Catalog size limits
Each CSVwise plan has a maximum number of rows per file. This article explains why the limits exist and what to do when your catalog is larger. The caps apply to every cleanup, including the store-match check that appears in the app as the Store matches section.
Per-file row caps
| Plan | Max rows per file | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1,500 | Small catalogs, trial cleanups, single-product updates |
| Pro | 5,000 | Typical Shopify store, seasonal catalog refreshes |
| Studio | 50,000 | Large catalogs, up to the 50,000-row cap |
The row count is the number of data rows in your CSV (not counting the header row). A product with three variants counts as three rows.
Why the caps exist
Each cap reflects a different trade-off:
- Free (1,500) is sized to be a meaningful trial: large enough to clean a real working file, small enough that we can offer three free cleanups to every shop without unsustainable costs.
- Pro (5,000) covers the typical Shopify catalog with plenty of headroom, including stores where every variant is its own row.
- Studio (50,000) is the highest per-file cap CSVwise offers, for large catalogs and bulk imports from other platforms (WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Magento).
How the row cap is enforced
CSVwise checks the row count before it does anything else: before any cleanup work runs and before any credit is used. If your file is over the cap, the upload stage is blocked: a warning banner tells you how many rows your file has and how many rows your plan allows, with Try a different file and See upgrade options beneath it. (On Studio there is no upgrade button, because Studio is the highest cap.)
Your options:
- Free → Pro/Studio: upgrade to a plan with a larger cap.
- Pro → Studio: same, larger cap.
- Studio → contact us: Studio is the highest cap. Files beyond 50,000 rows are beyond CSVwise's current plans. Email support@csvwise.com and we'll help.
Nothing is charged. The file is rejected before any work begins.
Larger than 50,000 rows?
Files beyond 50,000 rows are beyond CSVwise's current plans. Email support@csvwise.com with your situation and we'll help you find the best path forward.
Shopify's own file-size limit
The row caps above are CSVwise's. Shopify's product importer has a separate limit: it accepts CSV files up to 15 MB. CSVwise accepts files up to 25 MB, so a description-heavy file near the Studio row cap can clear CSVwise and still be too large for Shopify. If your cleaned file lands over 15 MB, email support@csvwise.com and we'll help you work out the best path.
Free-plan credit limit
The 1,500 row cap is per file. Free also has a 3-cleanup lifetime limit per shop. The two limits are separate:
- A Free shop can clean three different 1,500-row files (each cleanup uses one credit).
- A Free shop can't clean a 2,000-row file at all (over the cap, no matter how many credits are left).
- Once the three free cleanups are used, the next attempt prompts to upgrade, even if the file is under 1,500 rows.
See Tier limits for the full picture.
What if my file is exactly at the cap?
The cap is inclusive: exactly 1,500 rows is allowed on Free, exactly 5,000 on Pro, exactly 50,000 on Studio.
If your file is at the cap and you expect it to grow (more products coming next month), consider upgrading proactively. Finding out you're over the limit after preparing a 5,100-row CSV is friction you'd rather avoid.