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WooCommerce vs OpenCart

WooCommerce logo

WooCommerce

Software

The flexible, open-source ecommerce platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
OpenCart logo

OpenCart

Software

Open-source ecommerce platform for business

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: 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; 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: WooCommerce covers Shopping cart, OpenCart covers Multi-store support.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which WooCommerce and OpenCart actually diverge.

Attributes where WooCommerce and OpenCart differ
AttributeWooCommerceOpenCart
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
Founded20112009

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 WooCommerce

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

Only in OpenCart

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

Both cover

  • Product management

What people use each for

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

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

OpenCart

No use cases recorded yet. See the OpenCart review.

Where each one falls short

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

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

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

WooCommerce

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

OpenCart

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

Which should you pick?

Choose WooCommerce if

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

Choose OpenCart if

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

Questions people ask

Is WooCommerce or OpenCart better?
Neither clearly leads. WooCommerce 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, WooCommerce or OpenCart?
WooCommerce starts at Free and OpenCart at Free.
Does WooCommerce or OpenCart run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use WooCommerce for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is WooCommerce best used for?
WooCommerce is most often used for running an online store inside an existing wordpress site, selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the code, building a customised commerce workflow through plugins and hooks. Of those, running an online store inside an existing wordpress site and selling physical, digital or subscription products with full control of the code are not what OpenCart is typically brought in for.
What can WooCommerce do that OpenCart cannot?
WooCommerce covers Shopping cart, Payment integration, Shipping management, Tax calculations. OpenCart covers Multi-store support, Payment gateways, Shipping integration, Customer management. Both handle Product management.
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