OpenCart vs WooCommerce
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
WooCommerce
Open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress
| Feature | OpenCart | WooCommerce |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 93 · Excellent |
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,201 | ★ 10,533 |
| First released | 2009 | 2011 |
| Replaces | Shopify, Wix Stores | Shopify, BigCommerce |
What are OpenCart and WooCommerce?
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
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a customizable, open-source e-commerce platform built on WordPress. It powers millions of online stores worldwide with support for physical products, digital downloads, subscriptions, and extensive third-party extensions.
- Built on WordPress
- Huge extension ecosystem
- Supports digital and physical goods
- REST API for integrations
OpenCart vs WooCommerce: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. OpenCart is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for WooCommerce. OpenCart is the more established project (first released 2009), while WooCommerce arrived in 2011.
Why pick each one
Choose OpenCart if…
- Low resource requirements
- Beginner-friendly setup
Watch out for
- Smaller community than competitors
- Limited advanced features
Choose WooCommerce if…
- Massive plugin and theme library
- Large community and documentation
Watch out for
- Requires WordPress maintenance
- Can get costly with paid extensions
Frequently asked questions
Is OpenCart or WooCommerce better?
Neither is universally better. WooCommerce 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 OpenCart and WooCommerce free and open-source?
Yes. OpenCart is licensed under GPL-3.0 and WooCommerce under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run OpenCart and WooCommerce with Docker?
OpenCart: yes. WooCommerce: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, OpenCart or WooCommerce?
OpenCart has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for WooCommerce. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.