OpenCart vs Patreon
A side-by-side look at OpenCart and Patreon. On our scoring, Patreon comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | OpenCartOpen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 3.8/5 |
| User rating | 3.7 | 4 |
| Reviews | 640 | 1,480 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free core + hosting & extensions | no monthly fee, percentage of income |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processor fees apply) | 8–12% of monthly income (plus processing) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Self-hosted | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free core | Free to start |
| Staff accounts | Unlimited (role-based) | Team access |
| Product limit | Unlimited | N/A (membership tiers) |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Many via extensions | Patreon-managed (cards, PayPal) |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Theme marketplace | Creator page styling |
| App marketplace | 13,000+ extensions | Apps & integrations |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language | Yes | No |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | No |
| Built-in blog | No | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | No |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| Support channels | Community forum, paid commercial support | Help center, email, creator support |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why 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 reviewWhy pick Patreon?
Patreon is the default home for recurring fan memberships, with tiers, gated posts, and a community layer that keeps supporters engaged. Its fees plus payment processing take a real bite, and discovery on-platform is weak.
Best for: Creators building recurring membership income
Read the full Patreon review