Freedom251 › Ecommerce platforms
osCommerce
by osCommerce

What osCommerce is
osCommerce is a free, open-source ecommerce platform with a shop frontend and administration backend. It can run on a user’s own server or through osCommerce.com hosting. The modular, upgradeable backend manages settings, content, and design with no or little coding knowledge, and more than 250 apps extend customization. PHP and MySQL are identified as its server technology. Listed capabilities include omnichannel sales, abandoned cart recovery, an app marketplace, and zero platform processing fees. PayPal, Stripe, and Klarna integrations are included; Amazon, eBay, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage require apps. B2C and B2B customer support is available through an app. A hosted evaluation provides a free copy for one month without a credit card. Hosting starts at Budget hosting for $4.99 a month, with managed Cloud basic and Cloud standard options.
Who it suits
osCommerce suits designers, developers, consultants, and hosting providers building client stores. It also fits merchants wanting self-hosting or hosted deployment with app-based extensions.
What it does well
- Free open-source ecommerce platform
- Self-hosted or osCommerce.com hosting
- More than 250 customization apps
- Zero platform processing fees
- One-month hosted evaluation without credit card
What to know first
- Several integrations require apps
- B2C and B2B support requires an app
- Budget hosting has no SSH access
- Paid support requires a three-month minimum
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Open-source ecommerce platform · Storefront and administration backend · Zero platform processing fees | Free |
| Free shopping cart | Free · Open source ecommerce software; zero platform processing fees | Free |
| Cloud basic hosting | $19.99 per month or $199 per year (2 months free) · Up to 2,000 products; around 25 orders a day or 1,000 visits a day; managed; SSH access | $19.99 a month |
| Cloud standard hosting | $34.99 per month or $349 per year (2 months free) · Up to 5,000 products; around 40 orders a day or 1,500 visits a day; managed; SSH access | $34.99 a month |
| Budget hosting | $4.99 per month or $49 per year (2 months free) · Up to 500 products; around 10 orders a day or 500 visits a day; no SSH access; unmanaged | $4.99 a month |
As oscommerce.com lists them, read 20 Sept 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
osCommerce offers a free storefront and administration backend with self-hosting, hosted plans, and broad app customization. Its no-fee platform model and one-month evaluation are useful starting points, while some integrations and customer support functions depend on apps.
Facts from osCommerce's own pages
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Yes · oscommerce.com, 20 Sept 2026
- App marketplace
- Yes · oscommerce.com, 20 Sept 2026
- B2C and B2B
- The product page says B2C and B2B customer support is available through an app. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Company and location
- The maker is osCommerce Ltd, whose site lists its address in Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Customization
- The platform can be configured and customized with more than 250 apps. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Features
- The product page describes osCommerce as modular and upgradeable, with back-end management of settings, content and design requiring no or little code knowledge. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · oscommerce.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Gloucestershire, United Kingdom · oscommerce.com, 28 Sept 2026
- History
- The company page says osCommerce has been a leading open source ecommerce solution since 2000. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Hosting and deployment
- The download page says users can install the software on their own server or choose hosting from osCommerce.com. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Hosting model
- self-hosted · oscommerce.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Integrations
- The product page lists payment integrations including PayPal, Stripe and Klarna, and says Amazon, eBay, QuickBooks, Xero and Sage integrations require apps. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The company says it provides ecommerce software for designers, developers, consultants and hosting providers to use for their clients. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Product
- osCommerce is an open source ecommerce platform with a shop frontend and administration backend. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Sales channels
- The platform supports multiple sales channels and includes an API and import/export facility. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Security and compliance
- The product page describes osCommerce as GDPR compliant; its hosting plans list secure hosting and free SSL. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Support
- Support options include forums, public chat, development partners and paid support plans; support plans require a minimum three-month contract per site. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Technology
- The product page identifies PHP and MySQL as its server technology. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
- Transaction fee
- none · oscommerce.com, 20 Sept 2026
- Trial
- The hosted evaluation provides a free copy for one month, with no credit card required and access to a demo site's front end and back end. · oscommerce.com, 7 Oct 2026
Where osCommerce stands on Freedom251
- Ecommerce platforms#49 of 280
- Small Business eCommerce Software#6 of 23
- B2C eCommerce Software#10 of 30
- Shopping Cart Software#9 of 26