PrestaShop vs Shopify: the complete comparison for 2025

PrestaShop and Shopify embody two visions of online commerce in 2025: one open, modular and autonomous, the other turnkey, hosted and optimized for speed. For a merchant looking to launch or redesign an online store, the choice of platformforme will shape day-to-day management, technical control, costs and growth trajectory. The former relies on freedom of architecture and code, the latter on simplicity and a performe hosting foundation maintained by the publisher. Both offer robust functionality, but the trade-offs are different: deep, fine-grained customization for PrestaShop, operational speed and ecosystem consistency for Shopify. In this comparison, we decode these orientations to help you make the right decisions, with case studies and a product engineering perspective.

Whether you're running a forte growing SME or starting up a side project, the prism of costs, start-up, customer support, SEO and monetization means remains central. Between subscription-based invoicing and variable expenses, between integrated services and a marketplace of modules, the trade-off is not just a budgetary issue: it involves the ability to pivot graphically, to evolve the architecture, or to absorber a seasonal traffic peak. The aim of this guide is to align your priorities with the respective forces of PrestaShop and Shopify, without a militant angle, but with a lucid look at the trade-offs. This is all the more true for an ambitious e-commerce project, where scalability and related tools (tracking, analytics, logistics) determine the ability to hold up over the long term.

PrestaShop vs Shopify: Fundamental technical differences

The first difference is technical. PrestaShop is open source software that can be installed at the hosting provider of your choice, while Shopify is a SaaS platform delivered with hosting, security and updates managed by the publisher. In concrete terms, one gives full access to the code, the other offers a controlled framework and forte consistency of the ecosystem. A fictitious brand like Maison Lenoir, which sells premium ready-to-porter, will have a very different rapport to the technical site depending on the option chosen.

In practice, the day-to-day impacts are tangible: deployments, security, continuous integration, but also access rights and scalability. PrestaShop marries comprehensive DevOps processes, alors as Shopify reduces effort and normalizes components. The former is much appreciated by technical teams who want to industrialize and audit every brick, while the latter reassures those who want to get straight to the point. To get your bearings, it's useful to visualize the major markers.

Criteria	PrestaShop	Shopify
Nature	Open source, accessible code	SaaS, hosted service
Hosting	Your choice (e.g. Hostinger)	Included and managed by the publisher
Code check	Complete, deeply customizable	Controlled framework, extensions via App Store
Updates	To be managed by the merchant/tech	Automatic on platform sideforme
Ecosystem	Large community of modules and themes	Integrated and consistent catalog
Target team	Tech/product with requirements fortes	Merchants orented go-to-market

• PrestaShop valorakes advantage of technical autonomy and mastery of source code.

• Shopify relies on its SaaS model and managed base for fast turnaround.

• Your daily management trajectory will be influenced by this initial choice.

PrestaShop open source: autonomous management and technical freedom

With PrestaShop, you manage the stack, deployments and security in your own environment. This approach appeals to teams who want to plug in third-party services, write in-house modules and fine-tune server-side performance. Hosting can be shared or dedicated, with Hostinger for example, for a gradual move upmarket.

Freedom extends to data governance and back-up supervision. A merchant with specific needs (PIM, OMS, ERP connections) will appreciate the depth of customization offered by PrestaShop. On the other hand, application maintenance and management require solid organization and team rituals.

• Full access to the code and database.

• Freedom to choose the analytics tool and infrastructure.

• Internally controlled release cycle, ideal for demanding roadmaps.

Shopify: turnkey simplicity and hosted SaaS solution

Shopify reduces the time between idea and launch. The publisher takes care of security, hosting and updates, allowing you to focus on customer relations and the catalog. For a team focused on marketing, the logic of a single subscription with services included simplifies the reading of costs.

The downside is a dependence on the Shopify framework. We gain in consistency and velocity, but lose a little latitude on the technical layers. For many projects, it's a favorable compromise, particularly for testing a market without tying up too many resources.

• Managed stack, rapid deployment and reduced maintenance.

• A coherent ecosystem of ready-to-use applications and features.

• Budget transparency thanks to subscription and included services.

Cost comparison between PrestaShop and Shopify: subscription, fees, services

PrestaShop is free to download, but requires hosting, a domain name, modules and sometimes custom development. Shopify, on the other hand, works on a subscription basis, with integrated hosting, but transaction fees apply depending on payment methods and formule. Depending on the maturity of the online store, one or the other may prove more profitable.

To refine the budget, you can compare short- and medium-term spending categories. Shops that want to control their infrastructure will also consider the cost of scaling up and the potential savings through optimization. On the SaaS side, the transparency of the data is appealing due to its clarity, while the open-source model shines with its flexibility. To learn more about the SaaS model and its financial impact, consult [link to relevant page]. this analysis on the costs of SaaS and, on the hosting side, the selection the best accommodations to frame your choices.

• PrestaShop: variable costs (server, domain, themes, extensions, maintenance).

• Shopify: fixed subscription cost, but payment commissions to be integrated.

• Compare the total cost of ownership over 12 to 24 months for a realistic view.

PrestaShop is free but has variable costs: hosting, modules, domain name

With PrestaShop, a key item is hosting. Depending on traffic levels, you can start with a shared hosting package and then upgrade to a VPS. Premium themes and certain paid modules are added to the bill, not forgetting hours of integration if customization is advanced. The advantage is that you can fine-tune each expense according to your real needs.

Merchants who are familiar with their product cycle have a good grasp of these trade-offs. PrestaShop's structural freedom can generate savings over time, especially if the technical team industrializes deployments. To identify priorities, the resource essential features for an e-commerce website constitutes a good starting point.

• Server adapted to the estimated traffic, easily scalable.

• Themes and extensions chosen à la carte.

• Possibility of reducing costs through continuous optimization.

Shopify: predictable monthly costs but sales commissions

With Shopify, hosting is included and updates are automatic. The subscription price offers appreciable visibility, especially for an online store in the test phase. On the other hand, you'll need to factor in payment fees, which vary according to the gateway and formule chosen. A free trial often enables you to validate operational relevance before committing yourself.

For a multi-tool perspective, you can also compare the stores apps and integrations useful for marketing or data. The SaaS ecosystem 2025 tool map is helpful: see, for example... the best SaaS software and project management tools in order to estimate the overall cost of the connectors.

• Monthly budget easily readable thanks to the central for fact.

• Payment costs to be monitored according to volumes.

• Rapid market testing via accelerated online launch.

Ease of use: PrestaShop or Shopify for which user profile?

The question of ease of use intersects with internal organization and available skills. Shopify is designed to guide the merchant every step of the way, while PrestaShop requires a technical grounding to deliver quickly and efficiently. This difference can be felt right from onboarding, and then in the way the catalog and online store are set up.

• Marketing first and speed on the Shopify side for lean teams.

• Flexibility and control on the PrestaShop side for product teams.

• Arbitrate based on time-to-market and the need for control.

Shopify: intuitive setup ideal for beginners and SMEs

With Shopify, the interface is guided, the wizards are clear and the parameters easy to find. Small and medium-sized businesses launching an online store see it as a gas pedal, with a base UX Predictable and with a didactic parameterization logic. This is an advantage in terms of formation and administration.

The consistency of the platformforme also helps to reduce errors and hidden costs. For a first launch, a merchant can publish quickly, then enrich gradually. Help guides and 24/7 customer support appor welcome psychological security lors the first few weeks.

• Setup in a few hours for a short catalogue.

• Gradual learning without technical debt.

• Less friction for non-technical teams.

PrestaShop: complex installation but advanced control for experts

PrestaShop is best suited to technical profiles and experienced entrepreneurs. Installation, security and advanced configuration require project rigor and product culture. In exchange, you benefit from fine-grained control over data, functionalities and workflows.

Teams with a dedicated developer benefit from stable workflows and a well-managed architecture. This approach allows for significant flexibility in building a customized experience. For assistance in choosing similar tools (CMS or builders), see [link to relevant resource]. this CMS comparison.

• Infrastructure and security setup from the outset.

• A rich and open ecosystem to integrate your favorites bricks.

• Suitable for ambitious technical roadmaps.

Modules, extensions and customization: which is the most comprehensive?

Modules and themes orent the experience. PrestaShop boasts a vast catalog, supported by the community and independent publishers, favoring advanced customization. Shopify offers a tighter App Store, but is particularly coherent and easy to connect to the platformforme.

• Volume and diversity at PrestaShop to build customized experiences.

• Smoother integration at Shopify, less scattering.

• Choose according to the product strategy and acceptable technical debt.

PrestaShop: a rich catalog of modules and themes from the community

The PrestaShop marketplace regorge of modules and themes adapted to very specific cases: B2B, marketplaces, specific subscriptions, etc. This richness is ideal for projects aimed at UX differentiation. The charter and front-end can be customized without any major constraints, and with great freedom of integration.

To inspire a creative project, you can combine the approach with design tools or UI libraries. Also useful is the selection best design tools 2025 and, for the visuals, alternatives to CanvaWebflow teams will be able to compare integrations via these useful plugins.

• Wide choice of themes and extensions to cover niche needs.

• Suitable for teams that want a UX difference fort.

• Dynamic community ecosystem.

Shopify: extensions with simplified integration and ecosystem consistency

At Shopify, the selection of apps is tighter, but the integration is very straightforward. The aim is to limit friction and offer a unifiedorme experience. This appeals to merchants who want to focus on content, campaigns and growth rather than technical assembly.

On a daily basis, the consistency of the Store App limits incompatibilities and facilitates support. To map your e-marketing stack, you can also explore the best no-code toolsoften complementing a Shopify base.

• Guided integrations, clear documentation.

• Reduced maintenance and standardized workflows.

• Good compromise for 1TP5 market-oriented product roadmaps.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Advantages and limitations of the two platforms

SEO influences the acquisition costs and resilience of an online store. Shopify offers solid native settings, an automatically generated sitemap and a sound technical foundation. PrestaShop, on the other hand, allows for deeper settings and the use of specialized modules to fine-tune indexing and search engine optimization. internal networking.

In both cases, the editorial strategy, backlinks, and content quality remain crucial. The advantage of an open stack is that it allows for more in-depth exploration of data schemas, whereas SaaS provides a ready-made, ranking-ready foundation. For tools, see [link to relevant documentation]. this selection of SEO tools to complement native capabilities, whatever the platformforme.

• Shopify: clean, automated native SEO base.

• PrestaShop: freedom to fine-tune and add advanced bricks.

• Editorial content remains king for converting qualified traffic.

Shopify SEO: Native tools and automated sitemap management

Shopify automatically manages sitemaps, provides fields for tags, and works well with trackers and auditing tools. For a brand that wants to publish fast, these assets accelerate organique visibility. Technical consistency also limits the number of critical errors that hinder referencing.

This robust approach is suitable for simple to medium-sized catalogs. For complex cases, specialized apps can be used to supplement it. The key is to align content, search intent, and page architecture.

• Native settings, less initial configuration.

• Shopify app ecosystem dedicated to on-page SEO.

• A good foundation for a gradual increase in power.

PrestaShop SEO: specialized modules and customizable options

PrestaShop allows you to push URL structure, microdata and logs to the limit. There are numerous extensions dedicated to SEO, facilitating tailor-made strategies. This is particularly interesting for sites with a large catalog or specific editorial needs.

The trade-off remains the initial configuration and the industrialization of practices. An architecture designed from the outset avoids costly overhauls later. To know when to start from scratch, see the article website redesign or takeover apporte useful criteria.

• Technical latitude for meshing and structured data.

• Marketplace full of PrestaShop extensions.

• Ideal for e-commerce projects with forte organic requirements.

Payment solutions: flexibility, fees, and bank integrations

Both solutions support all major payment methods. PrestaShop integrates its own commission-free gateways, while Shopify charges fees according to the formule. VISA, MasterCard, wallets like Apple Pay or Google Pay, p1TP5Wallets like PayPal, Stripe or Amazon Pay: the coverage is wide. For a merchant with tight margins, these few commission points weigh in the balance.

Beyond costs, the choice of gateway influences conversion. A smooth checkout, local options, and perceived trust improve the conversion rate. Also consider fraud prevention and refunds over time to preserve margins and customer satisfaction. To prioritize your building blocks, browse This SME guide for showcase websites and e-commerce.

• PrestaShop: numerous payment integrations, no native commission on sales.

• Shopify: ready-to-use integrations, variable costs.

• Measure the impact of payment costs on an annual basis.

PrestaShop: numerous payment methods with no sales commissions

With PrestaShop, it's easy to connect PayPal or other gateways, without the need for additional commissions linked to the solution itself. Merchants operating in multiple markets value this flexibility, especially as it is combined with front-end optimizations to speed up checkout.

In practice, this freedom facilitates A/B testing of checkout scenarios. Teams can thus improve conversion rates while preserving margins, a crucial point in a competitive environment.

• Various integrations to adapt to local preferences.

• Control of direct payment costs.

• The tunnel can be optimized without constraints.

Shopify: integrated payment options, but transaction fees need monitoring.

At Shopify, the payment experience is integrated and very seamless, but fees add up depending on the gateway. For imporant volumes, the cumulative impact is felt. This doesn't invalidate the solution, but it does encourage accurate calculation of the full cost and expected conversion rate.

Merchants focused on time-to-market often prioritize a secure framework for a quick launch, then optimize later. This is an acceptable compromise if the gross margin absorbs these costs.

• Consistent and reassuring checkout experience.

• Payment fees to be projected according to your projected sales.

• Ideal for quickly publishing a transactional MVP.

Dropshipping: Which platform should I choose to launch a dropshipping store?

Dropshipping is possible with both solutions. Shopify offers ready-to-use integrations with the major aggregators. PrestaShop allows you to build customized flows and reduce recurring costs, at the price of a more technical implementation. The decision depends on the time available and the margin strategy.

• Launch quickly on Shopify if you want to learn fast.

• Prefer PrestaShop if you want to optimize your cost structure.

• Measure the effectiveness of sourcing and the quality of product sheets.

Shopify dropshipping: native modules and ease of integration

On Shopify, dropshipping benefits from ready-to-connect apps. The aim is to accelerate catalog import and inventory synchronization. For solo-entrepreneurs, it's an effective way of testing a niche in just a few days, then refining the value proposition.

Content, visuals, and descriptions remain the key to success. As such, resources like the search for media assets and video tools 2025 can help you stand out quickly.

• Rapid integrations with sourcing marketplaces.

• Simplified synchronization for the initial catalogue.

• A good stepping stone to validate the application.

PrestaShop dropshipping: customization and freedom at a lower cost

With PrestaShop, dropshipping gains technical freedom and control over fixed costs. Workflows can be customized, from product import to attribute mapping. In this way, you can optimize file referencing and pricing rules according to your strategy.

To speed things up without coding, you can combine no-code tools with the open-source ecosystem, as explained this guide on the no-code online storeThe resulting margin for maneuver is invaluable for quickly adjusting one's tactics.

• Fine control of flows and catalogue optimization.

• Controlled recurring costs, ideal for frequent iteration.

• This approach is conducive to the long term if the team is organized.

Scalability, customer support, and design personalization: a cross-sectional analysis

Beyond core functionality, support and service structure the experience. Shopify absorbe upscaling traffic automatically, while PrestaShop requires orchesting infrastructure and server-side caching. Aesthetically, themes and customization options orend to the brand perception of your online store.

• Managed scalability on the Shopify side (managed infrastructure).

• High-level control of PrestaShop server bricks.

• Choose themes according to your visual identity and the need for iteration.

Shopify: Automatic scalability and 24/7 support for growing businesses

Shopify's promise is simple: scalability is managed by the platformforme. During sales periods, influencer campaigns or product launches, the infrastructure adapts without intervention. 24/7 customer support and exhaustive documentation give teams peace of mind, especially during peak periods.

For brands that invest primarily in marketing and acquisition, it's a valuable safety net. Invisible updates and consistent UX help maintain momentum. For overall strategy, the use of monitoring tools remains relevant.

• Scalability managed by the publisher, focus on growth.

• Support responsive customer, abundant help resources.

• A stable ecosystem for building an aggressive marketing roadmap.

PrestaShop: increased technical load, community support, and an expanded choice of themes

PrestaShop requires you to anticipate load growth (cache, CDN, database). This technical requirement is also a force: you can tailor the architecture to your needs. On the design side, there's a vast choice of themes, with free and premium options, facilitating extensive customization.

Customer support is provided via the community and partners, with paid support offers available if required. This flexibility is ideal for seasoned teams who want to iterate quickly without framework constraints. To enrich your visual approach, consult free alternatives to Illustrator or to prepare your assets.

• Adapted architecture, optimizable performance.

• Wide range of themes and freedom on the front.

• Support community customer, specialized partners.

Comparative summary: key criteria for choosing between PrestaShop and Shopify

The choice depends on budget, in-house skills and growth plan. An online store that wants to publish in a few days and iterate marketing quickly often prefers Shopify. A project that targets deep technical and aesthetic differentiation will flourish more on PrestaShop. For a transversal benchmark, you can also read This panorama is one of the best CMS or, to arbitrate the acquisition, landing page or complete website.

Key point	PrestaShop	Shopify	Project type
Vehicle inspection	Maximal, open source	Managed, coherent framework	Technical teams vs. go-to-market
Costs	Variables (server, extensions)	For Facts + commissions payment	Long-term optimization vs. readability
Design	Wide choice of themes	Guided customization	Visual differentiation vs. simplicity
SEO	Highly customizable	solid native base	Ambitions editoriales vs speed
Support	Community/Partners	Support 24/7 customer	Autonomy vs. support

• Budget and margin projection over 12-24 months.

• Desired level of technical autonomy.

• Amplitude of customization and choice of themes.

Essential FAQs

The questions below are frequently asked by merchants hesitating between PrestaShop and Shopify. They summarize the technical and business trade-offs observed in the field, to help refine a pragmatic decision.

What are the best options for a quick launch with limited resources?

Shopify is better suited for quick launches thanks to managed hosting, a clear subscription model, and an app ecosystem. You can test a market, validate product positioning, and then gradually expand.

What if I have very specific technical needs?

PrestaShop offers complete control over the code and architecture. This is ideal if you need to integrate an ERP, a PIM, or develop advanced business rules. Make sure you have the necessary skills or a reliable partner.

How to anticipate costs on the traffic and performance side?

On PrestaShop, adjust your hosting and caching based on seasonality. On Shopify, the infrastructure automatically scales to handle peaks. In both cases, measure the impact of payment fees and extensions.

Are both suitable for dropshipping?

Yes. Shopify makes it easy to get started with native integrations. PrestaShop apporte offers more freedom and potentially lower recurring costs, at the price of a more technical setup.

When should a redesign be considered?

Lorsque, if the technical structure limits growth or SEO, or if the design and themes no longer serve your positioning. Evaluate the total cost of an upgrade versus a complete redesign.