Launching or re-launching an online store can often be a daunting task. If you’re solely a web-based business, you need to make sure that you get it right first time. A large part of this hinges on choosing the right eCommerce platform. Not only will this impact your running costs and setup times, it will also set the tone for how your online business is run. Customers and employees will thank you for choosing a solid store management system; it makes everyone’s life easier. However, not all eCommerce solutions are made equal.

Choosing between the many available store providers can be tricky. On paper, they all sell themselves in similar ways. However, it’s only when you get down to business that you will start noticing issues and frustrations. Larger companies such as BigCommerce and Magento use a one-size template that leaves many users without the necessary tools they need to effectively trade. Smaller companies struggle to provide a support network that delivers around the clock help to all users. In this article we’ll examine one of the most popular online store management software providers, OpenCart, and what their service provides. We’ll also suggest some OpenCart alternatives that could offer an improved experience.

What is OpenCart?

OpenCart is a name that has been around for a while. They initially started as a company back in the late ‘90s, before soon foundering due to a lack of development. However, in 2005 a UK-based developer revived the domain as a means for promoting their eCommerce platform. The system saw its first release back in 2009, as a PHP-based platform that uses aspects of both MySQL and HTML. Over the years, many customers have chosen the open-source platform to build their eCommerce stores. Various iterations have powered over 300,000 online shops, and there exists a strong community of backers and contributors.

One of the big selling points of OpenCart is the fact that they offer their platform for free. With the base version, there are no monthly fees. You simply download the software and install it on your web server (provided you have PHP, Curl enabled, and a database). They boast free updates and support for the lifetime of the product. You can then begin to create your inventory, using unlimited categories, products, and manufactures. Users are also free to customize the platform however they see fit, and there is a large catalogue of add-ons you can use to improve your site. Overall, it seems like a really solid platform. However, like any large-scale platform, there are some issues that can be off-putting. That’s why many users search for OpenCart alternatives.

OpenCart Issues

Experienced users will find a lot to like with OpenCart, but they will also be more discerning of its flaws. Newer customers, without experience of the online space, may soon find themselves overwhelmed. Although there are many good reviews of OpenCart, there are also less positive ones. Below we’ve outlined some of the key issues users and reviewers have reported:

• Setup: We hinted at this above, but due to the open-source nature of OpenCart’s software, it requires someone with an in-depth knowledge of PHP to get it set up. If you’re an inexperienced user with no knowledge of development, this could mean a difficult journey to getting your OpenCart site up and running. What’s more, the chances are you’ll have to pay someone to do it for you.
• Add-ons: One of the big selling points of OpenCart is the fact it’s free. However, to build a site that’s in any way functional and transactional, you’re going to have to install quite a few different add-ons. Unfortunately these aren’t free, and OpenCart reviewers note it can be expensive.
• Support: One of the biggest criticisms that OpenCart receives surrounds their support. Although there is an active network of users to help out, the plans that OpenCart themselves offer are expensive and not always that helpful. Much of the emphasis of the platform is placed on the user finding their own solutions to problems they may encounter.
• Customizability: The ability to create a custom site that stands out from competitors is really important in the eCommerce world. However, when this is done by user-lead developments and a host of different add-ons, it can get difficult to understand any issues encountered. It can also mean that sites on the OpenCart platform can experience loading time issues.

For users who encounter these issues, or who don’t want the hassle, there are thankfully some good alternatives to OpenCart available.

OpenCart Alternatives: Independent Developers

An often-suggested way of setting up an online store is to use an independently based developer. The attraction is clear; you can build your ideal platform from the ground up to your exact specifications. Although this sounds ideal, there are actually many pitfalls with this route. The first is the expense, in both money and time. Independent developers aren’t cheap, and unless you have your own dedicated team, you’re going to have to pay a premium.

Often agencies will charge by the hour for anything that’s off spec, and it’s rare that these things go 100% according to plan. Don’t forget that you’re unlikely to be their only client. This means that you lack the care and focus of a dedicated service or turnkey platform. It also means that it could take a fair while before you’re site and your platform is up and running. This is time that could otherwise be spent making sales.

Overall, we would not recommend using an independent developer to build your platform. Particularly if the team is not internal, you could be reliant on a development team whose priories are not the same as your own. Bespoke systems also require bespoke knowledge, and therefore it’s harder to learn and diagnose them.

OpenCart Alternatives: Shopping Cart Elite

One alternative we think could benefit users in search of a complete eCommerce solution is our very own Shopping Cart Elite. We’ve put our efforts into delivering a platform that is hassle-free, powerful, and comprehensive. Our promise is to give our customers a full eCommerce solution within 30 days or less. This means you will have everything you need in order to get your online business up and running, without the need for many expensive add-ons or third-party plugins.

The sites that we produce are fast, reliable, SEO-ready, and constantly being updated and improved on. Using innovative technologies such as Hypersonic CDN, cloud templates, and TEA, sites built on our platform are reliable and versatile. What’s more, you have access to all of the components and expertise you need to run a successful eCommerce business. This covers SEO, marketing, CRM, and Analytics. If you sell on multiple platforms, Shopping Cart Elite can guarantee that you’ll have effortless integration across all major marketplaces. We’re confident that we can deliver exactly what our customers need, no matter the size or scale of your operation. This is why Shopping Cart Elite is a top choice among OpenCart alternatives, and any other eCommerce platform.

OpenCart and Shopping Cart Elite Key Features: Head to Head

To demonstrate why we’re such a good alternative, we’ve outlined some of the key features that users find the most important in the service they choose.

Add-Ons
One of the main frustrations that customers experience is the fact that many platforms don’t offer a complete eCommerce solution. Although they may excel in one area, quite often there are extra add-ons required to get the desired functionality, such as with OpenCart’s platform. Shopping Cart Elite provides everything you need to run your store, included in the price of our packages. Not only this, if one of our customers’ sites introduces a function that is successful and drive sales, we’ll roll them out to all of our templates for everyone to try.

Support
Nothing is more frustrating than having a tech problem that isn’t getting solved. If you can’t fix it yourself, you’re at the mercy of an outside agency to figure out the issue and fix it. This can be costly and time consuming. Understanding this frustration is why we offer world-class customer support to our clients. Not only are you assigned your own dedicated account manager, you’ll be given ‘round the clock access to our support experts. As we mentioned previously, many customer expressed their disappointment at the poor support given by OpenCart.

Pricing
One of the biggest selling points of OpenCart is that it’s free to download and install. Whilst this sounds great in principle, in reality it may not be quite so appealing. The fact is, third-party add-ons, particularly the useful ones, aren’t free; there are fees associated with purchasing and maintaining them. Given the amount you’ll need, costs could soon escalate. Then factor in that you may need external help getting set up, and it becomes a less viable option. Although Shopping Cart Elite isn’t free, our pricing structure is clear and fair. Our fees encompass everything you need to run your business, with no hidden extras or add-ons.

The Best of the OpenCart Alternatives

Overall, we think that Shopping Cart Elite is the best platform out there, not only among OpenCart alternatives. Although we may be a little biased, it’s clear that there are some huge benefits of choosing us above other alternatives. We pride ourselves on the services we offer to our customers, and we know we can help your business grow. We give our customers a clear and complete service that’s professional and affordable. Choose Shopping Cart Elite - you can finally feel confident.