PrestaShop – a comprehensive e-commerce platform for demanding customers

What is PrestaShop?

PrestaShop is one of the most popular open-source e-commerce platforms for creating and managing online stores. Founded in France in 2007, PrestaShop has since gained worldwide recognition, helping millions of entrepreneurs grow their online businesses. Thanks to its flexibility and extensive customization options, PrestaShop is a popular solution for both small and medium-sized businesses (large companies tend to choose platforms like Magento 2).

Advantages of the PrestaShop platform:

1. Open-source and free access

PrestaShop is an open-source , meaning it's free to download and use . This gives you the freedom to customize your store without incurring high licensing fees.

2. Flexibility and personalization

PrestaShop offers thousands of modules and themes that allow you to easily customize the look and feel of your online store. You can change the page layout, add features, and optimize your sales processes.

3. Intuitive administration panel

PrestaShop's store management system is transparent and easy to use. It allows for efficient management of products, orders, customers, and payments , simplifying the daily work of sellers.

4. Multilingual and multi-currency support

PrestaShop allows you to run an online store in international markets , supporting various languages ​​and currencies. This is a great solution for companies planning international expansion.

5. SEO-friendly – ​​good positioning in Google

SEO optimization tools to help increase your store's visibility in search engines. You can modify meta tags, URLs, product descriptions, and other elements that influence your Google ranking.

6. Payment and supplier integrations

PrestaShop supports popular payment gateways (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, Przelewy24) and integrates with numerous courier companies . This makes it easy for customers to conveniently pay and track their shipments.

7. Reporting and analytics

PrestaShop offers tools for tracking sales , analyzing website traffic, and monitoring the effectiveness of marketing activities. This makes it easier to optimize your store for better results.

8. Community and Technical Support

PrestaShop has a large community of users and developers who create modules, help with technical issues, and share tips. Official support is also available.

9. Scalability

The platform is suitable for both small online stores and large companies with a large number of products and orders. PrestaShop grows with your business.

10. Process automation

Thanks to the modules, you can automate the management of orders, invoices, marketing and warehouses , which allows you to save time and increase the efficiency of the store.

Disadvantages of the PrestaShop platform:

1. Requires advanced configuration

PrestaShop isn't as easy to use as other platforms. Users must handle installation, hosting, and technical configuration , which can be challenging for beginners. Module installation isn't always straightforward or intuitive. Therefore, a web developer is often needed to build and then technically manage a PrestaShop-based online store.

2. Costs of additional modules and themes

Although the platform itself is free (open source), many key features require paid modules , which can significantly increase the cost of running an online store. Some extensions cost up to several hundred euros, and on average, a good, proven module from a company that will support its development and offer updates costs around 400-500 PLN per module. Additionally, we often have to pay a web developer who oversees the technical aspects of our PresteShop store, a minimum of 200-400 PLN for module implementation.

3. No built-in hosting

PrestaShop doesn't offer hosting, meaning users must choose, configure, and optimize their servers themselves . This is an additional responsibility that other platforms (e.g., IdoSell ) handle automatically.

4. Limited scalability

For medium-sized online stores (several or even tens of thousands of products), PrestaShop may experience performance issues . This requires a more powerful server and additional technical optimizations, which incurs additional costs.

5. Less intuitive than the competition

The PrestaShop administration interface is quite complex for new users , especially compared to IdoSell or Shopify. It requires time to learn and adapt.

6. Limited marketplace support

Although PrestaShop allows integration with Amazon, eBay or Allegro, this requires additional modules , which (well) are paid and do not always work perfectly.

7. Problems with updates

Every major PrestaShop update can cause module compatibility issues . This means testing and sometimes even repairing the store after the update, as well as replacing modules that are no longer compatible with the new version. You'll also notice that there are still thousands of PrestaShop-based stores on the market with versions that are several years old (5-7 years old).

PrestaShop and the competition – is it worth choosing this solution?

The e-commerce market offers many platforms for building online stores, such as IdoSell , Shopify, Shoper, and Magento. PrestaShop stands out for its flexibility and the ability to provide full control over the store (modules). Unlike platforms that operate on a SaaS model (most), PrestaShop allows for full source code management, allowing for greater freedom in customizing the store to your needs. Magento, on the other hand, is more advanced, expensive, and requires more technical knowledge, making PrestaShop often the preferred choice for medium-sized businesses. However, the downside is dedicated PrestaShop hosting and the need for manual updates. Most importantly, PrestaShop requires specialized knowledge, meaning a web developer.

As a company with experience with both PrestaShop and IdoSell , we recommend and build stores on IdoSell . If you'd like to know why, contact us. We'll convince you to make a strong choice.

PrestaShop FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

What is PrestaShop?

PrestaShop is a popular open-source e-commerce platform that allows you to create and manage a website. It's free, but offers paid modules and themes. It's suitable for both small and medium-sized businesses.

Is PrestaShop free?

PrestaShop is available for free in its open-source version. However, users require paid modules, themes, and additional services, such as technical support. Costs depend on the needs and level of customization of the online store.

What features does PrestaShop offer?

PrestaShop allows you to manage products, orders, inventory, and customers. It offers integrations with payment systems, courier companies, and marketing tools. It also supports promotions, discounts, and sales analytics.

Which online stores can use PrestaShop?

PrestaShop is suitable for small and medium-sized online stores. It works well in industries such as fashion, electronics, health and beauty, and food. It is popular in Europe, especially among companies starting to sell online.

Why choose PrestaShop?

PrestaShop offers extensive customization options, a wide selection of modules, and a simple management panel. It's less expensive to implement than Magento, yet more flexible than proprietary SaaS platforms. It also allows for international sales.

What are the hosting requirements for PrestaShop?

PrestaShop requires hosting with PHP and MySQL support, preferably on a dedicated server or VPS. A fast database and optimized loading speeds are essential. Regular backups and performance monitoring are recommended.

Does PrestaShop support international sales?

Yes, PrestaShop supports multiple languages, currencies, and tax rates. Each online store can customize its content, currencies, and payment methods to suit its target market. This is a great tool for international expansion.

Is PrestaShop SEO friendly?

PrestaShop offers SEO optimization tools, including meta tag editing, friendly URLs, and a sitemap. Additional modules enable extensive technical optimization. Loading speed and mobile friendliness are also key.

What integrations are available for PrestaShop?

PrestaShop integrates with payment systems, couriers, marketplaces, and price comparison sites. Integrations with Google Analytics, email marketing tools, and ERP systems are also available. Most integrations are available as modules.

What are the disadvantages of PrestaShop?

PrestaShop requires frequent updates and additional modules, which can increase costs and requires a web developer, a specialist familiar with PrestaShop technology. For very large online stores, performance can be an issue without proper optimization. Technical support is not included, necessitating the use of external specialists.

Is PrestaShop easy to use?

PrestaShop has an intuitive management panel, but its full use requires basic technical knowledge. Tutorials and community support are helpful for new users. Major functional changes require collaboration with a developer.

Which industries most often choose PrestaShop?

PrestaShop is widely used by online stores in the fashion, electronics, health, beauty, and home goods sectors. The platform is also suitable for niche stores offering handmade products and local brands. A wide range of modules allows the system to be customized to various needs.

Is PrestaShop suitable for dropshipping?

Yes, PrestaShop offers ready-made integrations and modules for dropshipping. It allows for automatic inventory synchronization and order forwarding to suppliers. This is a great tool for companies that rely on a logistics model without their own warehouse.

What support is available for PrestaShop users?

PrestaShop offers documentation, community forums, and an online knowledge base. Paid technical support is available. There are many agencies in Poland specializing in PrestaShop, offering assistance with the implementation and development of online stores.