OpenCart vs Shopify: Should You Move Your Store?
OpenCart and Shopify can both run successful ecommerce stores, but they take very different approaches to hosting, maintenance, development and day-to-day store management.
Not sure whether you should move? Read the comparison first — there is no assumption that Shopify is the right choice.
OpenCart
Self-hosted
More direct control
More technical maintenance
Shopify
Hosted platform
More managed
Less server maintenance
Different approaches — the right choice depends on your business.
Arthena Web Solutions is a Shopify Affiliate. We may earn a commission if you sign up to Shopify through this link, at no additional cost to you.
Neither Platform Is Automatically Better for Every Business
Shopify can make running an ecommerce store simpler because hosting, platform updates and much of the underlying infrastructure are managed for you.
OpenCart gives you more direct control over the website, hosting, database and code, but that control also means someone needs to maintain the software and technical environment.
More Direct Control
OpenCart is a self-hosted ecommerce platform. You choose where it is hosted and have direct access to the website files, database and underlying code.
- Choose your own hosting
- Direct access to files and database
- Highly customisable
- Large extension ecosystem
- Greater technical control
- Maintenance is your responsibility
Managed Ecommerce Platform
Shopify provides the ecommerce platform and hosting as a managed service, reducing the amount of server and software maintenance required from the merchant.
- Hosting included with the platform
- Managed platform updates
- Integrated Shopify Admin
- Large Shopify App ecosystem
- Fast store setup
- Recurring platform subscription
What Changes When You Move From OpenCart to Shopify?
Moving platforms changes more than the appearance of the store. Hosting, maintenance, extensions, development and administration all work differently.
Hosting
OpenCart requires separate web hosting that you or your developer manage. Shopify includes hosting as part of the platform.
Maintenance
OpenCart stores need ongoing attention to the server, software, extensions and compatibility. Shopify manages much more of the core platform infrastructure.
Extensions & Apps
OpenCart uses extensions installed into the store. Shopify generally adds additional functionality through Shopify Apps and platform integrations.
Custom Development
OpenCart allows very direct code-level customisation. Shopify development works within Shopify's themes, APIs, apps and supported platform features.
Ongoing Costs
Shopify normally combines a recurring platform subscription with any paid apps you choose. OpenCart itself can be used without a platform subscription, but hosting, maintenance, extensions and development still have costs.
Technical Responsibility
With OpenCart you have greater responsibility for the hosting environment and software. Shopify moves more of that responsibility to the platform provider.
When Keeping OpenCart May Make Sense
Moving platforms should solve a genuine business problem. If your OpenCart store already works well, there may be no immediate reason to replace it.
Your Store Works Well
If the site is reliable, sales are being processed correctly and the business is comfortable managing it, migration may create work without providing enough benefit.
You Need Deep Customisation
Businesses with heavily customised OpenCart functionality may prefer the direct control available through their own codebase and database.
You Have Good Technical Support
If hosting, maintenance, security and development are already being handled reliably, the technical responsibilities of OpenCart may not be a significant problem.
When Moving to Shopify May Be Worth Considering
Shopify can be attractive where a business wants to reduce technical maintenance and use a more managed ecommerce environment.
Maintenance Is Becoming a Burden
If maintaining hosting, extensions and platform compatibility is taking increasing amounts of time, a managed platform may reduce that workload.
You Want Simpler Management
Shopify provides a consistent administration environment for products, orders, customers, applications and many everyday ecommerce tasks.
You Want More SaaS Integrations
Many ecommerce services provide direct Shopify integrations and apps, which can make connecting additional services straightforward.
You Are Rebuilding Anyway
If the existing OpenCart store already needs a major redesign or technical rebuild, it can be a sensible time to compare other platforms before investing further.
Staff Need an Easier Workflow
A business may prefer Shopify if several members of staff need a consistent and relatively straightforward interface for everyday store administration.
Your Business Has Changed
The ecommerce platform chosen several years ago may no longer be the best match for the way the business now operates.
OpenCart and Shopify Have Different Cost Models
Comparing only the software price does not give a useful picture of the real cost of running an ecommerce store.
Self-Hosted Ecommerce
- Website hosting
- Domain renewal
- Premium extensions
- Developer support
- Software updates
- Backup and security management
- Custom development where required
Managed Ecommerce
- Shopify subscription
- Domain renewal where applicable
- Paid Shopify Apps where required
- Premium theme if chosen
- Custom development where required
- Ongoing support if required
The best comparison is the total cost of operating the store, including the time spent maintaining it and the technical support the business needs. If you are considering a move, Arthena can review your existing OpenCart store and help plan a Shopify migration.
Do Not Forget Your Existing Google Rankings
Moving an established ecommerce store can change product, category and information-page URLs. Those existing URLs may already have search rankings, links and customer bookmarks, which is why SEO planning is an important part of an OpenCart to Shopify migration.
Before Migration
- Record important existing URLs
- Identify indexed product and category pages
- Review page titles and descriptions
- Identify important landing pages
- Plan the new Shopify structure
During & After Migration
- Map old URLs to relevant new pages
- Create permanent redirects
- Check internal links
- Test important pages after launch
- Monitor search visibility after migration
Read more about Arthena's OpenCart to Shopify migration service .
What Needs to Move From OpenCart to Shopify?
Every store is different, but an ecommerce migration normally requires much more than importing a list of product names.
Products
Product information, images, prices, SKUs, options and variants need to be reviewed and mapped appropriately.
Customers & Orders
Decide which customer and historical information needs to be retained or transferred as part of the project.
Content
Information pages, policies, guides, navigation and other useful site content may also need to move.
Functionality
Existing OpenCart extensions and custom features need to be reviewed to determine how the same business requirement will be handled in Shopify.
SEO & URLs
Important URLs should be mapped carefully so appropriate redirects can be prepared before launch.
Testing
Products, navigation, checkout, mobile presentation and important integrations should be tested before the new store replaces the old one.
We Develop for Both OpenCart and Shopify
Arthena Web Solutions develops OpenCart extensions and Shopify applications, giving us practical experience with both sides of an OpenCart to Shopify migration.
Product Change History
Track important Shopify product changes including titles, prices, SKUs and inventory quantities.
Product Backup
Protect important Shopify catalogue information with product backups, previous versions and recovery tools.
OpenCart vs Shopify Questions
Is Shopify better than OpenCart?
Not automatically. Shopify may suit businesses that want a more managed ecommerce platform, while OpenCart may suit businesses that value direct control over their hosting, files, database and custom development.
Do I have to move away from OpenCart?
No. If your OpenCart store is reliable, secure and supports the way your business operates, there may be no compelling reason to migrate.
Can an existing OpenCart store be moved to Shopify?
Yes, although the migration needs to be planned around the store's products, variants, content, customers, existing functionality, URLs and SEO requirements.
Will moving to Shopify affect SEO?
A platform migration can affect search visibility if URLs change without appropriate planning. Existing important URLs should be mapped to relevant Shopify pages with suitable permanent redirects.
Can Shopify do everything my OpenCart store does?
That depends on the store. Standard ecommerce functions may transfer relatively easily, while custom OpenCart extensions and specialised workflows need to be reviewed individually.
Can Arthena help me decide before I migrate?
Yes. We can review what your existing OpenCart store does, what problems you want to solve and whether moving to Shopify appears to be a sensible route for the business. If a move does make sense, we can then help plan the OpenCart to Shopify migration.
Thinking about moving from OpenCart to Shopify?
Tell Arthena about your existing store and what you want to improve. We can discuss whether Shopify is a suitable option and what would be involved in moving.