VirtueMart review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source ecommerce extension for Joomla
VirtueMart report card
Fair · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for Joomla sites that want a free shop extension
VirtueMart is a free, open-source shop extension for Joomla. Release 4.6.0 is marked as not working on Joomla 6, no paid support exists, and you need your own hosting.
Who VirtueMart is for
- Fits if you already run Joomla and want a free shop
- Works for people who can get by on forum help
Who VirtueMart is not for
- Not for you if you don't use Joomla, since it only runs there
- Skip it if you're moving to Joomla 6, as release 4.6.0 is marked as not working on it
- Watch out: no paid support plan is listed, only the forum and partner agencies
- Tight if you want a hosted shop, because you need your own hosting
Why VirtueMart gets a 2.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyFree to download, but you host it, so it sits in the middle. Third-party extensions and templates may cost extra.
- BFree plan and trialThe core extension is free with no caps. Hosting and any add-ons are on you.
- CFeaturesProducts, multi-language shops, payments, shipping and tax, shopper groups and inventory. The Joomla 6 gap means it doesn't cover the newest Joomla.
- DEase of useNo rating on record. You install it into a Joomla site on your own hosting.
- CPlatforms and integrationsRuns only on Joomla, with PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.Net links. No apps.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from VirtueMart's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/virtuemart#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/virtuemart.svg" alt="VirtueMart: 2.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where VirtueMart stands among online store builders
VirtueMart's GPA of 2.0 is higher than 29 of the 80 other online store builders we grade, and level with 13.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 55 of 80) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
VirtueMart has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 1.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 81 online store builders we grade, cut by the letter each got. VirtueMart’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 15 of 80, level with 51
- BFree plan and trialAbove 55 of 80, level with 25
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 80, level with 54
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 80, level with 27
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 80, level with 26
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 online store builders. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep VirtueMart, or make your own?
Keep it
VirtueMart is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
What you could make
- Inventory: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- Checkout, card payments and sales tax handled for you.
What this rests on. VirtueMart’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is VirtueMart?
VirtueMart is a free, open-source ecommerce extension that adds a shop to a Joomla site. It manages products, categories, attributes and variants, with multi-language support, payment gateways, shipping and tax calculation, and stock tracking. The vendor says it has been in development since 2002 and extends through plugins, components, templates and modules.
Worth knowing
- It runs only on Joomla and needs your own hosting.
- Release 4.6.0 is marked by the vendor as not working on Joomla 6; a VirtueMart 5 is planned for that.
- No paid support plan is listed on the site; help comes from the forum and community, and partner agencies are listed.
Key features
- Product management
- Products, nested categories, attributes and variants, with multiple media types such as images, PDFs and videos.
- Multi-language shops
- Built-in multi-language support for stores aimed at several markets.
- Payments, shipping and tax
- Payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.Net, plus shipping and tax calculation by weight, destination and tax rate.
- Shopper groups
- Groups change how prices are shown or calculated, for example prices with tax for B2C and without for B2B.
- Inventory
- Stock tracking, low-stock notifications and backorder management.
VirtueMart pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, VirtueMart is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- The core extension is free to download and use; third-party extensions and templates may cost extra.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| VirtueMart | $0 | Free open-source extension for Joomla that you install on your own site. |
Read from virtuemart.net on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with VirtueMart before you buy.
Works with
VirtueMart alternatives
- VirtueMart vs HikaShop
Free plan · from €60/yr
- VirtueMart vs PrestaShop
Free plan · from €24/mo
- VirtueMart vs WooCommerce
Free plan
Common questions
Does VirtueMart have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. VirtueMart is listed for Web.
Does VirtueMart have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. VirtueMart is listed for Web.
Is VirtueMart open source?
Yes. VirtueMart is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.