Shopware to VirtueMart
A Shopware to VirtueMart migration moves your store from self-hosted open-source to VirtueMart. Whether you're reducing DevOps overhead, scaling infrastructure, or tapping into its ecosystem—this guide covers the data mapping, migration steps, and SEO preservation you need.
This technical blueprint helps store owners and developers execute a Shopware to VirtueMart store migration without losing products, customers, orders, or rankings. We cover API structures, field mappings, migration costs, and step-by-step execution.
Why Migrate from Shopware to VirtueMart?
Shopware is a powerful open-source eCommerce platform, but it often becomes limiting for businesses that need hosted infrastructure and minimal technical maintenance. Moving to VirtueMart opens specific opportunities:
💰 Hosted Infrastructure
The Shopware Pain: Shopware requires self-hosting, server management, and technical maintenance. You're responsible for updates, security, and performance optimization.
The VirtueMart Gain: Fully hosted. No server management. VirtueMart handles updates, security, and scaling.
🚀 App Ecosystem
The Shopware Pain: Shopware has a smaller plugin marketplace compared to major hosted platforms. Limited third-party integrations.
The VirtueMart Gain: Access to thousands of VirtueMart apps. One-click integrations. Extensive app store.
🛠 Ease of Use
The Shopware Pain: Shopware requires technical knowledge for advanced customization. Symfony-based development can be complex.
The VirtueMart Gain: User-friendly admin. Liquid templating. Non-technical users can manage stores easily.
⚡ Quick Launch
The Shopware Pain: Shopware requires you to manage hosting, updates, and technical aspects yourself.
The VirtueMart Gain: Launch quickly. No DevOps. Focus on selling, not infrastructure.
Pre-Migration Audit: Shopware vs VirtueMart
Before migrating from Shopware to VirtueMart, map how your data translates. Shopware (Symfony/Store API) and VirtueMart use different structures.
What to Check Before Migration
Shopware uses Symfony entity structure with Store API. VirtueMart uses REST Admin API for data import.
- Shopware Version: Are you on Shopware 5 or 6? Database structure differs. Migration tools handle both versions.
- API Access: Shopware 6 provides Store API. Shopware 5 may require bridge extension. Migration tools use bridge for data extraction.
- VirtueMart Setup: Ensure VirtueMart store is set up and ready. Configure API access if required.
- Product Structure: Shopware products with option groups map to VirtueMart products with variants. VirtueMart has 100 variant limit per product.
- Images: Shopware images are in media system. Need to be transferred to VirtueMart CDN.
Shopware to VirtueMart Data Mapping
Exact field mappings for a Shopware to VirtueMart migration. Use SKU for product linking—VirtueMart generates new IDs.
🛍 Products
| Shopware (Source) | VirtueMart (Target) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
product.id |
Product ID |
VirtueMart generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
product_translation.name |
Product Name |
Direct string transfer. |
product.number |
SKU |
Shopware SKU at product level. VirtueMart SKU at variant level. |
product_price.price |
Price |
Direct mapping with currency conversion if needed. |
product_translation.description |
Description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading to VirtueMart CDN. |
product_category |
Category |
Shopware categories become VirtueMart collections. |
property_group_option, product_configurator_setting |
Variants/Options |
Shopware variants map to VirtueMart variants. VirtueMart limits 100 variants per product. |
👥 Customers
| Shopware Field | VirtueMart Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
customer.email |
Email |
Unique identifier. |
customer.password (hashed) |
Password (on create) |
Password migration depends on VirtueMart support. Shopware uses bcrypt. Migration tool handles conversion if supported, otherwise customers must reset passwords. |
customer_address |
Address |
Shopware addresses map to VirtueMart customer addresses. |
📦 Orders
| Shopware Field | VirtueMart Field | Notes |
|---|---|---|
order.order_number |
Order Number |
Preserve Shopware order number in VirtueMart order field. |
order_state_machine_state |
Order Status |
Map Shopware order states to VirtueMart's dual status system. |
order.price.totalPrice |
Total |
Direct mapping with currency conversion if needed. |
How to Migrate Shopware to VirtueMart: 3 Options
Choose based on budget and technical skill:
Automated Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Shopware Migration Hub, LitExtension, Cart2Cart
Specialized tools that connect via Shopware bridge extension and VirtueMart Admin API.
- ✅ Pros: Handles API complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for VirtueMart automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200 - $400). Requires bridge extension on Shopware.
CSV Import
Tools: Shopware Admin Export + VirtueMart CSV Import
Export from Shopware, format for VirtueMart, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required, may lose some data relationships. Limited to products and categories.
Custom Script
Tools: Shopware Store API + VirtueMart Admin API
Build a custom script using Shopware Store API and VirtueMart Admin API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming. Must handle both platform structures.
Shopware to VirtueMart Migration Steps
Using automated migration (recommended for most stores):
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (VirtueMart):
Set up your VirtueMart store. Complete VirtueMart setup wizard. Configure API access if required. Do not point your domain there yet. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Use password protection to prevent public access during setup.
1.2. Prepare Source (Shopware):
Install migration bridge extension on Shopware. Ensure Store API or database access is available. Keep your Shopware store live during migration.
Phase 2: The Connection Setup
2.1. VirtueMart Access:
Generate API credentials in VirtueMart admin. Create private app with write permissions for products, customers, and orders.
2.2. Shopware Access:
Bridge extension connects to Shopware. Migration tool authenticates via bridge extension API.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Be careful with these specific settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Check this box if using custom domain. It creates redirects from Shopware URLs to VirtueMart URLs. Without this, your SEO dies.
- Migrate Product Variants: VirtueMart limits 100 variants per product. May need to consolidate if Shopware has more.
- Migrate Images: Images are downloaded from Shopware media system and uploaded to VirtueMart CDN automatically.
- Password Migration: Depends on VirtueMart support. Customer passwords may be migrated if supported, otherwise customers must reset passwords.
Phase 4: The Full Migration
Launch the process. The migration tool handles Shopware data extraction and VirtueMart API import automatically.
Time Estimation: 5,000 products + 10,000 orders usually takes 2-4 hours. Large catalogs migrate efficiently via automated tools.
Phase 5: Post-Migration Cleanup
5.1. Customer Communication:
Notify customers about the migration. They may need to reset passwords depending on VirtueMart password migration support.
5.2. Verify Products:
Check all products migrated correctly. Verify images, prices, and product variants. Note VirtueMart's 100 variant limit.
5.3. Design & Customization:
Choose or customize VirtueMart theme. Shopware themes cannot be migrated, but VirtueMart offers extensive theme store.
Shopware to VirtueMart Migration Cost (2025)
Typical costs for ~2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers:
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated
Average
Agency
Starting
Shopware to VirtueMart: SEO & Common Issues
SEO Preservation
301 redirects are critical. Shopware and VirtueMart URLs differ. Automated tools create redirects—verify in VirtueMart admin. Without redirects, you lose rankings.
Common Migration Issues
- Variant limit: VirtueMart allows 100 variants per product. Shopware has no limit—consolidate or split products.
- Images: Re-upload from Shopware media to VirtueMart CDN.
- Passwords: May require customer password reset if tool doesn't support conversion.
- Multi-store: Each Shopware sales channel can migrate to a separate VirtueMart store.
Ready to Migrate Shopware to VirtueMart?
A Shopware to VirtueMart migration gives you hosted infrastructure and ecosystem access. Use automated tools to preserve products, customers, orders, and SEO rankings.