Are you entering the exciting world of E-commerce by starting a retail business online? If so, you will likely need open source software that provides shopping carts, payment capabilities, shipping functionality, and much more.  Open source software is usually free and easy to use.  Minimal computer knowledge is required. Here are 5 free E-commerce software products that will help you develop, customize, and start your E-commerce site.

1.      osCommerce

osCommerce is an open source E-commerce software that allows you to customize your site design, product categories, number of products, and payment methods. The possibilities are endless. osCommerce even has a search-through-site application that makes navigation and product location easy. If the default settings are not what you want, then you can choose from 6,000 add-ons.   These add-ons are available free of charge, so that you can further personalize your site. osCommerce is a user-friendly platform that can be an ideal kickstart for your E-commerce site.

 2.      OpenCart

While OpenCart is not a well-known E-commerce platform, it can provide the necessary functions that you will need for your E-commerce Site. In addition, it functions very well when it comes to optimizing your site for search engines. OpenCart does not limit the number of products or categories, so you can sell on any scale! Payment and shipping methods are also addressed through OpenCart’s numerous options and support for multiple currencies. OpenCart is a very efficient E-commerce solution.

3.      Zen Shopping Cart

Zen Shopping Cart can provide everything you need for an E-commerce software solution and more! With just a few clicks, you can implement various software features, organize your site, manage newsletters, and manage customer registrations. Zen Shopping Cart is highly flexible.  You can even set different search parameters, which makes it easier for your customers to find your products. You do not have to be computer savvy to use this software. It is extremely easy and quick to set up.

4.      Zeuscart

Zeuscart is different from other E-commerce software products because of its interface. While you can change the look and feel of your site’s design in other products, Zeuscart already comes with a design that has a modern and fresh look.  Zeuscart’s standard templates are considered to be more interactive and appealing to customers. However, you can still freely categorize, arrange, and change the features and designs by adjusting many variables. Zeuscart also provides great SEO optimization.  SEO optimization helps to attract customers to your site faster. Last, but not least, you can create e-mail templates.  When all these factors are considered, your online business will be streamlined. Zeuscart efficiently helps you to focus on providing quality service to your customers.

5.      Agora Shopping Cart

Agora Shopping Cart is perfect for those who want significant control over how their products are categorized and displayed. Are you extremely selective on how your products are grouped and displayed, if so, this may be the right E-commerce software for you.  Even different themes, for different product categories, can be created. A noticeable difference with Agora Shopping Cart is that it has its own payment method, called AgoraPay. However, all major payment types are also supported.