PrestaShop review (2026): features, pros and cons, pricing
Open source ecommerce software from France, free to download with paid hosted offer, modules and themes.
Verdict at a glance
Open source ecommerce software from France, free to download with a paid hosted offer, modules and themes. It suits European merchants and developers who want control, with thousands of modules and themes available.
What is PrestaShop?
Open source ecommerce software from France, free to download with paid hosted offer, modules and themes. It is built for european merchants wanting open source control and developers building customized stores. PrestaShop was founded in 2007 and is based in Paris, France.
Category: Ecommerce Platforms
PrestaShop key features
| Feature | What we found |
|---|---|
| Hosted versus self-hosted | Self-hosted (open source) or vendor-hosted offer. |
| Themes and customization | Marketplace modules and themes. |
| App and integration ecosystem | Thousands of modules and themes per vendor homepage. |
PrestaShop pricing
PrestaShop has no per-seat or per-plan price for the open source edition. You download the source code free of charge and pay for hosting, modules, themes and any developer work yourself. A vendor-hosted offer exists, but PrestaShop does not publish its price. Payment fees depend on the processor you choose, such as PayPal through PrestaShop Checkout. Data residency depends on the host you pick. The bill grows with the modules you add and the traffic your host must carry.
| Plan | Price | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic (open source) | $0 | per store | Download the source code free |
| Hosted offer | Price not published |
Hosted and Checkout fees not confirmed by the vendor.
Who PrestaShop is best for
Best for
- European merchants wanting open source control.
- Developers building customized stores.
Not ideal for
- Merchants wanting a fully managed platform with no technical upkeep.
- Teams needing a huge ecosystem of US apps.
PrestaShop alternatives
WooCommerceMerchants already on WordPress who want full code control.
ShopifySmall and mid-size brands that want a hosted store without managing servers.
Adobe Commerce (Magento)Large merchants with in-house or agency developers.
BigCommerceGrowing stores wanting B2B tools and open APIs on a hosted platform.
Big CartelArtists and small makers who want a cheap flat-fee store.
Ecwid by LightspeedSites that already exist and need a cart added.
What PrestaShop really costs
PrestaShop publishes no price list, so the real cost depends on the quote. Use the questions below to turn a sales conversation into a number you can compare.
Questions to ask about price
- What is the price per user or per unit, and what is the pricing basis (seats, employees, usage)?
- Is there a minimum number of seats or a minimum annual spend?
- What is the discount for annual billing, and can we start monthly?
- Which features we need sit in add-ons or a higher plan, and what do they cost?
- How much can the price rise at renewal, and is the increase capped in the contract?
- Are there one-time costs for implementation, onboarding or data migration?
Is PrestaShop worth the price?
PrestaShop is good value for European merchants who want open source control, and for developers building customized stores, because the software itself costs nothing. It gets expensive and awkward for merchants who want a fully managed platform with no technical upkeep, since hosting, updates and modules are your responsibility. Teams that need a huge ecosystem of US apps may find fewer options.
Worth it if
- European merchants wanting open source control.
- Developers building customized stores.
Look elsewhere if
- Merchants wanting a fully managed platform with no technical upkeep.
- Teams needing a huge ecosystem of US apps.
Pricing details most reviews leave out
- Vendor claims 250,000+ merchants.
- MBE Worldwide took over PrestaShop in November 2021 and later renamed itself Fortidia (Wikipedia).
- Licensed under OSL.
- Founded 2007 in Paris; project began 2005 as a student project.
Our verdict on PrestaShop
PrestaShop is open source ecommerce software from France. The core software is free to download, so the license costs $0 per store. The real cost comes from everything around it: hosting, paid modules and themes, and payment fees. There is also a vendor-hosted offer, but its price is not published. Founded in Paris in 2007, the project is licensed under the OSL.
G2 reviewers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across about 160 reviews. The vendor claims more than 250,000 merchants. Because most of the cost is outside the software, the honest comparison is total cost of ownership: hosting, developer time, and the modules you need, set against a managed platform's subscription.
PrestaShop FAQ
What is PrestaShop used for?
Open source ecommerce software from France, free to download with a paid hosted offer, modules and themes. It suits European merchants and developers who want control, with thousands of modules and themes available. It suits european merchants wanting open source control.
Is PrestaShop free?
The open source software is free to download. You still pay for hosting, modules, themes and payment fees, and the vendor-hosted offer has no published price.
Does PrestaShop have a free trial?
No free trial is listed. The free download takes its place for self-hosted stores.
Who should avoid PrestaShop for cost reasons?
Merchants who do not want to manage hosting and upkeep. Their time and hosting costs can outweigh the free license.
About PrestaShop
- Founded
- 2007.
- Headquarters
- Paris, France.
Listed in: Ecommerce Platforms
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from PrestaShop's own pricing, product or documentation pages, G2 and company records, checked on October 24, 2026. Unknown values are left out instead of estimated.