Comparison updated on June 12, 2026.
In brief: For the vast majority of e-commerce brands in 2026, Shopify outperforms PrestaShop across all 9 criteria of our grid, including total cost of ownership, ease of use, reliability, scalability, and omnichannel capabilities. PrestaShop remains relevant in one specific scenario: having an in-house technical team and a need for complete code control. This verdict is not theoretical: our agency has successfully completed several PrestaShop to Shopify migrations, including that of Panier des Sens, which saw 50% growth in the following year. Here is the full side-by-side comparison, criterion by criterion.
Table of Contents
PrestaShop and Shopify: two opposing philosophies
The real difference between the two platforms isn't a list of features; it's a choice of model. PrestaShop is an open-source CMS: the software is freely downloadable, but you are responsible for everything else: hosting, security, updates, module compatibility, corrective maintenance. Shopify is a SaaS solution: a monthly subscription, and the editor takes care of the infrastructure, security, updates, and site availability.
This difference in models explains everything else in the comparison. With PrestaShop, technical freedom comes at the cost of technical responsibility: every version upgrade, every module conflict, every security flaw is your problem (or that of the service provider you pay to handle it). With Shopify, you give up access to the core code, and you gain a platform that doesn't go down, updates itself automatically, and can be administered independently by a non-technical merchant.
Born in France, PrestaShop was long the default choice for French e-merchants. The dynamic has reversed: the Shopify ecosystem (apps, themes, developers, integrations) is growing much faster, and it is now the platform to which growing brands are migrating. Our comparison of the 6 major e-commerce platforms places this duel in the full panorama.
The rated comparison criterion by criterion
Here are our scores out of 10, based on our client projects carried out on both platforms:
| Criterion | PrestaShop | Shopify | Our field observation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 6 | 10 | A non-technical merchant can administer Shopify alone; PrestaShop requires a technical profile or a service provider |
| Total cost of ownership | 6 | 9 | PrestaShop software is free, but its operation is not: hosting, modules, application maintenance. On Shopify, maintenance tends towards zero |
| Conversion rate | 6 | 10 | In 100% of our migrations, the Shopify store converts better than the old platform |
| Reliability and security | 6 | 9 | Updates and flaws at your expense on PrestaShop; shared and continuously patched infrastructure on Shopify |
| SEO | 7 | 8 | Both do the job; Shopify wins on native speed (CDN, WebP) and simplicity of implementation |
| Ecosystem of apps and modules | 7 | 10 | PrestaShop modules are paid at purchase and sometimes incompatible between versions; the Shopify App Store is richer and better maintained |
| Scalability and international | 7 | 9 | Shopify Markets manages multi-currency, taxes and catalogs by market without cloning the store |
| Omnichannel (physical stores) | 5 | 9 | Shopify POS unifies web and stores: our client Panier des Sens deployed it in its 14 stores |
| Support | 4 | 5 | No editor support for PrestaShop (community and service providers); Shopify 24/7 support but declining, see our full review of Shopify |
The 10 reasons why Shopify wins
If you're still undecided, here are the ten arguments that consistently come up in our migration scoping discussions, condensed.
- Simplicity of administration: adding products, promotions, content – everything is managed without technical skills. Your marketing teams become autonomous.
- Conversion rate: the Shopify checkout is continuously optimized by entire teams, with Shop Pay as an accelerator. This is the most measurable competitive advantage.
- Native speed: global CDN, WebP images, intelligent caching. On PrestaShop, performance depends on your hosting and module stack.
- Effortless security: HTTPS included, PCI compliance, automatic patches. No more version upgrades to plan or modules to re-test.
- An unparalleled app ecosystem: for every need, dozens of highly-rated apps, whereas purchasing PrestaShop modules (often several hundred euros each) comes with no guarantee of future compatibility.
- Scalability: from launch to several hundred thousand euros monthly without changing platforms, and Shopify Plus beyond that.
- Integrated payments: Shopify Payments avoids assembling third-party gateways and simplifies compliance.
- Controlled total cost: a predictable monthly subscription rather than an accumulation of invoices (hosting, modules, application maintenance, emergencies). Details in the next chapter.
- Native omnichannel: Shopify POS connects physical stores and online store with a single inventory and CRM.
- International without cloning: Shopify Markets manages currencies, taxes, and content per market from a single store.
The real cost: PrestaShop is not free
This is the most common misunderstanding in our scoping meetings. PrestaShop is free to download, but not to operate. The real budget for a serious PrestaShop store adds up: scaled hosting (and its managed services), paid modules for purchase and then for updates, the theme, and especially application maintenance (TMA): this monthly fee charged by agencies to keep the site afloat, manage version upgrades, and fix module conflicts.
On Shopify, the equation is reversed: a predictable monthly subscription, payment commissions, a few apps, and a maintenance budget close to zero. For our clients, the app budget rarely exceeds 150 euros per month, and most manage their store completely independently, without an agency contract. Over three years, the total cost of ownership almost always favors Shopify, especially when factoring in the opportunity cost of outages and update projects. For details on plans and commissions, consult our page dedicated to Shopify pricing.
When PrestaShop remains the right choice
The match isn't one-sided, and an honest comparison must acknowledge that. PrestaShop still makes sense in three situations: you have an in-house team of developers whose mission is precisely to maintain and customize the platform; your model requires total control over code and data right down to the server (very specific regulatory or technical constraints); or your business logic relies on core developments impossible within a SaaS model. In these cases, open source is a strength, not a burden.
For all other profiles, meaning the vast majority of DTC brands, SMEs, and growing brands we support, Shopify's SaaS model frees up time, budget, and energy for what truly drives sales: the offering, the brand, and customer acquisition.
4 successful PrestaShop migrations by our agency
This comparison is based on experience: here are four brands we helped migrate from PrestaShop to Shopify.
Panier des Sens (Provencal cosmetics, CCC group) migrated in late 2022. Since then: international localizations, dedicated B2B store, and deployment of Shopify POS in the brand's 14 physical stores.
“We switched from Prestashop to Shopify in late 2022 with the Stellar team, and it was the best decision for our business (50% growth in 2023). We have since launched 5 new sites with them, each project taking less than 2 months, whereas these projects were very complex in the past.”
Noé Feretti, Digital Director at Panier des Sens
Matatie (snacks for allergic children, distributed at Monoprix and Carrefour): complete redesign and migration without data loss, with a hybrid B2C/B2B store (dedicated catalogs and prices for professionals). “The project setup and launch were smooth, clear. I recommend it 1000%!” summarizes its founder Tiphaine Bordier.
Juste un T-shirt (humorous organic cotton t-shirts): migration of a voluminous catalog with a customization module and bundling mechanism. "More professional and modern, the site now addresses new issues as well as our positioning," says its founder Justin Queste.
Riviera & Bar (premium French small household appliances since 1968): redesign of the e-commerce identity and migration from PrestaShop, with technical optimization and automation of Klaviyo campaigns.
The common thread in these four projects: in 100% of our migrations, the new Shopify store converts better than the old platform. Without exception since 2018.
Migrating from PrestaShop to Shopify: how it works
A well-executed migration preserves your catalog, customers, order history, and especially your SEO (URL mapping and systematic 301 redirects). A typical project unfolds in three phases: preparation (existing system audit, data mapping, theme selection), execution (data transfer, integrations, complete testing), and post-migration (redirects, position monitoring, team training).
For the detailed step-by-step method, consult our PrestaShop to Shopify migration guide, and for other starting platforms, our migration guides hub.
Conclusion: our verdict
Shopify or PrestaShop? In 2026, the answer is Shopify for the vast majority of brands: lower total cost, higher conversion, team autonomy, and native omnichannel. PrestaShop remains defensible if you have a dedicated technical team and a real need for code control. Between the two, ask yourself one question: do you want to invest your energy in your platform, or in your brand?
Are you considering migration? Let's talk: we've handled this project for brands of all sizes, from young DNVBs to international groups, and the initial diagnosis is free.