Using a CMS + an ecommerce plugin has helped thousands of Internet users transform their hobby into a profitable undertaking. This way, you can add an online store to your website and get your grateful audience become satisfied buyers - which means, you’re killing two birds with one stone. This convenience, however, comes at a price - ecommerce plugins for a CMS tend to lack the robustness of a standalone shopping cart platform. Joomla, and its most popular ecommerce plugin VirtueMart, are no exception.
VirtueMart sets no limits for the number of products or categories in the store. Also, installing it on the existing Joomla site requires no separate hosting, domain name etc. VirtueMart offers multiple features that ease up the store management for a merchant - like shopper groups, multiple pricing options, discount coupons and built-in SEO.
There are however certain weaknesses to VirtueMart. It is far from being an intuitive platform, so installing, configuring and troubleshooting it are quite complex tasks for an average user and require an expert, which means extra spendings. Even mastering everyday routine presents a learning curve. Also, to make the e-store work like a clock, certain paid extensions are required. Templating is complicated and requires HTML and CSS skills, plus there’s a limited number of design options available for free. A previous disadvantage for older versions was a lack of mobile compatibility out of the box, though modern VirtueMart templates are now responsive and provide a better mobile experience. Considering a new platform should always include reviewing a Universal eCommerce Migration Checklist to ensure all critical aspects are covered.
In case you’ve been thinking of picking a more agreeable solution for your online business, but not to say goodbye to a CMS, WooCommerce plugin for WordPress is worth paying attention to. Here’s why:
- User-friendliness - major strength, which WordPress (and WooCommerce) is famous and loved for. Even a total newbie will be able to master WooCommerce backend in no time.
- Appealing design - there are tons of themes for WooCommerce, both free and paid, and changing the look of your store front end can be done without any special skills.
- Get going out of the box - WooCommerce possesses all necessary functions like versatile product management - you can sell virtual and physical, variable, configurable and grouped products. Powerful reporting and marketing tools help make your business more effective, great SEO tools are no worse than those for WP, which is loved by the search engines.
- Functionality - apart from the existing features, you can add virtually anything you can think of thanks to a multitude of plugins available - again, free and paid. Popularity and active community - WooCommerce is one of the most widely used e-commerce platforms globally, powering millions of online stores alongside its ‘mother’ - WordPress, so you can find extensive help on the forums whenever you need it.
So, we’ve done comparing VirtueMart to WooCommerce, and now it is for you to make the final verdict - whether you’d like to migrate from your current Joomla VirtueMart to WordPress WooCommerce or stay where you are. In any case, the prezi that we offer to your attention below will be helpful.
So, that’s it now you can perform an accurate VirtueMart to WooCommerce migration in a few clicks with Cart2Cart. This migration service will ensure you get your new store up and running as easily and trouble-free as possible.
Monthly Update – January 2026
Entering 2026, the landscape of e-commerce migration continues to evolve, with a strong emphasis on leveraging AI and automation to streamline complex re-platforming projects. For businesses transitioning from platforms like VirtueMart to WooCommerce, integrating AI-driven tools can significantly reduce manual effort in data mapping, error detection, and post-migration validation. These advanced technologies analyze data structures, suggest optimal mappings for products, customers, and orders, and can even predict potential issues before they arise, ensuring a smoother and faster migration process.
Furthermore, AI can power more sophisticated post-migration optimizations. For instance, after moving to WooCommerce, AI algorithms can help with personalized product recommendations based on migrated customer history, intelligent inventory management, and even automated SEO adjustments to maintain search rankings. Embracing such technological advancements isn't just about efficiency; it's about future-proofing your online store, ensuring it's not only transferred successfully but also optimized for peak performance and customer engagement in the years to come. Consider exploring automated migration services that incorporate these intelligent features for your next platform switch.
For more details, explore our FAQ section or schedule a call with a migration expert.
