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
Founded in 2008 by web hosting veteran Trey Gardner, GreenGeeks emerged in Santa Monica, California, with a pioneering mission: to make web hosting environmentally sustainable. Alongside Gardner, COO Kaumil Patel, with his extensive background in hosting operations, plays a key role in driving the company’s success. GreenGeeks sets itself apart with a strong commitment to the environment, using renewable energy credits to offset three times the power consumed by its clients’ websites. This innovative approach not only positions GreenGeeks as a leader in eco-friendly hosting but also underscores its dedication to making a meaningful 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
- 300% green energy offset with RECs
- Affordable entry pricing for shared and WordPress hosting plans
- Free daily backup for all shared hosting plans
- Partnership with One Tree Planted plants a tree for every new hosting account
- Free website migration assistance
- Enhanced scalability options with VPS and dedicated plans
GreenGeeks Cons
- Higher renewal rates across shared and WordPress plans
- Slightly lackluster customer service, with complaints of limited support for customers transferring domains out of the platform
ScalaHosting
ScalaHosting
Founded in 2007 by Hristo Rusev and Vladislav Georgiev, ScalaHosting is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The company offers a full range of services including shared hosting, managed VPS hosting, cloud hosting, and email hosting. ScalaHosting is known for building its own infrastructure tools, most notably SPanel, an in-house control panel developed as an alternative to cPanel, and SShield, a security system designed to detect and block server threats automatically. Over the years the company has expanded these technologies with tools such as SWordPress Manager and the SKAI AI assistant, reinforcing its reputation as one of the few hosting providers actively developing its own hosting platform ecosystem.
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
- Excellent uptime and fast server performance confirmed through HostScore’s long-term monitoring, load tests, and recent benchmark experiments
- Affordable managed VPS hosting, often up to 40% cheaper than comparable managed VPS providers
- Anytime unconditional money-back guarantee
- Automated daily backups with seven restore points
- NVMe storage across all shared hosting plans for faster database and file operations
- Innovative in-house technologies including SPanel, SShield security, SKAI AI assistant, and SWordPress Manager
ScalaHosting Cons
- Renewal prices for shared and VPS plans are significantly higher than initial promotional rates
- No dedicated server / bare metal plans available for enterprise-scale workloads
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 choose Cloudways for eCommerce is the power and reliability of its plans. Resources scale easily, so you only pay for what you use, making it a cost-efficient choice for growing businesses. Cloudways works smoothly with various eCommerce platforms, from WooCommerce to PrestaShop to OpenCart, offering performance far beyond a standard VPS. Think of Cloudways as a concierge-style virtual server—you manage your store while their backend handles the heavy lifting. For those needing more control, fine-tuning options are available. However, my experience with their billing department raised concerns. Delays in resolving charges and a lack of proactive support may be frustrating for business owners who expect seamless financial management.
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
Cloudways Pros
- Topnotch server uptime and speed performance
- Good abstration over complex cloud server setups with integrated dashboard
- High scalability; Autonomous plan supports auto-scaling
- Easy server cloning, site staging, and website transfer
- Host unlimited applications in one account
- 30% discount for first two months with coupon “HOSTSCORE”
Cloudways Cons
- Getting expensive – Prices increased steadily for the past few years
- Limited trial period
- Excellent technical support, but poor billing practices and support
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting
InMotion Hosting, founded in 2001 by Sunil Saxena and Todd Robinson in Los Angeles, has grown into a well-established U.S. hosting provider. Built by industry veterans, the company emphasizes reliable infrastructure, practical features, and customer-friendly support.
InMotion Hosting
: What Makes it Right for OpenCart?
Most eCommerce stores require hosting that balances speed, stability, and scalability — and InMotion Hosting delivers well in this space. Its VPS plans start at $4.99 for 4 vCPUs and 8GB RAM, which is more generous than typical entry VPS plans from mainstream providers.
The entry price is attractive, but the plans are lean by default. Adding extras like a control panel or backup manager will raise the monthly cost. Still, whether you’re running PrestaShop or WooCommerce, the performance and flexibility InMotion provides can justify the spend. For growing stores, features like UltraStack caching and NVMe storage on higher tiers help ensure smoother checkout experiences.
If your online store is already generating revenue, investing in hosting that directly improves speed and customer experience makes business sense; and that’s where InMotion’s VPS shines in our opinion.
eCommerce Platforms Support
HostScore
InMotion Hosting Pros
- Affordable entry pricing
- Developer stack on all shared hosting plans (Python/Node/Ruby, Git, SSH)
- Built-in hack, DDoS, and malware protection
- Long 90-day money back guarantee refund window (best in market)
- Free SSL, email, and site migration
InMotion Hosting Cons
- Lower shared hosting plans lack advanced speed features
- Higher renewal rates across shared, VPS, and reseller plans
- No Asia-based data center
Verpex
Verpex
Founded in 2018 by a team with prior ventures later acquired by GoDaddy, Verpex offers cPanel-based cloud hosting with a focus on speed and security. Privately funded and fast-growing, the company now hosts over 300,000 websites on 1,200 servers. Its growth has been driven by competitive pricing, a strong support team, and a customer-first approach that appeals to freelancers, agencies, and small businesses worldwide.
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 entry pricing on shared and VPS hosting plans
- 45-day money-back guarantee on shared/reseller plans (longer than industry standard)
- Daily backup included in all shared hosting plans at no extra cost
- Unlimited free site migrations
- Choice of 8 global data centers across five continents
- Wide hosting selection including Windows, reseller, and managed servers
Verpex Cons
- Steep renewal pricing after the first term (up to 90% higher than intro rates)
- Short refund window on managed VPS (7 days compared to 30+ with some competitors)
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 with our exclusive promo code
- 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
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.
