You run the servers
Self-hosted means you provide hosting, patching, security, SSL and backups, or pay a partner from around $109 a month on top of the licence
CS-Cart alternative
The CS-Cart alternative you never have to host or maintain
IXXO Cart runs your multi-vendor marketplace as fully managed SaaS. No server to patch, no separate upgrade licence, no transaction fees, and in-house developers who help you reach your goals.
2002
Building ecommerce since
1,000+
Clients worldwide
100+
Payment gateways
180+
Shipping carriers
In short
IXXO Cart vs CS-Cart, the short version
Both are capable multi-vendor platforms that take no cut of vendor sales. The difference is who runs it, what the year really costs, and who you call when you need help.
CS-Cart is self-hosted software: you own the code, and you own the server, the upgrade licences and the add-ons. IXXO Cart is managed SaaS, with hosting, updates and hands-on support in one price.
- Fully managed hosting and updates included
- No separate upgrade licence, ever
- Correct per-vendor shipping, tax and commissions
- In-house developers build and support you
- Enterprise self-host or source-code option
Why teams look for an alternative
Where CS-Cart adds hidden cost
CS-Cart is mature marketplace software. These are the reasons owners start pricing a managed alternative.
Updates cost extra
A lifetime licence covers the software you have, but new versions need a separate annual update licence, priced around €3,000
Add-ons and themes stack
Customisation, premium themes and third-party add-ons are billed on top, and by year end can cost more than a managed platform
Support expires
Included support ends after 90 days, after which you buy a support subscription to keep getting help
At a glance
IXXO Cart vs CS-Cart, side by side
Pricing verified in 2026. CS-Cart plans and licences can change, so confirm the current numbers before you decide.
| Feature | IXXO Cart | CS-Cart Multi-Vendor |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting and servers | Fully managed SaaS | Self-hosted, or a paid partner |
| Software updates | Included on every plan | Separate annual update licence |
| Platform transaction fees | €0 | €0 |
| Per-vendor shipping, tax, commission | Calculated correctly per order | Supported, configured by you |
| Support | Ongoing, in-house developers | 90 days, then paid subscription |
| Custom development | Any feature or theme, done for you | Full code access, do it yourself |
| Connected ecosystem | IXXO Cart, POS and Hub | Standalone product |
| Enterprise control | Managed, or self-host / source code | Self-host and full source |
Why teams choose IXXO Cart
Three reasons it wins
The same points come up when marketplaces move off self-hosted software.
Keep 100% of every sale
No platform transaction fees on any plan, for single stores and marketplaces alike
€0Fees
Correct per-vendor maths
Shipping, tax and commissions are calculated accurately per vendor and per order, not bolted on afterwards
Per vendorAccurate
Build anything you need
Our in-house team develops any feature, template or integration you want, and supports you to reach your goals
AnyCustom
A connected ecosystem
Not just a store, the whole operation
IXXO Cart is one part of the IXXO ecosystem. Sell online, sell in person and run the business from connected tools, not four disconnected apps. CS-Cart is a standalone product, so point of sale and back-office tools are someone else's software to integrate.
IXXO Cart
Your online store and multi-vendor marketplace
IXXO POS
Sell in person and keep stock in sync with your store
IXXO Hub
Run orders, customers and the back office in one place
Connected by design
Products, stock and orders flow across the ecosystem
An honest recommendation
Which platform fits you
Both run real marketplaces. Here is where each one wins.
Choose IXXO Cart if
- You want a managed marketplace with nothing to self-host
- You want updates and support included, not billed separately
- You want per-vendor shipping and tax calculated correctly
- You want a team that develops what you need
- You want online, in person and back office connected
Choose CS-Cart if
- You specifically want a one-time licence, not a subscription
- You want to run everything on your own servers
- You have a technical team to host, secure and maintain it
- You want to own and edit all source yourself
- You do not need managed hosting or support
Switching from CS-Cart
Moving your marketplace over, without the downtime
Every annual plan includes personalised setup and migration support, so you are not rebuilding alone.
- Vendors, products, categories and orders transferred
- Storefront, hosting, SSL and email configured for you
- Payment and shipping gateways connected
- A migration specialist to help you go live
Migration plan
From CS-Cart to IXXO Cart3 of 4
Export vendors, products and orders
Import and map to IXXO Cart
Configure hosting and gateways
Go live, fully managed
Common questions
CS-Cart alternative FAQ
Is IXXO Cart a good CS-Cart alternative?
IXXO Cart is a strong CS-Cart alternative if you want a fully managed marketplace instead of self-hosting. Both take no cut of vendor sales, but IXXO Cart includes hosting, updates and hands-on support from our in-house developers in one predictable monthly price.
Does IXXO Cart charge for software updates like CS-Cart?
No. Updates are included in your IXXO Cart plan. With CS-Cart, a lifetime licence covers the software you have but not new versions, and updates are sold as a separate annual licence.
Do I have to host IXXO Cart myself?
No. IXXO Cart is managed SaaS: hosting, SSL, backups and security are handled for you. CS-Cart is self-hosted, so you provide and maintain the server. Large enterprises that need total control can license the IXXO Cart source code or self-host, but managed cloud is the default.
How does IXXO Cart handle per-vendor shipping and commissions?
IXXO Cart calculates shipping, tax and commissions correctly for each vendor on every order, so payouts and buyer totals are right without manual work. This is core to the platform, not an add-on.
When is CS-Cart the better choice?
CS-Cart is a good fit if you specifically want a one-time licence and to run everything on your own servers with your own team. IXXO Cart can also license source code for enterprises, but its default is managed cloud.
Total cost of ownership
The true cost of self-hosting CS-Cart over a year
The headline price is never the real price with self-hosted software. CS-Cart Multi-Vendor is genuinely capable, and its no transaction fee model is a real strength, but the sticker number is only where the bill begins. To compare fairly you have to add up everything a marketplace needs across twelve months, not just the licence.
Take a worked example, with figures verified in 2026, so confirm the current numbers before you commit. On subscription, the Ultimate tier is around $300 a month, roughly $3,600 a year. Because CS-Cart is self-hosted, you then add hosting, either your own servers or a hosting partner from about $109 a month, close to $1,300 more a year. On top of that sit the premium theme, the paid add-ons and any custom work, plus a support subscription once the first 90 days end.
The lifetime licence looks cheaper until you read the update terms. A one-time licence covers the exact version you buy, but moving to new releases needs a separate annual update licence priced around EUR 3,000. So the lifetime route is a licence, plus updates, plus hosting, plus support, plus extras, every year.
- IXXO Cart Multi-Vendor starts at EUR 99.90 a month, one all-in price
- Managed hosting, updates and support are already inside that figure
- No separate upgrade licence and no 90-day support cliff to budget for
- Neither platform takes a cut of your vendors' sales
Who carries the ops
Managed cloud, or running it yourself
Self-hosted is a feature when you have a technical team, and a liability when you do not. With CS-Cart, the software is yours to install and control, which also means the operational work is yours to own. A live marketplace is not a set and forget install. Someone has to keep it fast, secure and online while vendors trade on it every day.
What self-hosting actually involves
Behind the storefront sits a real stack that needs real attention. Underestimating it is the most common reason marketplace owners start pricing a managed alternative in the first place.
- A server to provision, size and pay for, then scale as traffic grows
- PHP, database and platform updates applied without breaking the store
- Security patches, SSL certificates and firewall rules kept current
- Backups, monitoring and uptime that someone is accountable for at 2am
With IXXO Cart, all of that is our job, not yours. IXXO Cart is managed SaaS, so hosting, updates, SSL, backups and security are handled for you, and you spend your time selling and recruiting vendors rather than administering a server.
Help that lasts
Support that does not expire, and a team that builds for you
One line in the CS-Cart terms catches many owners out. Included support runs for 90 days, and after that you buy a support subscription to keep getting help. That is a defensible model for software you own outright, but it means the moment you most need a steady hand, several months into running a busy marketplace, is exactly when the free help has already run out.
IXXO Cart works the other way around. Support is ongoing and comes from our own in-house developers, the same people who build the platform, included for as long as you are with us. There is no countdown and no separate desk to escalate through.
A team that builds, not just answers
Because the developers are in-house, help does not stop at answering a ticket. If your marketplace needs a feature, a template change or an integration that is not there yet, we can build it. IXXO has been building ecommerce since 2002 for more than 1,000 clients, so custom work is routine, not an exception.
- Ongoing support with no 90-day cliff to renew past
- The people who answer are the people who wrote the code
- Custom features, themes and integrations developed in-house
- One accountable team from setup through to growth
Where CS-Cart is strong
When CS-Cart's control model wins, and how IXXO Cart matches it
It would be dishonest to pretend managed cloud suits everyone. CS-Cart earns its reputation on control. You get full source-code access, a genuine one-time licence option, mature marketplace features and no user or transaction limits, all running on infrastructure you own. For an organisation with strict data residency rules and an engineering team that wants to hold every layer, that on-premises model is a real advantage, and for some buyers it is the deciding factor.
Here is the part most comparisons leave out. Managed cloud is the IXXO Cart default and the path we recommend for almost everyone, but it is not the only option. Enterprises that need total control can license the IXXO Cart source code or run it self-hosted, the same control CS-Cart offers, without giving up the option of our managed hosting and in-house support if priorities change later.
- CS-Cart is a strong fit for teams set on a one-time licence and their own servers
- Full source and on-premises data control are genuine CS-Cart strengths
- IXXO Cart offers source-code licensing and self-hosting for enterprises that need it
- You can start managed and move to self-host, or the reverse, without changing platform
Ready when you are
See your marketplace running, with nothing to host
Book a walkthrough, or tell us about your marketplace and we will help you plan the move