Magento vs. OpenCart
Brief summary
Magento is a more technically complex platform, which is offset by its capabilities. Magento is better suited for a large store as it provides more opportunities for growth, in turn OpenCart is better suited for small businesses because of the ease of use.
OpenCart features
Short overview
Pros
- Free
- Low hardware requirements
- Easy to use
- Over 13 000 extensions
Cons
- Poor performance
- Lack of customization options
- Extensions may be unsafe
Pros
OpenCrat can provide you with basic e-commerce features. It’s a light platform that doesn’t require an expensive hosting solution. It is easy to install and has a user-friendly interface.
The platform is supplied with more than 13 000 extensions that you can use for customization.
Cons
Despite being light, OpenCart usually takes more time to load if compared to Magento, even on strong hosting solutions.
The basic functions the platform provides may not be enough for unique projects. OpenCart offers various custom plugins, but they may be unsafe because they aren’t monitored closely.
Also, this system isn’t so popular among developers, therefore if you want to develop a custom extension, the cost of professional development will be higher.
Magento 2 features
Short Overview
Pros
- Free
- Highly customizable
- Over 5000 plugins with custom features
- Easy to scale up
- Regular security updates
Cons
- Requires technical knowledge or professional developer
- Hard to use
Pros
Magento 2 is well known as a highly customizable platform. Multiple vendors offer more than 5000 extensions that you can use to implement custom features into your online store. Also, it is an open-source platform that means you can develop your extension and make your shop unique.
This platform suits every size of the business, and it’s easy to scale up. Magento 2 Open support can process large stores with up to 200 000 products, but with proper optimization, this number grows up to 500 000.
Finally, Magento 2 is a secure platform. Magento development team regularly updates and releases security patches, thus, keeping your store safe.
Cons
Magento 2 requires a lot of time to learn how to use it. Besides there is available documentation, it will take time to understand all the functions and configure them correctly. A lot of advanced features may be needless for startups and small businesses.
Also, if you want to add custom features to your store, you need good technical knowledge, or you can hire a professional developer or agency.
Want to develop custom features? We are ready to help you with any challenging task of custom development.
Magento vs. OpenCart: final verdict
Both platforms are great, and what to choose depends on your current situation and business needs. Magento 2 from Amasty is more suitable for large and fast-growing businesses, or for people who want to make a unique project. OpenCart is a nice option for startups and small businesses that don't need a lot of difficult and tricky features.