PrestaShop Review 2026 | Is This Open-Source Platform Right for Your Store?

Overall score: 7.0/10 Starting price: Free to download (Classic); Hosted plan from €24/month Free trial: 14 days on the Hosted plan Best for: Technical sellers, especially in Europe, who want full control over their store

PrestaShop takes a different approach than most platforms on this site. Founded in France in 2007, it’s open-source software you install yourself, not a monthly subscription that bundles everything for you. That gives you more control over how your store works, but it also puts more of the setup and upkeep on your plate. This review looks at what that trade means for a store owner in 2026.

What PrestaShop Actually Is

PrestaShop is free, self-hosted ecommerce software. You download the code, put it on a server, and build your store from there. Because you own the code, you can change almost anything about how the store looks and works, which isn’t true on hosted platforms like Shopify or Wix. If setting up your own server sounds like too much, PrestaShop also sells a Hosted plan, where it handles the server and support for a monthly fee.

The platform has a strong base in Europe, with built-in support for multiple languages, currencies, and tax rules. That makes it a common pick for merchants selling across several European countries from one store.

Getting Started

On the free Classic version, setup starts with finding hosting, installing PrestaShop on it, and picking a theme. None of that is hard exactly, but it does take some comfort with servers and file systems that a hosted platform would normally handle for you. Once the store is running, adding products, setting up payment methods, and configuring shipping all happen through an admin panel that looks and works a lot like other ecommerce dashboards.

The Hosted plan skips the server setup. You still pick a theme and add products yourself, but PrestaShop manages the technical side, so it plays closer to how a platform like Shopify feels to set up.

Pricing: What You Actually Pay

The Classic version of PrestaShop costs nothing to download, but it isn’t free to run. You’ll need hosting, which usually runs $5 to $30 a month depending on your traffic, plus a domain and an SSL certificate. Most stores also add a few paid modules for things like payments, SEO, or security, and those range from around $35 to a few hundred dollars each, paid once rather than monthly.

The Hosted plan starts at €24 a month with annual billing, or €29 a month with no commitment, and includes hosting and basic support. There’s also an Enterprise tier for large operations, priced from around €2,115 a month with a 24-month commitment.

Real cost estimate: A small store on the Classic version, once hosting, a theme, and a handful of modules are added, usually runs $500 to $1,500 in the first year, then a few hundred dollars a year after that for hosting and renewals.

There are no transaction fees on sales, regardless of which version you use. You’ll still pay your payment processor’s standard rate.

What Works Well

✓ You own the code, so you can change almost anything. For merchants with specific requirements, this level of control is hard to get on a hosted platform.

✓ No transaction fees, ever. Whether you’re on Classic or Hosted, PrestaShop doesn’t take a cut of your sales.

✓ Strong support for multiple languages, currencies, and tax rules. This makes it a natural fit for merchants selling across several countries, especially in Europe.

✓ A large module marketplace covers most needs. Payments, shipping, marketing, and more are available as add-ons, so you’re not stuck writing custom code for everything.

Where It Falls Short

✗ Setup takes real technical skill on the free version. Installing and maintaining your own hosting isn’t something every store owner wants to take on.

✗ Module costs add up fast. A handful of paid modules for security, SEO, and payments can run several hundred dollars before your store even launches.

✗ Support depends on what you pay for. The free version relies on community forums and documentation, while real support comes with the paid plans.

✗ You’re responsible for security and updates. Unlike a hosted platform, keeping the store secure and current is on you, or whoever you hire to manage it.

Who Should Use PrestaShop

PrestaShop suits merchants who are comfortable with some technical setup, or who have a developer on hand, and who want more control over their store than a hosted platform allows. It’s a particularly strong fit for businesses selling across multiple European countries, thanks to its built-in language, currency, and tax support.

Who Should Look Elsewhere

If you’d rather not deal with hosting, updates, or module management, a fully hosted platform like Shopify or Wix will get you selling faster with less to maintain. Store owners without technical experience or access to a developer will likely find PrestaShop’s setup more work than it’s worth.

Our Verdict

PrestaShop gives you real control over your store and skips transaction fees entirely, but that control comes with setup work and running costs that hosted platforms handle for you.

Score Breakdown

Quick facts Pricing: Free (Classic) or from €24/month (Hosted) · Founded: 2007