Magento VS Zen Cart

Magento and Zen Cart run on the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL,PHP). Zen Cart is easy to install and can be used in shared hosting environments. Whereas, Magento is little demanding and requires an environment of high-end hosting. Some of the features of Magento such as Multi Store, Catalog Management etc are rarely seen with other shopping carts.
Magento & Zen Cart can be compared on following basis:

1. Multi Store
Magento provides the feature of Multi Store. Its Multi Store feature distinguishes it from other shopping carts. On the other hand Zen Cart doesn't have such feature.

2. iPhone optimized
Website built on Magento eCommerce platform is iPhone optimized whereas websites built on Zen Cart are not iPhone optimized. So if you want your websites to be iPhone optimized, then Magento is better option over Zen Cart. Magento offers FREE iPhone optimized themes.

3. Email template management
In Magento you can manage your email templates so that your emails go straight to your customers' inbox! However, such feature is not there in Zen Cart.

4. Catalog Management
Catalog management is one of the best features of Magento. It provides intuitive administrative interface. The catalog system includes several flexible options for displaying items, while the products can be imported and exported for batch updates offline.
Zen Cart doesn't provide such Catalog Management System.

5. Product comparisons
In Magento, you can easily compare your products. While browsing your store, customers can compare products through its catalog with Magento Compare Box.
Product comparisons are not available in Zen Cart.

6. Bundled products
Bundled products and attributes of inventory control are highlighted in Magento. In Magento, you can show several products on one page.
In Zen cart, showing several products in one page is not possible.

7. Wishlist
Wishlist feature is very helpful in increasing product sales of an e-store. Magento offers wishlist feature. However, wishlist features is not there in Zen Cart.

8. Shipping to multiple addresses in one order
Magento provides you an option to allow your customers to ship items to multiple addresses. Zen cart doesn't provide such feature.

Comparison Chart: Magento VS Zen Cart