X-cart ecommerce platform review
Purchase a license and install it on your own server to skip subscription fees.
In ecommerce, monthly-subscription services like Shopify and BigCommerce get the lion’s share of the attention. However, there are other options to compare.
Though X-cart isn’t as well known as its competitors, it’s just as well-equipped. Check out our review to see if the platform is right for your business.
Details
| Solutions | In-store, Mobile, E-commerce |
|---|---|
| Products | Website builder, Shopping cart software, Shipping software |
| Monthly fees start at | Free |
| Processing fees start at | None |
| Cancellation fee | Varies |
| Hosting | Self-hosted |
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What is X-cart?
X-cart is an ecommerce platform for online stores. It has open-source software, so you have the ability to add features as needed. X-cart is built on PHP, a programming language that’s used by platforms like WordPress and Facebook.
Unlike with subscription-based platforms, you’ll pay just a one-time fee for an X-cart license.
Do I need to be a technical whiz?
No, but you do need to know your way around a server. To use X-cart, you’ll need to know how to upload software to your site’s server. In this sense, it’s not as easy to set up X-cart as setting up a platform like Shopify.
X-cart offers documentation on their website on how to install the software, and you can find tutorials online if you need more help.
How much does it cost and what do I get?
X-cart offers four types of software depending on what your business needs. If you decide to pay for the software, you’ll get lifetime access to the license.
To get software upgrades, you may need to pay an annual fee depending on which plan you’ve selected:
- Free: Free access to upgrades.
- Business: Upgrades for $99 to $247.50 a year.
- Multivendor: Upgrades for $299.95 to $747.50 a year.
- Ultimate: Upgrades for $3,155 to $4,295 a year.
Free
The Free license allows you to upload unlimited products. It charges no transaction fees, and you’ll get access to five free themes.
The plan also comes with advanced features like shipping quotes, payment order statuses and integrations with services like Facebook Messenger and MailChimp.
Business
The Business license costs $495. X-cart recommends it for mid-sized businesses.
It comes with the features in the Free license, along with advanced features like multiple currencies, Facebook login for customers, product tags and customer messaging. You can pay a fee for access to most other features not included in the license.
Multivendor
The Multivendor license costs $1,495, and allows multiple vendors to sell in one store.
The license comes with all of the features in the Free and Business licenses. Its additional features mostly cater to multi-vendor businesses — separate stores, individual commission rates, individual transaction histories and more.
You can pay a fee to access most other features that the license doesn’t include.
Ultimate
The Ultimate license costs $5,995, and comes with all of X-cart’s features, including:
- 24/7 support.
- A paid theme.
- Installation by the X-cart team.
- One year of technical support.
- Catalog features, such as product questions and paid memberships.
- Checkout features, such as saved credit cards and abandoned cart recovery.
- Marketing features, such as loyalty programs and product carousels.
Templates
X-cart offers over 40 website templates, a few are even free. Most are paid themes that cost around $100 to $150.
Add-ons
The X-cart Marketplace offers free and paid add ons in many categories, including:
- Shipping
- Accounting
- Mobile commerce
- SEO
- Catalog management
- Checkout
- Development
- Security
Payment processing
Use several payment gateways with X-cart, including:
- PayPal
- Amazon
- iDEAL
- Klarna
- Catalog management
- Nochex
- Skrill
- X-cart doesn't charge transaction fees.
Customer service
If you need help working with the X-cart platform, visit X-cart’s Help & Docs section. You’ll find support documentation, forums, a FAQ section and the Help Desk.
Call X-cart at 800-657-7957 or send an online message.
Bottom line
X-cart offers enterprise-level solutions and is customizable, making it a great choice for established online stores. But small business and new merchants may want to compare other e-commerce platforms to find one that's a little more user-friendly.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use X-cart if I’m just starting out with ecommerce?
Because you install the software yourself, X-cart might not be the best option if you’re just getting started. Consider a subscription service like BigCommerce, Shift4Shop or Shopify, each allow you to set up a store easily.
Do I need to sign up for upgrades when I select a plan?
You’re not required to sign up for upgrades with your plan.
Can I use my X-Cart license for more than one website?
No. You must purchase a new X-cart license for each new website.
