Shopify vs PrestaShop: A Complete Comparison for Sellers

Choosing the right e-commerce platform is a very important decision to your business, depending on the one you are choosing it can make it or break it. With so many tools available, two names often come up in the conversation: Shopify vs PrestaShop: both are powerful solutions for building and managing an online store, but they supply different types of users and business needs.

If you’re trying to decide between Shopify and PrestaShop, this guide breaks down their main differences, from setup and pricing to customization, usability and growth potential, so you can confidently pick the one that fits your goals.

Shopify vs PrestaShop: Key Differences at a Glance

Both platforms can build a professional store, but how you get there, and how much work it takes, differs a lot.

What Is Shopify?

Shopify is an e-commerce platform that lets you create your own brand store without the need of any coding skills. It takes care of the technical side, hosting, security and updates, so you can focus on running your business and nothing more.

You can sell physical products, digital downloads, or services and everything from checkout to inventory management happens in one place. Shopify also connects to thousands of third-party apps to extend your store’s functionality, from SEO optimization to AI visuals.

For instance, Modelia, available in the Shopify App Store, helps fashion and lifestyle sellers create professional product photos and videos using AI. Shopify gives you complete freedom to design your store through customizable themes and drag-and-drop sections pretty easy to use because the interface is intuitive, so even beginners can launch a professional-looking website in just a few hours.

However, this simplicity comes with a trade-off: you pay a monthly subscription, and customization is limited to what the themes and apps allow.

What Is PrestaShop?

PrestaShop is an open-source e-commerce platform, which means that the core software is free to download and use. You can customize every part of your website at the code level, giving you total control over design, functionality and integrations.

It’s also highly flexible, which makes it developers and experienced users' favorite, the favorite of those who want to build a fully tailored online store. Moreover, you can add plugins (called “modules”) for everything from advanced SEO to payment gateways and analytics.

However, PrestaShop’s freedom comes with more technical responsibilities. You need to manage your own hosting, security, updates and backups and it also takes more time to set up compared to Shopify, especially if you’re not familiar with website development. But, if you enjoy customizing your store down to the smallest detail, or have a developer on your team, this option gives you more flexibility.

Pricing: Shopify vs PrestaShop

The pricing models of these two platforms couldn’t be more different.

Shopify Pricing
Shopify runs on a subscription model with three main plans:

• Basic – $39/month

• Shopify – $105/month

• Advanced – $399/month
  Each plan includes hosting, SSL security, and support, but transaction fees apply if you don’t use Shopify Payments.

PrestaShop Pricing
PrestaShop is technically free, but you’ll need to pay for:

• Web hosting ($5–$50/month depending on your provider)

• A domain name ($10–$20/year)

• Premium themes or modules (can range from $50 to $500 total)
  In practice, most businesses end up spending around the same as a Shopify plan once all costs are factored in.

So, while PrestaShop seems cheaper at first glance, Shopify’s all-in-one setup often proves more cost-effective for small to medium-sized sellers who don’t want to deal with extra maintenance.

Ease of Use and Setup

From one side, Shopify is designed for simplicity; you can set up your store in a few hours without technical experience. The dashboard is clean, intuitive and packed with built-in tools for product management, payments, and marketing.

For the other side, PrestaShop, offers more complexity as we discussed before. Installation involves downloading the software, setting up hosting, and configuring modules manually. Once everything’s running, you get a robust back office, but it’s not as beginner-friendly.

So, if you want to sell fast, Shopify wins. If you enjoy tinkering and customizing everything, PrestaShop gives you more room to play.

Design and Customization

Both platforms let you create beautiful, professional stores, but in different ways.

Shopify offers a library of polished, responsive themes (both free and paid) that you can customize with its visual editor. You can adjust colors, fonts, and layouts without touching code.

PrestaShop goes deeper. You can modify every line of code, create custom modules, or build entirely new designs from scratch. This is ideal for brands that want unique, highly tailored experiences.

The trade-off? That level of control often requires technical expertise or a developer’s help.

Apps and Integrations

Shopify’s App Store features over 8,000 apps that expand your store’s functionality, from marketing automation to AI-powered design tools. For instance, Modelia integrates directly with Shopify to help fashion brands generate professional visuals in seconds, turning simple product listings into engaging shopping experiences. Look the kind of images you can generate:

PrestaShop also has a large Addons Marketplace, but many modules are paid, and not all are regularly updated. Integration can also be more manual since PrestaShop isn’t hosted.

If you want plug-and-play functionality, Shopify makes it easier. If you need very specific, custom-built solutions, PrestaShop gives you full freedom.

Performance and Maintenance

Shopify handles hosting, speed optimization, and security automatically. You don’t have to worry about downtime or technical bugs, it’s all managed by their team.

PrestaShop puts you in charge of everything. You decide where to host, how to secure, and when to update. This gives you more flexibility but also more responsibility.

If you’re not tech-savvy or prefer a hands-off approach, Shopify is the more reliable and stress-free option.

Shopify vs PrestaShop: Pros and Cons

Which One Is Better for Your Business?

When it comes to Shopify vs PrestaShop comparison, two of the main ecommerce platforms, your choice depends on how hands-on you want to be with your store.

• Choose Shopify if you want an easy-to-manage, professional store that grows with you. It’s great for entrepreneurs who prefer focusing on sales and marketing rather than tech.

• Choose PrestaShop if you want deep customization and don’t mind managing hosting, updates, and technical setup.

For most small to medium-sized businesses, Shopify offers a faster and smoother path to success, especially when combined with AI-driven tools, which can automate your product visuals and boost conversion rates.

Conclusion

Both Shopify and PrestaShop are excellent e-commerce solutions, but they serve different sellers. Shopify prioritizes convenience, scalability, and user experience, while PrestaShop delivers flexibility and control for those who can handle the technical side.

If you want a reliable, beginner-friendly platform with access to powerful integrations like Modelia’s AI-powered visuals, Shopify is hard to beat.

Try Modelia in Shopify App and see the magic by yourself

FAQ: Shopify vs PrestaShop

1. Is Shopify easier to use than PrestaShop?
Yes. Shopify’s interface is built for beginners, while PrestaShop requires technical knowledge to install and manage.

2. Can I customize Shopify like PrestaShop?
Not to the same extent. PrestaShop allows deeper customization since it’s open source, but Shopify still offers flexible themes and apps.

3. Which is more affordable, Shopify or PrestaShop?
PrestaShop’s core is free, but hosting and add-ons can add up. Shopify’s monthly plans cover everything in one price.

4. Can I migrate from PrestaShop to Shopify?
Yes. Shopify provides migration tools and support to help you transfer products, orders, and customers easily.

5. How can Modelia help Shopify sellers?
Modelia lets Shopify brands generate AI-driven product visuals and videos, helping improve store presentation and increase sales effortlessly.