CMS & e-commerce

OpenCart VPS HostingA Lightweight Store on Your Own Server

OpenCart is light and fast, and it runs best when the server around it is set up properly. We install OpenCart with Apache, PHP-FPM and MySQL or MariaDB on a hardened KVM VPS, with the storage folder moved outside the web root.

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Full root & SSH NVMe storage Daily backups Anti-DDoS 99.9% uptime SLA 11 locations

  • A safer file layout

    Storage kept outside the public folder.

  • Reserved vCores and RAM

    Checkout on resources that are yours.

  • Root and SSH access

    PHP version, limits and extensions.

  • Daily backups

    Automatic backup of the previous 24 hours.

Why a VPS

Why Host OpenCart on a VPS

OpenCart itself is lean, so a VPS mostly buys you control: PHP settings, a secure file layout and resources that do not fluctuate.

  1. A safer file layout

    Keep the storage folder (cache, logs, sessions, downloads) outside the public directory, as OpenCart recommends.

  2. Reserved resources

    Checkout and catalogue pages run on CPU and RAM that are not shared with other sites.

  3. PHP the way OpenCart wants it

    Set the PHP version, extensions and limits your OpenCart release and extensions need.

  4. Room for extensions

    Install marketplace extensions and themes without host restrictions.

The stack

An OpenCart Server Stack

A light PHP stack, with OpenCart's private files kept out of the web root.

Request from a browser or app (HTTPS)

  1. Web server

    Apache

    Uses OpenCart's .htaccess for SEO-friendly URLs.

  2. PHP runtime

    PHP-FPM + OPcache

    Runs the storefront and admin.

  3. Application

    OpenCart

    Catalogue, checkout and the admin area.

  4. Storage

    storage folder outside the web root

    Cache, logs, sessions and downloads, not reachable by URL.

  5. Database

    MySQL or MariaDB

    Products, customers and orders.

Worth knowing

  • Rename htaccess.txt to .htaccess to enable SEO-friendly URLs.
  • Delete the install folder after installation.
  • Rename the admin folder to make the back office harder to find.
  • Check extension compatibility with your OpenCart version before upgrading.
What you can run

What You Can Run

  • Small and mid-size stores

    A fast store with low resource needs.

  • Multi-store setups

    Several stores from one admin, built into OpenCart.

  • Digital downloads

    Files kept outside the web root and delivered securely.

  • Multi-language, multi-currency shops

    Selling across countries from one installation.

  • Agency client stores

    Several OpenCart installs on one server.

  • Staging copies

    Test extensions and upgrades before going live.

VPS Plans

VPS Plans for OpenCart

OpenCart is light: VPS-1 runs most small and mid-size stores. Choose VPS-2 for larger catalogues or several stores.

VPS-1

Small websites, APIs, bots and development servers.

₹1,008 /mo
Get Started
  • 2 vCores
  • 4 GB RAM
  • 40 GB NVMe
  • 500 Mbps
  • Full root and SSH access
  • Free initial stack installation
  • Server hardening and firewall setup
  • Daily backup of the previous 24 hours
  • Unlimited traffic *
  • Anti-DDoS protection
  • Dedicated IPv4 and IPv6
  • KVM virtualisation
Most Popular

VPS-2

Production apps, WordPress and online stores.

₹1,906 /mo
Get Started
  • 4 vCores
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 75 GB NVMe
  • 1 Gbps
  • Full root and SSH access
  • Free initial stack installation
  • Server hardening and firewall setup
  • Daily backup of the previous 24 hours
  • Unlimited traffic *
  • Anti-DDoS protection
  • Dedicated IPv4 and IPv6
  • KVM virtualisation

VPS-3

Busy stores, SaaS products and several projects.

₹2,748 /mo
Get Started
  • 6 vCores
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 100 GB NVMe
  • 2 Gbps
  • Full root and SSH access
  • Free initial stack installation
  • Server hardening and firewall setup
  • Daily backup of the previous 24 hours
  • Unlimited traffic *
  • Anti-DDoS protection
  • Dedicated IPv4 and IPv6
  • KVM virtualisation

VPS-4

High-traffic apps, large databases and agencies.

₹5,274 /mo
Get Started
  • 8 vCores
  • 24 GB RAM
  • 200 GB NVMe
  • 3 Gbps
  • Full root and SSH access
  • Free initial stack installation
  • Server hardening and firewall setup
  • Daily backup of the previous 24 hours
  • Unlimited traffic *
  • Anti-DDoS protection
  • Dedicated IPv4 and IPv6
  • KVM virtualisation

* Unlimited traffic in Europe and North America. In Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney a monthly allowance applies (VPS-1 500 GB, VPS-2/VPS-3 1 TB, VPS-4 3 TB), then speed is limited to 10 Mbps until the next month.

Sizing guide

Which Plan for Your OpenCart Store

OpenCart needs little; extensions, catalogue size and traffic decide the plan.

Recommended VPS plan for each OpenCart workload
Workload Start with Why
Small store VPS-1 2 vCores · 4 GB RAM Plenty for OpenCart, Apache and MariaDB.
Larger catalogue VPS-2 4 vCores · 8 GB RAM More PHP workers and database memory.
Several stores or high traffic VPS-3 6 vCores · 12 GB RAM 6 vCores and 12 GB RAM.
Many stores for an agency VPS-4 8 vCores · 24 GB RAM 24 GB RAM and 200 GB NVMe.

A starting point, not a limit: every plan upgrades in place, keeping your data, IP address and configuration.

OpenCart on Shared Hosting or a VPS?

OpenCart runs on shared hosting, but a VPS lets you lay it out securely and size it for your traffic.

Feature Shared hosting OpenCart VPS
Storage folder outside the web root Often not possible Yes
PHP version and limits The host's selection Your choice
Resources at peak times Shared Reserved
Root and SSH access No Yes
Server administration Done by the host Yours, after our free setup
Best for Very small stores Stores that want control and security
Explore Shared hosting See Plans
After handover

Running OpenCart Day to Day

Common maintenance tasks over SSH.

  1. Back up the database

    A consistent dump without locking tables.

  2. Back up images and extensions

    The files the database does not hold.

  3. Clear the cache

    After installing extensions or themes.

  4. Watch the error log

    The first place to look when something breaks.

# 1. Back up the database

mysqldump --single-transaction store | gzip > ~/backups/store-$(date +%F).sql.gz

# 2. Back up images and extensions

tar -czf ~/backups/store-files-$(date +%F).tar.gz -C /var/www/store image extension

# 3. Clear the cache

rm -rf /var/www/storage/cache/*

# 4. Watch the error log

tail -f /var/www/storage/logs/error.log

Example shell commands; adjust paths, names and versions to your project.

Example commands; adjust names, paths and versions to your project. Deploying and maintaining your application is yours to do (or ask us for a quote).

Free one-time setup

Installed and Secured Before You Log In

The VPS is unmanaged: after handover the server is yours to run. Before that, our engineers do the first setup once, free, so you start from a hardened server with OpenCart in place.

  1. Choose a plan and location

    Pick the resources you need and the datacentre closest to your users.

  2. Tell us your OpenCart setup

    Versions, database and domain: at order or right after.

  3. We install and secure it

    Server hardened, OpenCart installed and tested, HTTPS on your domain.

  4. You take over with root

    SSH access to a working server, ready for your code and data.

Your OpenCart stack

  • Apache with SEO URL rewrites
  • PHP-FPM with the extensions OpenCart requires
  • MySQL or MariaDB with a database for the store
  • OpenCart installed on your domain with HTTPS
  • Storage folder moved outside the web root, install folder removed

Yours to run after handover

  • Ongoing server administration
  • Application maintenance and updates
  • Debugging your code
  • Migrating existing sites or data

Not included in the free setup, but we can quote for it. No control panel by default: CloudPanel, HestiaCP or Virtualmin on request at no cost; cPanel and Plesk need their own licence.

Under the hood

Platform Specs and Locations

The same KVM platform on every plan; only the CPU, RAM, storage and port speed change.

VPS platform specifications
Virtualisation KVM with reserved vCores and RAM
Storage NVMe SSD on every plan
Network Dedicated IPv4 and IPv6, 500 Mbps to 3 Gbps per plan
Operating systems Ubuntu 26.04, 24.04 and 22.04 LTS · Debian 13, 12 and 11 · AlmaLinux · Rocky Linux · Fedora · FreeBSD
Access Full root over SSH, key-based login
Backups Automatic daily backup of the previous 24 hours; snapshots and longer retention on request
Protection Always-on anti-DDoS mitigation
Availability 99.9% uptime SLA

Secured before we hand it over

  • Non-root sudo user created for daily work
  • SSH key login, password login for root disabled
  • Firewall (UFW) open only for the ports you use
  • Fail2ban blocking repeated login attempts
  • Automatic security updates enabled
  • Free Let's Encrypt SSL on your domain
  • Timezone, swap and hostname configured

Asia-Pacific

  • Mumbai
  • Singapore
  • Sydney

Europe

  • London
  • Limburg
  • Roubaix
  • Gravelines
  • Strasbourg
  • Milan
  • Warsaw

North America

  • Beauharnois

Availability per location changes with demand; we confirm your location before setup. In Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney each plan includes a monthly traffic allowance (VPS-1 500 GB, VPS-2 and VPS-3 1 TB, VPS-4 3 TB); beyond it, speed is limited to 10 Mbps until the next month.

Who it's for

Who an OpenCart VPS Suits

  • Small and mid-size merchants

    A light store with a secure layout and room to grow.

  • OpenCart developers and agencies

    Client stores and staging copies on one server.

  • Stores outgrowing shared hosting

    Shops that need their own resources and settings.

Running it well

Security and Performance for OpenCart

Security

  • Keep OpenCart and extensions updated.
  • Rename the admin folder and use strong admin passwords.
  • Keep the storage folder outside the web root.
  • Install extensions only from developers you trust.

Performance

  • Enable OPcache.
  • Use the theme cache in production.
  • Compress and resize product images.
  • Disable extensions you do not use.
OpenCart VPS FAQs

Questions Before You Deploy

Not covered here? Ask an engineer before you order.

Run OpenCart on Its Own Server

Choose a plan and we hand over OpenCart installed with a secure file layout and HTTPS.

Deploy Your VPS Talk to an Engineer