Ecommerce

VirtueMart Review

By Tinuiti Team

Nov 18 2013

Are you interested in creating an online store or migrating your current store to a new platform? This VirtueMart review will help you learn the fundamentals of the platform, as well as your store’s fit with its features and functionalities.

Want to know how other platforms measure up? See our full list of 16 ecommerce platform reviews here.

VirtueMart Review: What kind of merchant should use the VirtueMart ecommerce plug-in?

VirtueMart is a free, open-source ecommerce plug-in that works in conjunction with the Joomla content management system. It was launched in 1997 and, to date, has been utilized by nearly 300,000 retailers worldwide.

VirtueMart is not for the novice business owner by any means. For one, it operates on a less than user-friendly CMS (Joomla). Known for its confusing interface and complicated admin area, Joomla is a platform designed for the highly tech savvy user– not the casual web user. Additionally, VirtueMart’s open source code (which is all PHP and MySQL-based) makes it difficult for the average business owner to manage. In most cases, an experienced web developer or programmer is needed to install and implement the platform successfully (and to maintain it in the long run). Let’s also not forget that VirtueMart and Joomla have both been swept up by WordPress and Woocommerce as the newer, more user-friendly CMS has gained popularity in the last couple of years.

VirtueMart (or Joomla, for that matter) does not come with any sort of hosting support. That means business owners who choose to use this platform must acquire a separate hosting package with another vendor in order to get their store up and running.

Users also may have to cough up extra dough if they want their store to be mobile-friendly. Mobile compatibility for VirtueMart is only available via the iVM Store application, which must be purchased through the iTunes App Store or Google Play. Depending on the device retailers want to target and the licensing period they choose, the app can run between $110 to $1000. So, if your store/product category inherently attracts a lot of mobile users, VirtueMart is not ideal.

Accepting payment with VirtueMart can also be a costly process. To accept credit cards using the platform, retailers first must install a PCI-compliant plug-in into their Joomla installation, which costs around $50. They’ll also need to sign up with an approved payment gateway and acquire an SSL certificate (both of which mean more fees.) Fortunately, PayPal is a bit easier to install, and it can be done at no cost.

Ideal for: The do-it-yourself small to medium sized retailer w/ a lot of technical know-how.

VirtueMart Review: Positive VirtueMart Features [ws_table id=”66″]

Virtumart Review: Negative VirtueMart features [ws_table id=”67″]

You can view all of VirtueMart’s features here.

Notable VirtueMart Stores:

Simply Remembered

Eliseo Fashion

VirtueMart Review: Bottom Line

Transferring your online store, or even starting out there, would be a huge step backwards. VirtueMart is past its prime and in both design and functionality, appears outdated, weak, and surpassed by more innovative competitors. It seems like VirtueMart also has a stronger international presence than it does in the U.S.

In a nutshell, VirtueMart is a valid option for the retailer who has his/her sights aimed small. Small to medium-sized retailers looking in the open-source market are better off considering more mainstream solutions.

Ecommerce Platform Comparison Grade: C

View the master list of our ecommerce platform comparison to make the most informed choice when choosing your ecommerce platform software.

How do you think Magento Enterprise stacks up against the rest of the market? Have your voice be heard and your opinion known! Email [email protected] and request to have your experience be part of this VirtueMart Review.

*Note: Grades are subjectively based on analysis and comparison to other ecommerce platforms, based on availability, significance, and functionality of the platform feature and overall value.