Are you interested in launching an eCommerce web store using OpenCart but don’t know how much it might cost? Well, OpenCart pricing can vary remarkably depending on your hosting options (self-hosting or cloud hosting), themes and design, additional extensions, agency cost, etc.
But don’t worry! In this article, we will walk you through all you need to know about OpenCart pricing, including:
Without further ado, let’s dive right in!
Seamlessly Migrate Your Store to OpenCart!
Our team of experts can safely transfer your business data, products, customers, and orders to unlock more growth in this promising eCommerce platform. Let us provide a customized migration for you!
What is OpenCart?
OpenCart is an open-source eCommerce platform built with PHP programming language. Technically, OpenCart is well-known for its ease of use and powerful multi-store capabilities, allowing you to manage your online inventory, orders, and customers all in one place.
The platform also comes with several sales-driven, native eCommerce features such as loyalty features, discount codes, etc.
Is OpenCart Free to Use?
OpenCart is free to download and install, like WooCommerce and many other open-source platform. However, what's great is that the platform also provides cloud hosting packages. These come at a monthly cost, but they are a more suitable choice for merchants who don't want to deal with technical headaches.
With that being said, both hosting methods have their pros and cons. In this OpenCart pricing breakdown, we'll discuss self-hosting and OpenCart Cloud Hosting later so you can decide which suits you most.
If you are a newbie who wants to build a full-fledged online store with OpenCart, check out our comprehensive OpenCart review for the latest info on its features, pros & cons!
OpenCart Pricing: A Detailed Cost Breakdown
OpenCart pricing plans
As OpenCart is a free and open-source shopping cart platform, all its features, including Admin, Customer, Shipping, Payments and Reports, Mobile & SEO, and Developer tools, are available to you at no cost.
However, there are other costs and fees you simply cannot avoid when running and scaling an online store with the platform.
Here is a summary of the four primary costs you must factor in if you plan to operate a functional OpenCart web store:
- Hosting fees: $300 – $2,400 per year;
- Theme costs: $30 – $100 for one-time purchase;
- Additional extensions: $500 – $1,500 per year;
- Agency costs: $2,500 – $10,000 initially.
Hosting fees
Firstly, hosting costs are inevitable costs when launching, running, and scaling an online shop with OpenCart. Depending on your hosting preferences, as well as your needs and wants, OpenCart pricing of hosting fees can vary remarkably.
Option #1: Self-hosting
If you need complete control over your hosting environment, have specific server requirements, or possess the technical know-how to manage a web server, you can choose to self-host your OpenCart website by downloading and installing the OpenCart software.
And when you opt for self-hosting, here are the typical cost components you are expected to consider:
- Domain name: This is your website's address. Costs vary depending on the domain registrar and the domain's popularity, usually ranging from $10 to $50 per year.
- An SSL certificate: SSL certificates usually come free with your domain name or hosting service. Or it might cost up to $200 yearly, depending on the level of security needed.
- Web hosting: Pricing may vary based on the type of hosting (shared, VPS, dedicated) and the provider. Expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $200+ per month.
- Maintenance and updates: If you're not tech-savvy, you may need to hire someone for ongoing site maintenance, which can add several hundred dollars per year (we’ll discuss this cost later)
💰 Estimated: For a basic setup, expect to pay around $300 to $600 annually. However, this OpenCart pricing can increase significantly for larger, more complex stores.
Option #2: OpenCart Cloud Hosting
If you prefer a hassle-free hosting solution, need reliable support, or lack the technical expertise for self-hosting, you can choose an OpenCart cloud hosting package.
As of writing this, OpenCart offers three main cloud hosting packages: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
- Bronze Package ($59/month): Ideal for small startups. It includes basic hosting features but may lack advanced functionalities.
- Silver Package ($99/month): Suitable for medium-sized businesses. Offers more resources and support compared to Bronze.
- Gold Package ($199/month): Designed for large businesses with high traffic. Provides extensive resources and premium support.
That said, be well noted that although you don’t have to worry about hosting fees and pricing when choosing cloud hosting, you still need to invest in costs like a custom domain name or an SSL certificate.
💰 Estimated: Depending on your package, the OpenCart pricing of cloud hosting can get from $700 to $2,400 on an annual basis.
Theme costs of OpenCart
When running an OpenCart store, investing in a theme is a crucial cost you shouldn't overlook. A theme is more than just an aesthetic choice; it defines your store's user experience and brand identity and even influences your customer buying decision.
Although free OpenCart themes are available, they often lack uniqueness and advanced features. So, if you want to build a bespoke online storefront, you might have to invest in a premium theme for more customization.
Usually, premium OpenCart themes can range from $30 to $100 or more, depending on the complexity and features. For a full-fledged store, you might need to budget around $60 for a robust, professional theme.
💰 Estimated: You may have to prepare a one-time budget from $30 to $100 for a premium OpenCart theme.
Additional extensions
While OpenCart comes with a solid set of basic eCommerce features, extensions are what truly unlock its potential. Hence, if you are serious about launching a highly functional e-shop, extension costs in OpenCart pricing are unavoidable.
Nevertheless, the cost for OpenCart extensions can vary widely. Some basic add-ons might be free or charge a nominal fee, usually ranging from $15 to $50. These often include simple functionality improvements or aesthetic enhancements.
However, for more sophisticated needs, like advanced SEO tools, customized checkout processes, or intricate reporting and analytics, you'll likely need to invest in premium extensions. These can cost anywhere from $100 to several hundred dollars, depending on their complexity and the value they add to your store.
To give you a clearer picture of OpenCart pricing, here's an estimation of costs for some commonly used extension categories:
- Payment gateway integrations: $50 – $150;
- Advanced shipping methods: $30 – $100;
- Comprehensive SEO tools: $75 – $200;
- Detailed reporting and analytics: $100 – $250;
- Customized checkout enhancements: $100 – $300.
💰 Estimated: The total expenditure on OpenCart extensions can range significantly, usually falling between $500 to $1,500 or more annually, depending on your store's specific requirements and the level of customization you aim for.
Agency cost
Last but not least, let’s not forget about the possible cost of outsourcing other services for your OpenCart store.
These costs are necessary as they provide expertise in areas where you might lack the time or skills. Here are the possible costs of some popular services you might want to consider:
- Website design and customization: Typically ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
- Search engine optimization: Usually around $500 to $2,000 per month.
- Technical support: Ongoing maintenance and troubleshooting, often costing between $50 to $200 per hour.
- Marketing and advertising: Vary widely but generally start at $1,000 monthly.
💰 Estimated: Expect to invest anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000 initially in agency services, depending on the complexity and scale of your operations.
OpenCart fulfillment pricing
OpenCart doesn't have predefined fulfillment pricing as one of its core functions. In OpenCart, order fulfillment is handled by integrating with different shipping carriers and payment processors. These external services have their own pricing models, like shipping rates, transaction fees, or subscription costs applied to order fulfillment.
OpenCart Pricing: Frequently Asked Questions
What does OpenCart cost?
OpenCart is a free, open-source platform. This means you can download and use it without paying a license fee.
However, costs can arise from web hosting, purchasing specific themes or extensions, and potential development or maintenance services.
Is OpenCart good or bad?
OpenCart is generally considered good, especially for small to medium-sized online stores. It's user-friendly, has a range of customizable options, and supports multiple languages and currencies.
However, its performance can vary based on your technical skills, the size of your store, and the additional plugins you use.
Is OpenCart a CMS or framework?
OpenCart is primarily an eCommerce Content Management System (CMS). It's designed for managing the content of online stores, including product listings, customer data, and orders.
Unlike a framework, OpenCart is not intended for building applications from scratch but for managing and organizing online shop content.
Is OpenCart 4 good?
OpenCart 4 brings several improvements, including a more modern user interface, enhanced security features, and better overall performance. It's generally viewed positively, but its suitability depends on your specific business needs and technical capabilities.
Final Thoughts
OpenCart is free to install. However, to set up, manage, and scale up an OpenCart store, you need to take into account dozens of other costs and fees to come to the most precise OpenCart pricing picture.
We hope after reading this article, you can better plan your budget if you intend to create an OpenCart shop. It's also a good idea to explore some OpenCart alternatives like Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento. Each offers different features, pricing structures, and customization capabilities to better meet the unique needs of your business.
Don’t forget to check out LitExtension blog and join our engaging eCommerce Facebook community to learn and explore all things eCommerce – from tutorials and troubleshooting to tips and tricks.
