OpenCart vs Shopify
A side-by-side look at OpenCart and Shopify. On our scoring, Shopify comes out ahead — but the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | OpenCartOpen-source | |
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 3.8/5 | 4.7/5 |
| User rating | 3.7 | 4.7 |
| Reviews | 640 | 5,421 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | $39/mo |
| Pricing model | free core + hosting & extensions | per month, billed monthly |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processor fees apply) | 2.9% + 30¢ (0% with Shopify Payments) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Self-hosted | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free core | 3 days + $1/mo for 3 months |
| Staff accounts | Unlimited (role-based) | 2–15 by plan |
| Product limit | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Many via extensions | 100+ gateways + Shopify Payments |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | Theme marketplace | 12 free, 100+ paid |
| App marketplace | 13,000+ extensions | 8,000+ apps |
| Multi-currency | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-language | Yes | Yes |
| POS included | No | Yes |
| Abandoned cart recovery | No | Yes |
| Built-in blog | No | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | No | Yes |
| API access | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| Support channels | Community forum, paid commercial support | 24/7 live chat, phone callback, email |
| 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 Shopify?
Shopify remains the platform to beat. Its polished admin, best-in-class checkout, and enormous app ecosystem make it the safest choice for most merchants — provided you are comfortable using Shopify Payments to avoid extra transaction fees.
Best for: Growing brands that want everything in one place
Read the full Shopify review