What is a Hosted Shopping Cart and How is it different from an Unhosted Shopping Cart?

Hosted Shopping Carts:

Are also called ASP (Application Service Provider). ASP shopping carts are remotely hosted shopping carts. ASPs can be accessed through a web-based location where you can create, maintain and update your web store. Most ASP shopping cart providers also other services like store maintenance and technical support..

Unhosted Shopping Carts:

Non-ASP shopping carts require a lot of customization and are for those companies that have the technical means to implement them. Unhosted Carts are usually free, open source and downloadable shopping carts. They usually do not offer ecommerce solutions and do not provide any hosting services and are not responsible for your store maintenance, security or store operations.

Hosted Shopping Carts (ASP) Vs Non-ASP Shopping Carts Comparison Table

Top Reviewed Carts

Criteria ASP Shopping Carts Non-ASP Shopping Carts Start Up Cost Small Big (Open source shopping carts are free but they require lot of customization) Investment in Infrastructure Infrastructure already made Need to Develop Infrastructure Data Management Central Location, management Is easier. (Note: Data security features depend on vendor- Evaluate data security carefully before deciding.) Harder to Manage Pricing Pay Per Usage. One Time Cost Hosting Infrastructure Each ASP will provide an manage this. Your responsibility Responsibility for Store Uptime Software Provider. You. Software Upgrades Free upgrades possible, as the store is centrally located. Manual installation is required, you may have to buy updates. Tracking Tracking will break in transition to shopping cart. Tracking will not break SEO No Yes