PrestaShop has been around longer than Magento. It first launched in 2021, almost six years after Magento. Then in 2021, a survey showed that more than thirty percent of all e-commerce web market shares took place on Magento systems; while only about ten percent utilized PrestaShop. That survey did not specify which system was used though.
This article will compare Magento 2 Vs Prestashop for ecommerce purposes. Both platforms have their own strengths and weaknesses and it’s important to understand these before comparing. After reading this article you should have a better understanding about these two very popular ecommerce platforms.
Major Strength
PrestaShop has a much larger range of themes compared to Magento 2. They are also able to offer more customization options. A large range of themes is one of the major advantages of PrestaShop over Magento 2. So if you are looking for a flexible and advanced ecommerce solution then PrestaShop will be the better option for you.
Complexity
If you are not familiar with the technology behind Magento, then it might be a little complicated. The complexity level of this platform is higher than that of other popular CMS like Joomla and Drupal. If you need a fully featured Ecommerce platform then you should definitely consider Magento. However, if you need simpler solution then you should go for Prestashop.
Backend
Another big difference between PrestaShop and Magento is the complexity of its backend. If you are working with complicated backends then you should definitely consider Magento 2 as your platform. Prestashop on the other hand is more secure as it uses backend only from Magento developer’s side and is very easy to install and use.
Easy configuration
It is undeniable that PrestaShop has a very convenient and easy to use setup window that makes configuration process very simple. Also, it has an inbuilt e-mail support and this feature can be used for multiple email accounts. Also, all stored products have a direct link to the shopping cart so you don’t have to learn any web programming language in order to use Prestashop. But with Magento 2 you have to use a different ecommerce platform altogether, which can make your website complex and difficult to manage and understand.
Performance
Both PrestaShop and Magento 2 have built in support for various type of payment modes, such as E-checks, Credit Cards, PayPal, Google Checkout and others. Also both PrestaShop and Magento have built in admin panel and so it can be easily integrated with your existing hosting account.
Easy configuration
It is undeniable that PrestaShop has a very convenient and easy to use setup window that makes configuration process very simple. Also, it has an inbuilt e-mail support and this feature can be used for multiple email accounts. Also, all stored products have a direct link to the shopping cart so you don’t have to learn any web programming language in order to use Prestashop. But with Magento 2 you have to use a different ecommerce platform altogether, which can make your website complex and difficult to manage and understand.
Flexibility of Use
In comparison to Magento 2, Prestashop has been developed with great flexibility. You can use various plug-ins and modules in PrestaShop and you can build your ecommerce store exactly how you want it. Also, there are several different extension developers available for Prestashop, which provide you with additional functionality and features.
Security & Warranty
Both PrestaShop and Magento have excellent security options and features. However, Magento has been the preferred CMS for professional websites and so there are excellent security and warranty options available with this solution as well. Most of the Magento plugins are well tested and so there are very high levels of security available with them. Also, both PrestaShop and Magento offer money back guarantee as well after the period of trial. With these options the buyer can feel safe about investing his money in PrestaShop. Apart from these, both the systems have friendly user interfaces and so you can manage them very easily.
Ease of Installation
Although PrestaShop has an extensive documentation that will guide you throughout the process of installation, but if you are not comfortable installing Magento or are looking for a simpler system then Prestashop would be an excellent choice. The system is very simple to install as it comes with a ready to use installer CD. The instructions provided with the installation CD will guide you through the whole process. Prestashop offers an excellent support and therefore, you don’t have to worry about anything during the setup or after the installation process.