X-Cart is an e-commerce solution built on PHP, designed to facilitate the creation and management of online stores. It serves a diverse range of businesses, from fledgling startups to established enterprises, that aim to sell products or services through their websites. Unlike fully hosted options, X-Cart operates as a self-hosted system, allowing users to purchase a software license and install it on their own web servers for enhanced control and ownership.

The platform includes various versions, primarily divided into the legacy X-Cart Business, which is the traditional self-hosted option, and the modern X-Cart SaaS, a cloud-based service that competes with established platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce. Both versions provide a comprehensive array of features and can be installed on various hosting environments, including shared hosting and dedicated servers. The choice between X-Cart and alternatives such as WooCommerce or Magento should be driven by the specific needs and priorities of the business.