PrestaShop vs Magento: which platform is better?
Last updated: 31 December 2025
PrestaShop and Magento are both powerful open-source e-commerce platforms. But they target different market segments. PrestaShop is more accessible, Magento is more powerful. Which fits you?
Overview
| Aspect | PrestaShop | Magento |
|---|---|---|
| Complexity | Medium | High |
| Scalability | SMB | SMB to Enterprise |
| Costs | Low-Medium | Medium-High |
| Technical knowledge | Medium | High required |
PrestaShop characteristics
Strong points
Accessibility:
- Intuitive admin interface
- Faster learning curve
- Good documentation
Costs:
- Lower hosting requirements
- Cheaper modules
- Faster implementation
Features:
- Everything for SMB built-in
- Multi-store support
- Good inventory management
Weak points
- Limited scalability
- Less advanced features
- Smaller ecosystem than Magento
Magento characteristics
Strong points
Power:
- Unlimited scalability
- Advanced catalog functions
- Enterprise-grade features
Flexibility:
- Any customization possible
- Powerful API
- Multi-everything (store, language, currency)
B2B:
- Built-in B2B functions
- Account hierarchy
- Quote workflows
Weak points
- Steep learning curve
- High hosting costs
- Expensive development
Technical comparison
| Technical aspect | PrestaShop | Magento |
|---|---|---|
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Min. RAM | 512MB | 2GB+ |
| Database | MySQL | MySQL/MariaDB |
| Caching | Smarty | Varnish, Redis |
| Hosting level | Shared/VPS | VPS/Dedicated |
Cost comparison
PrestaShop total costs (year 1)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Platform | Free |
| Hosting | €150-600/year |
| Theme | €100-250 |
| Modules | €200-800 |
| Setup/development | €500-3,000 |
| Total | €950-4,650 |
Magento total costs (year 1)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Platform | Free (Open Source) |
| Hosting | €600-3,000/year |
| Theme | €150-500 |
| Extensions | €500-2,000 |
| Setup/development | €3,000-20,000+ |
| Total | €4,250-25,500+ |
Performance comparison
PrestaShop:
- Lighter codebase
- Faster on cheaper hosting
- Less optimization needed
Magento:
- Heavier but more powerful
- Requires caching (Varnish, Redis)
- Better scalable at high traffic
When to choose PrestaShop?
- Budget is limited
- SMB with 100-5000 products
- No enterprise features needed
- Quick time-to-market desired
- Limited technical knowledge
When to choose Magento?
- Large catalog (10,000+ products)
- Complex B2B requirements
- Multi-store/multi-brand setup
- Budget for professional development
- Scalability is crucial
Migration considerations
From PrestaShop to Magento:
- Makes sense with strong growth
- Plan 3-6 months migration
- Budget €5,000-20,000+
From Magento to PrestaShop:
- Rarely done
- Only when downscaling
- Loss of advanced features
Verdict
Choose PrestaShop if you're looking for an affordable, functional e-commerce platform for your SMB store.
Choose Magento if you need an enterprise-grade platform with unlimited scalability and customization possibilities.
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