The VirtueMart Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about VirtueMart in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
VirtueMart
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source ecommerce extension for Joomla
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among online store builders, read from VirtueMart’s own pages.
Made by VirtueMart · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from VirtueMart’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on VirtueMart’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.0
GPA, above 29 of the 80 other online store builders we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about VirtueMart, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You install it into a Joomla site on your own hosting.
- 1
Best for Joomla sites that want a free shop extension
VirtueMart is a free, open-source shop extension for Joomla.
- 2
It is free
VirtueMart has no paid plan at all. The core extension is free to download and use; third-party extensions and templates may cost extra.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Product management
Products, nested categories, attributes and variants, with multiple media types such as images, PDFs and videos.
- 5
Multi-language shops
Built-in multi-language support for stores aimed at several markets.
- 6
Payments, shipping and tax
Payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.Net, plus shipping and tax calculation by weight, destination and tax rate.
- 7
A 2.0 GPA, above 29 of 80
That is against the other online store builders we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
VirtueMart is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
VirtueMart at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- VirtueMart, since 2002
- Category
- Online Store Builders
- Our grade
- 2.0 GPA, fair
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Free to download, but you host it, so it sits in the middle. Third-party extensions and templates may cost extra. |
| Free plan and trial | B | The core extension is free with no caps. Hosting and any add-ons are on you. |
| Features | C | Products, multi-language shops, payments, shipping and tax, shopper groups and inventory. The Joomla 6 gap means it doesn't cover the newest Joomla. |
| Ease of use | D | No rating on record. You install it into a Joomla site on your own hosting. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Runs only on Joomla, with PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.Net links. No apps. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Joomla site owners adding a shop to an existing site
- Merchants who want a free, self-run store with no subscription
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
VirtueMart is free to use.
Free to download, but you host it, so it sits in the middle.
VirtueMart
$0
Free open-source extension for Joomla that you install on your own site.
The free plan
The core extension is free to download and use; third-party extensions and templates may cost extra.
Read from virtuemart.net on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free open-source ecommerce extension for Joomla. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, inventory, online store.
Products, multi-language shops, payments, shipping and tax, shopper groups and inventory.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Joomla
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Authorize.Net
VirtueMart is made by VirtueMart, and has been around since 2002.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
29/80
Other online store builders it is graded above
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
- BFree plan and trialAbove 55 of 80
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 80
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 80
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 1 of 80
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 52 online store builders. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. VirtueMart is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
HikaShop, OpenCart, PrestaShop, WooCommerce and Zen Cart
The 5 tools VirtueMart is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
HikaShop
Free plan · from €60/yr
Ecommerce extension for Joomla and WordPress sites.
- VirtueMart is open source, according to its own site.
- HikaShop also covers templates.
- 2.4GPA
OpenCart
Free
Free open-source shopping cart you host yourself.
- VirtueMart also covers inventory.
- OpenCart also covers digital downloads.
- 2.4GPA
PrestaShop
Free plan · from €24/mo
Open-source ecommerce software, free to self-host or sold hosted.
- VirtueMart also covers inventory.
- 2.2GPA
WooCommerce
Free plan
Free, open-source store plugin for WordPress that you host yourself.
- Only WooCommerce lists iOS and Android apps.
- VirtueMart also covers inventory.
- 2.0GPA
Zen Cart
Free
Free open-source PHP shopping cart you host yourself.
- VirtueMart also covers inventory.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is VirtueMart free?
Yes. VirtueMart is free to use.
How much does VirtueMart cost?
VirtueMart lists one plan. VirtueMart: $0.
What platforms does VirtueMart work on?
VirtueMart is available on Web.
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.
What does VirtueMart integrate with?
VirtueMart's listing names Joomla, PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.Net. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes VirtueMart?
VirtueMart is made by a company of the same name. It dates from 2002.
What are the alternatives to VirtueMart?
The closest alternatives to VirtueMart in our directory are HikaShop, OpenCart, PrestaShop, WooCommerce and Zen Cart.
How does VirtueMart compare with other 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.
Is VirtueMart good value for money?
ToolGPA grades VirtueMart C for value for money. VirtueMart has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of VirtueMart?
VirtueMart is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from VirtueMart’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by VirtueMart. Prices change, so check virtuemart.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- VirtueMart, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/virtuemart
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "VirtueMart: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/virtuemart
Know someone choosing between online store builders?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/virtuemart/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded online store builders after VirtueMart, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Online Store Builders Insider's GuideEvery one of the 84 online store builders we grade, compared
- Big Cartel Insider's GuideSimple online store for artists, makers and independent sellers2.8 GPA
- Shopify Insider's GuideHosted commerce platform for online, in-person and social selling2.8 GPA
- BigCommerce Insider's GuideHosted ecommerce platform with plans set by yearly sales2.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what VirtueMart’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. VirtueMart is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by VirtueMart. Prices and plans change: check virtuemart.net before you buy.