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E-commerce & Retail · head to head

Magento vs OpenCart

Magento logo

Magento

E-commerce & Retail

Open-source ecommerce platform for enterprise retail

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenCart logo

OpenCart

E-commerce & Retail

Open-source ecommerce platform for business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Magento magento Open Source is available under the OSL v3 license as a free self-hosted edition, but Adobe sells a separate proprietary Adobe Commerce edition with additional B2B, page builder and cloud features not included in the open source code; OpenCart openCart is GPLv3 licensed and free to self-host, but there is no official vendor-hosted SaaS; most payment gateway and shipping integrations beyond the basics require paid extensions from OpenCart's own third-party marketplace.
  • They diverge on capability: Magento covers Multi-store management, OpenCart covers Product management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Magento and OpenCart actually diverge.

Attributes where Magento and OpenCart differ
AttributeMagentoOpenCart
Founded20082009

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-commerce & Retail).

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 Magento

  • Multi-store management
  • Advanced product catalog
  • Customer segmentation
  • Order management system
  • Inventory management
  • Progressive Web App
  • GraphQL API
  • Security & compliance

Only in OpenCart

  • Product management
  • Multi-store support
  • Payment gateways
  • Shipping integration
  • Customer management
  • Coupon system
  • SEO optimization
  • Reporting tools

Where each one falls short

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

Magento

  • Magento Open Source is available under the OSL v3 license as a free self-hosted edition, but Adobe sells a separate proprietary Adobe Commerce edition with additional B2B, page builder and cloud features not included in the open source code

OpenCart

  • OpenCart is GPLv3 licensed and free to self-host, but there is no official vendor-hosted SaaS; most payment gateway and shipping integrations beyond the basics require paid extensions from OpenCart's own third-party marketplace.

Pricing, plan by plan

Magento

Free
  • Magento Open SourceFree
    • Unlimited products
    • Multiple storefronts
    • Advanced marketing
  • Adobe Commerce$20000/year
    • All Open Source features
    • 24/7 enterprise support
    • Managed cloud hosting

OpenCart

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Magento if

  • You need multi-store management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want advanced product catalog.
Magento review

Choose OpenCart if

  • You need product management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want multi-store support.
OpenCart review

Questions people ask

Is Magento or OpenCart better?
Neither clearly leads. Magento starts at Free and OpenCart at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Magento or OpenCart?
Magento starts at Free and OpenCart at Free.
Does Magento or OpenCart run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Magento for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Magento do that OpenCart cannot?
Magento covers Multi-store management, Advanced product catalog, Customer segmentation, Order management system. OpenCart covers Product management, Multi-store support, Payment gateways, Shipping integration.
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