The Antropy OpenCart Blog
Mar 25, 2025
OpenCart 4.1.0.3 Released: Key Fixes and Improvements
OpenCart has rolled out version 4.1.0.3, bringing several refinements, bug fixes, and documentation enhancements. This maintenance release focuses on improving code quality, fixing the update procedure, and refining PHPDocs across the platform. Let’s dive into the key changes and what they mean...
Feb 28, 2025
Here's What You Should Check After a Completed OpenCart Upgrade or Rebuild
So we’ve just completed updating or fully rebuilding your OpenCart store. But before we wrap things up, there's one important step left: testing. Thoroughly testing your site ensures everything works as expected, providing your customers with a seamless shopping experience.
Feb 7, 2025
Why Customers Abandon Cart in OpenCart (and How to Fix It)
Cart abandonment is a frustrating challenge for any ecommerce store owner. You’ve done the hard work of attracting customers, getting them to browse, and adding products to their cart, only for them to leave without completing the purchase. OpenCart stores are no exception to this problem.
Jan 17, 2025
B2C Keyword Research for Your OpenCart Store
Every successful OpenCart store thrives on visibility. Ranking high in search results isn't about using any keyword, it’s about using the right ones that resonate with your target customers.
Jan 10, 2025
Why You Should Have an OpenCart Site Audit Every 6 Months
Think of a code audit for your OpenCart store like a car MOT. Just as a car needs regular checkups to make sure it’s running smoothly and meeting all safety standards, your website requires periodic reviews to make sure it’s performing as it should. For a business, this means everything from...
Dec 13, 2024
Most Viewed Blogs of 2024
Here is the roundup of our most popular blog posts this year! We have written a range of blogs from "how-tos" to "top tips", but here are our most read blogs of 2024
Dec 6, 2024
How to Grow Your OpenCart Store for Free
Did you know you don’t have to spend thousands on marketing to drive traffic to your website? Many ecommerce businesses believe that success relies on big advertising budgets. The truth? You can grow your OpenCart store organically without spending a penny - if you focus on the right strategies.
Nov 22, 2024
Essential OpenCart Extensions for Your Online Store!
To unlock the full potential of your OpenCart store, you'll need the right extensions tailored to your store's unique needs. Below are some of the most essential OpenCart extensions that can elevate your store's functionality and improve the user experience.
Nov 1, 2024
Why You Shouldn’t Use Big Hosting Providers for OpenCart Hosting (GoDaddy, SiteGround, 123 Reg etc.)
When choosing a hosting provider for your OpenCart website, there are countless options available, from well-known brands like GoDaddy, SiteGround, 123 Reg, and 20i, to more specialised providers like ourselves. It’s easy to be drawn to the big providers with promises of low prices and plenty of...
Oct 25, 2024
Tips for Finding the Perfect OpenCart Extension
Finding the perfect extension can be a game-changer in terms of functionality, customer experience, and store success. OpenCart’s marketplace has a large array of options, but browsing directly on the platform sometimes doesn’t yield the best results.
Oct 11, 2024
Blank Pages in OpenCart and How to Fix them
If you’re seeing a blank or white screen in OpenCart, it usually means a PHP error has occurred. However, instead of showing an error message, PHP is suppressing the error and leaving you with a blank page. In most cases this happens because error reporting is turned off to prevent sensitive...
Oct 4, 2024
A Guide to OpenCart Order Statuses
Managing an ecommerce store effectively requires a deep understanding of how the system handles orders. In OpenCart, various order statuses help both store owners and customers track the journey of an order, from its initial placement to its final completion or cancellation.
Sep 27, 2024
OpenCart vs. Shopify: Cost Calculator
When choosing an ecommerce platform, it's important to consider not just the upfront costs but also the hidden fees that can impact your profitability over time. Shopify, while user-friendly, operates on a subscription model with transaction fees for each sale. For example, the Basic Shopify plan...
Sep 6, 2024
Why You Should Connect Your OpenCart Store to eBay
While you may have built a well-functioning OpenCart store with a loyal customer base, relying solely on one platform can limit your growth potential. One of the best ways to take your OpenCart store to the next level is by connecting it with eBay. This can open up numerous opportunities, drive...
Aug 30, 2024
How to Get Thousands of Followers on Your Ecommerce Store’s Instagram
Everyone wants thousands of followers, right? In today's digital age, it's no secret that social media views and followers can directly translate to sales. A strong Instagram following isn’t just a vanity metric - it’s a powerful driver of brand awareness, customer trust, and, ultimately,...
Aug 23, 2024
Common OpenCart Issues and How to Fix Them
OpenCart is a powerful eCommerce platform, but like any software, it comes with its fair share of challenges. To help you navigate these, we’ve compiled a list of common OpenCart issues along with links to detailed guides on how to resolve them. If you're looking for OpenCart bug fixes, this...
Aug 2, 2024
How to Get More Product Reviews in OpenCart
Customer reviews are crucial for building trust and driving sales, and OpenCart offers various ways to collect and showcase these customer reviews. However, many store owners struggle to get sufficient reviews.
Jul 30, 2024
OpenCart Error Log Locations
As an OpenCart store owner or developer, understanding error logs is crucial for maintaining a smooth-running e-commerce platform. This comprehensive guide will help you leverage OpenCart error logs for improved store performance and effective troubleshooting.
Jul 19, 2024
The Best OpenCart Extensions for Optimising Your Store's Marketing Efforts
Running a successful online store means constantly finding ways to attract more visitors and convert them into loyal customers. If you're using OpenCart, you're in luck! There are numerous extensions available that can help you achieve your marketing goals. Here, we've created a list of the best...
Jun 28, 2024
How to Set Up OpenCart Google Merchant Feed - Part 2
In Part 1 of our guide, we discussed setting up your OpenCart Google Merchant feed, an important step to ensure your products appear in Google Shopping results. Now that your product feed is set up, it’s time to leverage it for Google Shopping ads to maximise your visibility and most importantly,...
Jun 21, 2024
How to Set Up OpenCart Google Merchant Feed - Part 1
Setting up an OpenCart Google Merchant feed is a crucial step for any OpenCart store looking to expand its reach through Google Shopping ads. This process allows your products to appear in Google Shopping results, making them more visible to potential customers.
May 31, 2024
Emails Going to Spam in 2024: SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Explained
In 2024, ensuring that your emails land in the inbox and not the spam folder requires a solid understanding of email authentication protocols; but how do they work? Read more to find out.
May 24, 2024
How to Display Tax in OpenCart
Ensuring that your customers can see the tax applied to their purchases is crucial for transparency and compliance. Customers appreciate knowing exactly what they're paying for, and different regions have specific tax laws that require clear display. A clear breakdown of costs builds trust with...
May 10, 2024
Knowing Your OpenCart Store Competitors
Looking to gain the most competitive edge for your OpenCart store? If so, you're likely aware that understanding your competition is crucial for success. Conducting a thorough competitor analysis can provide you with valuable insights into market trends, customer behaviour, and effective strategies...
Apr 26, 2024
How To Optimise Your Product Pages in OpenCart
Ensuring your product pages are optimised for search engines is crucial for visibility and success. OpenCart offers various tools and functionalities to help you achieve better search engine rankings.
Apr 19, 2024
Why Should You Implement Autoresponders in Your OpenCart Store?
Every interaction with a customer matters. From the first click on your website to the delivery of their order and beyond, every touchpoint is an opportunity to engage, delight, and ultimately, drive sales. One powerful tool that can help you maximise these opportunities is the autoresponder.
Mar 28, 2024
How to Use OpenCart's Built-in Email Marketing
Email marketing is one of the (if not the most) powerful tool for businesses to engage with customers, promote products, and drive sales. OpenCart provides a straightforward way to send marketing emails to different user groups directly from the admin panel. In this guide, we'll walk you through...
Mar 21, 2024
Outsourcing vs Insourcing eCommerce Fulfilment
Many businesses are successful because their founders are willing to ‘get their hands dirty’, and involved with every facet of business operations. During the early stages of an eCommerce retailer’s growth, this can be beneficial because it means leadership better understands the intricacies...
Mar 15, 2024
How to Start a Successful OpenCart Ecommerce Business
Are you considering launching your own online store using OpenCart? Follow the key essentials for a successful launch in our guide below!
Mar 1, 2024
How to Install an OpenCart Extension
OpenCart extensions can add functionality and enhance the features of your e-commerce website. Installing these extensions is relatively straightforward, especially with OpenCart's user-friendly interface. Follow these steps to successfully install an OpenCart extension:
Feb 23, 2024
How to Set Up Facebook & Instagram Ads for Your OpenCart Ecommerce Store
You want to make more online sales. Great! A good step in the right direction is to leverage social media advertising. With Facebook and Instagram being two of the most popular platforms, tapping into their advertising capabilities can significantly boost your online store's visibility and sales....
Feb 9, 2024
How to enable SEO Friendly URLs in OpenCart
Want to enhance your OpenCart store's visibility and drive more sales? It's time to start enabling SEO URLs – a simple yet effective strategy that can make a significant difference in your site's performance.
Jan 19, 2024
Best Extensions for Your OpenCart Store
OpenCart thrives on its extensive range of extensions that enhance functionality and streamline operations. We have put together some of the best free, and paid, OpenCart extensions below.
Jan 5, 2024
3 Actionable Strategies to Increase Conversion Rates For Your OpenCart Store
As an online shop owner, you’re probably always on the lookout for new ways to increase sales, conversions, and reduce cart abandonment. Ecommerce opportunities are vast, but competition is fierce. If you're running an online store using OpenCart, you're already on the right track. However,...
Dec 20, 2023
Most Viewed Blogs of 2023
Here is the roundup of our most popular blog posts this year! We have written a range of blogs from "how-tos" to "top tips", but here are our top 5 most read blogs of 2023:
Dec 15, 2023
Why do you need a robots.txt file?
SEO can be complex at times, and the robots.txt file is an aspect that's very often overlooked, but extremely important for website optimisation.
Nov 24, 2023
OpenCart vs Shopify: Which One Should You Choose?
OpenCart? Shopify? Do you find yourself stuck deciding between which platform to choose? Deciding on the right platform is crucial for the success of your online business, and here's why we think OpenCart stands out:
Nov 10, 2023
10 Proven Strategies to Supercharge Your Website's Visibility
Having a website is essential for businesses and individuals alike. However, merely having a website is not enough; you need to ensure that it gets noticed by your target audience. If you're ready to unleash the full potential of your website and leave your digital footprint, read on for our top 10...
Nov 3, 2023
How to Set the Robots Meta Tag in OpenCart
In the digital age, having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any e-commerce business. When it comes to SEO, one of the often-overlooked but immensely valuable tools is the Robots Meta Tag. These unassuming HTML tags play a significant role in controlling how search engines...
Oct 27, 2023
The Importance of Mobile Optimisation for OpenCart Ecommerce Websites
The rise of mobile devices as the preferred choice for accessing the internet is no surprise. Mobile phones are portable, convenient, and readily available, allowing users to browse, shop, and interact with online businesses on the go. As a result, mobile devices have completely transformed the...
Oct 20, 2023
How to Take Exceptional Product Photos for Your Online Store
In the fast-paced world of ecommerce, product photography plays a large role in captivating potential customers and securing the sale. In the absence of a physical shopping experience, your product photos are the closest your customers will get to feeling and experiencing your offerings. That's why...
Sep 26, 2023
Protecting Your OpenCart Store: Insights from Antropy's Senior Developer
Recently, our senior web developer, Tyler, had the opportunity to talk with SafetyDetectives for an in-depth interview on how we approach security in the world of OpenCart. Some of the key insights from Tyler's interview shed light on common vulnerabilities, prevention strategies, reaction plans,...
Sep 15, 2023
How to Remove the Category Product Count Within OpenCart
Having the amount of products within your category pages in your dropdown list can be very useful for customers to see. However there are drawbacks to having these enabled such as if your store has a lot of subcategories, then it can cause a performance hit on your website (this is highlighted in...
Sep 12, 2023
7 Tips To Boost Sales In OpenCart Using Social Media
In the ever-evolving world of e-commerce, finding effective strategies to boost your online sales is crucial for the success of your OpenCart store. With the right approach, you can leverage various tools and techniques to drive more customers and revenue. In this blog, we'll explore seven tips to...
Aug 15, 2023
How to See Monthly Sales Trends in OpenCart
Analysing trends in your sales can be a valuable asset when it comes to forecasting and making data-driven decisions for your business. Alongside utilising the Product Reports feature, you can assess your companies seasonal trends. During months when sales might be slightly lower than others, this...
Aug 8, 2023
How to Enable Estimate Shipping in OpenCart
Enabling the Shipping Estimator feature on your OpenCart site can greatly enhance the user experience for your customers. This tool empowers them to receive a quick quote for the shipping cost for items in their shopping cart.
Aug 2, 2023
How to Apply a Limited Time Offer on a Product Within Your OpenCart Site
Limited Time Offers (LTOs) can be a game-changer for e-commerce websites. By creating urgency, they drive action, increase conversion rates, attract new customers, encourage repeat purchases, generate buzz, and clear out excess inventory. Let's explore how you can implement this on your OpenCart...
Jul 21, 2023
How to Copy in the Store Admin on all Customer Emails
In default OpenCart, when a customers makes a purchase, a minimum of two emails are sent. One email is sent to the store owner and another is sent to the customer. If you've ever seen the store owner's email, it's in plain text and, more importantly, doesn't contain all the information in the...
Jul 6, 2023
How to Alter Your Dashboard Layout Within the OpenCart Admin?
Your OpenCart Dashboard is a useful first port of call to quickly see some key statistics. It is automatically configured to include the following:
Jun 9, 2023
Unleashing the Power of VPS Hosting for OpenCart
In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, e-commerce has emerged as a driving force for businesses worldwide. To succeed in the competitive online marketplace, it is essential to leverage the right technologies and tools. One such tool that can significantly impact the performance and growth...
Jun 1, 2023
What Payment Gateway Can I Use for My OpenCart Vape Store?
The vaping industry has faced significant challenges when it comes to finding payment providers that are willing to support their businesses. However, with the emergence of alternative payment gateways like Viva Wallet, the vaping sector now has access to a versatile and reliable solution. In this...
May 24, 2023
When Should You Get Custom Work Done on OpenCart?
OpenCart offers a wide range of features and extensions to help businesses create their online stores. However, there may be instances where the available options do not fully meet your specific requirements. In such cases, getting custom work done on OpenCart becomes the best solution. This blog...
May 11, 2023
How to Send Abandoned Cart Emails from OpenCart
The best way to send emails to customers who may have exited your website is through the OpenCart MailChimp Integration Pro extension by Clear Thinking. Here are some of the key benefits to this extension
Apr 18, 2023
What's the best One Page Checkout for OpenCart?
As an online retailer, you know that a smooth and seamless checkout process is crucial for converting visitors into customers.
Apr 13, 2023
How Do I Find What Version of OpenCart I’m Using?
This bit of information is very important to know about your OpenCart store; as well as being for your own personal knowledge, it is crucial to know what OpenCart version your website is on when you come to purchase extensions so that you download the correct one.
Mar 22, 2023
OpenCart PayPal Checkout Integration Upgrade
Recently, PayPal has released an upgraded extension for the OpenCart e-commerce platform. The upgrade provides many new features and enhancements to the existing module. In this blog we take a look at what has been upgraded and what version of OpenCart this applies to.
Mar 6, 2023
What Happens if You Let Your Error Logs Fill Up Within OpenCart
If you let your error logs fill up within OpenCart, it can have several negative consequences.
Feb 24, 2023
How to Add and Edit Return Actions in OpenCart
When a product is returned either due to a fault or not being quite right for the customer, it can be frustrating for any business. That is why having a good product returns conveyor belt is critical! You can read further understanding how Product Returns work within OpenCart in a previous blog....
Feb 17, 2023
What Are the Drawbacks of Moving Away From OpenCart to a New Platform?
Moving away from OpenCart does have some significant downsides, depending on your specific situation. Here are some potential drawbacks to consider:
Jan 27, 2023
Should I Work on My Opencart Store Myself or Pay Professional Developers?
Whether you should work on your OpenCart store yourself or pay professional developers depends on your own skills, resources, and goals for your online store. However here are some factors to consider when making your decision:
Jan 16, 2023
How to Set Up Weight Based Shipping in OpenCart
Setting up weight based shipping for your OpenCart store is a very useful exercise to undertake if your store requires it.
Dec 16, 2022
Quick Checkout Extension
We get asked quite frequently about how you can improve the OpenCart checkout and potentially reduce the risk of customers abandoning their cart.
Nov 16, 2022
How to Refresh Your Statistics Within OpenCart and Why This Is Important
Making sure your store statistics are up to date within OpenCart is a very useful process to undertake. This blog will highlight where you can find this up to date information and how to keep it up to date
Nov 9, 2022
Why Replying to Emails After Making an Enquiry Is So Important
It may seem like a very odd blog to write but it is a very important point to get across.
Nov 1, 2022
How to Contact OpenCart Extension Support
We always ask clients to buy extensions for various different reasons and our blog Why do we ask Clients to Buy Extensions highlights this.
Oct 14, 2022
How Product Returns Work Within OpenCart
There are two ways product returns are added within OpenCart, either by the customer or manually by yourself. So, let's start with the customer:
Oct 5, 2022
4 Reasons to Upgrade to the Latest Version of PHP
If you're like most people, you probably don't think much about the programming language your website is running on, but your web host should make you aware that they need to keep the server software - including PHP - up-to-date.
Aug 17, 2022
Where to Locate the Sales Statistics List Within Opencart 3.0.3.8
You can get a good overview of your sales within the OpenCart Dashboard but in order to get more in depth analytics on your sales then the Statistics List within OpenCart 3.0.3.8 is a very useful page to go to.
Aug 10, 2022
Why Email New Requests to Our Info Email?
Whenever you have a new requirement it is always best to email info@antropy.co.uk as opposed to just one of the team. The main reason for this is if the person is on annual leave or extremely busy then your request will likely get missed.
Jul 20, 2022
Why and When to Make Use of Our Priority Fee
We have the Priority Fee available for projects that need to be completed urgently to hit a specific deadline. This means that for a small additional fee we will prioritise your project to make sure we hit the agreed deadline in efficient time.
Jun 29, 2022
Why Use Wise for International Bank Transfers
Bank transfers for international payments can be expensive with the conversion rates but equally PayPal fees have also become extortionate. So what is the alternative?
Jun 17, 2022
How to Add a New Image Banner on your Homepage Within OpenCart
Rolling banners on your homepage are a very important visual representation of the products or brands that you sell on your site. Being able to add a new banner on your homepage is a pretty important task to know how to undertake yourself and this blog will highlight exactly how this is done
May 6, 2022
Blocks of Hours vs Support Retainers vs Fixed Price
So we have a number of different ways of working on a project basis with clients. In this blog I will highlight the different ways we can tackle your project
Apr 4, 2022
How to Send an Opencart Extension to Us?
So as per a previous blog of ours, we always ask clients to buy extensions and the reasons for that can be found here - Why do we ask Clients to Buy Extensions? However, in this blog I want to highlight how you go about sending the extensions to us.
Mar 30, 2022
What do UK Ecommerce Sellers Need to Know about EU VAT?
VAT can be a tricky subject for ecommerce sellers in the UK. What’s more, since Brexit there have been a number of changes which have changed how this is calculated.
Mar 28, 2022
Importance of User-Generated Content in eCommerce
Running an eCommerce platform can be exhausting, no matter how well you manage your stock or shipments.
Mar 16, 2022
Antropy Subcategory Images Extension
Adding images within subcategories has been a request we have had a fair bit recently, so we decided to package up our fix into a free extension that you can download here.
Mar 4, 2022
How to Clear Your Browser Cache
There are many different caches within OpenCart and we have a useful blog on this aptly titled ‘How to clear all caches in OpenCart 3.0.2.0’.
Feb 11, 2022
Top 5 Payment Gateway Extensions for OpenCart
We often get clients ask us what is the best Payment Gateway to use for your OpenCart store. So here is a rundown of who we would recommend:
Feb 4, 2022
Opayo Update Deadline for your OpenCart Store is Looming
As I am sure those Opayo (formerly SagePay) users have seen, the SCA Deadline is set for the 14th March 2022. There are a number of updates that need to be put in place before this deadline and these should be implemented sooner rather than later.
Jan 17, 2022
Antropy's 2-Step Strategy for Handling Complex OpenCart Rebuilds
The normal way rebuilds run is we undertake a Phase 1 and then put the site live, if any further work is needed after this then that goes into a Phase 2. However with some sites where they are heavily customised this process isn’t one we would recommend or follow.
Jan 12, 2022
PayPal Search Transaction History within OpenCart
A useful feature within the OpenCart Admin is to be able to search the transaction history of current or previous PayPal orders. This can be found by:
Dec 22, 2021
How to Update Your Information Pages Within OpenCart
The Information page within the OpenCart Admin Panel is a little hidden and you could be clicking around for some time if you don’t know where to look. This is where you can find the following pages: About Us Delivery Information Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions
Dec 8, 2021
Most Viewed Blogs of 2021
Just like in last year's blog, we go through the most viewed blogs written this year according to Google Analytics.
Nov 12, 2021
How Easy Is It to Switch to OpenCart?
A question we get asked a lot when clients are potentially looking to switch from one platform to another is a) how hard is this to achieve and b) how much disruption will it cause to my current site?
Jul 21, 2021
Why use Concrete5 over WordPress?
When it comes to eCommerce stores, OpenCart is of course our go-to but when the site does not need to sell online, then we always go for Concrete5.
Apr 1, 2021
Missing Orders Mysteries
A comprehensive guide on OpenCart's 'Missing Orders' - what they are, their causes, and how to solve.
Mar 16, 2021
How to Add Reward Points to Customers Within OpenCart
Keeping customers happy and making them feel valued is very important. One way to go about this is by rewarding them with Reward Points. In this blog, I highlight how to go about rewarding customers with reward points within OpenCart.
Mar 8, 2021
How to Enable or Disable Payment Methods in OpenCart
What payment methods you want to use on your OpenCart store is a very important decision to make. It is very easy to select which payment methods you would like to use and below I have listed the steps to do this.
Mar 3, 2021
How to Enable or Disable Reviews on Your Site
This may sound like something you should know how to do but I had to squirrel around the admin to find where you enable or disable reviews on your site.
Feb 8, 2021
How to Add a New Voucher Theme in Opencart
Themes/ pictures on vouchers are important when sending a voucher or when a client purchases a gift voucher. The default themes are Birthday, Christmas and General. The below blog highlights how you can add a new theme.
Jan 18, 2021
How to Add a New Weight and Length Class in OpenCart
Adding a new weight or length class is a useful exercise to know within OpenCart. It could be that you notice that in correspondences with customers they keep referring to a specific weight or length metric that you feel could be useful to add to your website.
Jan 11, 2021
New VAT Rules Now We Have Left the EU
Now that we have left the EU as part of Brexit, you will need to alter your VAT statuses to comply with this.
Dec 15, 2020
How to add an IP for an extension that uses the OpenCart API
Sometimes a 3rd party extension or developer will need to access your OpenCart API, for this to happen they will need to get their IP added. I have highlighted below how you undertake this:
Dec 4, 2020
Our Most Viewed Blogs of 2020
Just like in last year's blog, we go through the most viewed blogs written this year according to Google Analytics. This year we have really tried to focus on blogs that will help you as OpenCart users and giving you more 'how to' guides.
Jan 26, 2020
Error Messages not showing up and how you can check these in OpenCart
Blank white pages or 500 Internal Server Errors are a PHP error. For some reason the error messages do not appear due to the server not being setup to display the errors. So how do you go about rectifying this? Well it is actually a relatively simple process.
Jan 18, 2013
One Quick OpenCart SEO Tip to Avoid a Duplicate Home Page
So here's a quick code change that you can do to your OpenCart shop to improve its Search Engine Optimisation.