Open source vs proprietary software. It’s a choice many in the eCommerce industry must make, and it can be an overwhelming one at that. Like any other decision to be made, it takes examination, planning, and foresight to set you on the right track.
With open source vs proprietary, the choice to decide which type of eCommerce solution you and your company are going to build depends on business needs and how extensive the installation will be.
Open Source Vs Proprietary Software
Open Source
In short, the main benefit of open source is a wide range of options in customization and innovation. A developer or eCommerce operator will have access to an existing baseline framework and many third party integrations, plug-ins, and extensions, generally free of charge.
This gives the advantage of building a customized store that would carry a personal developer’s touch, as well as losing restrictions on which code you can use. But in using open source to build an eCommerce store, a person should evaluate their ability to customize and string third party applications into one functioning framework.
It’s an attractive path to be sure, but it may not be the best overall solution in the end. It is likely there isn’t one centralized place where you can allocate all of your operations, making open source a better bet for those who are willing to be extremely organized, knowledge savvy, and creative in researching and assembling the resources they find to create a functional store or shopping cart.
Despite the challenges, open source can be a good investment for smaller eCommerce companies and people who only need to build a shopping cart. It’s also a great resource for the experienced or those who would love to learn eCommerce development.
Proprietary Software
If you choose proprietary, you are restricted with the code of that system. However, if you know what you want, you can make it work for you. It’s restricted and it may be “corporate”, but it allows tailored plug-ins and management systems to work to your benefit. Proprietary systems are designed to get what you need quickly and efficiently.
If you need extensive functionality, proprietary might also be a more suitable choice. Proprietary will most likely handle high-end, extensive functionality (such as easy ERP integration, feature-rich CMS systems, a list of module development and module capability).
A basic rule is the smaller your eCommerce needs, the more open source is a suitable option, whereas a bigger company would benefit from a proprietary solution to assist in the many online transactions they receive a day.
Pros and Cons of Open Source vs Proprietary Software
When dealing with open source vs proprietary, some of the key pros and cons eCommerce platforms offer are the following:
- Pros of open source:
- It’s easier to configure and customize the platform
- For the experienced, it can be easy and ready to use
- Wide network of extensions, plug-ins and the open source development network readily accessible
- Good support for multi-language
- Easy integration of payment gateway
- A good offering for small and medium e-commerce needs
- Innovation is easy for those up to it
- Cons of open source:
- Fewer Article/Content Management features
- Advertising, templates, content management are not easily handled
- Practical features for business needs may not be covered in open source framework
- Detailed understanding of the framework needed to make customization
- Functionalities tend to be restricted to e-commerce. Branding, marketing, and outreach efforts must be achieved through outside programs
- Lack of multi-functionality
- Integration with other systems can be a challenge
- Potentially not suitable for bigger solutions (higher data transactions and large number of visitors)
- Pros of proprietary:
- Able to handle a large number of visitors and large transactions
- Maintains a uniform appearance
- Multiple functionality. It’s more likely the same platform can handle and achieve other business goals
- Less experienced users can achieve more through pre-designed platform building
- Easy integrations with other systems
- Cons of proprietary:
- Framework may be restricted to a certain system or brand
- Code is locked, so there is a lack of individuality
- Customization may be restricted
- There is no outside or third party input you can use
- Strong possibility of what you see is what you get
To put it simply, it's all about finding a solution that is in line with your company's goals.
Need help deciding which solution is right for your business? Contact our team of eCommerce specialists today for a one-on-one consultation. 
