Shopify vs PrestaShop
PrestaShop was for a long time the logical way to build an ecommerce store across much of Europe. It was free, open source, and did not tie you to a foreign vendor. Shopify has taken ground for one very specific reason: it removes everything that is not selling.
This is not a comparison of which is better in the abstract. It is a comparison of what you want occupying your time, the technology or the business.
The difference you feel most: who maintains the server
With PrestaShop, the server is your responsibility, or that of whoever you pay to manage it. That means security patches, backups, performance monitoring and, sooner or later, a server migration when traffic grows. With Shopify that entire layer disappears. There is no server that goes down, because you do not run one.
That comes with a monthly subscription PrestaShop does not charge directly. But compare it properly: PrestaShop’s licence saving is offset, and sometimes exceeded, by the hosting, maintenance and development it needs to keep running well.
Where PrestaShop wins
If your business needs unusual catalogue logic, sector-specific modules, or you already have an in-house technical team that knows it well, PrestaShop gives you control Shopify never will, because Shopify is closed at its core. And if your volume is low and someone already manages the server at no extra cost, the maths can genuinely favour PrestaShop.
Where Shopify wins
Everything that is not strictly catalogue. Consistent load speed that does not depend on your hosting, a checkout optimised and proven across millions of stores, security and PCI compliance already solved, and an app ecosystem that covers most needs without touching code. For a team that wants to focus on selling rather than maintaining infrastructure, it is the difference between firefighting and growing.
| Shopify | PrestaShop | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting and maintenance | Included, managed by Shopify | Yours, self-hosted or managed |
| Cost | Monthly subscription plus apps | Free software, real cost in hosting and maintenance |
| Catalogue customisation | Good, with limits on complex combinations | Very high, no platform restrictions |
| Security and PCI | Managed by Shopify | Depends how the server is configured |
| Speed to market | Fast | Slower if infrastructure has to be built and secured first |
If you already run PrestaShop
The usual question is not choosing between the two from scratch. It is whether it is still worth investing in maintaining PrestaShop or making the jump. If you recognise the pattern of spending more on technical maintenance than on improvements that affect sales, we have a dedicated page on how to migrate from PrestaShop to Shopify without losing catalogue or rankings.
Tell us how your store is set up and we will tell you, with your case in front of us, whether the move is worth it.