Same features. No PHP to maintain.
OpenCart is a free, lightweight PHP commerce engine popular in Asia and Eastern Europe. It's also self-hosted — meaning you carry the hosting, the security patching, and the extension licence costs. Axnify is the hosted equivalent.
OpenCart is genuinely lightweight and well-suited for developers comfortable with PHP. The cost shows up in extensions, hosting, and maintenance — and the feature ceiling is lower than Magento or PrestaShop without paid modules.
Axnify
UsHosted, modern, full-featured.
- Hosted by us — no servers, no patches, no PHP versions to chase
- 53 features included — no extension shopping
- Multi-store, multi-currency, multi-language as standard
- EU-hosted with VAT compliance built in
OpenCart
Free open-source PHP commerce.
- Free and open-source
- Lightweight admin and storefront
- Multi-store / multi-language in core
- Mature in specific regional markets (India, MENA, Russia, Turkey)
Feature comparison
Built-in (yes) vs not available (no) vs limited (caveat) vs paid add-on (price shown). Prices reflect typical published pricing.
| Feature | Axnify | OpenCart |
|---|---|---|
| Operational | ||
Hosting included | ||
Patches and security | Your responsibility | |
Automatic SSL | Host-dependent | |
EU-hosted by default | Depends on host | |
| Features | ||
Reviews built in | Basic native; rich needs extension | |
Loyalty / referrals | $25–80Various extensions | |
Subscriptions | $50+Extension required | |
Multi-currency | ||
Multi-language | ||
Multi-store | ||
VAT invoicing automated | $30+Extension required | |
B2B quotations | $60+Extension required | |
| Platform & API | ||
REST API | ||
Webhooks | Some core events; needs extension for more | |
Headless storefront option | Doable but DIY | |
Vendor lock-in | Data export via API | Yours — fully |
What an OpenCart store actually costs
OpenCart's licence cost is zero. Hosting, extensions, theme purchase, and developer time aren't.
Axnify
- Axnify Pro£19
OpenCart stack
- Managed PHP hosting£15
- Premium theme amortised$80 one-off£5
- Subscription extension£10
- B2B / quote extension£10
- Reviews / loyalty extensions£15
Where OpenCart wins
We're not pretending we're the right tool for every store. Here's where the alternative is genuinely stronger.
Regional extension ecosystems
OpenCart has strong communities in specific markets (India, MENA, Turkey, Russia). If you need niche local-payment integrations or local-language support, OpenCart's extension ecosystem may be richer.
Total code ownership
PHP source you can modify. Self-host on any infrastructure.
Lower entry price for tiny stores
If you're running a one-product store on $5/month shared hosting, OpenCart is cheaper than any hosted SaaS.
- PHP version upgrades broke extensions
- Hosting bills + extension licences exceeded what hosted SaaS would cost
- Wanted modern admin UX
- Tired of patching server-side security
OpenCart → Axnify
- 1OpenCart product export via admin
- 2Customer export from OpenCart admin
- 3Recreate the storefront design
- 4Connect your domain and Stripe account
Frequently asked
Will my OpenCart extensions work on Axnify?
No — OpenCart extensions are PHP modules; Axnify is a hosted platform with a REST API. The functionality those extensions provide is usually already built into Axnify (reviews, loyalty, subscriptions, B2B).
Can I keep using OpenCart's local payment methods?
Through Stripe's local-payment-methods feature (which we use), most regional methods are available — iDEAL, Bancontact, SEPA, etc. For very niche local processors not in Stripe, you may need to keep OpenCart.
Can you help me move my data from another platform?
Absolutely. Email support@axnify.com with the export file from your current platform — we accept Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, Squarespace, Big Cartel, Gumroad, Sellfy and most other common formats. Our team handles the migration of your products, variants, customers and orders end-to-end, free of charge for standard imports.
Comparing Axnify with another platform?
See how Axnify stacks up against the rest of the e-commerce platforms — not just OpenCart.
Decide in five minutes — not five weeks.
Free plan. No credit card. The features in this comparison are live in your admin before you finish your coffee.