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E-Commerce · head to head

OpenCart vs Trustpilot

OpenCart logo

OpenCart

E-Commerce

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Trustpilot logo

Trustpilot

E-Commerce

Review management platform for ecommerce

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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.; Trustpilot review invitations are rationed monthly, at 50 on free, 100 on Starter and 300 on Plus, so collecting reviews is the metered resource
  • They diverge on capability: OpenCart covers MIT licensed source, Trustpilot covers Review collection.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenCart and Trustpilot actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenCart and Trustpilot differ
AttributeOpenCartTrustpilot
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
Founded20092011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 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

Only in Trustpilot

  • Review collection
  • Email surveys
  • Review moderation
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Response management
  • Star rating display
  • Widgets
  • API access

What people use each for

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

OpenCart

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

Trustpilot

  • Review collection and managementnot OpenCart
  • Customer reputation monitoringnot OpenCart
  • Review widget integrationnot OpenCart
  • Multi-location business review trackingnot OpenCart

Where each one falls short

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

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.

Trustpilot

  • Review invitations are rationed monthly, at 50 on free, 100 on Starter and 300 on Plus, so collecting reviews is the metered resource
  • The Plus and Premium plans are priced per domain, so a second brand doubles the cost
  • Starter at $99 a month billed annually allows one user, two widgets and one domain
  • Customising the public profile to match a brand requires the Plus plan at $319 a month
  • Sentiment analysis and custom dashboards are Premium only at $799 a month
  • Every published price requires annual billing

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenCart

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

Trustpilot

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 50 review invitations monthly
    • Unlimited Support Center access
    • Basic review collection and management
  • Starter$99/month
    • 100 review invitations monthly
    • 2 widgets, 1 user, 1 domain
    • 15 integrations
  • Plus$319/month
    • 300 invitations monthly
    • 10 widgets, 3 users
    • Up to 3 domains
  • Premium$799/month
    • 1,000 invitations monthly
    • 21 widgets, 10 users
    • Unlimited domains

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenCart if

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

Choose Trustpilot if

  • You need review collection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email surveys.
Trustpilot review

Questions people ask

Is OpenCart or Trustpilot better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenCart starts at Free and Trustpilot at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenCart or Trustpilot?
OpenCart starts at Free and Trustpilot at Free.
Does OpenCart or Trustpilot run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use OpenCart for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is OpenCart best used for?
OpenCart is most often used for a merchant with volume high enough that a percentage transaction fee costs more than a developer, an agency building client stores where the client must own the code and the data outright, a store with unusual catalogue or pricing logic that a hosted platform will not permit, selling in a market where the local payment gateway is not supported by the mainstream saas platforms. Of those, a merchant with volume high enough that a percentage transaction fee costs more than a developer and an agency building client stores where the client must own the code and the data outright are not what Trustpilot is typically brought in for.
What can OpenCart do that Trustpilot cannot?
OpenCart covers MIT licensed source, Self-hosted PHP and MySQL, No transaction fees, Multi-store. Trustpilot covers Review collection, Email surveys, Review moderation, Analytics dashboard.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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.

Trustpilot: Does Trustpilot offer a free plan?

Yes. Trustpilot's Free plan includes 50 review invitations monthly, unlimited Support Center access, and basic review management at no cost.

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.

Trustpilot: What is the minimum contract length for Trustpilot paid plans?

All Trustpilot contracts require a 12-month commitment, prepaid annually. This applies to Starter, Plus, Premium, and Enterprise plans.

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.

Trustpilot: Does Trustpilot charge per domain or per organization?

Pricing for Plus and Premium plans is per domain. The Starter plan includes 1 domain; Plus covers up to 3 domains; Premium supports unlimited domains. Enterprise pricing is custom.

Source
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.

Trustpilot: Can data be accessed after canceling Trustpilot?

Yes. Trustpilot states that 'Reviews remain accessible if service is discontinued,' ensuring customers retain access to collected review data even after canceling.

Source
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