I’m trying to decide which platform to use for my small online business. I’ve been looking at Shopify and PrestaShop mainly.
Shopify seems really user-friendly and they handle all the hosting stuff which is nice. The themes look professional and it’s pretty easy to set up. But you have to pay monthly fees.
PrestaShop is completely free which is awesome for my budget. It looks like it has lots of features too, maybe even more than Shopify. But I’m not sure how hard it is to customize or if I need technical skills.
I already ruled out Magento because it seems too complicated. Has anyone used both of these platforms? Which one would you recommend for someone just starting out with ecommerce?
I made the switch from PrestaShop to Shopify two years ago after hitting too many roadblocks. Sure, PrestaShop’s got more built-in features, but here’s what I learned - you’ll waste more time fixing technical problems than actually selling stuff. Updates killed my site twice, and I was constantly stressed about finding hosting that wouldn’t crash during traffic spikes. That “free” platform got expensive fast once I started paying developers for basic customizations. Shopify’s monthly fee looked crazy at first, but when I added up all the hosting costs and developer bills, it was actually cheaper. Their app store covers most of what’s missing from the core platform. If you’re starting out and want to sell products instead of learning web development, Shopify gets you online way faster.
totally agree! i’ve found prestashop a bit tricky if you’re not techy. shopify’s way smoother and their support is actually useful when issues pop up. sometimes spending a bit more upfront can really save you hassle later on!
I faced this same choice two years ago when I launched my handmade jewelry store. Started with PrestaShop because it’s free, but switched to Shopify after six months. PrestaShop’s got solid features, but man, the learning curve was brutal. Every change or new feature meant hours of troubleshooting or finding developers. Plus I had to handle hosting costs and security updates myself - way more stress than I bargained for. Shopify’s monthly fee seemed steep initially, but when I added up all the time I wasted on PrestaShop’s technical headaches, it actually saved money. The app store’s way easier to navigate, and their support team’s been great when I’ve needed them. If you’re tech-savvy and don’t mind the time investment, PrestaShop works. But if you want to launch fast and focus on running your business instead of fixing website issues, Shopify’s worth every penny.
i hear ya! PrestaShop can be a hassle if u dont kno your way around tech. Shopify might have a cost but it saved me a lot of stress and helped me focus on selling instead of tech issues.
PrestaShop’s learning curve is way steeper than people think. It took me three months to get my store running properly, and I already had web development experience. Sure, it’s free, but you’ll still pay for hosting, SSL certificates, and probably someone to handle customizations. The modules can be unpredictable as updates often break things. Honestly, if you want to launch quickly and concentrate on growing your business rather than dealing with technical issues, Shopify’s monthly fee is worth every penny. It saves you time and major headaches.
Started with PrestaShop two years ago to save money - huge mistake. Ended up spending way more than Shopify would’ve cost. Hosting fees, premium modules, developer fixes after every update… the ‘free’ platform got expensive fast. The admin feels ancient and inventory management turns into a nightmare once you grow. Switched to Shopify last year and I’m kicking myself for not doing it earlier. Yeah, transaction fees suck, but knowing everything actually works? Worth every penny. PrestaShop will eat your time alive.
Both platforms trap you with vendor lock-in that nobody mentions. Shopify keeps you paying forever, and PrestaShop locks you into their buggy module ecosystem.
I’ve watched this same thing happen dozens of times at work. Teams debate platforms for months, spend more months setting up, then realize they need custom workflows anyway.
You need flexibility to connect your store with inventory, email marketing, accounting, and customer service tools. Most businesses need 5-10 integrations in their first year.
Don’t pick a platform and hope it does everything. Build your commerce stack with tools that actually talk to each other. Use Latenode to connect whatever storefront you want with your other business tools. No monthly platform fees, no broken modules after updates, and you can switch storefronts without losing your workflows.
I built a client’s entire ecommerce setup this way. Their store connects to warehouse systems, updates social media, handles customer follow-ups, and syncs with accounting. Setup took two weeks instead of months.