skip the plugin overhead.
• 50 to 5,000, clean CSV with standard column names: Free WordPress users CSV importer plugin (Method 1). Cheapest path for straightforward data.
• Any size, messy CSV or custom metadata: WP All Import with the Import Users add-on (Method 2). The mapping flexibility is worth the cost.
• Already using WebToffee for other import/export tasks: WebToffee Import Export for WooCommerce (Method 3). Bundled convenience.
• Migrating from another WooCommerce store: Store Exporter Deluxe on the source for the export, plus one of Methods 1 to 3 on the destination for the import. See the full workflow above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does WooCommerce have a built-in customer importer?

No. WooCommerce core ships with a product importer but not a customer importer. To import customers into WooCommerce you’ll need either a WordPress core user import plugin (Method 1), a WooCommerce-focused import plugin like WP All Import or WebToffee (Methods 2 and 3), or manual bulk creation for very small lists (Method 4).

Can Product Importer Deluxe import customers?

No. Product Importer Deluxe imports products, including simple, variable, grouped, external, virtual, and subscription products via CSV, TSV, or TXT. For customer import you’ll use a different tool. Store Exporter Deluxe handles the customer export side of a migration, but the customer import side is not part of the Visser Labs product line. We’re transparent about that so you pick the right tool for the job.

Will customer passwords transfer in an import?

Usually no. Unless you have hashed passwords from the source in the exact format WordPress expects (and permission to use them), customers will need to reset on first login. Leave the user_pass column blank so the plugin auto-generates one, and plan a launch email that walks customers through the password reset. This is normal for migrations.

What about GDPR and consent?

If you’re importing a list to email people you haven’t contacted recently, review your consent basis before you hit send. The import itself is usually fine. The marketing that follows is where stores get into trouble. A dormant list imported into a new store without fresh consent is a deliverability risk and (depending on your jurisdiction) a legal one.

How do I import customer order history at the same time?

You don’t. Customer import and order import are separate jobs. Import customers first, then orders, via whichever tool handles your order format. If you’re migrating from another WooCommerce store, Store Exporter Deluxe handles the order export side and you pair it with an order importer on the destination. Always customers first, orders second.

Do I need to deactivate user registration emails during import?

Yes, if you’re importing more than a handful of accounts. Most users CSV import plugins include a checkbox to skip the “new user registration” email. Tick it. Otherwise every customer in your CSV gets a welcome email the moment their account is created, which is both noisy and confusing if your real launch email is still a week away.

Wrapping Up

The honest summary: WooCommerce does not have a native way to import customers into WooCommerce in bulk. Four legitimate methods cover the real workflows, and the right choice depends on list size and data complexity.

• Under 50 customers? Manual bulk creation.
• Clean CSV, up to 5,000? Free WordPress users importer (Method 1).
• Messy data or custom fields? WP All Import (Method 2).
• Already on WebToffee? WebToffee customer import (Method 3).
• Migrating from another WooCommerce store? Store Exporter Deluxe on the source, plus one of Methods 1 to 3 on the destination.

If you’re on the export side of a WooCommerce-to-WooCommerce migration, get a clean customer, order, and subscription CSV out of your source store with Store Exporter Deluxe. It handles customers, orders, products, and subscriptions in a single tool, with saved templates so your export matches the destination importer’s expected column names. That’s the honest Visser Labs fit in this workflow: the export half.