What Shopify does well
- Fastest possible setup, sell in an afternoon
- Huge app ecosystem and themes
- POS, B2B, and multichannel built in
- 24/7 chat support and a polished mobile app
Shopify Alternative: PrestaShop Hosting Compared
Shopify is a great product with a fee on every sale. PrestaShop is open source: you get the store, you keep the checkout, and you pay card rates only.
Free migration · No contract · 30-day refund
Side by side
PrestaShop on Last Hour vs Shopify
The cost of a store is more than the monthly plan. Transaction fees, app subscriptions, and checkout control add up.
| PrestaShop on Last Hour | Shopify | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly platform cost | $29/mo flat | Basic is $39/mo month-to-month, $29/mo billed yearly |
| Platform transaction fee | ✓ None | Up to 2% on third-party payment providers (Basic) |
| Card processing | Your processor's rates, no platform markup | Shopify Payments from 2.9% + 30¢ |
| Checkout control | ✓ Full, you own the code | Limited below Plus |
| Staff / admin accounts | Unlimited, you host it | Up to 5 on Grow, 15 on Advanced |
| Software license | Open source (PrestaShop, OSL) | Proprietary, hosted platform |
| Store ownership | You hold the database and files | Data lives on Shopify's platform |
| Free migration | ✓ Done for you | ✕ Not offered by Shopify |
| Support | US-based engineers, email | 24/7 chat, large support org |
| App ecosystem | PrestaShop add-on marketplace | Very large (thousands of apps, many paid) |
Straight talk
Where each one wins
Where Shopify may still be the better fit
- You want zero technical involvement in hosting
- You rely on a specific Shopify app or POS hardware
- You sell in many marketplaces and want native sync
- You'd rather pay a fee than manage a server at all
Our honest take: Shopify wins on convenience, and if you sell a small number of items with a fast launch, it's excellent. Once transaction fees and paid apps add up, PrestaShop on our managed hosting can save real money, and you own the store.
Frequently asked questions
Does PrestaShop charge transaction fees like Shopify?
No. PrestaShop is open-source software. You only pay your payment processor's normal card rates. There is no platform fee on top of each sale.
Can I migrate my Shopify store to PrestaShop?
Yes. We help migrate products, customers, and orders from Shopify to PrestaShop. Migration is handled by our team so your catalog and history stay intact.
Is Shopify better than PrestaShop?
Shopify is much easier to start with and has a larger app ecosystem. PrestaShop gives you full control, no transaction fees, and no platform lock-in, which often saves money at scale.