EverShop vs OpenCart
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | EverShop | OpenCart |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,490 | ★ 8,201 |
| First released | 2022 | 2009 |
| Replaces | Shopify, WooCommerce | Shopify, Wix Stores |
What are EverShop and OpenCart?
EverShop
EverShop is an open-source e-commerce platform built with Node.js, React, and GraphQL. It offers a modular architecture with a clean admin panel for building modern online stores.
- React-based storefront and admin
- GraphQL API
- Module-based extensibility
- PostgreSQL backed
OpenCart
OpenCart is a free, open-source online store management system built in PHP. It is lightweight and easy to set up, with a marketplace of extensions and themes for small to mid-sized retailers.
- Lightweight and quick to install
- Multi-store from one admin
- Extension marketplace
- Multilingual and multi-currency
EverShop vs OpenCart: key differences
EverShop is written in TypeScript, while OpenCart is built with PHP. OpenCart is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for EverShop. OpenCart is the more established project (first released 2009), while EverShop arrived in 2022.
Why pick each one
Choose EverShop if…
- Modern JavaScript stack
- Clean codebase
Watch out for
- Young project
- Smaller ecosystem
Choose OpenCart if…
- Low resource requirements
- Beginner-friendly setup
Watch out for
- Smaller community than competitors
- Limited advanced features
Frequently asked questions
Is EverShop or OpenCart better?
Neither is universally better. EverShop has the larger community, while OpenCart is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are EverShop and OpenCart free and open-source?
Yes. EverShop is licensed under GPL-3.0 and OpenCart under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run EverShop and OpenCart with Docker?
EverShop: yes. OpenCart: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, EverShop or OpenCart?
OpenCart has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for EverShop. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.