Is PrestaShop really free?

The software is free. Hosting, SSL, security, modules, and development are not. Total cost of ownership typically exceeds Shopify when you factor in everything.

Can we migrate from PrestaShop to Shopify?

Yes. Products, customers, and orders can be migrated. SEO requires redirect planning. We handle these migrations regularly.

Is PrestaShop more customisable?

In theory, yes — you have full code access. In practice, Shopify's app ecosystem and Liquid templating handle most customisation needs without custom development.

Does PrestaShop integrate with Klaviyo?

Limited integration compared to Shopify. Klaviyo's core features are built around Shopify data. PrestaShop integration requires more custom work.

Depends on hosting. Shopify is consistently fast because infrastructure is managed. PrestaShop speed depends on your hosting quality and optimisation.

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. This appeals to developers and brands that want maximum control.

Shopify is hosted and managed. Hosting, security, updates, and infrastructure are handled for you. This appeals to brands that want to focus on selling, not server management.

Both build eCommerce stores. The trade-off is control vs. convenience.

150+

Stores Built

$23M+

Revenue Driven

Hosted

vs. Self-Hosted

Gold

Klaviyo 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. Zero 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 requires development resources for every change.
Cost	$39-$399/month plus apps. Predictable costs. No hosting or security expenses.	Free software. But hosting ($50-$300/month), SSL, security, and developer costs add up. Total cost often exceeds Shopify.
Ecosystem	8,000+ apps. Deep integrations with Klaviyo, Meta, Google. Largest eCommerce ecosystem.	Module marketplace exists but 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, one-page checkout. Highest-converting checkout in eCommerce.	Customisable checkout. Conversion depends on your implementation quality.

Our recommendation

For most eCommerce brands: Shopify. The operational simplicity, app ecosystem, and checkout conversion outweigh the customisation advantage of PrestaShop. The time saved on infrastructure management is better spent on marketing and growth.

For brands with dedicated development teams that need absolute code control: PrestaShop remains viable, but evaluate whether the control is genuinely 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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