{ "id": "shopify-vs-prestashop", "ids": [ "shopify", "prestashop" ], "title": "Shopify vs PrestaShop: online store ownership and total running costs", "heading": "Shopify vs PrestaShop", "kicker": "Business software comparison", "deck": "Shopify and PrestaShop can support an online store through different hosting and operating arrangements. Define who will manage updates, extensions and recovery, then test the same product and checkout workflow with the exact PrestaShop offer.", "description": "Compare Shopify vs PrestaShop for online store ownership and total running costs.", "answerHeading": "Which option fits the requirement?", "answer": "Shopify and PrestaShop can support an online store through different hosting and operating arrangements. Define who will manage updates, extensions and recovery, then test the same product and checkout workflow with the exact PrestaShop offer.", "checkedAt": "2026-10-25", "researchTag": "Deployment, compatibility and cost scope", "researchLimit": "Official product material reviewed. Acceptance checks are proposed exercises, not completed product trials, performance measurements or reliability guarantees.", "datasetDescription": "Seven technical differences and four proposed acceptance checks for Shopify vs PrestaShop.", "type": "workflow-buying", "sharedBuyingNeed": "Evaluate alternative approaches to online store ownership and total running costs.", "rows": [ [ "Commerce approach", "Hosted commerce platform", "Commerce software with selected self-hosted or hosted offers" ], [ "Hosting responsibility", "Provider-operated core platform", "Chosen PrestaShop product and hosting arrangement" ], [ "Store scope", "Online storefront and selected commerce capabilities", "Configured catalogue, checkout and store operations" ], [ "Extension context", "Shopify apps and supported integrations", "PrestaShop modules, themes and supported integrations" ], [ "Operational ownership", "Merchant configures the store, apps and commercial operations", "Store operator and chosen providers share the agreed responsibilities" ], [ "Plan checks", "Current plan, payment terms, markets and required apps", "Exact product, hosting, modules and support arrangement" ], [ "Cost components", "Subscription, payment costs, apps, design and integration work", "Hosting or subscription, modules, payments and maintenance" ] ], "scenarios": [ { "name": "Catalogue sample", "question": "Can the team load copied products with the required variants and attributes?", "left": "With Shopify, load copied products with the required variants and attributes.", "right": "With PrestaShop, load copied products with the required variants and attributes.", "note": "Storefront and administration retain the intended product structure." }, { "name": "Checkout test", "question": "Can the team complete a checkout using the provider’s approved non-production payment route?", "left": "With Shopify, complete a checkout using the provider’s approved non-production payment route.", "right": "With PrestaShop, complete a checkout using the provider’s approved non-production payment route.", "note": "Totals, delivery options and order state match the test specification." }, { "name": "Integration handoff", "question": "Can the team pass a safe test order to the intended connected system?", "left": "With Shopify, pass a safe test order to the intended connected system.", "right": "With PrestaShop, pass a safe test order to the intended connected system.", "note": "The integration preserves required identifiers and records its outcome." }, { "name": "Recovery and URLs", "question": "Can the team review restore procedures and map a copied sample of existing URLs?", "left": "With Shopify, review restore procedures and map a copied sample of existing URLs.", "right": "With PrestaShop, review restore procedures and map a copied sample of existing URLs.", "note": "The owner can explain recovery, redirects and launch rollback." } ], "exampleTable": { "caption": "Proposed exercises using copied files, test accounts or other authorised non-production material. Record the app edition, device, settings and observed outcome.", "headers": [ "Requirement", "Proposed exercise", "Accept when" ], "rows": [ [ "Catalogue sample", "Load copied products with the required variants and attributes.", "Storefront and administration retain the intended product structure." ], [ "Checkout test", "Complete a checkout using the provider’s approved non-production payment route.", "Totals, delivery options and order state match the test specification." ], [ "Integration handoff", "Pass a safe test order to the intended connected system.", "The integration preserves required identifiers and records its outcome." ], [ "Recovery and URLs", "Review restore procedures and map a copied sample of existing URLs.", "The owner can explain recovery, redirects and launch rollback." ] ] }, "sections": [ { "id": "scope-and-architecture", "navLabel": "Product fit", "title": "Workflow and product fit", "paragraphs": [ "Shopify and PrestaShop can support an online store through different hosting and operating arrangements. Define who will manage updates, extensions and recovery, then test the same product and checkout workflow with the exact PrestaShop offer.", "Hosted commerce platforms and self-managed software carry different operating responsibilities. Compare hosting, catalogue and checkout needs, payments, apps, integrations, international scope and the party responsible for updates and recovery. Product editions and commercial terms must be attached to any quote." ], "links": [ { "url": "https://www.shopify.com/", "label": "Shopify product information" }, { "url": "https://prestashop.com/", "label": "PrestaShop product information" } ] }, { "id": "cost-and-migration", "navLabel": "Costs & migration", "title": "Cost and migration planning", "paragraphs": [ "For Shopify, include subscription, payment costs, apps, design and integration work. For PrestaShop, include hosting or subscription, modules, payments and maintenance. Use the same workload and resilience assumptions, then confirm current vendor terms for the selected configuration.", "Use a non-production catalogue and approved payment test mode. Reconcile products, variants, customer permissions, orders, URLs and redirects before moving a live store. Keep a recovery plan and avoid using real customer or payment data in the trial." ] } ], "faqs": [ { "question": "How should we choose between Shopify and PrestaShop?", "answer": "Shopify and PrestaShop can support an online store through different hosting and operating arrangements. Define who will manage updates, extensions and recovery, then test the same product and checkout workflow with the exact PrestaShop offer." }, { "question": "Which costs belong in the comparison?", "answer": "For Shopify, include subscription, payment costs, apps, design and integration work. For PrestaShop, include hosting or subscription, modules, payments and maintenance. Use the same workload and resilience assumptions, then confirm current vendor terms for the selected configuration." }, { "question": "What should we check before switching?", "answer": "Use a non-production catalogue and approved payment test mode. Reconcile products, variants, customer permissions, orders, URLs and redirects before moving a live store. Keep a recovery plan and avoid using real customer or payment data in the trial." } ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.shopify.com/", "facts": "Official product scope, deployment and integration context used for online store ownership and total running costs." }, { "url": "https://prestashop.com/", "facts": "Official product scope, deployment and integration context used for online store ownership and total running costs." } ], "relatedLinks": [ { "path": "/categories/ecommerce/", "title": "Ecommerce software" }, { "path": "/guides/software-buying-checklist/", "title": "Software buying checklist" } ] }