Shopify vs OpenCart

Shopify and OpenCart are two leading open-source e-commerce platforms. Shopify is a top-hosted website builder while OpenCart is one of the best open-source e-commerce platforms. 

But which is the best option for your online store?

Read the Shopify vs OpenCart comparison below depending on features to decide the right option suited to your requirements.  

Shopify vs OpenCart – Key Differences

Shopify is a hosted cart that offers a subscription-basOpenCart is free to download and install. You also need to pay certain additional costs to build and run a full online store comprising domain name, hosting, SSL certificate, and extensions. 

ed model and allows users to build a new page in a few clicks without technical knowledge. It would be difficult to make adjustments to your website because of the proprietary codebase.

On the contrary, OpenCart, an open-source e-commerce website builder allows users to access and modify source coding. Thus, you can control the website backend and do unlimited customization over the functionality/design of your online store. OpenCart needs some level of technical and coding knowledge. 

Shopify vs OpenCart – Features

Pricing

Shopify offers 4 pricing plans – Basic Shopify, Shopify, Advanced Shopify, and Shopify Plus. If you sign up for a yearly plan, you save 10% or 20% for 2 years. 

OperCart is cheaper than Shopify but you need to pay certain basic expenses. If you are a website builder, Shopify is a cost-effective choice in the marketplace. 

Usability

Shopify doesn’t demand code for eCommerce website development. You only need to give some information such as store name, address, and email. You can also opt for a 14-day trial of any available plans to test the system functionality and decide if it’s suited to your requirements. 

OpenCart requires coding skills to set up an online store. The intuitive interface allows you to navigate and enhance any website element. 

Shopify is more user-friendly than OpenCart because of the easy installation process and simple management system. OpenCart store is tougher to set up as you require the technical expertise of hosting and FTPs.

SEO

Shopify SEO works perfectly for your online store. The basic SEO features such as meta title, meta description, and responsiveness enable you to arrange your website categories. So, you can build a logical and navigable site structure that helps you perform exceptionally in SEO. 

OpenCart offers only basic SEO features such as meta tag editing, 301 referrals adding, and rel-canonical. The Extension Store offers 14000 extensions that help you to install extra SEO plugins and improve ranking positions.

Shopify is a better option for SEO performance. If you want advanced SEO as a beginner, go for OpenCart.

Shopify vs OpenCart – Which is the Best Option for Your Online Store?

Shopify is perfect for businesses of all sizes. This hosted platform offers excellent support, a user-friendly interface, high security, and advanced SEO. If you want to leverage this platform with the least technical skills, choose Shopify. 

OpenCart is an ideal choice for SMEs. It’s free to install, offers customization options, easy usability, and diverse extension choices. If you have technical and coding knowledge, go for OpenCart.

Are you unsatisfied with your present website builder and want to shift to another platform that suits your online store? Go for migration.