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E-Commerce · head to head

OpenCart vs Wix eCommerce

OpenCart logo

OpenCart

E-Commerce

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

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Wix eCommerce logo

Wix eCommerce

E-Commerce

Hosted website builder with a store module, using drag-and-drop layout rather than themes you can swap

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.; Wix eCommerce a template cannot be changed once the site is built, because the layout is the site rather than a skin over content, so a redesign later means rebuilding every page instead of switching theme.
  • They diverge on capability: OpenCart covers MIT licensed source, Wix eCommerce covers Drag-and-drop editor.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenCart and Wix eCommerce actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenCart and Wix eCommerce differ
AttributeOpenCartWix eCommerce
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, iOS, Android
Founded20092006

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

  • Drag-and-drop editor
  • Business plans with no commission
  • Wix Payments and third party gateways
  • Product catalogue and variants
  • Abandoned cart recovery
  • App Market
  • Velo
  • Wix Studio

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 Wix eCommerce
  • An agency building client stores where the client must own the code and the data outrightnot Wix eCommerce
  • A store with unusual catalogue or pricing logic that a hosted platform will not permitnot Wix eCommerce
  • Selling in a market where the local payment gateway is not supported by the mainstream SaaS platformsnot Wix eCommerce

Wix eCommerce

  • A small business that wants a designed site and a shop without hiring a developernot OpenCart
  • A studio or service business selling a handful of products alongside a content-led sitenot OpenCart
  • A single-operator shop where visual control matters more than catalogue or fulfilment depthnot OpenCart
  • A quick launch where the priority is being live this month rather than being portable in five yearsnot 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.

Wix eCommerce

  • A template cannot be changed once the site is built, because the layout is the site rather than a skin over content, so a redesign later means rebuilding every page instead of switching theme.
  • There is no site export, so leaving Wix means recreating pages, layout and navigation on the new platform and building the URL redirect map by hand, and merchants who discover this after cutover lose their search traffic while they work it out.
  • Velo code and installed apps only run inside Wix, so every hour of custom work and every app configuration is written off entirely if you migrate, which grows the switching cost the longer the site succeeds.
  • App Market add-ons carry their own monthly subscriptions, and a store running several of them for reviews, subscriptions, shipping rules and marketing can spend more each month on apps than on the Wix plan itself, which is a normal configuration rather than an unusual one.
  • Multi-currency, multi-region and tax handling are thinner than on platforms built for cross-border selling, so a merchant who starts selling into new territories tends to hit that ceiling before any other, and the fix is a replatform rather than a setting.

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenCart

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

Wix eCommerce

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Wix eCommerce review.

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 Wix eCommerce if

  • You need drag-and-drop editor.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want business plans with no commission.
Wix eCommerce review

Questions people ask

Is OpenCart or Wix eCommerce better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenCart starts at Free and Wix eCommerce at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenCart or Wix eCommerce?
OpenCart starts at Free and Wix eCommerce at Free.
Does OpenCart or Wix eCommerce run on more platforms?
OpenCart runs on Web. Wix eCommerce runs on Web, iOS, Android.
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 Wix eCommerce is typically brought in for.
What can OpenCart do that Wix eCommerce cannot?
OpenCart covers MIT licensed source, Self-hosted PHP and MySQL, No transaction fees, Multi-store. Wix eCommerce covers Drag-and-drop editor, Business plans with no commission, Wix Payments and third party gateways, Product catalogue and variants.

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.

Wix eCommerce: Does Wix take a cut of my sales?

Not on paid Business plans. You still pay card processing fees to Wix Payments or to whichever supported gateway you use, so compare the processing rate rather than assuming zero cost.

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.

Wix eCommerce: Can I change my template later?

No. The layout is the site rather than a swappable theme, so redesigning means rebuilding the pages. Treat the initial design decision as long-lived.

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.

Wix eCommerce: Is Wix bad for SEO?

That criticism is largely out of date. Pages are server rendered and the SEO controls are adequate. The real search risk is migration, since there is no export and the redirect map has to be built manually.

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.

Wix eCommerce: Can I export my site if I outgrow it?

Products and orders export as CSV. The site itself does not. Budget a full rebuild plus a redirect map if you move.

Wix eCommerce: Where do most merchants hit the ceiling?

Multi-currency and multi-region selling, and catalogue complexity. Both are thinner here than on platforms designed for cross-border trade.

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