CodenCart

What is CodenCart

CodenCart is a self-hosted e-commerce platform script built on the Laravel PHP framework. It is designed for developers and businesses who want to create their own online stores or multi-vendor marketplaces. Unlike SaaS platforms, CodenCart is a product you purchase once and install on your own web hosting server. This gives you full control over the source code, allowing for deep customization and modification to fit specific business needs. The core purpose of CodenCart is to provide a ready-made, feature-rich foundation for building powerful e-commerce websites without starting from scratch. It includes functionalities for both single-seller stores and complex marketplaces where multiple vendors can register and sell their products.

CodenCart Features

CodenCart offers a wide range of features necessary for running an online store. Here are some of the key functionalities:

• Multi-Vendor System: Allows you to create a marketplace like Amazon or eBay where different sellers can manage their own products and orders.
• Product Management: Add and manage physical or digital products with options for categories, attributes, variations, and inventory tracking.
• Order Management: A complete system to view, process, and track customer orders from placement to delivery.
• Payment Gateway Integration: Supports popular payment methods like PayPal, Stripe, and bank transfers to accept payments securely.
• Shipping Management: Configure different shipping methods and rates based on location, weight, or price.
• Responsive Design: The storefront is designed to work well on all devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• SEO Friendly: Built with search engine optimization in mind, including clean URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps to help your store rank better.
• Customer Management: Keep track of customer information, order history, and communication in one place.
• Coupon and Discount System: Create and manage promotional codes to offer discounts and run sales campaigns.

CodenCart Pricing Plans

CodenCart is typically sold as a one-time purchase product, often through software marketplaces like CodeCanyon. There are usually two main license types:

• Regular License: This plan allows you to use the script for a single end product which you or one client can use. The end product is not for sale.
• Extended License: This plan is for users who intend to use the script in an end product that is sold to customers. For example, if you build a marketplace and charge vendors a fee.

Both licenses usually come with a set period of technical support (e.g., 6 months), which can be extended for an additional fee.

CodenCart Free Plan

CodenCart does not offer a free plan or a free trial because it is a downloadable software script sold under a one-time license. However, potential buyers can usually test the platform through a live demo provided on the product's sales page. The demo allows you to explore both the customer-facing storefront and the admin panel to understand its features and functionality before making a purchase.

How to use CodenCart

Getting started with CodenCart involves a few technical steps. Here is a typical workflow:

1. Purchase a License: Buy a regular or extended license from the official seller or marketplace.
2. Prepare Your Server: You need a web hosting plan that supports PHP and MySQL. You must ensure your server meets the script's requirements (e.g., specific PHP version, extensions).
3. Upload and Install: Upload the CodenCart files to your server using an FTP client. Then, navigate to your domain in a web browser to run the installation wizard. You will need to provide your database details and purchase code.
4. Configure Your Store: After installation, log in to the admin panel. Here you can set up your store's name, currency, payment gateways, shipping methods, and other general settings.
5. Add Products: Start adding your products, including names, descriptions, prices, images, and categories.
6. Customize the Look: Choose and customize a theme to match your brand identity.
7. Go Live: Once everything is configured and tested, you can start promoting your store and accepting orders.

Pros and Cons of CodenCart

Pros:

• One-Time Cost: You pay once for the software, which can be more affordable in the long run compared to monthly subscription fees.
• Full Control: You get the complete source code, allowing for unlimited customization and flexibility.
• No Transaction Fees: Unlike many SaaS platforms, CodenCart does not charge any commission on your sales.
• Self-Hosted: You have full control over your data and hosting environment.

Cons:

• Technical Skills Required: You need knowledge of web hosting, PHP, and Laravel for installation, maintenance, and customization.
• Manual Updates: You are responsible for applying updates and security patches yourself.
• Support is Limited: Technical support is often included for a limited time (e.g., 6 months) and may require an extra fee to extend.
• Hosting Costs: You must pay separately for your own domain name and web hosting.

CodenCart integrations

CodenCart is a self-hosted script, so integrations are typically managed through built-in modules or custom development. It commonly supports integrations with essential e-commerce services:

• Payment Gateways: It integrates with major providers like PayPal, Stripe, Razorpay, and often includes options for bank transfers and cash on delivery.
• Shipping APIs: It may offer integrations with shipping carriers to calculate real-time shipping rates.
• Social Media Login: Allows customers to sign up or log in using their Google or Facebook accounts.
• Email Services: Integrates with SMTP services for sending transactional emails.

Since you have access to the source code, a developer can integrate almost any third-party service that provides an API.

CodenCart Alternatives

• WooCommerce: A free, open-source e-commerce plugin for WordPress. It is highly customizable with thousands of themes and extensions but requires a WordPress website to run.
• Magento Open Source: A powerful and scalable self-hosted e-commerce platform. It is more complex and resource-intensive than CodenCart, making it suitable for larger businesses with development resources.
• OpenCart: Another popular open-source, self-hosted e-commerce platform. It is known for being lightweight and easier to use than Magento, but may not be as feature-rich out of the box.
• Bagisto: A free and open-source e-commerce platform also built on the Laravel framework. It is a strong alternative for developers already familiar with the Laravel ecosystem.

CodenCart API

Yes, CodenCart typically provides a REST API for developers. Since it is a self-hosted script, you have full access to the API upon purchasing and installing the software. The API allows you to connect your e-commerce store with other applications, such as mobile apps, third-party inventory systems, or custom front-ends.

To use the API, you would typically generate an API key from the admin panel. This key is used to authenticate your requests. An example of an API call to fetch products might look like this in a terminal using cURL:

curl -X GET https://yourstore.com/api/v1/products \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"

Detailed API documentation is usually included with the product files or available on the developer's website, explaining all available endpoints and parameters.

CodenCart Affiliate program

CodenCart itself does not run a direct affiliate program. However, it is often sold through the Envato Market (CodeCanyon), which has its own affiliate program. You can join the Envato Affiliate Program to earn a commission by promoting CodenCart and other products sold on the marketplace.

To join, you need to sign up on the Envato Affiliate website. Once approved, you will get a unique referral link. When someone clicks your link and purchases CodenCart within a certain timeframe, you earn a percentage of that sale. Payouts are typically handled by Envato through methods like PayPal or bank transfer once you reach a minimum earning threshold.