FoxyCart: eCommerce Shopping Cart Review
Among ecommerce software solutions, FoxyCart is a relative underdog, without the same sort of marketing push (or feature list) that some of the alternatives like Volusion or BigCommerce have. That being said, there are some aspects of FoxyCart which may make it particularly well suited to the needs of some online store operators.
The Basics
Like most of the other products in the ecommerce software category, FoxyCart is a primarily web-based tool that can be used to handle the most important “behind the scenes” aspects of operating an ecommerce site. At a single price point of $19 US per month, FoxyCart is much more affordable than most of the alternatives.
What makes FoxyCart different from the likes of BigCommerce or Volusion is that FoxyCart is more or less strictly a shopping cart service. Unlike these other providers, FoxyCart does not offer storefront templates, analytics options, or a product input system of its own. So, what makes FoxyCart a viable solution for ecommerce site operators?
Features
In its capacity as an ecommerce shopping cart, FoxyCart offers a good variety of features that should be able to meet the needs of most online shop owners. These include several preset checkout options (as well as customization in this area), coupon code management, receipt generation, integration with many different payment gateways (including PayPal), and live shipping rate support for the USPS, UPS, FedEx and DHL.
Ease of Use
The unique thing about FoxyCart, though, is its relative open-endedness in comparison to the other popular ecommerce platforms. From a professional web developer’s perspective, this makes it much easier to use. FoxyCart isn’t nearly as bulky as some of the other packages. Instead, it gives developers the freedom to build their site as they see fit, with FoxyCart handling the back end.
By the same token, this means that business operators who are looking for a do-it-yourself type of solution may be better off with something like Volusion or BigCommerce. FoxyCart is a very good shopping cart application, but it won’t help you build the front end of your store. To really get the most out of FoxyCart, you’ll need some HTML and CSS expertise anyway.
Conclusion
FoxyCart is a great option for business owners who are skilled in web design, or intend to hire a professional web designer to build an ecommerce site. At an affordable price, FoxyCart handles the nitty gritty of ecommerce, but it isn’t the same type of all-in-one solution that you can get from providers like BigCommerce or Volusion.