Opencart and Shopify are both popular e-commerce platforms used by businesses to create and manage online stores. While both platforms offer many of the same features, there are some key differences between them that make each ideal for different types of businesses.
Opencart is a self-hosted open-source platform that can be customized and modified to fit various needs. It’s designed to be user-friendly but also powerful enough to meet the needs of larger businesses. Opencart offers a wide range of supported payment gateways, product options, and themes.
Shopify is a cloud-based platform that requires no technical installation or maintenance on the user’s part. It’s designed to be easy to use with features like drag-and-drop store creation and easy integration with third-party services. Shopify also offers a wide range of customizable themes and apps to help you tailor your store.
One of the main differences between Opencart and Shopify is their pricing structure. Opencart is free to use but requires a hosting plan, while Shopify has a subscription that includes hosting. Additionally, Opencart is more customizable than Shopify, allowing users to modify the code according to their own requirements. However, this customization is available only to those with coding knowledge, whereas Shopify’s drag-and-drop interface makes it easy to use and customize even for beginners.
In summary, both Opencart and Shopify offer a wide range of features, but the main difference lies in the pricing structure and ease of use. Opencart is a free, self-hosted platform that requires some coding knowledge for customization, while Shopify is a cloud-based platform with a user-friendly interface.