Your online business needs to be easily managed and accessible to everyone. That’s why picking the best online store management system is so important. However, just remember that what’s best for you may not be the ideal choice for someone else. That’s why we’re going to lay out the main attributes of two popular online store management systems, without telling you which one is “best” or “worst.” This post will discuss the main features, similarities and differences of two popular shopping cart software management systems: osCommerce and Zen Cart. That way you can make an educated decision when choosing the best store management system for your online business. Zen Cart and osCommerce: The Similarities osCommerce and Zen Cart are both online store management software programs that are available in free versions under the GNU General Public License. osCommerce was developed first, in 2000, with Zen Cart being a spin-off of sorts, appearing in 2003. Both store management systems are PHP-based and use the MySQL database. As far as hosting goes, the installation of osCommerce and the installation of Zen Cart are both easy. Each is usually offered for a reasonable price from a trusted hosting provider with 24/7 support. osCommerce: Great for Beginners If you happen to be new to content management systems, osCommerce is a great way to start managing your online store. Its basic features and convenient set-up makes it pretty easy to use and manage. With osCommerce, after a few basic steps, your store can be up and running: just pick a template, install, submit your products list, and you’re ready to sell. Ease of use, and simplistic management is what makes osCommerce the most used open-source e-commerce engine for beginning online stores. Zen Cart: A More Advanced Option With Zen Cart’s more advanced features, you gain more flexibility in your online store. The software will enable you to alter configurations within the intuitive admin interface, and a system of sub page management will allow you to input info about your products pretty easily. Zen Cart’s robust features mean more confusion for a beginner; however, it just means more options for those looking for a more advanced store management solution. osCommerce and Zen Cart: The Main Differences Zen Cart is originally derived from osCommerce, but became a separate project in 2003. Visually, the two store management systems differ; however, the main differences between the two are the template system (largely CSS-based) in Zen Cart as well as the advanced features in the core. As mentioned above: When compared to Zen Cart, osCommerce is much simpler. That’s great for new merchants looking to quickly establish an online store with ease; however, if you’re a seasoned developer, osCommerce may leave you wanting more. If you want additional options and more functionality then perhaps Zen Cart is for you. osCommerce: The Good and the Bad • Easy to set-up and manage • GNU General Public Licsense distributed • Add-ons available to download (but some technical expertise required) • PHP and MySQL compatible • Most popular • Vast community of users, therefore many troubleshooting sources • No graphic template system. Locked into design • Not updated often, usually year by year if not longer Zen Cart: The Good and the Bad • GNU General Public License distributed • Large usage community • PHP and MySQL compatible • Multiple add-ons • Built-in coupon code system • More features and more intuitive interface than the competition • Add-ons from osCommerce cannot be used with Zen Cart • Admin area can sometimes look cluttered • Not as popularly used as osCommerce osCommerce vs Zen Cart – So Which is Best? It’s Up to You to Decide As Google trends show, osCommerce holds the top rung in popularity between the two store management systems. It’s searched more than Zen Cart almost worldwide. It’s likely that most prefer osCommerce because of its ease of use; however, Zen Cart’s flexible add-ons and range of templates may be more attractive to some online store managers. We would like to hear from you about which online store management system you prefer. Have you switched from one to the other for any reason? Have you had a great experience with either software, or has one or the other disappointed you for some reason? Let us know about your shopping cart software experiences in the comments below. Related Articles - Prestashop vs Magento vs OpenCart – Comparison Infographic - WordPress vs Drupal vs Joomla – CMS Popularity war
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