OpenCart vs Solidus (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OpenCart grades higher than Solidus: 2.4 against 2.2 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 12, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
OpenCart grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Solidus
Extensible open-source ecommerce platform with optional managed cloud
Free plan
Which one is for you
Pick OpenCart if
- Fits if you already have web hosting and want no software fee
- Works for sellers who need several storefronts from one admin
Look elsewhere if
- Not for you if you want a hosted store, as you run it yourself
- Pricey if you need help: a version update starts at $300, a bug fix at $100 and a backup is $50
- Watch out: extensions and themes come from third parties, and many cost extra
- Skip it if you want the hosted OpenCart Cloud priced up front, as that goes through ScalaHosting
Pick Solidus if
- Fits if you have Ruby developers and want a custom store
- Works for brands that need subscriptions or complex promotions
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if nobody can host and upgrade the code, since DIY leaves that to you
- Pricey if you want Cloud: both plans are quoted by sales
- Watch out: the vendor says DIY and Cloud have the same features, so Cloud only removes the infrastructure work
- Tight if you need support, as business-hours help starts at Starter Cloud
How we grade them
| 2.4GPAOpenCartFair | 2.2GPASolidusFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree to download with no monthly fee, but only if you host it yourself, which needs a server. Many marketplace extensions and themes are paid. | CThe DIY Edition is free only if you host it. Starter and Enterprise Cloud prices aren't published, so it sits in the middle. |
| Free plan and trial | BA free download with no caps on products or categories. You pay for your own hosting. | BThe DIY Edition holds the whole platform, with no caps, but you provide the infrastructure. |
| Features | BMulti-store admin, an unlimited catalog, 36 payment methods, multi-currency, 40+ languages, coupons and an affiliate system. The listing shows no gap in the core store job. | BSubscriptions, promotions, multi-store, multi-currency, returns and exchanges, and REST and GraphQL APIs. Nothing in the listing is missing from the core job. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. You install, update, secure and back up the store yourself, or pay someone to. | DNo rating on record. It's a developer framework you run and upgrade yourself. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb, with a marketplace of over 13,000 modules and themes for shipping, payments, marketing and accounting. | CWeb only, with APIs and an extensible admin. No apps and no integration list. |
| Best for | a free PHP store on your own hosting | Ruby developers building a custom store |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: OpenCart and Solidus. How we grade
Where they differ
- OpenCart also covers digital downloads.
In commonFree planWebOpen sourceSelf-hostableOnline store
At a glance
| OpenCart | Solidus | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | Not published |
| Free plan | None | The DIY Edition is free and includes the whole platform, but you provide and maintain the infrastructure. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Made by | OpenCart | Nebulab and the open-source community |
| Price read from | opencart.com | solidus.io |
| Checked | Nov 12, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
OpenCart
- You install, update, secure and back up the store yourself or pay a host or partner to do it.
- Dedicated support is sold per job: a version update starts at $300, a bug fix at $100 and a one-time backup is $50.
- OpenCart Cloud, the hosted option, is signed up for through ScalaHosting, whose pricing is not recorded here.
- Extensions and themes come from third parties in the marketplace, and many cost extra.
Solidus
- Solidus Cloud prices are not published; both paid plans go through a sales conversation.
- The DIY Edition leaves hosting, maintenance and upgrades to you.
- The vendor says the DIY Edition and Solidus Cloud have the same features; Cloud only removes the infrastructure work.
Key features
OpenCart
- Multi-store admin
- Several stores can be managed from one admin screen, each with its own theme, localized settings and per-store product prices.
- Unlimited catalog
- No cap on products or categories, with product options and attributes, filters, reviews and ratings, reward points and downloadable products.
- Payments and currencies
- 36 payment methods ship with it, including PayPal, Klarna and Authorize.Net, plus recurring payments and multi-currency pricing with automatic rate updates.
- Languages
- Available in more than 40 languages, including right-to-left ones such as Arabic and Hebrew.
- Marketplace and extensions
- A marketplace of over 13,000 modules and themes covers shipping, payments, marketing, accounting and reporting.
- Built-in marketing tools
- Coupons, discounts and specials, an affiliate system with set commission percentages, and a newsletter signup are part of the core software.
Solidus
- Native subscriptions
- A built-in subscription engine for models such as curated boxes.
- Custom promotions
- A promotion system where merchants can implement their own promotion logic.
- Multi-store and international
- Multi-store, multi-language and multi-currency support, plus global taxation and logistics.
- Extensible admin and APIs
- An admin dashboard that can be extended or rewritten, with RESTful and GraphQL APIs.
- Returns and exchanges
- Partial returns and exchanges, product pricing segmentation, and bundles or personalized products.
Plans
OpenCart
OpenCart$0
Free download with no monthly fees. You supply and pay for your own hosting; paid themes and extensions are optional.
Solidus
DIY Edition$0
The full Solidus platform on your own infrastructure; you handle upgrades and hosting.
Starter CloudCustom
Managed upgrades and infrastructure, standard monitoring, business-hours support (weekdays 9am to 5pm EST) and 10 hours a month of a solutions architect. Sold through sales.
Enterprise CloudCustom
Expedited upgrades, tailored or bring-your-own infrastructure, 24/7 support, active incident response and 20 hours a month of a solutions architect. Sold through sales.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, OpenCart or Solidus?
As of Nov 13, 2026, OpenCart is free, and Solidus publishes no starting price.
Which has a free plan, OpenCart or Solidus?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both OpenCart and Solidus have a free plan.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.