VirtueMart to BigCommerce
Moving your store from VirtueMart to BigCommerce 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 VirtueMart to BigCommerce is a strategic upgrade to a modern hosted SaaS e-commerce solution. In 2025, with VirtueMart's limitations and BigCommerce's REST API, Stencil themes, App Marketplace, and zero transaction fees, the case for migration has never been stronger.
VirtueMart to BigCommerce: 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 VirtueMart to BigCommerce?
VirtueMart works for many stores, but its constraints can limit growth. BigCommerce offers a different set of advantages:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The VirtueMart Pain: Legacy or limited architecture. Scaling constraints. Limited customization.
The BigCommerce Gain: Hosted SaaS. No server management. Focus on selling. Zero transaction fees.
🚀 App Marketplace
The VirtueMart Pain: Addon ecosystem small. Template lock-in.
The BigCommerce Gain: BigCommerce App Marketplace. One-click integrations. Stencil theme flexibility.
🛠 Product Variants
The VirtueMart Pain: Product structure differs. Verify mapping.
The BigCommerce Gain: Unlimited product variants. Flexible options. Streamlined catalog management in Admin.
⚡ Admin & Multi-Currency
The VirtueMart Pain: Legacy admin. No native API.
The BigCommerce Gain: Intuitive BigCommerce Admin. Native multi-currency. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from VirtueMart to BigCommerce?
VirtueMart to BigCommerce migration suits merchants seeking hosted infrastructure, broader app ecosystem, and zero transaction fees. BigCommerce offers Stencil themes and native multi-currency.
VirtueMart to BigCommerce: Platform-Specific Considerations
Each migration path has its own quirks. For VirtueMart → BigCommerce, watch for:
- VirtueMart structure differs from BigCommerce—migration tools map entities.
- Product variants/options map to BigCommerce variants. Verify mapping coverage.
- Image paths differ from BigCommerce CDN—re-upload or transform URLs.
VirtueMart to BigCommerce Pre-Migration Checklist
Before moving from VirtueMart to BigCommerce, review your source data and prepare the BigCommerce store. Different structures mean mapping matters—get it wrong and you risk data loss.
Understanding the Platform Disconnect
VirtueMart and BigCommerce use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
- VirtueMart Version: Check your version. Structure may differ.
- Database/API: Ensure access for data export.
- BigCommerce Setup: Create BigCommerce store. Configure API.
- Product Structure: Source variants map to BigCommerce variants.
- Images: Export from source. Upload to BigCommerce CDN.
VirtueMart to BigCommerce Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Correct field mapping from VirtueMart to BigCommerce keeps variants, customer history, and order links intact. Reference mappings for developers:
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| VirtueMart Field (Source) | BigCommerce Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
product_id / id |
Product.id |
BigCommerce generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
name / title |
Product.name |
Direct string transfer. |
sku / model |
Product.sku |
Direct mapping. |
price |
Product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
description |
Product.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
categories |
Product.categories |
Source categories map to BigCommerce. |
variants / options |
Product.variants |
Source variants map to BigCommerce variants. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| VirtueMart Field | BigCommerce Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
email |
Customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
password |
Customer.password |
Password migration supported with tool. |
address |
Address |
Source addresses map to BigCommerce. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| VirtueMart Field | BigCommerce Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
order_id |
Order.id |
Preserve order ID in BigCommerce. |
status |
Order.status |
Map source statuses to BigCommerce. |
total |
Order.total_inc_tax |
Direct mapping. |
VirtueMart to BigCommerce Migration Tools
For VirtueMart → BigCommerce, 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 VirtueMart database/API and BigCommerce API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for BigCommerce automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400).
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: VirtueMart Export + BigCommerce Admin Import
Export from VirtueMart, format for BigCommerce, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: VirtueMart DB/API + BigCommerce API
Build a custom script using VirtueMart database or API and BigCommerce REST API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from VirtueMart to BigCommerce: Step-by-Step
Use this workflow for VirtueMart → BigCommerce with automated tools. Full BigCommerce migration guide for planning.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (BigCommerce):
Create your BigCommerce store. Complete setup. Configure API access. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Don't point your domain yet.
1.2. Prepare Source (VirtueMart):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your VirtueMart store live during migration.
Phase 2: Connection Setup
2.1. BigCommerce Access:
Configure API credentials in BigCommerce Admin. Migration tools connect via BigCommerce API.
2.2. VirtueMart Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to VirtueMart data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from VirtueMart URLs to BigCommerce URLs.
- Migrate Product Variants: BigCommerce supports unlimited variants. VirtueMart options map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from VirtueMart and uploaded to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool. Customer passwords converted to BigCommerce format.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, variants. Notify customers. Choose a BigCommerce Stencil theme from BigCommerce Theme Marketplace.
VirtueMart to BigCommerce 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
VirtueMart to BigCommerce: Troubleshooting & SEO
Common issues when moving VirtueMart to BigCommerce:
- Variant Mapping: BigCommerce supports unlimited product variants. VirtueMart options map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: VirtueMart structure differs from BigCommerce. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: VirtueMart images need re-uploading to BigCommerce CDN.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration tool.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
VirtueMart URLs differ from BigCommerce URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in BigCommerce Admin.
VirtueMart to BigCommerce: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions about VirtueMart to BigCommerce—costs, timing, passwords, and SEO.
How long does VirtueMart to BigCommerce migration take?
Automated VirtueMart to BigCommerce migration typically takes 2–4 hours for medium catalogs. Run a demo migration first to validate data mapping.
Can VirtueMart customer passwords transfer to BigCommerce?
Migration tools often support password transfer when hashing is compatible. Check tool documentation—otherwise customers reset passwords.
Will SEO survive the migration?
Yes, with 301 redirects from source URLs to BigCommerce URLs. Automated tools create redirect rules. Submit the new sitemap to Google Search Console.
Ready to Migrate from VirtueMart to BigCommerce?
Migrating from VirtueMart to BigCommerce gives you hosted infrastructure, no transaction fees, and Stencil themes. Run a free demo to confirm your data maps correctly.