Quick Overview
- 1#1: WooCommerce - A free, open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that powers millions of online stores with extensive customization and extensions.
- 2#2: PrestaShop - A free open-source eCommerce platform with modular architecture, multilingual support, and thousands of modules for global stores.
- 3#3: OpenCart - A free, user-friendly open-source shopping cart solution with multi-store support and a vast extension marketplace.
- 4#4: Magento Open Source - A powerful free open-source eCommerce platform offering scalable architecture for enterprise-level online stores.
- 5#5: nopCommerce - A free open-source eCommerce solution built on ASP.NET with robust features for B2B and B2C stores.
- 6#6: AbanteCart - A free open-source shopping cart platform emphasizing simplicity, speed, and responsive design for small businesses.
- 7#7: Zen Cart - A free open-source shopping cart derived from osCommerce, focused on secure and customizable online stores.
- 8#8: osCommerce - A classic free open-source eCommerce platform with a long history and community-driven add-ons for basic cart needs.
- 9#9: Bagisto - A free open-source Laravel-based eCommerce platform with headless architecture and multi-vendor support.
- 10#10: Saleor - A free, GraphQL-first open-source headless eCommerce platform designed for modern, API-driven online stores.
We identified and ranked these tools by evaluating feature depth (including integrations, multilingual support, and multi-store capabilities), technical reliability (security, performance, and community support), ease of use (setup complexity and interface intuitiveness), and value (extensibility via plugins/themes and adaptability to diverse business models).
Comparison Table
Explore a comprehensive comparison of top free shopping cart software tools, including WooCommerce, PrestaShop, OpenCart, Magento Open Source, nopCommerce, and additional platforms. This table outlines key features, usability, and scalability, guiding readers to identify the ideal solution for their e-commerce needs.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WooCommerce A free, open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that powers millions of online stores with extensive customization and extensions. | other | 9.4/10 | 9.6/10 | 7.9/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 2 | PrestaShop A free open-source eCommerce platform with modular architecture, multilingual support, and thousands of modules for global stores. | other | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.4/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 3 | OpenCart A free, user-friendly open-source shopping cart solution with multi-store support and a vast extension marketplace. | other | 8.2/10 | 8.5/10 | 7.0/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 4 | Magento Open Source A powerful free open-source eCommerce platform offering scalable architecture for enterprise-level online stores. | enterprise | 8.2/10 | 9.5/10 | 5.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 5 | nopCommerce A free open-source eCommerce solution built on ASP.NET with robust features for B2B and B2C stores. | other | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | AbanteCart A free open-source shopping cart platform emphasizing simplicity, speed, and responsive design for small businesses. | other | 8.0/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 7 | Zen Cart A free open-source shopping cart derived from osCommerce, focused on secure and customizable online stores. | other | 7.2/10 | 8.0/10 | 5.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 8 | osCommerce A classic free open-source eCommerce platform with a long history and community-driven add-ons for basic cart needs. | other | 6.5/10 | 7.0/10 | 4.5/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 9 | Bagisto A free open-source Laravel-based eCommerce platform with headless architecture and multi-vendor support. | other | 8.1/10 | 8.4/10 | 6.9/10 | 9.6/10 |
| 10 | Saleor A free, GraphQL-first open-source headless eCommerce platform designed for modern, API-driven online stores. | other | 8.2/10 | 9.3/10 | 6.1/10 | 9.7/10 |
A free, open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that powers millions of online stores with extensive customization and extensions.
A free open-source eCommerce platform with modular architecture, multilingual support, and thousands of modules for global stores.
A free, user-friendly open-source shopping cart solution with multi-store support and a vast extension marketplace.
A powerful free open-source eCommerce platform offering scalable architecture for enterprise-level online stores.
A free open-source eCommerce solution built on ASP.NET with robust features for B2B and B2C stores.
A free open-source shopping cart platform emphasizing simplicity, speed, and responsive design for small businesses.
A free open-source shopping cart derived from osCommerce, focused on secure and customizable online stores.
A classic free open-source eCommerce platform with a long history and community-driven add-ons for basic cart needs.
A free open-source Laravel-based eCommerce platform with headless architecture and multi-vendor support.
A free, GraphQL-first open-source headless eCommerce platform designed for modern, API-driven online stores.
WooCommerce
otherA free, open-source eCommerce plugin for WordPress that powers millions of online stores with extensive customization and extensions.
Deep integration with WordPress, allowing e-commerce on the world's most popular CMS without separate platforms
WooCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress that converts any WordPress site into a powerful online store. It provides essential shopping cart functionality, including product catalogs, inventory management, payment gateways, and shipping integrations. With thousands of extensions and themes available, it offers unparalleled customization for businesses of all sizes.
Pros
- Completely free core plugin with no licensing fees
- Extremely customizable via 60,000+ WordPress plugins and themes
- Massive community support and extensive documentation
Cons
- Requires self-hosting and WordPress knowledge, adding setup complexity
- Many advanced features need paid extensions
- Performance optimization required for large-scale stores
Best For
WordPress users or developers seeking a highly customizable, scalable free e-commerce solution.
Pricing
Core software is free; optional premium extensions, themes, and hosting range from $0 to $300+ annually.
PrestaShop
otherA free open-source eCommerce platform with modular architecture, multilingual support, and thousands of modules for global stores.
Expansive Addons Marketplace with thousands of free and paid extensions for endless customization
PrestaShop is a free, open-source e-commerce platform that enables users to build and manage professional online stores with features like product catalogs, inventory management, and multi-channel selling. It supports unlimited products, customers, and orders, with built-in SEO tools, payment integrations, and multi-language capabilities. The modular design allows extensive customization through a vast ecosystem of add-ons from its marketplace.
Pros
- Completely free core software with no usage limits
- Massive marketplace of over 5,000 modules and themes
- Highly customizable and scalable for growing stores
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Requires self-hosting and ongoing maintenance
- Security and updates demand vigilance
Best For
Tech-savvy small to medium businesses wanting a free, highly customizable e-commerce solution without subscription fees.
Pricing
Free download and core use; costs for hosting (~$5-50/month), premium modules/themes ($0-200+ each).
OpenCart
otherA free, user-friendly open-source shopping cart solution with multi-store support and a vast extension marketplace.
Massive community marketplace with 13,000+ free and paid extensions for limitless customization
OpenCart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform designed for building and managing online stores with support for unlimited products, categories, and customers. It features a user-friendly admin panel for handling orders, inventory, promotions, and SEO tools out of the box. With multi-language, multi-currency, and multi-store capabilities, it's highly customizable via its extensive marketplace of over 13,000 extensions and themes.
Pros
- Completely free core software with no licensing fees
- Vast extension marketplace for easy customization
- Strong multi-store and multi-language support
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-technical users
- Requires self-hosting and ongoing maintenance
- Default interface feels dated without custom themes
Best For
Technically inclined small to medium businesses seeking a highly customizable, no-cost e-commerce solution.
Pricing
Core software is 100% free and open-source; optional costs for hosting ($5-50/month), premium themes ($50+), and extensions ($20-200).
Magento Open Source
enterpriseA powerful free open-source eCommerce platform offering scalable architecture for enterprise-level online stores.
Modular architecture enabling unlimited customization without core modifications
Magento Open Source is a powerful, free e-commerce platform designed for building scalable online stores with extensive customization options. It supports multi-store management, advanced catalog features, and integrates seamlessly with third-party extensions from a vast marketplace. As an enterprise-grade solution, it handles high traffic volumes but requires technical expertise for setup and maintenance.
Pros
- Highly scalable for enterprise-level traffic and complex catalogs
- Vast ecosystem of free and paid extensions
- Deep customization via modular architecture and developer tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring PHP and server expertise
- Resource-intensive, needing optimized hosting for performance
- Complex initial setup and ongoing maintenance
Best For
Developers and mid-to-large businesses seeking a free, highly customizable e-commerce platform for complex online stores.
Pricing
Completely free open-source core; optional paid extensions, themes, and hosting services.
nopCommerce
otherA free open-source eCommerce solution built on ASP.NET with robust features for B2B and B2C stores.
Advanced multi-store and multi-vendor capabilities with full ACL security for enterprise-scale deployments
nopCommerce is a free, open-source e-commerce platform built on ASP.NET Core, providing a comprehensive shopping cart solution for creating scalable online stores. It includes features like product catalog management, multi-store support, payment gateway integrations, SEO optimization, and a robust plugin architecture. Ideal for businesses seeking enterprise-level functionality without licensing costs, it supports B2B/B2C models with advanced inventory and order management tools.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no usage limits
- Highly extensible via thousands of plugins and themes
- Enterprise-grade features like multi-store and multi-vendor support
Cons
- Steep learning curve requires .NET development knowledge
- Hosting typically needs Windows servers or compatible setups
- Admin interface can feel overwhelming for non-technical users
Best For
Developers and technically savvy businesses needing a customizable, scalable free e-commerce platform for complex stores.
Pricing
100% free core software; optional paid plugins, themes, and hosting start from $0 with community support.
AbanteCart
otherA free open-source shopping cart platform emphasizing simplicity, speed, and responsive design for small businesses.
Its dedicated extension marketplace with over 1,000 free and paid modules for easy customization
AbanteCart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform that enables users to build and manage online stores with features like multi-language support, SEO tools, and responsive themes. It includes a straightforward admin panel for product management, order processing, and customer handling. Ideal for small to medium businesses, it offers an extension marketplace for added functionality without licensing costs.
Pros
- Completely free open-source core with no licensing fees
- Easy one-click installation and intuitive admin interface
- Responsive design and strong extension marketplace
Cons
- Smaller community and fewer extensions compared to WooCommerce
- Limited built-in advanced marketing tools
- Performance can degrade with very large product catalogs
Best For
Small to medium businesses looking for a lightweight, customizable free e-commerce solution.
Pricing
Free community edition; paid extensions, themes, and premium support available separately.
Zen Cart
otherA free open-source shopping cart derived from osCommerce, focused on secure and customizable online stores.
Extensive modular plugin system for unlimited customization without core code modifications
Zen Cart is a free, open-source e-commerce platform forked from osCommerce, designed for building customizable online stores with features like product catalogs, shopping carts, payment gateways, and inventory management. It supports multiple currencies, languages, and shipping methods, making it suitable for international sales. The platform relies on PHP and MySQL, offering extensive modularity for developers to tailor functionality without altering core code.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs
- Highly customizable through thousands of community modules and templates
- Robust core features including multi-language/currency support and SEO tools
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring PHP/HTML knowledge for setup and customization
- Dated default interface that needs significant design work for modern appeal
- Slower development cycle and potential security issues if not actively maintained
Best For
Developers or technically savvy small business owners seeking a flexible, no-cost e-commerce solution with deep customization options.
Pricing
Free to download and use; requires self-hosting (hosting costs ~$5-20/month) and optional paid add-ons (~$20-100 each).
osCommerce
otherA classic free open-source eCommerce platform with a long history and community-driven add-ons for basic cart needs.
Vast ecosystem of over 10,000 community-contributed modules for endless customization.
osCommerce is a long-standing, free open-source e-commerce platform that enables users to create and manage online stores with features like product catalogs, shopping carts, payment gateways, and order management. Built on PHP and MySQL, it offers a modular architecture allowing extensive customization through thousands of community-contributed add-ons and modules. While it's highly extensible, its core functionality feels dated compared to modern alternatives, making it suitable for budget-conscious users willing to invest in development.
Pros
- Completely free with no licensing costs
- Extensive library of community modules and add-ons
- Highly customizable for developers
Cons
- Outdated and clunky user interface
- Steep learning curve requiring technical expertise
- Frequent need for manual security updates and maintenance
Best For
Technically skilled developers or small businesses seeking a no-cost, highly customizable shopping cart solution.
Pricing
Free (open-source with optional paid hosting and add-ons).
Bagisto
otherA free open-source Laravel-based eCommerce platform with headless architecture and multi-vendor support.
Native multi-vendor marketplace support for building platforms like Etsy clones
Bagisto is a free, open-source e-commerce platform built on the Laravel PHP framework, designed for creating customizable online stores with features like product management, inventory tracking, and order processing. It supports multi-vendor marketplaces, responsive themes, and SEO optimization, making it suitable for small to medium-sized businesses. The modular architecture allows extensive customization without licensing fees, though it requires self-hosting.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs
- Built-in multi-vendor marketplace functionality
- Highly extensible via Laravel modules and plugins
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-developers due to technical setup
- Community-driven support lacks premium responsiveness
- Requires server management and potential performance tuning for scale
Best For
Developers and technically savvy small businesses needing a flexible, self-hosted shopping cart without ongoing fees.
Pricing
Free open-source core; optional paid themes, extensions, and hosting services.
Saleor
otherA free, GraphQL-first open-source headless eCommerce platform designed for modern, API-driven online stores.
Headless GraphQL API for flexible, decoupled frontend development
Saleor is a free, open-source, headless e-commerce platform built on Python, Django, and GraphQL, designed for creating scalable online stores with advanced shopping cart functionality. It decouples the backend from the frontend, allowing developers to build custom UIs with frameworks like React or Vue while handling complex inventory, orders, and payments via a powerful API. Ideal for those needing enterprise-grade features without licensing fees, it supports multi-vendor, multi-channel sales out of the box.
Pros
- Fully free and open-source with no usage limits
- Headless GraphQL API for ultimate customization and scalability
- Advanced features like multi-warehouse, subscriptions, and internationalization
Cons
- Steep learning curve and requires coding/devops skills for setup
- Self-hosted only for free tier; no beginner-friendly dashboard
- Limited pre-built themes and plugins compared to WordPress-based carts
Best For
Technical teams and developers building custom, high-performance e-commerce platforms.
Pricing
Free open-source (self-hosted); paid cloud hosting and enterprise support available starting at $99/month.
Conclusion
The top free shopping cart solutions reviewed offer diverse strengths, with WooCommerce leading as the most versatile choice—powered by extensive customization and global adoption. PrestaShop and OpenCart follow closely, excelling in multilingual support and user-friendliness, respectively, catering to varied business needs. Whether for small or enterprise stores, these tools balance simplicity, scalability, and functionality, ensuring there’s a fit for nearly every online venture.
Start your online store with WooCommerce to leverage its robust ecosystem and wide-ranging extensions, or explore PrestaShop or OpenCart to find the perfect match for your specific goals.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison