TL;DR
The top OpenCart hosting services enhance your eCommerce site with reliability, speed, and scalability. Leading our recommendations is GreenGeeks, which offers environments specifically optimized for OpenCart. This optimization not only elevates your shop’s performance but also ensures a superior user experience.
Note: While our HostScore ratings provide a general overview of host performance, there are other factors you should consider for your specific needs. Our top hosting picks address this by offering tailored suggestions for different requirements, as demonstrated in this article.
GreenGeeks
GreenGeeks
Trey Gardner, a veteran of the web hosting industry since 1999, founded GreenGeeks in 2008 in Santa Monica, California, with a pioneering vision for environmentally sustainable web hosting. Alongside Trey Gardner, COO Kaumil Patel, with his extensive experience in hosting operations, plays a critical role in the company’s success.
GreenGeeks distinguishes itself by its commitment to the environment, utilizing wind power credits to offset triple the energy consumed by its clients’ websites. This innovative approach not only defines GreenGeeks as a leader in eco-friendly hosting but also reflects its dedication to making a positive environmental impact.
GreenGeeks
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
GreenGeeks is undoubtedly not the cheapest host for eCommerce. For example, if you intend to run a Magento or PrestaShop site, there are many cheaper options. But none are as powerfully equipped as GreenGeeks.
You could run an eCommerce site using its shared hosting plans, but we generally don’t recommend doing so. That leaves us with Managed VPS, and the lowest tier is packed with 4 vCPUs and 2GB of RAM.
However, the two key components are the managed support and the 300% green energy match. After all, the entire company is eco-friendly, which extends to its products. It’s ideal for those who have company charters or governance mandates to meet.
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
GreenGeeks Pros
- Returns 3x power consumed with renewable energy credits
- Affordable pricing
- Free daily backup for all shared hosting plans
- All plans support Perl, Python and Git
- Free website migration assistance
- Root access, control panel and cPanel/WHM included in reseller hosting plans
GreenGeeks Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
- Slightly lacklustre customer service
- Non refundable setup fees
Cloudways
Cloudways
Established in 2011 by co-founders Aaqib Gadit, Pere Hospital, and Uzair Gadit, Cloudways is a managed hosting platform that initially focused on leveraging partnerships with AWS, Google Cloud Platform, and Digital Ocean to serve its customers better. The acquisition by DigitalOcean in August 2022 further solidified this partnership, enhancing Cloudways’ ability to provide superior managed hosting solutions.
Cloudways
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
One of the best reasons to opt for Cloudways if you’re running an eCommerce site is the sheet power and reliability of their plans. Everything is also easily manageable and scalable, so you won’t be paying for more than you use.
Regardless of the eCommerce platform you choose, Cloudways can manage it with aplomb. We’ve seen it efficiently work with everything from PrestaShop to Magento. Do not compare what you get here with a run-of-the-mill VPS; it’s much more capable.
Think of Cloudways as the ideal concierge virtual server where all you have to do is focus on handling your eCommerce shop. Their backend practically runs itself. However, fine-tuning options are still available if you need them.
eCommerce Platforms Support
Cloudways Pros
- Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
- Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
- Outstanding customer support
- High scalability
- Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
- Host unlimited applications in one account
- 25% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”
Cloudways Cons
- Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
- Limited trial period
ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting
Founded in 2007 by Hristo Rusev and Vladislav Georgiev, ScalaHosting has its headquarters in the Dallas, Texas. The company provides various hosting services like shared hosting, VPS hosting, cloud hosting, and email hosting. Renowned for its innovation, ScalaHosting sets itself apart with proprietary creations like sPanel and SShield, both designed in-house, providing users with intuitive server management and enhanced security.
ScalaHosting
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
If we’re being honest, ScalaHosting Managed VPS plans are pretty costly. However, they’re perfect workhorses for any eCommerce platform, whether Magento, PrestaShoop, or otherwise. Even the lowest tier has enough power to fuel the most demanding needs.
Their VPS plans are managed via SPanel, a custom control panel that comes free with the service. That lets you easily handle everything from OS and app deployment to fine-tuning cache handling or other environment parameters.
Aside from performance and stability, ScalaHosting also knows how essential security is for eCommerce sites. That’s why they’ve built a real-time security system to help protect your business. You also get automated backups, brute force protection, and much more!
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
ScalaHosting Pros
- Outstanding hosting uptime and speed performance
- Affordable pricing
- Anytime unconditional Money-back Guarantee
- Automated backup with 7 restore points
- Generous offer in server resources – Even the lowest shared plan gets unmetered bandwidth and unlimited emails
- NVMe SSD storage for all shared hosting plans
- Innovative technology – SPanel, SShield, SWordPress
ScalaHosting Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
Verpex
Verpex
Founded in late 2018, Verpex emerges from a seasoned team whose prior ventures were acquired by GoDaddy. This privately funded cPanel-based cloud hosting service prioritizes security and performance. Boasting over 250,000 hosted websites across 181 countries by 2024, Verpex emphasizes swift hosting, expert support, and enduring client partnerships at competitive rates.
Verpex
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
Thanks to its excellent range of advanced hosting plans, Verpex is a strong candidate for eCommerce hosting. Here, you can get everything from managed cloud hosting to VPS running on Linux or Windows.
Although their VPS plans are relatively cheap, they don’t include a control panel unless you pay extra for cPanel, which increases the price. If you do, they’ll also throw in WHM, which makes administering your eCommerce site much easier.
Unlike many competitors, Verpex doesn’t “prettify” its offerings by claiming dedicated platforms for Magento or other apps. Instead, you’re free to install whatever you want on servers customized to your preferences.
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
Verpex Pros
- Budget-friendly shared and VPS hosting plans
- 45-day money back guarantee
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans
- Unlimited free site migrations
- Choice of 12 distributed data centers across five continents
Verpex Cons
- Price increase during the renewal
TMDHosting
TMDHosting
Founded in 2007, TMD Hosting is a web hosting company headquartered in Orlando, Florida, USA. TMD Hosting prides itself on offering a wide range of hosting solutions, including shared hosting, VPS hosting, dedicated servers, and WordPress hosting. The company operates from data centers across three continents (North America, Europe, and Asia), ensuring high performance and reliability for its global customer base.
TMDHosting
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
TMDHosting has a few things we like about its eCommerce hosting. The best point is that it’s covered all the bases. In addition to PrestaShop and Magento, you even have support for OpenCart plans here.
However, note that those plans have been split into two categories. In the first group are OpenCart and PrestaShop, which reside on shared hosting plans. Magento hosting is provided via VPS plans.
The latter gets more power (and a corresponding price bump), but at least you’ll be assured of all the necessary resources. Since it’s on shared hosting, the former leans more towards the “freebies” side with free transfers, access to Weebly site builder, etc.
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
TMDHosting Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Choice of global data centres in six continents
- Easy-to-use centralized dashboard
- Free white glove migration
- Host unlimited websites in Business or Enterprise plans
- Outstanding customer support
- Reinforced DDoS protection for all shared hosting accounts
TMDHosting Cons
- Lowest shared plan does not support automatic backup
- Free domain has no privacy protection
- Price increase during the renewal
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting, established in 2001 by Sunil Saxena and Todd Robinson in Los Angeles, California, has grown to become a well-regarded name in the web hosting industry. The company’s foundation by industry veterans is reflective of its deep commitment to offering reliable and user-friendly hosting solutions.
InMotion Hosting
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
Most eCommerce websites need robust and reliable hosting, which typically translates into VPS plans. InMotion Hosting hits a high note here, with VPS plans starting at reasonably low prices. The lowest tier is packed with 4 vCPU and 8GB of RAM for less than $15/mo.
However, the catch is that these plans are relatively barebones. Once you start adding options like a control panel or backup manager, the cost might skyrockets.
But then again, regardless of your preference – Magento, PrestaShop, or anything else, the speed and flexibility that InMotion offers are excellent. You are paying what you get for. If you are making money from your online store, we don’t see the reason why you should sweat on something that directly influences your customer experience at your site.
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
InMotion Hosting Pros
- Affordable pricing
- Lowest shared hosting plan supports Python, Node.JS, Ruby and GIT version control
- Choice of data center locations in the United States and Europe
- Free AutoSSL
- Built-in hack, DDoS, and malware protection
- 90-day money back guarantee
- Free website migration services
InMotion Hosting Cons
- Lower shared hosting plans lack speed optimization
- Price increase during the renewal
Everything You Need to Know About OpenCart Hosting
What is OpenCart?
OpenCart is an open-source eCommerce platform that allows you to create and manage an online store. It provides a user-friendly admin dashboard and a wide range of features, such as product management, shopping cart functionality, order processing, to help you build and customize your eCommerce.
One key feature of OpenCart is its ability to work with various payment gateways, allowing you to accept payments from customers through popular methods like credit cards, PayPal, Google Pay, Amazon Payment, as well as other online payment systems. This integration streamlines the checkout process for your customers and simplifies order management for you as the online store owners.
OpenCart Demo
What is OpenCart Hosting?
OpenCart hosting refers to a web hosting service specifically optimized for running an OpenCart-based online store.
How It Works
When you want to create an online store using OpenCart, you need a web server to host the website and its application files. While most hosting providers are able to meet OpenCart’s basic requirements (see below) by default, not all web hosts are equally suitable for running an OpenCart website.
Typically, a good OpenCart hosting offers features like:
- Pre-installed OpenCart software: For some hosting services – such as TMD Hosting, the OpenCart platform is pre-installed on the server so you can start working on your online store right away.
- Optimized server configurations: The servers are configured to handle the unique requirements of OpenCart, such as extensive database management, caching, and performance optimization.
- Automatic updates: Many OpenCart hosting providers automatically update the OpenCart software to the latest version, ensuring your online store stays secure and up-to-date.
- One-click installation: You can easily install or uninstall an OpenCart site with just a few clicks, making it simple to set up your online store.
- Technical support: OpenCart hosting providers often have technical support staff knowledgeable about the platform, which can be helpful if you encounter any issues or need assistance with your online store.
Basic Technical Requirements
To host an OpenCart online store, you need a web hosting service with an Apache server and a database server supporting MySQL, PDO, or PostgreSQL. The hosting environment should have PHP 8.0 or later installed, along with the Curl, GD Library, Iconv, Mbstring, OpenSSL Encrypt, ZipArchive, and Zlib libraries enabled.
Additionally, certain PHP settings like file_uploads, magic_quotes_gpc, register_globals, and session_auto_start need to be turned on.
Most hosting providers have these requirements met by default, but if any are missing during the OpenCart installation process, you should contact your hosting provider to enable them in your PHP configuration.
Different Types of OpenCart Hosting
When it comes to different types of OpenCart hosting, you have several options to choose from, each with its own set of features, performance, and pricing.
| Hosting Type | Description | Suitable For | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | Multiple websites share server resources | Small to medium online stores with moderate traffic | Affordable, easy to set up | Limited resources, potential performance issues with high traffic |
| VPS Hosting | Dedicated resources on a virtual server | Growing online stores with increasing traffic | Better performance and control compared to shared hosting | More expensive than shared hosting, requires some technical knowledge |
| Dedicated Hosting | Entire physical server dedicated to your website | Large online stores with high traffic volumes and resource-intensive requirements | Maximum security, and control | Expensive, requires technical expertise to manage |
| Cloud Hosting | Resources distributed across multiple servers | Businesses with fluctuating traffic or need for seamless scalability | Scalable, high availability, reliable | Complexity in management |
Generally, if this is your first time setting up an online store, we strongly recommend you to start with shared hosting and only upgrade as your site grows.
Remember that OpenCart is an open-source software? This means you can always download and install it to your computer for free. This way, you can develop your OpenCart store locally and only upload it to your hosting server when it’s ready, saving you valuable server resources and time.
How to Choose: What Makes a Hosting Great for OpenCart?
There are several factors that can make a hosting provider “great” for OpenCart, we have listed some key considerations below:
- Security: Keeping your eCommerce site and customer data safe is crucial. Look for web hosts that comes with auto malware scanning, web application firewall, and provide regular data backups.
- Server Resources: Even if a web host offers unlimited bandwidth and storage, they might impose limits on server capacity (CPU usage, I/O operations), which is likely to jeopardize your OpenCart store’s performance. eCommerce sites require heavier resources, so look for web hosts that provide reasonable server allocations. Talk to their support and ask for details in server resources limits.
- Growth: As your online business expands, your hosting needs may change. Choose a host that allows upgrading to VPS or dedicated servers, or cloud hosting solutions that enable vertical scaling for increased resources.
- Integrations: Adding payment gateways, shipping carriers, and extra OpenCart features is important. Ensure the web host supports popular integrations and makes it simple to install and manage additional modules or extensions.
- Simple Free SSL Setup: Not only that you need your host to support free SSL for your online store, you need it to be easy to setup and update (SSL certificates expire yearly).
- Support: If you encounter issues, having knowledgeable support staff familiar with OpenCart can be very helpful. Look for hosts with technical teams experienced in assisting OpenCart store owners.
Compare Our OpenCart Hosting Recommendation
| OpenCart Hosting | Cheapest Plan | Daily Backup? | Built-in Caching | Free SSL – Easy Setup? | Security Features | Server Resources? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GreenGeeks | $2.95 | Yes | Yes | Support Let’sEncrypt SSL, very easy to setup | WAF and auto malware scanning | Generous server resources allocation in shared plans, upgrade to VPS hosting if needed |
| TMD Hosting | $2.99 | Yes | Yes | Support Let’sEncrypt SSL, very easy to setup | WAF and auto malware scanning | Generous server resources allocation in shared plans, upgrade to VPS or cloud hosting if needed |
| Cloudways | $11.00 | Yes | Yes | Let’sEncrypt SSL, slightly complicated to setup | WAF and auto malware scanning | Cloud hosting only, vertical scaling (add RAM, storage, CPU) easily in just a few clicks. |
| ScalaHosting | $14.95 | Yes | Yes | Support Let’sEncrypt SSL, very easy to setup | WAF and auto malware scanning | Generous server resources and innovative features; OpenCart hosting starts at VPS level |
| InMotion Hosting | $2.99 | Yes | No | Support Auto SSL, easy to setup | – (Unclear) | Generous server resources allocation in shared plans, upgrade to VPS and dedicated Hosting if needed |
| Verpex | $2.99 | Yes | No | Support Auto SSL, easy to setup | WAF and auto malware scanning | Reasonable server resources allocation in shared plans, upgrade to VPS or cloud hosting if needed |
Conclusion
There are numerous options for businesses to establish an eCommerce site and sell products online. However, with its open-source nature and broad support among hosting providers, OpenCart stands out as particularly affordable and beginner-friendly. It represents one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to launch an eCommerce business. Moreover, the web hosts recommended in this article are well-optimized for OpenCart stores. Their features enhance performance, security, and scalability, accommodating business growth. Even smaller businesses can transition to digital operations without hefty investments.
We trust that this guide has offered valuable insights for selecting the ideal OpenCart hosting solution. With the appropriate host, you can capitalize on eCommerce opportunities and expand your customer base online. Embrace the digital marketplace and see your business flourish.
