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OpenCart vs Squarespace Commerce

OpenCart logo

OpenCart

Software

Open-source ecommerce platform for business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Squarespace Commerce logo

Squarespace Commerce

Software

All-in-one website builder and ecommerce platform

From
$14/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only OpenCart has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Squarespace Commerce the entry plan charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales on top of payment processing
  • They diverge on capability: OpenCart covers Product management, Squarespace Commerce covers Website builder.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenCart and Squarespace Commerce actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenCart and Squarespace Commerce differ
AttributeOpenCartSquarespace Commerce
Starting priceFree$14/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded20092003

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

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 OpenCart

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

Only in Squarespace Commerce

  • Website builder
  • Ecommerce platform
  • Mobile optimization
  • Email marketing
  • Analytics
  • Domain registration
  • SSL certificate
  • Customer accounts

What people use each for

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

OpenCart

No use cases recorded yet. See the OpenCart review.

Squarespace Commerce

  • Running a store on a hosted website builder with managed hostingnot OpenCart
  • Selling products, services and memberships from one sitenot OpenCart

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Squarespace Commerce

  • The entry plan charges a 2% transaction fee on online store sales on top of payment processing
  • Digital content and membership sales carry their own fee, up to 7% on the lowest tier
  • The entry plan is limited to 2 contributors
  • Reaching a 0% transaction fee requires moving up from the entry plan

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenCart

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

Squarespace Commerce

$14/month
  • Personal$14/month
    • Website builder
    • Free domain
    • Analytics
  • Business$23/month
    • All Personal features
    • Ecommerce functionality
    • Inventory management

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenCart if

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

Choose Squarespace Commerce if

  • You need website builder.
  • You also want ecommerce platform.
Squarespace Commerce review

Questions people ask

Is OpenCart or Squarespace Commerce better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenCart starts at Free and Squarespace Commerce at $14/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenCart or Squarespace Commerce?
OpenCart has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for OpenCart and $14/month for Squarespace Commerce.
Does OpenCart or Squarespace Commerce 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. Squarespace Commerce starts at $14/month.
What can OpenCart do that Squarespace Commerce cannot?
OpenCart covers Product management, Multi-store support, Payment gateways, Shipping integration. Squarespace Commerce covers Website builder, Ecommerce platform, Mobile optimization, Email marketing.
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