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OpenCart vs WooCommerce

OpenCart logo

OpenCart

Software

Open-source ecommerce platform for business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WooCommerce logo

WooCommerce

Software

The flexible, open-source ecommerce platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • 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.; WooCommerce the plugin is free but you must supply and pay for WordPress hosting, which WooCommerce itself puts at $25 to $350 per month for most stores
  • They diverge on capability: OpenCart covers Multi-store support, WooCommerce covers Shopping cart.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which OpenCart and WooCommerce actually diverge.

Attributes where OpenCart and WooCommerce differ
AttributeOpenCartWooCommerce
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
Founded20092011

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

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

Only in WooCommerce

  • Shopping cart
  • Payment integration
  • Shipping management
  • Tax calculations
  • Customer accounts
  • Order management
  • Inventory tracking

Both cover

  • Product management

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.

WooCommerce

  • Running an online store inside an existing WordPress sitenot OpenCart
  • Selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the codenot OpenCart
  • Building a customised commerce workflow through plugins and hooksnot 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.

WooCommerce

  • The plugin is free but you must supply and pay for WordPress hosting, which WooCommerce itself puts at $25 to $350 per month for most stores
  • Functionality such as subscriptions and bookings comes from paid extensions priced at $29 to $299 per year each, renewed annually
  • Card payments through WooPayments cost roughly 2.50 to 2.90 percent plus 30 cents per transaction
  • Total cost depends on how many extensions a store needs rather than a single published plan price

Pricing, plan by plan

OpenCart

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

WooCommerce

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Core ecommerce features
    • Unlimited products
    • Community support
  • Premium$299/year
    • All Free features
    • Premium support
    • Performance optimization

Which should you pick?

Choose OpenCart if

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

Choose WooCommerce if

  • You need shopping cart.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want payment integration.
WooCommerce review

Questions people ask

Is OpenCart or WooCommerce better?
Neither clearly leads. OpenCart starts at Free and WooCommerce at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, OpenCart or WooCommerce?
OpenCart starts at Free and WooCommerce at Free.
Does OpenCart or WooCommerce 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 can OpenCart do that WooCommerce cannot?
OpenCart covers Multi-store support, Payment gateways, Shipping integration, Customer management. WooCommerce covers Shopping cart, Payment integration, Shipping management, Tax calculations. Both handle Product management.
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Related pages

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