BigCommerce to VirtueMart Migration - Step-by-Step Guide & Expert Services
BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration made easy and secure. Planning to move BigCommerce store to VirtueMart? Cart2Cart ensures a swift, secure, and SEO-preserving transfer with zero downtime, protecting your rankings and customer experience. Whether you're ready to switch from BigCommerce to VirtueMart yourself using our detailed step-by-step guide, or prefer our experts to transfer data seamlessly for you, we guarantee a hassle-free transition. Start your successful BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration today.
What data can be
migrated from BigCommerce to VirtueMart
-
Products
-
Product Categories
-
Manufacturers
-
Taxes
-
Customers
-
Orders
-
Coupons
-
Reviews
-
Multistore
- Name, ID, SKU, Full Description, Status, Custom Fields(Name, Value), Manufacturer, Tax Class.
- Price, Special Price, Sale Price.
- URL, Meta Title, Meta Keywords, Meta Description.
- Product Image, Additional Images.
- Quantity.
- Weight, Width, Height, Depth.
- Options(Name, Price), Product Attributes(Name, Values).
- Product Variants(Weight, Attributes, Quantity, Price, Special Price, Additional image).
- Name, ID, Description, Status.
- URL, Meta Title, Meta Description, Meta Keywords.
- Category Images.
- Name, Manufacturer Images.
- Tax Class(Tax Name).
- ID, First Name, Last Name, Email, Customer Group, Telephone, Created Date.
- Customer Billing Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Customer Shipping Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Payment method name, Shipping method name.
- ID, Order Date, Order Status, Order Products(Name, SKU, Option), Custom Order Status, Product Price, Quantity, SubTotal Price, Discount Price, Tax Price, Shipping Price, Total Price, Order Comments.
- Customer Name, Email, Billing Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Shipping Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Coupon Code, Type Discount, Discount Amount, Minimum Spent.
- Created Date, Status, Rate, User Name, Comment, Product.
- Yes.
- Name, ID, SKU, Full Description, Status, Custom Fields(Name, Value), Manufacturer, Tax Class.
- Price, Special Price, Sale Price.
- URL, Meta Title, Meta Keywords, Meta Description.
- Product Image, Additional Images.
- Quantity.
- Weight, Width, Height, Depth.
- Options(Name, Price), Product Attributes(Name, Values).
- Product Variants(Weight, Attributes, Quantity, Price, Special Price, Additional image).
- Name, ID, Description, Status.
- URL, Meta Title, Meta Description, Meta Keywords.
- Category Images.
- Name, Manufacturer Images.
- Tax Class(Tax Name).
- ID, First Name, Last Name, Email, Customer Group, Telephone, Created Date.
- Customer Billing Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Customer Shipping Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Payment method name, Shipping method name.
- ID, Order Date, Order Status, Order Products(Name, SKU, Option), Custom Order Status, Product Price, Quantity, SubTotal Price, Discount Price, Tax Price, Shipping Price, Total Price, Order Comments.
- Customer Name, Email, Billing Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Shipping Address(First Name, Last Name, Company, Address 1, Address 2, Country, State, City, Zip Code, Telephone).
- Coupon Code, Type Discount, Discount Amount, Minimum Spent.
- Created Date, Status, Rate, User Name, Comment, Product.
- Yes.
Products
Estimate your Migration Cost
To calculate your BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration price, click the button below. The migration price depends on the number of data types and the additional migration options selected.
How to Migrate from BigCommerce to VirtueMart In 3 Steps?
Connect your Source & Target carts
Choose BigCommerce and VirtueMart from the drop-down lists & provide the stores’ URLs in the corresponding fields.
Select the data to migrate & extra options
Choose the data you want to migrate to VirtueMart and extra options to customise your BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration.
Launch your Demo/Full migration
Run a free Demo to see how the Cart2Cart service works, and when happy - launch Full migration.
Migrate from BigCommerce to VirtueMart: Your Comprehensive 2025 Guide
Seamlessly Migrate Your E-commerce Store from BigCommerce to VirtueMart
Replatforming your e-commerce store is a significant decision that can redefine your online business's future. If you're currently operating on BigCommerce and considering a move to VirtueMart – the robust e-commerce solution built on Joomla! – this comprehensive guide will walk you through every essential step. Whether you're seeking greater flexibility, specific integrations, or a different cost structure, transitioning from BigCommerce to VirtueMart can offer a fresh foundation for growth.
This article provides clear, actionable instructions, leveraging expert tools and strategies to ensure a smooth data transfer, preserving your valuable SKUs, customer data, order history, and SEO rankings. We'll cover everything from crucial prerequisites to detailed migration steps and vital post-migration checks, ensuring data integrity and a seamless transition for both you and your customers.
Why Consider VirtueMart?
VirtueMart, as a powerful open-source e-commerce extension for Joomla!, offers unparalleled flexibility and customization options. Its integration within the Joomla! ecosystem means you benefit from a vast array of extensions and templates, allowing you to tailor your store precisely to your brand and operational needs. While BigCommerce provides a robust SaaS platform, VirtueMart gives you full control over your hosting environment and codebase, which can be a key factor for businesses with unique requirements or those looking to avoid platform-specific vendor lock-in.
Prerequisites for a Successful BigCommerce to VirtueMart Migration
Before initiating any data transfer, thorough preparation of both your source (BigCommerce) and target (VirtueMart) stores is crucial. This proactive approach minimizes potential issues and ensures data integrity throughout the process.
For Your BigCommerce Source Store:
- Admin Access: Ensure you have full administrative access to your BigCommerce store.
- API Credentials: BigCommerce migrations require specific API credentials. You will need to generate a Client ID, an Access Token, and know your store's API Path. This typically involves creating a custom app within your BigCommerce admin panel with the necessary API scopes. Review our Short & Essential Guide to Access Credentials for detailed instructions.
- HTTPS Requirement: Your BigCommerce store must use HTTPS for secure API connections.
- Understand API Rate Limits: Be aware that BigCommerce has API rate limits, which may affect the speed of the data transfer, especially for very large stores.
- Custom App Development: As noted in BigCommerce's limitations and plugin requirements, a custom app with required scopes is necessary for robust API connection and data extraction. This ensures you can access all source store data.
For Your VirtueMart Target Store:
- Joomla! Installation: Ensure you have a fresh, functional Joomla! installation ready on your hosting environment.
- VirtueMart Installation: Install and configure the latest stable version of VirtueMart within your Joomla! instance.
- FTP/SFTP Access: You'll need FTP or SFTP access to your hosting server to upload a connection bridge file. This bridge file facilitates secure communication between the migration tool and your new VirtueMart store. Understanding what a root folder is will be helpful here.
- Database Access: While typically handled by the migration tool, having access to your VirtueMart database (e.g., via phpMyAdmin) can be beneficial for troubleshooting.
- Empty Store (Recommended): For the cleanest migration, it's highly recommended that your VirtueMart store is empty of any dummy data before the migration. This can be selected as an option during the migration process via the 'Clear current data on Target store before migration' option.
Performing the Migration: A Step-by-Step Guide
Migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart involves a series of structured steps, typically guided by an automated migration wizard. Here’s how to navigate the process effectively:
Step 1: Initiate Your Migration
Begin your migration journey by navigating to the migration wizard interface. This is where you'll start configuring your move from BigCommerce to VirtueMart. You can choose to start a DIY migration or opt for assistance from a professional service.
Step 2: Configure Your BigCommerce Source Store
The next crucial step is to connect your existing BigCommerce store to the migration tool. Select 'BigCommerce' as your Source Cart and provide your store's URL.
You will then need to input the specific API credentials: the Client ID (often referred to as Username), the Access Token (API Token), and your store's API Path. These details authorize the migration service to securely access and extract your store’s data. Remember that a custom app with required API scopes is essential for this connection.
Step 3: Set Up Your VirtueMart Target Store
Now, configure your new VirtueMart store. Select 'VirtueMart' as your Target Cart and enter its URL. To establish a secure connection for data transfer, you'll be prompted to download a 'connection_bridge.zip' file.
Once downloaded, unzip this file. You will find a 'bridge2cart' folder. Upload this entire folder to the root directory of your VirtueMart (Joomla!) installation via FTP. This bridge file acts as a secure conduit, allowing the migration service to write data to your new store.
Step 4: Select Data Entities for Migration
At this stage, you decide precisely what data you want to move from BigCommerce to VirtueMart. The migration tool typically provides a checklist of supported entities. From the BigCommerce platform, the following entities are generally supported for transfer:
- Products (including SKUs, variants, descriptions, images)
- Product Categories
- Product Manufacturers
- Product Attributes & Options
- Customers (including customer groups)
- Orders
- Coupons
- Blogs Posts
- CMS Pages
You can choose to migrate all available data entities or select specific ones based on your needs. This ensures that only relevant information is transferred, maintaining the cleanliness of your new VirtueMart store.
Step 5: Configure Additional Migration Options and Data Mapping
This critical step allows for fine-tuning your migration settings and ensuring data consistency. You’ll find various 'Additional Options' to tailor the process:
- Preserve IDs: Options like 'Preserve Orders IDs', 'Preserve Product IDs', 'Preserve Category IDs', and 'Preserve Customers IDs' help maintain historical data integrity and often simplify post-migration tasks.
- SEO URLs & 301 Redirects: Selecting 'Create 301 SEO URLs' is highly recommended. This option generates redirects from your old BigCommerce URLs to your new VirtueMart URLs, crucial for preserving SEO rankings and link equity.
- Clear Target: The 'Clear Target' option removes any existing data in your VirtueMart store before the migration, ensuring a clean slate.
- Create Variants from Attributes: This option helps properly structure product variations in VirtueMart if they were managed differently in BigCommerce.
- Migrate Groups to Tags: This can be useful for organizing customer segmentation.
Data Mapping: You will also map crucial data fields, such as customer groups and order statuses, from BigCommerce to their corresponding equivalents in VirtueMart. This ensures that customer roles and order workflows remain consistent in your new platform.
Step 6: Run a Demo Migration and Full Migration
Before committing to a full data transfer, always perform a free demo migration. This allows you to transfer a limited number of entities (e.g., 10-20 products, customers, orders) to your VirtueMart store. The demo helps you:
- Verify the connection bridge and API credentials.
- Examine the data transfer quality and structure.
- Test the functionality of your new store with migrated data.
- Identify any potential issues or adjustments needed for the full migration.
Once you are satisfied with the demo results, proceed with the full migration. You can also consider adding a Migration Insurance Service, which offers additional remigrations within a specific period, providing peace of mind in case any unforeseen adjustments are needed post-migration.
Post-Migration Steps: Ensuring Your New VirtueMart Store Thrives
Completing the data transfer is a major milestone, but the work isn't over. Several critical post-migration steps are essential to ensure your VirtueMart store is fully functional, optimized, and ready for customers.
- Thorough Data Verification: Carefully review all migrated data. Check products (SKUs, variants, prices, images), customer accounts, order history, CMS pages, and reviews. Ensure everything appears correctly and data integrity is maintained.
- Configure Store Settings: Reconfigure essential VirtueMart settings that weren't part of the data transfer. This includes payment gateways, shipping zones, tax rules, currency, and localized settings.
- Install and Configure Extensions/Plugins: VirtueMart’s strength lies in its extensibility. Install and configure any necessary Joomla! components or VirtueMart plugins for SEO, marketing, analytics, or specific functionalities that you previously used on BigCommerce.
- Test All Functionality: Conduct extensive testing of your new store. Place test orders, create customer accounts, test search functionality, contact forms, and ensure all links work correctly. Simulate the entire user experience from browsing to checkout.
- Implement 301 Redirects: If not fully handled by the migration tool or if you have custom URLs, manually set up 301 redirects for any old BigCommerce URLs that weren't automatically redirected. This is vital for preserving your SEO rankings and avoiding broken links.
- Update DNS and Go Live: Once you are confident that your VirtueMart store is fully operational and verified, update your DNS records to point your domain to your new VirtueMart hosting. Monitor traffic closely immediately after going live.
- Communicate with Customers: Inform your customers about the transition, especially if there was any temporary downtime or if account logins require resetting (though robust migration tools often transfer passwords).
- Ongoing Monitoring and Optimization: Continuously monitor your store's performance, user experience, and SEO. Optimize for speed, mobile responsiveness, and conversion rates.
Migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart is a complex but rewarding process. By following these steps and paying close attention to detail, you can successfully transition your e-commerce business to a new platform, ready to leverage VirtueMart's flexibility and power. For any challenges or custom requirements, consider our Migration Customization Service or contact our experts for assistance.
Ways to perform migration from BigCommerce to VirtueMart
Automated migration
Just set up the migration and choose the entities to move – the service will do the rest.
Try It Free
Data Migration Service Package
Delegate the job to the highly-skilled migration experts and get the job done.
Choose Package
Benefits for Store Owners
Benefits for Ecommerce Agencies
Choose all the extra migration options and get 40% off their total Price
The design and store functionality transfer is impossible due to BigCommerce to VirtueMart limitations. However, you can recreate it with the help of a 3rd-party developer.
Your data is safely locked with Cart2Cart
We built in many security measures so you can safely migrate from BigCommerce to VirtueMart. Check out our Security Policy
Server Security
All migrations are performed on a secure dedicated Hetzner server with restricted physical access.Application Security
HTTPS protocol and 128-bit SSL encryption are used to protect the data being exchanged.Network Security
The most up-to-date network architecture schema, firewall and access restrictions protect our system from electronic attacks.Data Access Control
Employee access to customer migration data is restricted, logged and audited.Frequently Asked Questions
Will my BigCommerce store's design or theme transfer to VirtueMart?
Will my BigCommerce store experience downtime during migration to VirtueMart?
What factors influence the cost of migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
How long does a BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration take?
Can customer passwords be migrated from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
How to prevent losing SEO rankings when migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
Is my BigCommerce data secure during the VirtueMart migration process?
What data can be migrated from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
How can I verify data accuracy after migrating from BigCommerce to VirtueMart?
Should I use an automated tool or hire an expert for BigCommerce to VirtueMart migration?
Why 150.000+ customers all over the globe have chosen Cart2Cart?
100% non-techie friendly
Cart2Cart is recommended by Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, OpenCart, PrestaShop and other top ecommerce platforms.
Keep selling while migrating
The process of data transfer has no effect on the migrated store. At all.
24/7 live support
Get every bit of help right when you need it. Our live chat experts will eagerly guide you through the entire migration process.
Lightning fast migration
Just a few hours - and all your store data is moved to its new home.
Open to the customers’ needs
We’re ready to help import data from database dump, csv. file, a rare shopping cart etc.
Recommended by industry leaders
Cart2Cart is recommended by Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, OpenCart, PrestaShop and other top ecommerce platforms.
Trusted by eCommerce dominators since 2009
I had used Cart2Cart 3 years ago for a migration from OSCommerce to Joomla/Virtuemart. I struggled with Virtuemart for 3 years and am sick of it. So remembering the good job they did 3 years ago, I had them migrate my data from VirtueMart to WooCommerce. Everything went smoothly except my photos didn’t get transferred correctly. I emailed them and gave them FTP access and they got everything fixed right up. I think they went out of their way to get my stuff up and going. I will use them again when I get sick of WooCommerce unless it works like it is supposed to
Review source
You were wonderful. Very helpful. You did the demo migration and now are doing the full migration. This is saving days of work on my part in moving the data in VirtueMart to the the new version. I have other clients that will be using VirtueMart and we will need your service for them. I will mention your service in the Joomla and VirtueMart forums.
Review source
This service is just great. I actually migrate my oscommerce shop to virtuemart and of course I want to keep my customers and orders. So I did decide to use cart2cart service to do that task. The result is impressive. Everything worked without any problem.
I can recommend that service to everybody. It works great.
Thank you.
Review source
Very thankful for my migration experience using this app to migrate from BigCommerce to Shopify!! The best decision that I made. My only regret is that I did not migrate to Shopify sooner. Would not have been able to successfully complete this migration with out Cart2Cart and very thankful that I did. If you are looking for a service to avoid the hassle of migrating an existing store to a new platform, this app is worth the investment!! Seemless and perfect transition. Managed to migrate my entire store in less than two weeks!!
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This app is amazing. Very simple to use, the app practically does everything for you. I transferred all my data from BigCommerce to Shopify without a hitch. Highly recommend this app.
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Cart2Cart is awesome! It transferred all of my products from BigCommerce to Shopify with no problems. Forget spreadsheets, for the price they charge it is well worth it! Great app! It is very easy to install and configure.
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The transition from Big Commerce to Shopify was made easy with the Cart2Cart App. I was able to transfer my customer data, previous orders and discount codes with no problem. The process was quick and easy and the optional insurance for re-migration in the event of an error is a great feature. I really appreciate how much this app has helped me.
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I have used this app twice to migrate content from BigCommerce to Shopify. Both times it worked perfectly and saved me a ton of time over trying to transfer products and categories manually as the bulk upload features of both platforms is very different. Definitely worth the money!
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My migration from BigCommerce to WooCommerce was so easy, so time-saving, and so successful that I can’t believe all that work was done with one click!
Thanks to Cart2Cart for a fantastic service. Totally recommended!
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Our developer has used Cart2Cart before. The Bigcommerce to Magento data transfer was very easy. We hope to go live soon and can’t wait to use the new system!
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