Meta Shops vs OpenCart
A side-by-side look at Meta Shops and OpenCart. On our scoring, OpenCart comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | OpenCartOpen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.6/5 | 3.8/5 |
| User rating | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| Reviews | 2,050 | 640 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free to set up + selling fees | free core + hosting & extensions |
| Transaction fees | 5% per shipment (or $0.40 for orders ≤ $8) | 0% (processor fees apply) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Social commerce | Self-hosted |
| Free trial | Free to set up | Free core |
| Staff accounts | Business Manager roles | Unlimited (role-based) |
| Product limit | Catalog-based | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Meta Checkout / partner platforms | Many via extensions |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | No | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Limited storefront styling | Theme marketplace |
| App marketplace | Commerce platform integrations | 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 | Help center, limited support | Community forum, paid commercial support |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Meta Shops?
Meta Shops lets brands turn an existing Facebook and Instagram following into a tappable storefront with minimal setup. It works best as a sales channel alongside a real store, and checkout features vary a lot by region.
Best for: Brands with an active Facebook or Instagram audience
Read the full Meta Shops 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