OpenCart
A complete catalog and checkout instead of a small one; free software, paid server chores.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-08-10
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- GPL-3.0
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hostedself-host, real ops
- Installation
- Upload a stable PHP release to hosting, create a database, then complete the browser installer
- Operational Setup
- PHP hosting, database and permissions work come first, followed by payment, shipping, mail and extension configuration
- Where Your Data Lives
- Catalog, customers and orders in a SQL database; images, downloads and application storage in server directories
- The Catch / Trade-off
- OpenCart replaces managed reliability and integrations with PHP-server administration and a less polished merchant workflow.
Replaces 2 paid apps
up to $64/mo ($768/yr) in subscriptions
OpenCart FAQ
Common questions
Is OpenCart free and open source?+
OpenCart is an open-source tool licensed under GPL-3.0 that runs on self-host. A complete catalog and checkout instead of a small one; free software, paid server chores.
What paid software does OpenCart replace?+
OpenCart serves as a free replacement for 2 paid SaaS applications: BigCommerce, Shopify, saving up to $64/month ($768/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up OpenCart?+
Installation: Upload a stable PHP release to hosting, create a database, then complete the browser installer. Setup notes: PHP hosting, database and permissions work come first, followed by payment, shipping, mail and extension configuration
What is the catch or trade-off with OpenCart?+
OpenCart replaces managed reliability and integrations with PHP-server administration and a less polished merchant workflow.