OpenCart vs WooCommerce Comparison – Which Is Better?
Do you want to create an eCommerce website and are unsure which platform to choose between OpenCart vs WooCommerce?
eCommerce platforms like OpenCart and WooCommerce make online store creation easier. Because of their popularity and features, choosing the right option for your business may be daunting.
If you are at all unsure, this post will provide a detailed comparison between OpenCart and WooCommerce. The aim is to help you make an informed decision.
Content:
- Brief Overview of OpenCart vs WooCommerce
- A Detailed Side-By-Side Comparison of OpenCart vs WooCommerce
- Final Verdict: OpenCart vs WooCommerce
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Brief Overview of OpenCart vs WooCommerce
OpenCart is an open-source eCommerce platform for creating and managing online stores. It was first released in 1998. According to online stats, OpenCart currently has over 350,000 users and controls about 1% of the eCommerce platform market share.
OpenCart’s core is built upon PHP and MySQL. Below are some of the core features of the software:
- Supports many payment gateways
- Open-source
- Multistore function
- Strong community.
WooCommerce, on the other hand, is a WordPress eCommerce plugin. It is the most popular eCommerce software, with over 5.9 million users. WooCommerce also controls about 30% of the market share for eCommerce stores.
The WooCommerce plugin was first launched on September 17, 2011. Many website owners choose WooCommerce because it is easier to integrate with WordPress.
A Detailed Side-By-Side Comparison of OpenCart vs WooCommerce
Let’s now examine what makes each eCommerce platform unique.
Installation
OpenCart is an online store management platform, as WordPress is a CMS platform. So, you need to install OpenCart on a standalone server to create a store.
You can download OpenCart and install it on your server using an FTP client. But, this may be too complex for people not familiar with web development and hosting.
Another installation option is to use your web host’s cPanel. The process may vary depending on your specific web host.
WooCommerce has a simpler installation process compared to OpenCart. You can install WooCommerce on your WordPress the same way you install other plugins.
To install the plugin, log in to your WordPress dashboard, and go to Plugins >> Add New. After that, type ‘WooCommerce’ into the search box.
Next, install and activate the plugin. After activating the plugin, you just need to follow a straightforward procedure to configure the plugin.
Sidenote: For a detailed walkthrough, please see our guide to learn how to install and set up WooCommerce.
Verdict: WooCommerce
OpenCart installation has a more technical installation process. The process involves installing its core software on a custom web host and this is not beginner friendly.
Whereas WooCommerce is easy to install and set up. You can install WooCommerce on an existing WordPress site as a plugin. But, the process becomes a bit technical if we are to factor in setting up a WordPress site.
Customization Options – OpenCart vs WooCommerce
OpenCart provides extensive customization with custom themes that you can modify to suit your brand. It also has many third-party extensions to enhance the functionality of your store.
Additionally, you can edit the source code to extend the functionality of your store. You can also create and manage many stores from one admin panel.
WooCommerce is hosted on WordPress, an open-source CMS platform. This means you can also edit your theme and change the layout of your WooCommerce store.
Finally, you can edit your code on WordPress if you are familiar with PHP.
Verdict: OpenCart
When it comes to customization, OpenCart slightly takes the lead. That’s especially for those who want an open-source platform dedicated to eCommerce.
Payment Options
OpenCart comes with a host of payment integrations. It supports most of the popular payment methods on the internet. The availability of a wide range of payment options makes it easy to accept payments from your customers.
WooCommerce also supports many payment gateways, such as Stripe and PayPal out of the box. Additionally, it allows you to add extra payment methods as extensions. There are about 79 payment-related extensions on WooCommerce.
Verdict: Both
WooCommerce and Opencart support many payment gateways. Both platforms also allow store owners to accept payments using cryptocurrencies.
Extensions and Plugins
OpenCart has many extensions that integrate with stores for extra functionality. The OpenCart marketplace has more than 200 themes and extensions. These OpenCart extensions also receive frequent updates from their developers.
WooCommerce comes with tons of free and premium extensions and themes as well. You can access these plugins and other WooCommerce products from the WooCommerce extensions store.
Many WordPress plugins can also be used with WooCommerce. They include Apple Pay WooCommerce, Google Analytics, Mailchimp integration, etc.
Verdict: WooCommerce
WooCommerce benefits from regular WordPress plugins. This means you can use compatible plugins from the WordPress directory with your WooCommere store.
Performance and Scaling
OpenCart is lightweight and can handle a decent amount of traffic. It is good for building small and medium-sized eCommerce websites.
WooCommerce, in contrast, is built on top of WordPress. This means that it taps from its powerful infrastructure. However, general website speed depends on other factors. These factors include server speed and website design.
Verdict: WooCommerce
Overall, WooCommerce is better if you want a store with a good performance that scales easily. It can accommodate more users as your eCommerce business grows.
OpenCart vs WooCommerce – SEO
In terms of SEO, OpenCart is a bit limited compared to other eCommerce website builders such as Wix and WooCommerce.
OpenCart’s core isn’t built with SEO-friendly PHP code and you are limited when it comes to SEO extensions. You’d need to be a seasoned developer to be able to boost your site’s SEO performance.
Being integrated into WordPress websites, WooCommerce leverages the SEO-friendly nature of WordPress. Aside from the fact that WordPress is SEO-ready, there are plugins you can use to further improve your site’s optimization on search engines.
Verdict: WooCommerce
If you are looking for an SEO-friendly solution, we recommend sticking with WooCommerce. SEO plugins like Yoast SEO integrate with WooCommerce to improve your store’s ranking.
Support and Community
OpenCart provides customer support through the documentation on its website. You can find related articles and documentation on troubleshooting common issues. There is also a forum where you can find discussions related to OpenCart.
Additionally, Opencart has a developers’ community that develops extensions for the platform. These people are an integral aspect of the OpenCart community.
WooCommerce has access to WordPress’s eco-system. This means it taps from WordPress’s support and community. And whenever you encounter issues, professional support teams such as FixRunner are ready to jump in and help you.
Verdict: WooCommerce
Both OpenCart and WooCommerce have a strong community and support. However, compared side by side, WooCommerce is far ahead of OpenCart. It benefits from WordPress’ free resources, local community, and dedicated support.
Security – WooCommerce or OpenCart
Security is a crucial issue for any online business. If you run an online business, you need to ensure your site data and user information are secure.
OpenCart core is regularly updated. This helps to resolve vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. It also improves the security of websites on the platform.
Additionally, OpenCart requires a secure sockets layer (SSL). An SSL certificate helps to ensure secure communication between the browser and the server. This helps to protect sensitive customer information such as credit card details.
WooCommerce inherits WordPress’ secure architecture and also supports SSL encryption. You can also use WordPress security plugins on your online store to improve security.
Verdict: WooCommerce
Both OpenCart and WooCommerce are well-secured to protect user data. However, WooCommerce once again takes the lead. WooCommerce benefits from the high-level security features offered by WordPress.
OpenCart vs WooCommerce – Pricing
Both platforms are open-source and free to use. However, you need to buy a domain name and hosting plan from hosting providers to install any of them on your server.
Additionally, there are premium themes and third-party extensions that you have to pay for. You can use these optional extensions to extend the functionality of your store.
Verdict: Both
Comparing both platforms based on their pricing is difficult. This is because both OpenCart and Woocommerece’s core software are free. And you can run your store using the free basic features.
However, the difference may be in the overall cost of addons on both platforms.
Final Verdict: OpenCart vs WooCommerce
This decision depends on expertise, business type, and personal preferences. Below is our verdict based on our experience with both tools.
Choose OpenCart if:
- You want a dedicated eCommerce store with a simple interface and easy setup.
- You have no experience with WordPress and will prefer a standalone eCommerce solution.
- You are comfortable working with self-hosted solutions.
Choose WooCommerce if:
- You have an existing WordPress website and want to integrate your store into it.
- You want the flexibility of customizing your store using WooCommerce and WordPress tools.
- You want to benefit from WordPress communities and dedicated support.
- You have the technical skills to manage a WordPress website.
- You want an SEO-friendly website
WooCommerce vs OpenCart – FAQs
Below are answers to some top questions about choosing between WooCommerce and OpenCart.
Is OpenCart for WordPress?
No, OpenCart is not for WordPress. OpenCart is an open-source eCommerce platform designed to create and manage online stores. It is a standalone solution that is self-hosted.
Which is better WooCommerce or OpenCart?
WooCommerce is better than OpenCart because it taps from WordPress. It is also easier to find and troubleshoot common issues that may arise in the future.
What is better than WooCommerce?
Although WooCommerce is a common choice for many people, several other options may better suit your business needs. Some of them include Shopify, Magento, and BigCommerce.
What is the difference between WordPress and OpenCart?
OpenCart is an eCommerce platform that is used to create online stores. WordPress is a multi-purpose website builder and CMS solution. It has many use cases, such as building a portfolio site, personal blog, or an eCommerce store.
Conclusion – OpenCart vs WooCommerce
Choosing between Opencart or WooCommerce depends on preferences and needs. OpenCart provides a standalone solution for eCommerce. WooCommerce, on the other hand, integrates easily with an existing WordPress website. This gives store owners access to WordPresss’ robust CMS.
Both platforms have their pros and cons. But based on our review, WooCommerce is a better choice.
If you decide to use WooCommerce, we have a ton of resources to help you manage and grow your store. And whenever you’re stuck, our team of experts is ready to assist you with any WooCommerce-related issues.
