Amazon vs OpenCart
A side-by-side look at Amazon and OpenCart. On our scoring, Amazon comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | OpenCartOpen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.9/5 | 3.8/5 |
| User rating | 4.2 | 3.7 |
| Reviews | 9,210 | 640 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | $40/mo | Free |
| Pricing model | Professional plan, per month | free core + hosting & extensions |
| Transaction fees | 8–15% referral fee + optional FBA fees | 0% (processor fees apply) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Marketplace | Self-hosted |
| Free trial | Individual plan (pay per sale) | Free core |
| Staff accounts | User permissions | Unlimited (role-based) |
| Product limit | Unlimited listings | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Amazon-managed checkout | Many via extensions |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | N/A (standard listings) | Theme marketplace |
| App marketplace | Selling Partner Appstore | 13,000+ extensions |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language | Yes | Yes |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | No |
| Built-in blog | No | No |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | Yes | No |
| Support channels | Seller Support, case log | Community forum, paid commercial support |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Amazon?
Selling on Amazon means instant access to the largest pool of ready-to-buy shoppers on earth, plus FBA fulfillment that handles storage and shipping. The trade-off is fierce competition, thin margins after fees, and almost no control over the customer relationship.
Best for: Sellers chasing maximum reach and Prime logistics
Read the full Amazon reviewWhy pick OpenCart?
OpenCart is a lean, genuinely free cart that is easy to spin up and supports multiple stores from one admin. Its core stays minimal, so you will lean on the paid extension marketplace and your own hosting know-how.
Best for: Developers wanting a simple, free self-hosted cart
Read the full OpenCart review