PrestaShop

PrestaShop is an open-source ecommerce platform used to create and operate online stores. The software supports product catalogs, checkout, payments, shipping, customer accounts, orders, promotions, and back-office administration.

PrestaShop offers a free downloadable Classic edition and a Hosted edition that includes hosting, installation, support, and selected services. Its modular architecture allows merchants and developers to extend stores through themes and marketplace modules.

PrestaShop SA was founded in 2007 by Igor Schlumberger and Bruno Lévêque. The company is headquartered at 82 Avenue du Maine in Paris, France.

PrestaShop includes tools for managing products, combinations, categories, pricing rules, stock, orders, customers, invoices, and promotional campaigns. Merchants can also configure multiple languages, currencies, tax rules, and international selling settings.

The platform uses an official marketplace for themes, modules, payment services, logistics tools, marketing extensions, analytics, and administrative integrations. Available partner and module categories include payments, shipping, hosting, marketing, customer communication, store management, and sales channels.

PrestaShop 9 uses Symfony 6.4 and requires PHP 8.1 or later. The release also introduces an Admin API alongside the established Webservice API, supporting structured integrations with external systems.

PrestaShop Classic is available as a free download. Buyers remain responsible for hosting, domain registration, development, maintenance, paid modules, themes, and third-party services.

PrestaShop Hosted starts at €24 excluding VAT per month with annual payment, or €29 excluding VAT per month without a commitment. The Hosted offer includes a 14-day free trial, hosting, installation, support, and selected ecommerce services.

PrestaShop does not publish one universal price for all marketplace modules, themes, services, or enterprise arrangements. Module and theme charges vary by product, and some modules connect to separately billed third-party services.

Pros: The open-source core provides substantial control over store data, code, hosting, and customization. Its marketplace and partner ecosystem cover payments, logistics, marketing, analytics, and sales channels.

Cons: The self-hosted edition requires technical work for installation, security, upgrades, hosting, and troubleshooting. Stores may also need paid modules or professional development for advanced capabilities, and extension compatibility requires careful testing.

Shopify is a hosted alternative for businesses that prioritize managed infrastructure and a simpler operational model. WooCommerce is a WordPress-based alternative suited to organizations already using WordPress. Adobe Commerce offers a more enterprise-oriented commerce platform with extensive customization. BigCommerce provides hosted ecommerce with built-in commerce functionality and enterprise plans. OpenCart is another open-source shopping-cart alternative for merchants seeking self-hosted deployment.

Is PrestaShop free?
PrestaShop Classic is free to download, but hosting, domains, development, maintenance, themes, modules, and external services can create additional costs.

Does PrestaShop offer hosting?
Yes. PrestaShop Hosted includes hosting, installation, support, and selected ecommerce services through a monthly subscription.

Is there a free trial?
The official Hosted offer includes a 14-day free trial. The downloadable Classic edition is not presented as a time-limited trial because the software itself is free.

Does PrestaShop have an API?
Yes. PrestaShop documents a Webservice API and PrestaShop 9 introduces an Admin API for back-office integrations.

Which integrations are available?
Official and marketplace integrations cover payment providers, shipping and logistics, social commerce, advertising, analytics, customer communication, hosting, ERP, and other business tools. Examples include PayPal, Stripe, Facebook, Instagram, Google, Klaviyo, and Google Analytics-related modules.

Does PrestaShop require technical knowledge?
The hosted offer reduces installation responsibilities, but self-hosted PrestaShop generally requires technical knowledge for server setup, customization, maintenance, and upgrades.