The easiest way to add a shopping cart or e-commerce to your website is through Softaculous, the one-click installer included in your cPanel. Softaculous offers several e-commerce platforms including WooCommerce (WordPress plugin), PrestaShop, OpenCart, and more. This guide covers the most popular options and how to install them.
WooCommerce on WordPress
WooCommerce powers over 30% of all online stores. It's free, flexible, and runs on WordPress:
- Install WordPress via Softaculous
- Add WooCommerce plugin from WordPress admin > Plugins > Add New
- Follow the setup wizard to configure your store
01. WooCommerce (Recommended)
- Install WordPress - use Softaculous in cPanel for a one-click install
- Log into WordPress admin
- Go to Plugins > Add New > search for "WooCommerce"
- Install and activate
- Follow the setup wizard - configure your store details, payment methods (PayPal, Stripe), shipping, and tax settings
WooCommerce is the best choice for most small to mid-size stores. It's free (paid extensions available for advanced features), has thousands of themes, and integrates with every major payment processor.
02. Other Shopping Cart Options
All of these are available in cPanel > Softaculous > E-Commerce category:
- PrestaShop - standalone e-commerce platform, good for larger stores that don't need WordPress
- OpenCart - lightweight, multi-store support, large extension marketplace
- Magento (OpenMage) - enterprise-grade, best suited for VPS or dedicated servers due to resource requirements
For shared hosting, WooCommerce or PrestaShop are the best choices. Magento requires significantly more server resources than shared hosting provides. If you need Magento, consider a VPS.
03. SSL Is Required for E-Commerce
Any site that accepts payments must use HTTPS. Your Ultra account includes free SSL certificates via AutoSSL, so this is already covered. Just make sure HTTPS is forced on your site. See our SSL guide for details.
Payment processors like Stripe and PayPal require HTTPS and will not work on unencrypted connections.
Need Help Setting Up Your Store?
If you're running into issues during installation or payment configuration, open a ticket.
Open a Support TicketFrequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to add a shopping cart to my site?
Use Softaculous, the one-click installer in cPanel. It installs e-commerce platforms including WooCommerce for WordPress, PrestaShop, and OpenCart. WooCommerce is the most popular and is the recommended option for most stores.
Which shopping cart should I use?
WooCommerce is recommended for most users because it runs on WordPress, which is flexible and well-supported. PrestaShop and OpenCart are good standalone alternatives. Choose based on whether you want a WordPress-based store or a dedicated e-commerce platform.
How do I install WooCommerce?
Install WordPress through Softaculous in cPanel if you do not have it yet, then add the WooCommerce plugin from the WordPress dashboard and run its setup wizard. Softaculous can also install WordPress and WooCommerce together.
Do I need an SSL certificate for an online store?
Yes. E-commerce requires SSL to encrypt customer and payment data, and payment providers require it. UWH provides free AutoSSL, so your store is covered automatically once the certificate is issued; make sure the site is served over HTTPS.
Quick Recap
- WooCommerce is the top choice - free, runs on WordPress, huge ecosystem
- Install WordPress first - via Softaculous, then add WooCommerce plugin
- Other options - PrestaShop, OpenCart available via Softaculous
- SSL is mandatory - already included free with your Ultra account
- Avoid Magento on shared hosting - it needs a VPS for decent performance
Last updated November 2026 · Browse all Getting Started articles
