OpenCart
Learn more about the OpenCart e-commerce platform with pricing info, comparisons to competitors, and frequently asked questions.
Updated on January 5th, 2023
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Updates:
Updated 18th of February 2022
We've updated mentions of Magento to Adobe Commerce.
Updated 23rd of December 2021
We've updated our review to cover OpenCart's latest pricing plans, pros, cons, and reputation, as well as a comparison section to three of the company's top competitors.
OpenCart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform that offers a range of features, from administrative dashboard tools to payment gateways and integrated shipping. With the OpenCart e-commerce platform, online stores of all sizes can simplify management and improve order efficiency.
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Pricing:
OpenCart is free to download and use. The platform does feature a marketplace of both free and paid add-ons and extensions to increase functionality.
Review:
Since 2005, OpenCart has been used by over 400,000 customers around the world to build and manage their online stores. The platform is highly flexible and offers users a range of features, such as a large marketplace of add-ons, backup and restore tools, and multiple currencies and payment gateways.
While OpenCart is completely free to download and use, increased functionality is only available through paid extensions, which can become costly. The platform is best suited to small businesses and requires some development skills to use effectively.
Pros:
- OpenCart is free and open-source, allowing for a high degree of customization.
- The OpenCart marketplace features over 13,000 extensions and add-ons to increase functionality.
- The platform supports a wide range of payment gateways, including PayPal and Sage Pay.
- OpenCart allows users to manage multiple stores from one admin interface.
- The platform features backup and restoration tools.
- Users can create an unlimited number of products, categories, and subcategories.
- The platform features customer product reviews and ratings.
- OpenCart is available in over 40 languages and is 100% translatable.
- The platform supports multiple currencies.
Cons:
- The native SEO and marketing features are limited.
- The platform requires development knowledge for enhanced customizations.
- Extensions and add-ons can become costly.
- The self-hosting nature of the platform means users are responsible for maintenance and security.
Reputation:
OpenCart received a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot. Positive reviews praised the platform's speed and customer support, while some users complained about software bugs, payment issues, and extension errors. G2 reviews cited the lack of default features and cost of add-ons as downfalls, but found the platform good overall.
Users gave OpenCart a score of 7.9 out of 10 on TrustRadius, complementing the range of extensions and customizability as highlights, while the platform's ease of use and SEO limitations were cited as shortcomings. OpenCart also boasts a number of success stories on their website.
At a Glance:
Feature | OpenCart |
|---|---|
Starting price | Free. |
Free version | Yes. |
Transaction fee | 0% - 3% depending on the plan. |
Open-source | ✓ |
Abandoned cart recovery | ✓ |
24/7 customer support | x |
Mobile app | ✓ |
Supports multiple currencies | ✓ |
OpenCart vs. Adobe Commerce:
Both Adobe Commerce and OpenCart are open-source e-commerce platforms that give users a range of customization options. Both platforms require coding experience, but OpenCart is an easier option for beginners. Adobe Commerce offers more flexibility to scale large enterprises, while OpenCart is better-suited to smaller businesses.
OpenCart vs. Adobe Commerce Comparison:
Offer | OpenCart | Adobe Commerce |
|---|---|---|
Starting price | Free. | Contact for quote. |
Free version | Yes. | Yes. |
Transaction fee | 0% - 3% depending on the plan. | Contact for quote. |
Sales channels | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. |
Open-source | ✓ | ✓ |
Abandoned cart recovery | ✓ | Available via extension. |
24/7 customer support | No. | Email and phone. |
Mobile app | ✓ | x |
Supports multiple currencies | ✓ | ✓ |
OpenCart vs. Shopify:
Shopify is the more user-friendly e-commerce platform and is suitable for beginners, whereas OpenCart requires coding skills. However, OpenCart's open-source architecture offers users a greater degree of flexibility and customizability, which are limited with Shopify. Shopify offers greater customer support and better SEO and marketing tools.
OpenCart vs. Shopify Comparison:
Offer | OpenCart | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
Starting price | Free. | From $9.00 /mo. |
Free version | Yes. | 14-day free trial. |
Transaction fee | 0% - 3% depending on the plan. | 0% if using Shopify Payments and from 2% if using an external payment gateway. |
Sales channels | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. |
Open-source | ✓ | x |
Abandoned cart recovery | ✓ | ✓ |
24/7 customer support | No. | Live chat, email, and phone. |
Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Supports multiple currencies | ✓ | ✓ |
OpenCart vs. WooCommerce:
WooCommerce is a free e-commerce plugin designed specifically for WordPress websites, whereas OpenCart allows users to build their online stores from scratch. Both platforms are open-source and allow for a high degree of customization; however, WooCommerce offers more features, extensions, and SEO capabilities.
OpenCart vs. WooCommerce Comparison:
Offer | OpenCart | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
Starting price | Free. | From $6.95 /mo for hosting. |
Free version | Yes. | WooCommerce is a free plugin for WordPress websites. |
Transaction fee | 0% - 3% depending on the plan. | 0% |
Sales channels | Online store, social media, online marketplaces, and physical stores. | Various channels are available via extensions. |
Open-source | ✓ | ✓ |
Abandoned cart recovery | ✓ | x |
24/7 customer support | No. | No. |
Mobile app | ✓ | ✓ |
Supports multiple currencies | ✓ | Available via extensions. |
Key Information:
Legal Name | OpenCart, Ltd. |
Founder | |
Founding Date | Jan 01, 2005 |
Address | Workshop 22, 7th Fl., 99 Commons, 99 Pui To Rd., Tuen Mun, Hong Kong |
Number of Employees | 39 |
Number of Customers | 470000 |
Telephone | |
Website |
FAQs:
What is OpenCart used for?
OpenCart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform that businesses can use to build and manage their online stores.
Is OpenCart dead?
No. Although progress stalled in 2000, OpenCart is alive and is used by over 400,000 customers.
Which is better, OpenCart or Wordpress?
OpenCart is a full e-commerce platform, whereas WordPress is a content management system. WooCommerce is a free plugin that gives WordPress websites e-commerce functionality. WordPress has greater marketing and SEO capabilities. See our in-depth comparison for more details.
Which is better, OpenCart or Adobe Commerce?
Adobe Commerce is best for large stores with big budgets that need to be able to scale their operations. OpenCart is a better solution for small to medium-sized stores looking for an affordable e-commerce platform. Take a look at our comparison for more details about the two platforms.
Is OpenCart good in 2021?
Yes. OpenCart is free and open-source, which gives users a high degree of flexibility and customization options. The platform also features a range of extensions and add-ons to increase the functionality of your online store in 2021.
How much does OpenCart cost?
OpenCart is completely free to download and use. The platform does feature a marketplace of both free and paid add-ons and extensions to increase functionality.
Are OpenCart themes free?
If you visit the OpenCart marketplace, you'll find that some OpenCart themes are free and some are paid. You can filter your search by free options to see all of the Open Cart themes that are available to you at no charge.
How easy is OpenCart?
OpenCart is relatively easy to use, although the platform does require some technical development and coding knowledge.
When can I find the OpenCart download page?
Just go to opencart.com and click on "FREE DOWNLOAD" to start using the platform right away.
Is there a QuickBooks/OpenCart plugin or extension?
There are several QuickBooks extensions that you can purchase through the OpenCart marketplace. With the QuickBooks OpenChart integration sync, you can synchronize your QuickBooks inventory with your online store.
Is there a T-shirt e-commerce OpenCart template?
OpenCart has dozens of t-shirt and apparel store templates in their marketplace. Just go to opencart.com, click on "MARKETPLACE" in the top menu bar, select the "Themes" tab in the left menu bar, and search "t-shirt" to find options that may suit your website.