Softwr

E-Commerce · head to head

Loox vs OpenCart

Loox logo

Loox

E-Commerce

Photo reviews and referrals for Shopify stores

From
$14.99/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenCart logo

OpenCart

E-Commerce

Self-hosted open source shopping cart written in PHP, released under the MIT licence

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenCart has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Loox beginner plan limited to 500 total orders; OpenCart extensions modify core behaviour through an XML patching system, so two modules that patch the same file conflict in ways that surface as broken checkout rather than as an installation error, and resolving that requires a developer reading both patches.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Loox and OpenCart actually diverge.

Attributes where Loox and OpenCart differ
AttributeLooxOpenCart
Starting price$14.99/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
FoundedUnknown2009

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Loox

Nothing recorded that OpenCart does not also cover.

Only in OpenCart

  • MIT licensed source
  • Self-hosted PHP and MySQL
  • No transaction fees
  • Multi-store
  • Extension marketplace
  • Multi-currency and multi-language
  • OCMod modification system
  • Full data access

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Loox

  • Collecting visual reviews and customer photosnot OpenCart
  • Displaying reviews across product pages and checkoutnot OpenCart
  • Syncing reviews across multiple sales channelsnot OpenCart
  • Running referral and discount programs from reviewsnot OpenCart

OpenCart

  • A merchant with volume high enough that a percentage transaction fee costs more than a developernot Loox
  • An agency building client stores where the client must own the code and the data outrightnot Loox
  • A store with unusual catalogue or pricing logic that a hosted platform will not permitnot Loox
  • Selling in a market where the local payment gateway is not supported by the mainstream SaaS platformsnot Loox

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Loox

  • Beginner plan limited to 500 total orders
  • Convert plan costs $35 more monthly than Beginner but enables unlimited orders
  • Pricing specific to Shopify stores, not available for other platforms

OpenCart

  • Extensions modify core behaviour through an XML patching system, so two modules that patch the same file conflict in ways that surface as broken checkout rather than as an installation error, and resolving that requires a developer reading both patches.
  • Major version upgrades have broken third party extension compatibility, so moving between them means re-purchasing or re-commissioning modules and effectively rebuilding parts of the store rather than clicking update.
  • Hosting, patching, backups and PCI scope are all your responsibility, so a security update you postpone is a breach you own, and there is no vendor obligation to notify or protect you.
  • Extension quality on the marketplace is uneven and modules are sold as one-off purchases with no guaranteed maintenance, so a module central to your store can simply stop being updated and leave you holding the code.
  • The core project is maintained by a very small team relative to the platforms it competes with, so security fixes, compatibility with new PHP versions and feature work all arrive at a pace you cannot influence or pay to accelerate.

Pricing, plan by plan

Loox

$14.99/month
  • Beginner$14.99/month
    • Up to 500 total orders
    • Review request emails
    • Discount for photo reviews
  • Convert$49.99/month
    • Unlimited orders
    • Smart visual sorting
    • Review highlights
  • Unlimited$299.99/month
    • Unlimited review requests
    • Unlimited referrals
    • Priority support

OpenCart

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Core ecommerce features
    • Free support
    • Extensions available

Which should you pick?

Choose Loox if

Nothing in the data separates Loox from OpenCart on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

Loox review

Choose OpenCart if

  • You need mit licensed source.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want self-hosted php and mysql.
OpenCart review

Questions people ask

Is Loox or OpenCart better?
Neither clearly leads. Loox starts at $14.99/month and OpenCart at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Loox or OpenCart?
OpenCart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $14.99/month for Loox and Free for OpenCart.
Does Loox or OpenCart run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use OpenCart for free?
Yes. OpenCart has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Loox starts at $14.99/month.
What is Loox best used for?
Loox is most often used for collecting visual reviews and customer photos, displaying reviews across product pages and checkout, syncing reviews across multiple sales channels, running referral and discount programs from reviews. Of those, collecting visual reviews and customer photos and displaying reviews across product pages and checkout are not what OpenCart is typically brought in for.
What can Loox do that OpenCart cannot?
OpenCart covers MIT licensed source, Self-hosted PHP and MySQL, No transaction fees, Multi-store.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Loox: How much does Loox cost?

Loox pricing starts at $14.99 per month for the Beginner plan, $49.99 per month for Convert, and $299.99 per month for Unlimited. Billing occurs through Shopify with no annual commitment required.

Source
OpenCart: Is OpenCart really free?

The software is MIT licensed with no paid edition. The costs are hosting, extensions, and a developer, and for a low volume store those can exceed a SaaS subscription.

Loox: What is the main difference between Loox's Beginner and Convert plans?

Beginner plan is limited to 500 total orders and includes basic review features. Convert allows unlimited orders and adds smart visual sorting, video reviews, Google Shopping integration, AI review stories, auto-translated reviews, and AI review replies.

Source
OpenCart: Does it charge transaction fees?

No. There is no platform cut and no surcharge for using your own payment gateway, which is the main financial argument for self-hosting at volume.

Loox: Is there a free version of Loox?

Loox offers a free trial to start, but paid plans begin at $14.99 per month. No permanent free version is available.

Source
OpenCart: How hard is customisation?

Theme changes are ordinary PHP templates and are approachable. Changing behaviour means the OCMod patching system, which conflicts between extensions and needs a developer.

OpenCart: What is the biggest hidden cost?

Upgrades. Version transitions have broken extension compatibility before, so budget for a partial rebuild rather than assuming updates are routine maintenance.

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