OpenCart vs Contao

Contao and OpenCart are both popular platforms for creating websites and online stores. Contao is a content management system known for its flexibility and user-friendly interface, while OpenCart is an e-commerce platform with a wide range of features for online selling.

General information

OpenCart
Contao
Introduction :
OpenCart is an open-source e-commerce platform that was launched in 2005. It is popular for its user-friendly interface, extensive customization options, and active community support. OpenCart is widely used by small to medium-sized businesses looking to set up online stores quickly and efficiently. With a range of themes and extensions available, users can easily tailor their online stores to suit their specific needs and preferences.
Introduction :
Contao is an open-source content management system that was first released in 2006. It is known for its user-friendly interface and robust features, making it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses. Contao offers a wide range of customizable templates and extensions, allowing users to create unique and professional websites without extensive coding knowledge. Its active community and regular updates contribute to its ongoing popularity in the CMS market.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and customize for beginners
  • Wide range of extensions and themes available
  • Strong SEO capabilities for online visibility
  • Multi-store functionality for managing multiple stores
  • Active community for support and updates
Advantages :
  • Easy to use for beginners
  • Strong community support
  • Flexible and customizable design options
  • SEO-friendly features
  • Regular updates and security patches
Disadvantages :
  • Limited built-in features
  • Requires technical knowledge for customization
  • Not as user-friendly as other platforms
  • Limited support options
  • Less extensive app marketplace
Disadvantages :
  • Limited number of available plugins/extensions.
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms.
  • Less user-friendly interface for beginners.
  • Smaller community support compared to popular platforms.
  • Higher cost for premium features and support.
Website users : Hundreds of thousands
OpenCart is used by hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for e-commerce businesses of all sizes.
Website users : Thousands
Contao is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for content management and web development.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
OpenCart has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical knowledge to set up and customize the platform effectively.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Contao may require some technical knowledge, but with the available documentation and community support, it is manageable for beginners.
Year launched : 2005
OpenCart was launched in 2005, making it one of the earlier e-commerce platforms available for online businesses.
Year launched : 2006
Contao was launched in 2006, making it a relatively newer platform compared to others in the market.
Official website : https://www.opencart.com/
Official website : https://contao.org/


Commercial details

OpenCart
Contao
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
OpenCart is fully open source, written in PHP. Users have full access to the code for customization and development.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Contao is fully open source and written in PHP. The platform allows for complete customization and flexibility in development.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
OpenCart offers a free, self-hosted option with basic features. Additional functionalities may require paid extensions or themes.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
It is unclear if there is a free option for Contao. Further research is needed to determine if a free option is available.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
OpenCart offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and customization options beyond the free version.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Contao offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and hosting services, providing more flexibility and customization options.


Platform details

OpenCart
Contao
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
OpenCart offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, allowing users to easily set up and manage their online store without the need for self-hosting.
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options for Contao may vary, with unclear information on official hosting services or third-party providers offering hosting services.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
OpenCart offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control over their online store.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Contao offers a self-host option, allowing users to host their website on their own servers or with a third-party vendor.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support headless architecture but can be integrated with headless features through plugins and APIs.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not natively support headless functionality but can be achieved through plugins or custom development using its API.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin for added functionality.


Key features

OpenCart
Contao
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart offers content management capabilities through plugins, but it is not its primary focus compared to platforms like WordPress or Shopify.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Contao offers native content management capabilities, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support blogging but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for blogging functionality.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Contao can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options for bloggers.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart offers good e-commerce capabilities, but may require additional plugins for advanced features compared to some other platforms.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Contao can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering a decent level of functionality and customization.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not have native community/forum features but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not have native forum functionality but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for community and forum features.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions available in the OpenCart marketplace.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls are supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing functionality for monetizing content on the platform.


Other features

OpenCart
Contao
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for multi-site functionality.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced with the Multisite extension for managing multiple websites efficiently.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
OpenCart supports multi-language natively, allowing users to easily create and manage multiple language versions of their online store.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Contao natively supports multi-language functionality, allowing users to easily create and manage multilingual websites without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through a popular third-party plugin, providing enhanced functionality for SEO optimization and site indexing.


When choosing between Contao and OpenCart, consider your specific needs - if you need a versatile platform for content management, Contao may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you are primarily focused on setting up an online store with advanced e-commerce features, OpenCart could be the ideal solution. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your individual requirements and goals.