Cartridge vs Frappe Webshop
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Cartridge | Frappe Webshop |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 12 · At risk | 69 · Good |
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | BSD-2-Clause | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 710 | ★ 206 |
| First released | 2010 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Shopify, WooCommerce | Shopify, WooCommerce |
What are Cartridge and Frappe Webshop?
Cartridge
Cartridge is a lightweight, open-source shopping cart application built on the Mezzanine CMS for Django. It adds e-commerce capabilities such as products, orders, and discounts to a content site.
- Integrates with Mezzanine CMS
- Product variations and discounts
- Lightweight footprint
- Django admin management
Frappe Webshop
Frappe Webshop is an open-source e-commerce platform built on the Frappe framework that turns an item catalog into an online storefront. It integrates with ERPNext data so products, pricing, and stock stay in sync.
- Storefront on the Frappe framework
- Integrates with ERPNext data
- Catalog, pricing, and stock sync
- Self-hosted shopping cart
Cartridge vs Frappe Webshop: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Licensing differs — BSD-2-Clause for Cartridge versus GPL-3.0 for Frappe Webshop. Cartridge is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Frappe Webshop. Cartridge is the more established project (first released 2010), while Frappe Webshop arrived in 2022. Cartridge has the considerably larger community, at 710 GitHub stars versus 206. Frappe Webshop lists first-class Docker deployment; Cartridge does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Cartridge if…
- Simple and minimal
- Good for content-driven shops
Watch out for
- Limited active maintenance
- Niche ecosystem
Choose Frappe Webshop if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in Python
Frequently asked questions
Is Cartridge or Frappe Webshop better?
Cartridge is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Frappe Webshop if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Cartridge and Frappe Webshop free and open-source?
Yes. Cartridge is licensed under BSD-2-Clause and Frappe Webshop under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Cartridge and Frappe Webshop with Docker?
Cartridge: check the project docs for container support. Frappe Webshop: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Cartridge or Frappe Webshop?
Cartridge has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Frappe Webshop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.