Online shopping is quickly becoming the most popular method of purchasing. Hence, businesses need to ensure that they utilize this platform to expand their audience and increase their sales. You may have found a variety of e-commerce platforms on the market with different price points to create a robust online shop. However, a lot of these platforms are either not budget-friendly or their free plan are not robust. This is where open-source e-commerce website builders, like PrestaShop, come in. 

PrestaShop is definitely one of the best available options if you are interested in an open-source platform that is easy to customize. However, the platform also does have some charges to enhance its functionality. Do you want to get to know the features and PrestaShop pricing plans? This in-depth blog will help you understand all that you need to know to decide whether PrestaShop is right for your business. So, continue reading and build your own Prestastore!

Understanding PrestaShop 

PrestaShop is a free and feature-rich e-commerce solution. The platform helps you run cloud-based e-stores through its self-hosting plans. Currently, several shops worldwide use PrestaStore, which is available in about 65 different languages. While the platform may demand a little work to launch an e-commerce store, it comes with several advanced features and functionalities. 

Prestashop has an efficient business model that relies on selling services for numerous commercial partners to its customer base. It also involves providing customizable themes and other optional add-on features, such as shipping and automation facilities. Prestashop is an easy-to-use platform and offers a responsive store interface for all shoppers. Moreover, it provides a complete set of free features, including:

1. Store Builder

Prestashop has an in-built, WordPress-like dashboard that offers a store development interface, navigation, product listings, and search options. 

2. Marketing

The platform offers an in-built product catalog with SEO integration for search placement optimization. It also provides in-built promotions, coupons, and email integration. Furthermore, this e-commerce platform enables you to add custom features to your website to make it more extensive. This includes adding the discount mode, free shipping, email marketing,  affiliate programming, special offers, gift wrapping, coupon codes, etc. 

3. Free and Open Source

PrestaShop’s core software is entirely free and allows users to develop a customizable website in minutes. It also makes the process of developing and managing your e-commerce website easier and more accessible. 

4. Easy Customization

PrestaShop has several modules to help you customize features as per your website requirements. The platform boasts more than 5,000 modules and themes. 

5. Payment Gateways

It supports various payment gateways, like PayPal, Discover Global Network, Amazon Pay, Worldpay, Authorize.Net, and First Data. It also has more than 250 add-on payment providers, ensuring greater convenience for your customers. 

6. Ease Of Use

You can install and use PrestaShop easily. The platform also allows the creation of a completely responsive and mobile-optimized online store faster. 

7. Integrations

PrestaShop provides various themes and add-ons, including premium support as per your requirements. You can also get your agent partners’ directory for hire.

8. Templates

The platform sells various high-quality and personalizable themes that can help you create your unique and professional quickly and easily. 

PrestaShop Pricing: All You Need to Know

Running a successful PrestaStore involves various recurring costs to ensure efficient operations and security. Here are some essential expenses associated with the platform:

• Domain: The platform offers you a free domain for the first year as a part of its hosting package. However, you must pay $10 to $15 per month to keep your domain status active beyond the initial year. 
• Hosting and Server: The monthly hosting plan at PrestaShop starts from  €275/month. 
• SSL Certificate: The platform's certificate costs range between $5 and $1000 per year, depending on your business requirements. 
• Modules: Installing and downloading modules usually ranges between $30 to $500. 
• Miscellaneous: In addition to these, additional charges such as transaction fees, fees for an extension, and so on should also be included in the total PrestaShop pricing. 

Steps to Set up and Install PrestaShop

If you are looking for a simple way to set up the open-source platform on your system, then you have come to the right place. There are two major ways to set up and install PrestaShop. 

1. Manual Installation via MySQL and FTP

You can set up the platform manually if you are comfortable working with MySQL and FTP. Here are the steps for its manual installation method. 

Step 1: Visit PrestaShop’s website and download the latest version. Save the downloaded .zip file.

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Step 2: Unzip the downloaded file on your computer and use an FTP client like FileZilla to upload the unzipped folder to the `public_html` directory on your server.

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Step 3: Create a database using either of the following options:

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Using cPanel:

• Sign in to cPanel.
• Go to MySQL® Database Wizard.
• Create a new database and user and note down the credentials.

Using DirectAdmin:

• Sign in to DirectAdmin.
• Go to MySQL Management.
• Create a new database and user and note down the credentials.

Step 4: Go to `yourdomain.com` to start the installation process and choose your preferred language before clicking ‘next.’ Read and agree to the license terms, then click “Next.” Later, add your shop name, main activity, country, and SSL preference. Do not forget to create your main back-office account.

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Step 5: Enter your database details, like server address, name, user, and password. Keep the table prefix as “ps_” unless instructed otherwise. Test the database connection, then click “Next.”

Step 6: Follow the progress bar until completion. Remove the `/install` folder via your control panel or FTP client after installation. Refresh your back office page to access the login screen. Sign in to your new PrestaShop store!

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2. One-click Installation with Hosting Provider

You may find it easier to install the platform if you have a hosting account that provides PrestaShop installation scripts. The steps associated with this setup process include the following: 

Step 1: Ask your hosting provider or sign in to your hosting control panel. Then, search for a one-click installer. When you see it, click on the ‘Softaculous Auto Installer’ option. 

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Step 2: Select the ‘e-commerce’ option from the menu and click on PrestaShop.

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Step 3: Click on the ‘install’ button, which will eventually lead you to the quick install option.

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Step 4: Select the domain where you want to install PrestaShop. Choose the specific platform version you want to install. Enter the store name, including the admin folder and your account details, before hitting the ‘install’ button.

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Challenges Associated with PrestaShop

We have already discussed various features and good factors about PrestaShop. However, there are certain disadvantages to using this platform, such as: 

1. Skills Required

A store admin needs developer knowledge and skills to manage PrestaShop effectively. Anyone without relevant coding skills may not be able to work effectively using the platform. 

2. Additional Costs

PrestaShop may be free, but domain registration, hosting, and transaction charges incur additional costs. The additional cost of customization services is also an issue when you work on this platform. 

3. Incompatible Module

Numerous developers create PrestaShop add-ons. However, there is a difference in their functionality that may interfere with the overall operations of the platform. It means the work happens through a trial-and-error method, which makes most modules incompatible with your online site. 

Best PrestaShop Alternatives for 2024

PrestaShop is one of the most efficient e-commerce, open-source platforms that offers numerous tools to run your online store. Leveraging this platform may also provide other benefits. Despite its pros, we cannot help but highlight its challenges, as mentioned above. Here are some PrestaShop alternatives worth considering to help you gain more perspective.

1. Neo

Neo, an email hosting platform, offers a complimentary one-page website on all its hosting plans. You can even create a com, net, or edu email account or other things with your domain. With Neo, you can create a free email address using its trial period and start creating your simple e-commerce website. Furthermore, use its easy drag-and-drop feature to create your website and display your products and services accordingly. 

Key Features:

• One-Page Website Builder: Its drag-and-drop builder enables users to quickly build beautiful, single-page sites without any coding knowledge using customizable templates and themes.
• Website Integration: Add your social media handles to the website along with forms to allow your consumers to connect with you. 
• Advanced Analytics: Neo’s comprehensive analytic tools enable you to monitor your site efficiently. This helps ensure that your sales trends, visitor behavior,  and marketing efforts are evaluated well. 

2. WooCommerce

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WooCommerce is another promising PrestaShop alternative that offers the highest visitor satisfaction and is free to use. It is a WordPress plug-in that helps you design and deploy your e-commerce stores. While this particular platform is completely free to download and use, you may have to install a few additional paid plug-ins or purchase an add-on to enhance your shop’s functionality. 

Key Features:

• Content Integration: Combine content with e-commerce through easy WordPress compatibility to ease your site management process. 
• Modular and Lean: WooCommerce is extensible and works fine with WordPress plug-ins. It also retains various preferred functionalities without introducing unwanted features.
• Scalability and Flexibility: WooCommerce is suitable for businesses of any size, from start-ups to reputed large-scale enterprises. The application's built-in scalability and flexibility help you develop your web-based store efficiently.

3. Square

Square is an excellent e-commerce platform that helps meet the needs of different businesses. It offers you a user-friendly interface for building and managing various online stores. Square’s flagship POS systems are also available to you, allowing you to seamlessly sync your offline and online operations. Furthermore, Square includes features you might need to create a professional website efficiently, including a simple and flexible website editor, building layouts, and integrating with your brand elements.

Key Features:

• Manage Online Orders: You can easily track, process, and notify orders on this platform, which enables streamlined operations for all customer orders. 
• Collect Payments: Square allows payments with various modes, which include Apple Pay, credit cards, and more. Your customers can also purchase gift cards and get other gift-giving options.
• Manage Inventory and Fulfillment: Square enables you to create notifications for low stock, monitor inventory, and manage delivery options to make order processes more efficient.

Comparison Table 

Are you still confused about which tool to use to create your e-commerce website? Let’s compare PrestaShop and its alternatives to give you a better understanding of each of their stand-out features. We have ranked the website creators based on their features, pricing, ease of use, and accessibility.

Final Thoughts

If you are planning to set up your e-commerce store and need a highly customizable tool, PrestaShop may be the first option in your mind. Despite being a popular choice among numerous online stores, it has its share of limitations that we mentioned in this guide. That is why you must look for alternatives that work better when it comes to establishing your custom domain or online website. We recommend using Neo, a feature-rich platform that offers you numerous options when you open your online store, including the option to create a professional business account without having a domain beforehand. Neo offers a .co.site domain free for a year on the purchase of any annual email hosting plan. So, register for Neo and create your website and email today!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is PrestaShop free to use?

Yes, PrestaShop is an open-source platform that is free to use and download. However, running a live store on the platform incurs additional costs, like domain names, hosting, modules, and additional themes. 

Q2. How does PrestaShop work?

PrestaShop is an efficient platform that uses the web template system to allow you to customize store themes and add new features through add-on modules. You can try visiting the PrestaShop add-on marketplace, which provides a platform for third-party developers to sell their respective themes and modules to merchants.

Q3. Can you call PrestaShop a website builder?

PrestaShop is an open-source e-commerce platform rather than a traditional website builder. It helps you create and manage online stores. While the platform does offer some website-building functionalities, its focus is on providing efficient e-commerce features. That is why you can create an online shop easily on PrestaStore because it also acts as an e-commerce website builder creation tool. 

Q4. Which is the best version of PrestaShop at the moment?

PrestaShop 1.7 is an excellent choice if you are looking for a reliable and easy-to-use eCommerce platform. However, PrestaShop 8 is the best choice for a more advanced and modern eCommerce platform with additional features.