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OpenCart
What it is
OpenCart is open-source software for running one or more online stores. Its admin dashboard brings orders, sales, customers, people online and sales analytics into one view. One admin interface can manage multiple stores, each with separate themes, localized settings and product prices. Catalogs can include unlimited categories and products, including downloadable products. Customer features include reviews and ratings, reward points, filters, multiple currencies and support for more than 40 languages. Shoppers can check out as guests or registered users. OpenCart lists 36 integrated payment methods, with more available through its marketplace, and shipping integrations such as Australia Post, FedEx, Royal Mail, UPS and USPS. The marketplace offers more than 13,000 modules and themes. An API allows third-party applications to communicate with a store. OpenCart describes itself as SEO friendly and supports user-managed backups and restorations. The software is free, with no monthly fees. Self-hosting requires a web server, PHP, cURL and a database.
For and against
For
- Free plan with no monthly fees
- One interface can manage multiple stores
- Supports downloadable products
- More than 13,000 marketplace modules and themes
- 36 integrated payment methods listed
Against
- Self-hosting requires a web server, PHP, cURL and a database
- No abandoned cart recovery
The verdict
OpenCart combines multi-store management, catalog tools and marketplace extensions in free, open-source software. Buyers should account for the listed self-hosting requirements and the absence of abandoned cart recovery.
Who it suits
OpenCart suits people setting up one or multiple stores who want control over hosting and store configuration. It may also suit sellers of downloadable products or those seeking a broad choice of extensions and payment methods.
Plans and prices
OpenCart open-source download
Unlimited categories and products · self-hosted installation · no monthly fees
Read 21 Oct 2026 · opencart.com
OpenCart
Open-source store software · free download and updates · no monthly fees
Read 8 Oct 2026 · opencart.com
On the record
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Noopencart.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Admin dashboard
- The administrator dashboard summarizes orders, sales, customers, online visitors and analytics through widgets.opencart.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Affiliate marketing
- A built-in affiliate system tracks referrals, supports percentage commissions and offers cheque, PayPal or bank-transfer payouts.opencart.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- API
- OpenCart has an API that lets third-party applications communicate with a store.opencart.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- API and architecture
- OpenCart uses an MVC-L architecture and exposes an API for third-party applications to communicate with a store.opencart.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- App marketplace
- Yesopencart.com · read 20 Sep 2026
- Backup and restore
- The administration area includes tools to create and restore store backups.opencart.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Backups
- The features page says users can set up their own backups and restorations.opencart.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Catalog
- The product page states that stores can have unlimited categories and products, and can sell downloadable products.opencart.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Checkout and SEO
- The software provides guest and registered-user checkout and describes itself as SEO friendly.opencart.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Company founding and headquarters
- LinkedIn lists OpenCart as founded in 2005, headquartered in Hong Kong and privately held.uk.linkedin.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Company history
- The company page says OpenCart was registered as a business in Hong Kong in June 2012 and that version 0.3 was released in 2006.opencart.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Company incorporation
- A Hong Kong company directory records Opencart Limited as incorporated on May 8, 2012, with live status.ltddir.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Company legal identity
- Crunchbase lists the legal name as Opencart Holding Ltd and identifies Daniel Kerr as owner and founder and Andy Tsang as co-founder.crunchbase.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Company size
- LinkedIn lists OpenCart's company size as 11–50 employees.uk.linkedin.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Currencies and languages
- OpenCart supports automatic currency-rate updates, multiple tax settings and more than 40 languages, including right-to-left languages.opencart.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Customer features
- The software includes product reviews and ratings, reward points, filters, multiple currencies and support for more than 40 languages.opencart.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Developer documentation
- Official documentation covers installation, administration, catalog, extensions, sales, systems, reports and a developer guide with coding standards, database schema, extensions, events, startups, tasks and cron jobs.docs.opencart.com · read 21 Oct 2026
