BigCommerce to Virtuemart
Moving your store from BigCommerce to VirtueMart lets you keep products, customers, orders, and content intact—while protecting SEO rankings and customer logins. This guide walks through data mapping, migration tools, pricing, and execution steps.
Migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart moves your store from hosted SaaS to VirtueMart. Whether you're reducing subscription costs, consolidating platforms, or seeking VirtueMart's features—this guide covers the data mapping and migration steps you need.
BigCommerce to VirtueMart: Quick Facts
- Average cost: $69–$400 (automated) vs $2,500+ (custom)
- Typical duration: 2–4 hours (automated) vs weeks (manual)
- Recommended method: Automated cloud migration (Cart2Cart, LitExtension)
- Password migration: Supported with migration tool
- SEO preservation: 301 redirects required—automated tools create them
Why Move from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
BigCommerce works for many stores, but its constraints can limit growth. VirtueMart offers a different set of advantages:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The BigCommerce Pain: Subscription costs. API rate limits. Stencil theme lock-in.
The VirtueMart Gain: Hosted or managed. Reduced server management. Focus on selling.
🚀 App Ecosystem
The BigCommerce Pain: Extension ecosystem smaller than target.
The VirtueMart Gain: Broader app ecosystem. One-click integrations. More third-party options.
🛠 Ease of Use
The BigCommerce Pain: Product structure differs. Mapping complexity.
The VirtueMart Gain: User-friendly admin. Modern UX. Non-technical users can manage stores.
⚡ Quick Launch
The BigCommerce Pain: API limits. Theme lock-in.
The VirtueMart Gain: Launch fast. Focus on selling, not infrastructure.
Who Should Migrate from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration suits merchants wanting VirtueMart, reducing subscription costs, or consolidating with an existing VirtueMart ecosystem. BigCommerce offers hosted SaaS; VirtueMart offers alternative hosting or integrated simplicity.
BigCommerce to VirtueMart: Platform-Specific Considerations
Each migration path has its own quirks. For BigCommerce → VirtueMart, watch for:
- BigCommerce API structure differs from VirtueMart—migration tools map entities.
- Product variants map to target variants or options—verify mapping coverage.
- BigCommerce CDN paths differ from target media system—re-upload or transform URLs.
BigCommerce to VirtueMart Pre-Migration Checklist
Before moving from BigCommerce to VirtueMart, review your source data and prepare the VirtueMart store. Different structures mean mapping matters—get it wrong and you risk data loss.
Understanding the Platform Disconnect
BigCommerce and VirtueMart use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- BigCommerce Plan: Check API access.
- VirtueMart Setup: Create target store. Configure API.
- Product Structure: BigCommerce variants map to target variants.
- Images: BigCommerce CDN to target media system.
BigCommerce to VirtueMart Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Correct field mapping from BigCommerce to VirtueMart keeps variants, customer history, and order links intact. Reference mappings for developers:
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field (Source) | VirtueMart Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
Product.id |
product_id / id |
VirtueMart generates new IDs. Use reference for mapping. |
Product.name |
name / title |
Direct string transfer. |
Product.sku |
sku / model |
Direct mapping. |
Product.price |
price |
Direct price transfer. |
Product.description |
description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
Product.categories |
categories |
BigCommerce categories map to target. |
Product.variants |
variants / options |
BigCommerce variants map to target variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | VirtueMart Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
Customer.email |
email |
Unique identifier. |
Customer.password |
password |
Password migration supported with tool. |
Address |
address |
BigCommerce addresses map to target. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| BigCommerce Field | VirtueMart Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
Order.id |
order_id |
Preserve order number. |
Order.status |
status |
Map BigCommerce status to target. |
Order.total_inc_tax |
total |
Direct mapping. |
BigCommerce to VirtueMart Migration Tools
For BigCommerce → VirtueMart, three approaches: automated cloud migration (recommended), CSV import, or custom scripts. Compare BigCommerce migration tools for features and pricing.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via BigCommerce API and VirtueMart API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for VirtueMart automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400).
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: BigCommerce Export + VirtueMart Import
Export from BigCommerce Admin, format for VirtueMart, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: BigCommerce API + VirtueMart API
Build a custom script using BigCommerce API and VirtueMart API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from BigCommerce to VirtueMart: Step-by-Step
Use this workflow for BigCommerce → VirtueMart with automated tools. Full BigCommerce migration guide for planning.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (VirtueMart):
Create your VirtueMart store. Complete setup. Configure API access. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Don't point your domain yet.
1.2. Prepare Source (BigCommerce):
Ensure API access. Keep your BigCommerce store live during migration.
Phase 2: Connection Setup
2.1. BigCommerce Access:
Configure API credentials in BigCommerce Admin. Or install migration app if using automated tools.
2.2. VirtueMart Access:
Provide API credentials. Migration tool connects to VirtueMart.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from BigCommerce URLs to VirtueMart URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce variants map to VirtueMart variants.
- Migrate Images: Images from BigCommerce CDN uploaded to VirtueMart media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool. Customer passwords converted.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a VirtueMart theme.
BigCommerce to VirtueMart Migration Cost (2025)
For a typical store (2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers):
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
BigCommerce to VirtueMart: Troubleshooting & SEO
Common issues when moving BigCommerce to VirtueMart:
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce variants map to VirtueMart variants. Check variant limits (e.g., Shopify 100/product).
- API Structure: BigCommerce REST API differs from VirtueMart. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: BigCommerce CDN images need re-uploading to VirtueMart media system.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
BigCommerce URLs differ from VirtueMart URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in target admin.
BigCommerce to VirtueMart: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about BigCommerce to VirtueMart—costs, timing, passwords, and SEO.
How long does BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration take?
Automated BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration typically takes 2–4 hours for medium catalogs. Run a demo migration first to validate data mapping.
Can BigCommerce customer passwords transfer to VirtueMart?
Migration tools often support password transfer when hashing is compatible. Check tool documentation—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Will SEO survive BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration?
Yes, with 301 redirects from BigCommerce URLs to VirtueMart URLs. Automated tools create redirect rules. Submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console.
Ready to Migrate from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
Migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart gives you new platform capabilities, broader ecosystem, and reduced constraints. Run a free demo to confirm your data maps correctly.