You’ve decided to set up your own online store.
But with so many new products and services on the Internet in recent years, you’re feeling a little lonely and helpless!
It’s only natural!
Among all the options on offer, three solutions stand out, albeit very different from each other: Shopify, WooCommerce and Prestashop.
To help you choose among the most popular solutions, here’s a quick comparison of the three most effective CMS for managing your online store:
Shopify
Shopify is a complete proprietary e-commerce solution created in 2004 and offered in SaaS (Software as a Service) mode. This paid SaaS service is the main difference between Shopify and Woocommerce or Prestashop, which are free. In short, you’re not buying software to install, you’re buying a service.
Everything happens online.
Depending on your subscription, you’ll have a turnkey e-commerce platform at your disposal.
So you don’t have to worry about installation, updates or the cost of software licenses, for example – it’s all included.
Shopify is a pay-as-you-go solution, with several subscription levels and commissions on sales.
Shopify, a complete solution
The solution we offer is very comprehensive, yet very easy to use.
You have a large number of high-quality themes (templates) at your disposal.
Some are free, others not.
Each theme is customizable.
Shopify offers an intuitive, easy-to-use page and product sheet editor.
The major drawback of the solution lies in its content creation limitations.
The solution “limits” itself to the essentials, namely catalog and product sheet management, payment, orders, delivery and customers.
While Shopify is very efficient in these areas, it won’t let you create content “alongside” the store, such as a blog.
Support is responsive and efficient, but only available in English.
Subscription-based SaaS mode
With its three subscription packages, Shopify has a relatively high price tag compared with other solutions.
The first package includes all the basic functionalities of an e-commerce store.
If you want to use more advanced features, such as gift card management, abandoned cart recovery or more advanced statistics, you’ll need to go up a level.
The “advanced” level gives you access to features such as real-time tracking of shipments by carriers.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is actually a module that works with WordPress.
With this CMS accounting for nearly a third of all websites worldwide, we’re sure we’re dealing with a stable, proven solution.
The WooCommerce module was created in 2011 and remains totally free.
It adds to WordPress all the functionalities needed to transform it into an e-commerce store.
A wide range of functions
Like all WordPress modules, WooCommerce is quick and easy to install.
It then adds new menus to the CMS for configuring the store and managing the product catalog.
You can also manage payment methods, orders, coupons and delivery.
WooCommerce itself offers numerous extensions (modules) to meet specific needs, such as the management of questionnaires, surveys, subscriptions, flash sales and promotions…
WooCommerce offers an advanced level of detail for each site setting, providing a wealth of customization possibilities.
The main drawback is the lack of compatibility of certain themes.
So you need to be careful when choosing the theme you want to use for your e-commerce store.
Whether you opt for a free or paid theme, make sure it is fully compatible with WooCommerce.
If you’d like to customize WooCommerce even further, you’ll still need strong development skills, or you can hire a service provider.
A free solution, really?
WordPress and WooCommerce are totally free.
However, this doesn’t mean you won’t have to bear certain costs.
For a start, you’ll need to pay for hosting and a domain name for the site.
The price will vary according to the level of maintenance you require.
Some themes and modules enabling you to add functionality to your e-commerce store may also be available for a fee.
However, prices remain very modest, ranging from a few dozen to a few hundred euros.
A worthwhile investment for advanced functionality and an enhanced user experience.
Prestashop
Prestashop is an open source e-commerce CMS created in 2007 by students at Epitech.
Its success was almost immediate, and over the years it has become the benchmark solution.
Over 300,000 e-commerce sites use Prestashop.
Prestashop offers several hundred e-commerce functionalities.
These can be integrated natively into the CMS, or added as modules or extensions.
Some modules are free, others are not.
You can easily manage your catalog, products, orders, inventory and customers without any technical knowledge.
It’s also worth noting that Prestashop natively allows you to export your products to major marketplaces such as eBay.
An easy-to-use solution
Once Prestashop is installed, it’s relatively easy to get to grips with.
Its interface is intuitive and somewhat similar to that of WordPress, with a main menu on the left and content in the center.
Prestashop’s product sheets are highly detailed.
Numerous parameters are available to personalize them and offer more relevant information to your visitors.
For example, you can define colors, descriptions, photos, promotions, quantities and stock availability for each product…
Pages can also be customized, each with a specialized url, title, meta tags and keywords.
The Prestashop dashboard brings together all your store’s operating statistics.
In particular, you can view sales figures, number of sales, conversion rate and average basket price.
A scalable solution
Although it’s available free of charge, Prestashop already offers a wide range of native features.
However, if you’re missing a feature, you can certainly find it among the 300 or so modules and extensions.
Almost every business need is covered by at least one module.
Beware, however, that most modules are not free.
Many are sold for around fifty euros, while some can cost several hundred euros, depending on the services provided.
A starter pack is also available for €269.99.
It integrates 12 modules considered essential, relating in particular to payment and delivery.
Also included are a theme, a user guide and 3 months’ technical support.
As with WooCommerce, there are some costs you’ll have to pay.
You must pay for hosting and a domain name for the site.
Prices vary according to the level of maintenance you require.
Prestashop vs Shopify vs Woocommerce solutions comparison chart
| Features | Shopify | WooCommerce | Prestashop |
| Getting started | Very easy | Intermediate | Difficult |
| Number of users | > 800 000 | > 3 000 000 | > 300 000 |
| Templates | > 100 | > 5000 | > 5800 |
| Mobile | Responsive | Depends on theme | Depends on theme |
| Blog | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Newsletter | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory management | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connection to marketplaces | Yes (module) | Yes (module) | Yes (native) |
| Hosting | Included in subscription | Not included | Not included |
| Support | 24/7 support
By email, phone and chat |
Ticket support
Forum Blogs |
Documentation
FAQ Customized technical assistance (at extra cost) |
| Rate | From €26 to €265 | Free plugin for WordPress
Free themes and modules, others for a fee |
Free use
Starter pack at €269.99 Often pay themes Pay-per-use modules |
| Benefits | Simple page creation and store management
Quality templates Many features included Responsive support |
Works on WordPress
Unlimited customization Add functionality with modules Free |
Many themes and modules
Comprehensive, easy-to-use editor Intuitive order and delivery management Customizable Free |
| Disadvantages | High price (subscription, commissions and applications)
Limited content creation possibilities Disappointing layout and organization of site pages. Limited personalization |
Some incompatible WordPress themes
High price of some modules Unsuitable for a large e-commerce site Customization requires development skills |
Paid themes
Many pay-as-you-go modules Customization requires advanced development skills |
To conclude on the choice of e-commerce CMS: Shopify vs Prestashop vs Woocommerce
The solution you choose to build your e-commerce store will really depend on your needs and your financial means.
If you don’t have any technical skills, don’t want to hire a service provider and have a large enough budget, you can opt for Shopify.
You’ll then have a turnkey paid solution that you can customize.
If you have specific needs or would like more customization, it’s best to choose between WooCommerce and Prestashop.
WooCommerce is best suited to small and medium-sized sites.
Prestashop, on the other hand, is ideally suited to large-scale sites, and thanks to its numerous modules, is capable of meeting all your business needs.
On the other hand, technical and development skills are essential to truly customize a Prestashop site.
In this case, you should consider hiring a service provider specialized in Prestashop, to save time and finally get the site you’ve been dreaming of.
