osCommerce Review: My Verdict for 2025?

osCommerce is one of the oldest open-source ecommerce platforms, launched in 2000.

One of the first solutions to allow you to sell online without a fully custom built website. Unlike modern hosted platforms like Shopify, osCommerce is self-hosted, you need to install it on your own web server and manage everything from setup to security.

While it’s still maintained, many newer platforms have taken over the ecommerce space.

Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix have taken the lead with user friendly features, built in security and modern templates.

So does osCommerce still hold up? I spent time testing it in-depth to break down pricing, features, ease of use, customization, SEO, and alternatives—so you can decide if it’s right for your business.

I Recommend osCommerce For:

• Tech-savvy business owners who want full control over their ecommerce store. If you have development experience or access to a developer, osCommerce gives you the flexibility to run and design your store how you want. You’re not limited by any restrictions imposed by hosted platforms so it’s perfect for those who want to build a store their own way.
• Developers looking for an open-source ecommerce platform with deep customization. Because osCommerce is self-hosted and open-source, developers can modify every part of the platform, from the checkout process to product page layouts. If you need a store with functionality that other platforms don’t support, osCommerce lets you code your own solutions.
• Businesses on a budget who don’t want to pay monthly fees for SaaS platforms like Shopify. Since osCommerce is free to use, you won’t pay subscription fees. Only hosting, domain registration and any premium add-ons you choose to install.

I Don’t Recommend osCommerce For:

• Beginners—it requires coding knowledge to set up and maintain. Unlike Shopify or Wix which guide you through a simple setup, osCommerce demands technical skills from the get go. If you’re not comfortable managing databases, configuring server settings and troubleshooting software issues, you’ll find it frustrating.
• Large businesses needing enterprise level features without heavy customization. While osCommerce can support large stores, it doesn’t have the built-in scalability and automation tools that BigCommerce and Shopify offer. You’d need to rely on third-party extensions and custom development to get the same level of functionality.
• People looking for a hosted solution—you need to manage hosting, security and updates yourself. With Shopify, all of this is taken care of for you so you can focus on growing your business. With osCommerce you’re responsible for keeping your site secure, backing up your data and ensuring your server is running optimally.

osCommerce Pros & Cons

Best for Customizable, Self-Hosted Ecommerce

Best for: Free & Open Source

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

osCommerce Review Summary

Need a quick summary? Here’s what I like and dislike about osCommerce:

What I Like

• 100% free and open source—no hidden fees or subscriptions, you have full control over costs. Unlike Shopify which charges transaction fees on top of monthly pricing, osCommerce lets you process payments without extra charges.
• Full code access for deep customization, great for developers. If you need a specific feature or want to optimize your store for performance you can modify the code yourself without relying on third-party integrations.
• Large community with plugins, themes and support so there are plenty of resources to help you enhance your store. The forum support can help you resolve issues but you need to be proactive to find the solution.
• Multiple payment gateways including PayPal, Stripe and Authorize.net so you can accept payments from various providers. However some gateways require manual setup which can be complex for beginners.

What I Dislike

• Old design—it looks old school compared to Shopify or WooCommerce, harder for new users to navigate. The admin panel lacks the modern design and user friendly dashboards that modern ecommerce platforms have.
• Security vulnerabilities—requires constant updates and maintenance to stay secure. As it’s open-source osCommerce relies on community contributions for security patches so you need to be proactive about installing updates.
• No built-in SEO tools—you need extensions for better SEO, which adds extra steps to the setup process. Out of the box osCommerce doesn’t have important SEO features like friendly URLs, structured data and automatic sitemaps.
• Manual hosting setup—you need to configure servers, SSL and backups yourself which can be a barrier for users without technical knowledge. Unlike platforms that handle security and performance optimization osCommerce requires hands-on management.

My osCommerce Experience

I set up a store with osCommerce and while I liked the flexibility I immediately noticed the challenges that come with a self-hosted platform.

Installation wasn’t as simple as signing up for a Shopify or Wix account—I had to manually upload files, configure a database and adjust server settings.

If you’re familiar with web hosting this may not be a problem but for someone new to ecommerce it’s a big learning curve.

Once inside the admin panel the interface felt old school compared to modern ecommerce platforms. I could access all the features I needed like product management, order tracking and customer details but everything required more clicks and manual adjustments than I expected.

Many essential features like SEO and automated email marketing were missing and had to be installed as add-ons.

osCommerce vs Competitors

With so many ecommerce platforms out there it’s important to know how osCommerce compares to its biggest competitors. While osCommerce offers full flexibility and cost savings it falls behind in ease of use, security and modern features.

Here’s how it compares to Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix Ecommerce.

Ease of Use

osCommerce is much harder to use than Shopify or Wix.

Unlike these platforms which have drag-and-drop editors osCommerce requires manual installation, database setup and code level customizations.

If you’re not familiar with PHP, MySQL and server configurations even basic tasks like installing a new theme can be frustrating.

WooCommerce is in the middle. While it still requires WordPress knowledge it has plugins, one-click installations and better documentation than osCommerce.

Shopify and Wix are designed for beginners so if you want to launch a store without coding they are a better choice.

Customization & Flexibility

When it comes to customization osCommerce beats Shopify and Wix since it has full access to the source code.

This means you can modify everything—from how the checkout process works to how products are displayed. If you have the technical skills (or a developer) you can build a completely custom ecommerce experience.

WooCommerce is also highly customizable but it benefits from a stronger plugin ecosystem and a more modern framework.

Shopify and Wix are easy to use but have many restrictions when it comes to custom development. Shopify for example locks you into its Liquid templating language which limits deep customization.

Security & Maintenance

Security is osCommerce’s biggest weakness compared to Shopify and Wix.

Since osCommerce is self-hosted you are responsible for:

• Installing SSL certificates
• Keeping your software up to date
• Securing your payment processing
• Monitoring for security vulnerabilities

Shopify and Wix handle all security updates for you so they are a safer choice for non-technical users.

WooCommerce requires manual security updates but since it’s built on WordPress you get automatic plugin and core updates that help reduce risk.

SEO & Marketing Features

osCommerce does not have built-in SEO tools which is a big disadvantage. You need to install extensions to:

• Improve meta tags and descriptions
• Generate XML sitemap
• Optimize page URLs

WooCommerce, Shopify and Wix have built-in SEO settings so they are much easier to optimize.

Shopify even partners with Semrush for keyword research and Wix has automated SEO recommendations.

When it comes to marketing osCommerce lags behind. Shopify and WooCommerce have email marketing, abandoned cart recovery and social media integrations as part of their core functionality. osCommerce you’ll need third party plugins to achieve the same.

Pricing & Overall Value

Feature	osCommerce	Shopify	WooCommerce	Wix Ecommerce
Pricing	Free	$29–$299/month	Free (hosting required)	$23–$59/month
Ease of Use	Hard	Easy	Medium	Very Easy
Customization	High	Medium	High	Low
Security	Manual	Automatic	Manual	Automatic
Built-in SEO	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Support	Community only	24/7 customer service	Community + hosting support	24/7 customer service

Is osCommerce Right for Your Business?

Who Should Use osCommerce?

osCommerce is best for developers, tech-savvy entrepreneurs and businesses that need full control over their ecommerce platform. If you don’t mind handling your own hosting, security and development it’s a powerful and flexible option. Here’s who it’s for:

• Developers & advanced users – If you can code then osCommerce offers a level of customization that Shopify and Wix can’t. You can modify every aspect of your store’s code and create a one off shopping experience.
• Businesses that want a free ecommerce platform – Unlike Shopify which charges monthly fees osCommerce is free. You only pay for hosting and any optional premium add-ons.
• Stores with unique customization needs – If you need a custom checkout flow, pricing structure or inventory system osCommerce allows for full backend customization.
• Businesses selling in multiple markets – With the right add-ons osCommerce can be customized to support global ecommerce including multiple languages, currencies and tax rules.

Who Should Avoid osCommerce?

• Beginners & non-technical users – If you can’t code osCommerce will feel overwhelming. Shopify and Wix are much easier to set up and use.
• Businesses needing built-in marketing & SEO tools – osCommerce has limited built-in SEO and marketing features. You’ll need extensions and manual configuration whereas Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix have automated SEO and marketing tools.
• Store owners who don’t want to deal with hosting & security – If you want automatic security updates, built-in SSL and managed hosting then Shopify and Wix are better options. With osCommerce you’ll need to handle security patches and updates yourself.

Final Verdict: Should You Use osCommerce?

osCommerce is a powerful but old ecommerce platform that still has value for developers and businesses that want full control.

It’s one of the most customizable ecommerce platforms out there and the fact it’s free makes it a good option for businesses looking to save money.

However osCommerce has big drawbacks.

The lack of built-in SEO, marketing and security features means you’ll need to do constant maintenance and add plugins. For non-technical users Shopify, WooCommerce and Wix are much easier to set up, manage and scale.

My Verdict:

• If you like customization and can code, osCommerce is still an option in 2025.
• If you want an easy to use, modern ecommerce platform you’ll be better off with Shopify, WooCommerce or Wix Ecommerce.
• If you want advanced features without customization then BigCommerce is a better option.

If you’re just starting an ecommerce business and don’t want to bother with manual setup I’d recommend checking out Shopify or WooCommerce.

But if you’re a developer or someone who wants full control osCommerce is a good choice – as long as you’re prepared to deal with the technical headaches that come with it.