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Just one step away from being independent with your online store!

  • No monthly cost for license
  • Unlimited freedom to customize your store
  • We are trusted all over the world
Download Zen Cart 2.1.0

SHA256: d36bde8d7c79a260c1f268cb7de99d229381daba6dfed383759138c428985542
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Click here to download older versions

Download Zen Cart

What's Next

Learn how to get your 10-Minute Deployment

  • Extract & Upload: Unzip the downloaded file and upload the contents to your server's public directory (e.g., public_html) via SFTP or your hosting file manager.
  • Prepare the Database: Create a new, empty MySQL or MariaDB database and user in your hosting control panel.
  • Run the Installer: Navigate to your store's URL in any web browser. The built-in zc_install wizard will automatically launch and guide you through the final database connection and admin setup.

Need a detailed walkthrough?

Head over to our Official Installation Guide for a step-by-step installation guide, server optimization tips and security best practices to ensure your store is rock-solid from day one.

Technical Information

What do I need to run Zen Cart®?

Server Compatibility

The lowest level hosting solution that offers modern PHP, a web server (like Apache or Nginx), and a MySQL database is usually sufficient to get started.

While many hosting companies provide a "one-click" Zen Cart® auto-installer for quick tryouts, we highly recommend performing a manual installation for live production environments. This ensures you have complete control over your security and file structure.

View Detailed Server Requirements

Minimum Specs (v2.1+)

  • PHP 8.1 - 8.3+
  • Web Server Apache / Nginx
  • Database MySQL 5.7+ / MariaDB

Don't build in isolation!

Whether you need help configuring your first payment gateway, styling your template, or discovering hidden features, our community has your back! Join the official Zen Cart forum to access over 20 years of collective e-commerce wisdom, tips and tricks from thousands of active store owners and developers.

Join the Official Forum