OpenCart vs Ghost
Please select two different options.
Ghost and OpenCart are both popular platforms for creating websites, but they serve different purposes. Ghost is primarily a blogging platform known for its simplicity and speed, while OpenCart is an e-commerce platform with a wide range of features for online stores.
General information
OpenCart
Ghost
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.
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 :
Ghost is a modern and open-source content management system that was launched in 2013. It is known for its sleek and minimalist design, making it popular among bloggers and publishers who prioritize aesthetics and simplicity. Ghost offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features for creating and managing content, making it a strong contender in the CMS market.
Ghost is a modern and open-source content management system that was launched in 2013. It is known for its sleek and minimalist design, making it popular among bloggers and publishers who prioritize aesthetics and simplicity. Ghost offers a user-friendly interface and powerful features for creating and managing content, making it a strong contender 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 :
- Clean and minimalist design for modern websites
- Fast loading times for improved user experience
- Built-in SEO tools for better search visibility
- Markdown support for easy content creation
- Active community for support and resources
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 plugin options
- Less community support compared to others
- Steeper learning curve for beginners
- Customization options can be overwhelming
- Higher cost for premium features
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.
OpenCart is used by hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for e-commerce businesses of all sizes.
Website users : 0.1% of websites
Ghost is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, making it a niche choice for content management.
Ghost is used by a small fraction of websites compared to other platforms, making it a niche choice for content management.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
OpenCart has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical knowledge to set up and customize the platform effectively.
OpenCart has a moderate learning curve, requiring some technical knowledge to set up and customize the platform effectively.
🟡 Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Ghost requires some technical knowledge, but the platform offers comprehensive documentation and support for users to navigate through the initial learning curve.
Getting started with Ghost requires some technical knowledge, but the platform offers comprehensive documentation and support for users to navigate through the initial learning curve.
Year launched : 2005
OpenCart was launched in 2005, making it one of the earlier e-commerce platforms available for online businesses.
OpenCart was launched in 2005, making it one of the earlier e-commerce platforms available for online businesses.
Year launched : 2013
Ghost was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to some of its competitors.
Ghost was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer platform compared to some of its competitors.
Official website :
https://www.opencart.com/
Official website :
https://ghost.org/
Commercial details
OpenCart
Ghost
🟢 Open source : Fully.
OpenCart is fully open source, written in PHP. Users have full access to the code for customization and development.
OpenCart is fully open source, written in PHP. Users have full access to the code for customization and development.
🟡 Open source : Partially.
Ghost is partially open source, with the core platform being fully open source but certain features and services being proprietary.
Ghost is partially open source, with the core platform being fully open source but certain features and services being proprietary.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
OpenCart offers a free, self-hosted option with basic features. Additional functionalities may require paid extensions or themes.
OpenCart offers a free, self-hosted option with basic features. Additional functionalities may require paid extensions or themes.
🟢 Free option : Yes.
Ghost offers a free, self-hosted option with limited features. Users can upgrade to a paid plan for more advanced functionality.
Ghost offers a free, self-hosted option with limited features. Users can upgrade to a paid plan for more advanced functionality.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
OpenCart offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and customization options beyond the free version.
OpenCart offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and customization options beyond the free version.
🟢 Paid option : Yes.
Ghost offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and flexibility for their website.
Ghost offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing users with more customization and flexibility for their website.
Platform details
OpenCart
Ghost
🟢 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.
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.
🟢 Hosted : Yes.
Ghost offers a hosted option through its official website, providing users with a convenient and hassle-free way to set up and manage their Ghost site.
Ghost offers a hosted option through its official website, providing users with a convenient and hassle-free way to set up and manage their Ghost site.
🟢 Self host : Yes.
OpenCart offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control over their online store.
OpenCart offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control over their online store.
🟢 Self host : Yes.
Ghost can be self-hosted on various third-party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
Ghost can be self-hosted on various third-party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
🟡 Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support headless architecture but can be integrated with headless features through plugins and APIs.
OpenCart does not natively support headless architecture but can be integrated with headless features through plugins and APIs.
⚪ Headless CMS : Unknown.
Ghost does not have native headless support but may offer headless features through its API. Further investigation is needed for clarity.
Ghost does not have native headless support but may offer headless features through its API. Further investigation is needed for clarity.
🟡 Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.
🟡 Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Ghost through the use of third-party plugins, offering flexibility for users who require this feature.
Static content generation is possible in Ghost through the use of third-party plugins, offering flexibility for users who require this feature.
Key features
OpenCart
Ghost
🟡 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.
OpenCart offers content management capabilities through plugins, but it is not its primary focus compared to platforms like WordPress or Shopify.
🟢 Content management : Support natively.
Ghost offers robust native content management features, making it a strong platform for managing content efficiently and effectively.
Ghost offers robust native content management features, making it a strong platform for managing content efficiently and effectively.
🟡 Blogging : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart does not natively support blogging but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for blogging functionality.
OpenCart does not natively support blogging but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for blogging functionality.
🟢 Blogging : Support natively.
Ghost offers a native and user-friendly platform specifically designed for blogging, with a focus on clean design and seamless content creation.
Ghost offers a native and user-friendly platform specifically designed for blogging, with a focus on clean design and seamless content creation.
🟡 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
OpenCart offers good e-commerce capabilities, but may require additional plugins for advanced features compared to some other platforms.
OpenCart offers good e-commerce capabilities, but may require additional plugins for advanced features compared to some other platforms.
🟡 E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Ghost can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Snipcart or Shopify Buy Button, offering flexibility and customization options.
Ghost can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Snipcart or Shopify Buy Button, offering flexibility and customization options.
🟡 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.
OpenCart does not have native community/forum features but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
🟢 Community forum : Support natively.
Ghost offers native support for community and forum features, making it a strong platform for building engaging online communities without the need for additional plugins.
Ghost offers native support for community and forum features, making it a strong platform for building engaging online communities without the need for additional plugins.
🟡 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions available in the OpenCart marketplace.
Support for content subscriptions/paywalls can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions available in the OpenCart marketplace.
🟡 Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Supports content subscriptions/paywalls through third-party integrations like Memberful or Patreon, enhancing functionality beyond native capabilities.
Supports content subscriptions/paywalls through third-party integrations like Memberful or Patreon, enhancing functionality beyond native capabilities.
Other features
OpenCart
Ghost
🟡 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.
OpenCart does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for multi-site functionality.
🟡 Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility for managing multiple sites within the Ghost platform.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins, offering flexibility for managing multiple sites within the Ghost platform.
🟢 Multi-language : Support natively.
OpenCart supports multi-language natively, allowing users to easily create and manage multiple language versions of their online store.
OpenCart supports multi-language natively, allowing users to easily create and manage multiple language versions of their online store.
🟡 Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Ghost does not natively support multi-language functionality but can be enhanced by popular plugins for multi-language support.
Ghost does not natively support multi-language functionality but can be enhanced by popular plugins for multi-language support.
🟡 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.
OpenCart does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.
🟡 XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.
Supports XML sitemaps through popular third-party plugins, enhancing SEO capabilities for better search engine visibility.
When choosing between Ghost and OpenCart, consider your website’s main purpose. If you need a blog-focused site with a clean design, Ghost is a great choice. On the other hand, if you plan to run an online store with advanced e-commerce functionalities, OpenCart would be the better option. Ultimately, the decision should be based on your specific needs and goals.