For a store that’s performing well, it’s a decent option and considering the license is a lifetime one, it’s not a bad deal. Built on solid source code with an extensive feature set available for paid plans, X Cart offers hosted and self-install options.Īlthough the feature list is impressive, upgrading can be expensive – we’re talking $495+. This PHP shopping cart offers something you won’t find in most freemium carts. On the flip side, WooCommerce scales beautifully and as a result is a frequent ecommerce platform choice for large enterprises, although it works just as well for small and medium shops. The same is true of support – it comes in the form of a purchased product for this solution. Unfortunately, as you start looking at more complex features with WooCommerce, the cost of setting up your ecommerce store can quickly rise. When it comes to content, WooCommerce is the best cms for ecommerce. Built to help users turn any WordPress site into an ecommerce store, this ecommerce solution was created by the equally popular WooThemes. It is by far the most popular open source ecommerce solution available. Proud to power over 37% of online stores, WooCommerce has been downloaded 14,095,679 times.

You might be better off with a SaaS platform like Shopify or Wix. If you’re looking for an ecommerce website, but not committed to the idea of open source, please check out our post on the top ecommerce platforms.

There’s definitely a steep learning curve to if you want to build an online store without hiring web developers. And if you don’t have the time but you do have the funds and desire to hire someone who can manipulate almost every aspect of your ecommerce site, you might also be interested in open source ecommerce platforms.īefore you dive into this list, please keep something in mind – we know open source is not for everyone, and only a handful of these platforms meet our standards. If you’ve got the tech skills and time to play with CSS, HTML, and even Ruby on Rails while hanging out in code forums, you’re probably the right candidate for an open source ecommerce platform. If you decide to go with self-hosted ecommerce, then you will need good WooCommerce hosting, I recommend Nexcess. Some of today’s most popular carts are open source solutions, including the most widely-downloaded and used platform on the web – WooCommerce. Plus you’ll have greater control over your online presence.

But using open source software ( or free ecommerce platforms) can delete at least one monthly fee. The tools needed to sell online don’t come cheap, especially at the enterprise level. From corporate giants to small mom & pop shops, many ecommerce store owners are turning to free open source ecommerce platforms.

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