Platform Comparison
PrestaShop gives you control. Shopify gives you time. Which one your business needs depends on what is more valuable.
PrestaShop is open-source and self-hosted. You control everything: hosting, security, updates, and customisation. That appeals to developers and brands that want maximum control.
Shopify is hosted and managed. Hosting, security, updates, and infrastructure are handled for you. That appeals to brands that want to focus on selling, not server management.
Both build eCommerce stores. The trade-off is control versus convenience.
150+
Clients
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Revenue
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Ad Spend
Klaviyo Gold Partner
Partner
If you are considering PrestaShop, you likely value control and customisation. This comparison helps you decide whether that control is worth the operational overhead compared to Shopify.
Shopify vs PrestaShop: feature by feature
| Feature | Shopify | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Fully hosted. Shopify handles servers, security, SSL, and updates. No infrastructure management. | Self-hosted. You manage hosting, security, SSL, updates, and server performance. Full control but full responsibility. |
| Customisation | Theme-based with Liquid. Extensive app ecosystem. Headless option for total freedom. | Open-source. Full code access. Unlimited customisation. But every change needs development resources. |
| Cost | A monthly subscription plus apps. Predictable costs. No separate hosting or security bill. | Free software. Hosting, SSL, security, and developer costs add up. Total cost often exceeds Shopify. |
| Ecosystem | A large app marketplace. Deep integrations with Klaviyo, Meta, and Google. The widest eCommerce ecosystem. | A module marketplace exists but it is smaller. Fewer pre-built integrations with marketing tools. |
| Scalability | Scales automatically. Infrastructure handled by Shopify. | Scales with proper hosting. Requires infrastructure planning and management as traffic grows. |
| Checkout | Shop Pay and a one-page checkout built for conversion. | Customisable checkout. Conversion depends on your implementation quality. |
Our recommendation
For most eCommerce brands: Shopify. The operational simplicity, app ecosystem, and checkout outweigh the customisation advantage of PrestaShop. Time you are not spending on servers is time you can spend on marketing and growth.
For brands with dedicated development teams that need absolute code control: PrestaShop remains viable, but be honest about whether that control is necessary.
Pick Shopify if...
Pick Shopify if you want to focus on selling instead of server management. If you need deep integrations with Klaviyo, Meta, and Google. If checkout conversion rate matters.
Pick PrestaShop if...
Pick PrestaShop if you have a development team, need total code control, and the self-hosted trade-offs are acceptable for your business.
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