OpenCart

Self-Hosted

Open-source e-commerce platform for building online stores

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Overview

OpenCart is a flexible, self-hosted e-commerce solution ideal for small to medium businesses. It supports multi-language/currency setups, integrates with popular payment gateways (PayPal, Stripe), and offers tools for product management, inventory tracking, SEO optimization, and order processing. Deployment is straightforward on LAMP/WAMP stacks—many hosts provide one-click installs, or you can manually upload files via FTP. Extensions and customizable themes expand functionality, making it scalable for growing stores.

Self-Hosting Resources

Find Official Image on Docker Hub View Source & Docs

Below is a reference structure for docker-compose.yml. ⚠️ Do NOT run blindly. Replace placeholders with official values.

docker-compose.template.yml TEMPLATE 

version: '3'
services:
  opencart:
    image: <OFFICIAL_IMAGE_NAME>:latest
    container_name: opencart
    ports:
      - "8080:<APP_INTERNAL_PORT>"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/app/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Key Features

  • Multi-language & currency support
  • Extensive payment gateway integrations
  • Customizable themes and extensions marketplace
  • Inventory and order management tools

Frequently Asked Questions

? Is OpenCart hard to install?

OpenCart is relatively easy to install. It works on LAMP/WAMP stacks; many hosting providers offer one-click installs. Manual setup involves uploading files via FTP and running a web-based installer that guides you through database configuration and admin account creation—basic web knowledge helps but isn’t mandatory.

? Is it a good alternative to Shopify?

Yes! OpenCart is a strong alternative for users wanting full control and no monthly subscriptions. Unlike Shopify’s hosted, proprietary model, OpenCart is self-hosted and open-source, allowing deep customization. However, Shopify offers more managed services (hosting, security) out of the box, so OpenCart suits those comfortable with basic server management.

? Is OpenCart completely free?

The core OpenCart software is 100% free (GPLv3 licensed). You can download, use, and modify it without upfront costs. Expenses may include web hosting, premium themes/extensions, or custom development— but the base platform remains free.

Top Alternatives

Shopify Search Google
BigCommerce Search Google
Squarespace Commerce Search Google

People Also Ask about OpenCart

OpenCart vs ShopifyOpenCart vs BigCommerceOpenCart vs Squarespace Commerce OpenCart 2025 review OpenCart docker-compose example

Tool Info

Pricing Open Source
Category E-commerce
Platform Self-Hosted

Pros

  • ⊕ Free open-source core software
  • ⊕ Easy deployment on standard web stacks
  • ⊕ Wide range of extensions for added functionality
  • ⊕ User-friendly admin interface for daily operations

Cons

  • ⊖ Requires basic web hosting knowledge for setup/maintenance
  • ⊖ Premium extensions/themes can add costs
  • ⊖ Manual security updates needed for self-hosted instances
  • ⊖ Limited enterprise-level features compared to proprietary solutions

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