Compare PrestaShop and Shopify as alternatives to Shopware. We assess your existing workflows, data and operating costs and prepare a migration plan for the option that fits your business.
Changes in Shopware’s commercial plans and ecosystem conditions have prompted some merchants to reassess costs. The relevant plan, GMV-related terms, extensions and required support all belong in the comparison. A move from Shopware 5 to 6 also requires a review of existing features and replacements.
Do not infer a fixed monthly cost or an automatic migration obligation from revenue alone. Check the current contract and applicable ecosystem conditions, then compare your actual scope with PrestaShop and Shopify. A functioning store should not be replaced without a clear operational or financial reason.
Would PrestaShop or Shopify suit your business better than Shopware? We offer honest advice and compare your requirements without sales pressure. The right platform is the one that supports your goals.
PrestaShop is an open-source platform with modules, custom development and control over hosting. It supports multilingual and multicurrency projects with market-specific configuration. Its self-hosted core has no subscription fee, but hosting, modules, development and support need a budget. Whether it is cheaper depends on the same defined scope over the same period.
Shopify provides a hosted platform with provider-managed infrastructure and platform updates. Standard administration is approachable, while individual functions depend on platform capabilities and apps. Compare subscription, app, payment and support costs. A move can be financially useful in some projects, but savings are not automatic.
A long-established store contains more than products. Inventory its data, extension functions and workflows before choosing a target system. Our migration service uses backups, test imports and acceptance checks to reduce avoidable risks and make the scope transparent.
Flexibility, infrastructure control, specific workflows or operating costs may justify considering PrestaShop. Establish which improvements matter, compare total costs and plan data and function transfer against those goals. Migration is a technical and organisational project, not just an export and import.
Self-hosted PrestaShop has no core licence fee. Hosting, modules, development and support still need budgets.
Modules and custom development can support individual design and workflows.
Multilingual content and international functions provide a basis for market-specific configuration.
The developer community provides resources and extensions. sjmedia also offers certified specialist support.
Choose hosting and infrastructure suited to your requirements and agree operational responsibilities.
Start with the functions you need and add more as requirements develop, with compatibility and update checks.
Together we assess the store’s needs and the practical route forward, without obligation.
Careful preparation establishes the scope and responsibilities:
Inventory data, modules, stored extension data, integrations and custom workflows. Identify essential functions and remove obsolete requirements from the new scope.
Specify products, categories, customers, orders, SEO data, media and individual functions that must be transferred or rebuilt.
Review suitable hosting, supported PHP versions, databases and file permissions for the target PrestaShop version.
Migration modules or tools such as Cart2Cart may help, subject to actual versions and data compatibility. Specialist planning, mapping and validation reduce the risk of errors and later rework.
Let’s review your requirements and current difficulties together.
We prepare a detailed migration plan with responsibilities and acceptance criteria, including any work you wish to handle yourselves. These are the main areas to address:
Export the agreed scope:
Reconcile Shopware and PrestaShop data structures. Review duplicates and outdated records, and standardise addresses, prices, tax information and other shared formats.
Run a test import in a development environment using suitable tools. Check records, relationships and functions, correct problems and document the results.
Shopware features do not always have identical PrestaShop equivalents. Assess custom code, themes and plugins and plan replacements or adaptations.
Retain brand identity and familiar elements while improving the customer experience. Customise a suitable theme and make new functions understandable.
Check ordering, payments, shipping, logistics and ERP integrations with realistic cases. Review loading times and mobile layouts before acceptance.
After acceptance, complete the final transfer and planned switch.
We listen to your requirements and current difficulties before recommending a route.
Map different formats explicitly and validate the imported data and relationships.
Where Shopware plugins have no suitable equivalent, assess custom development or an agreed alternative workflow.
Transfer metadata and implement redirects carefully. This reduces avoidable risk but does not guarantee stable rankings.
PrestaShop administration differs from Shopware. Practical training helps the team work confidently after launch.
Allow a realistic schedule and contingency time for unexpected issues.
Test the migration and critical workflows in a separate environment before launch.
Keep backups of both systems and verify the recovery approach.
Use experienced technical support, especially for complex stores and integrations.
Explain important changes to customers before and after launch, including new account or ordering steps.
We listen to your requirements before suggesting a technical route and budget.
Moving from Shopware to PrestaShop involves technical and organisational work. Clear goals, realistic cost comparisons, tested data transfer and experienced support provide a sound basis. PrestaShop can offer valuable flexibility and a different cost structure; savings depend on your project and ongoing services.
„Quick implementation of our requests — “there is always a way!” Great service!“
„A good impression from the start, and it proved right! Very competent, quick responses, honest advice, fair and transparent billing and fantastic customer service.“
„Five stars — nothing more needs to be said. We have always received very competent and friendly support. We fully recommend sjmedia!“
„We came to sjmedia through a recommendation and have now worked together for several years. Anyone needing a new digital agency is in the right place, whether for an online store or ecommerce.“
„We have been clients of the sjmedia PrestaShop agency for seven years and could not be happier. Mr Schmid’s team has professionally supported our PrestaShop store and helped us successfully establish our business online.“
„After years of searching, we finally found real PrestaShop experts. After several bad experiences with PrestaShop agencies, finding sjmedia was a stroke of luck.“
Products, categories, customers, orders, manufacturers, discounts and content can often be transferred. Assess individual fields, extension data and SEO information as part of the agreed scope.
Map old URLs to relevant new destinations using permanent redirects and preserve useful metadata. This supports continuity but cannot guarantee unchanged rankings.
Not directly. We assess their functions and stored data and identify suitable PrestaShop modules or custom development.
We assess customer records and order histories for transfer. Password compatibility requires a separate check; customers may need a secure password-reset process.
Data quality, volume, functions and customisation determine the schedule. Small projects may take days; complex stores can require weeks or months.
The existing store can remain available during preparation. The final data transfer and switch need a planned window, with checks afterwards. Duration depends on the project.
We listen, consider the options and give you a practical assessment.
Clear, personal and without obligation.
5 out of 5 · Google
„Requests are implemented quickly – they always find a way! Great service!“
„A good impression from the start, which proved well founded! Very knowledgeable, quick responses, honest advice, fair and transparent billing, and fantastic customer service.“
„Five stars – nothing more needs to be said. We have always received very knowledgeable and friendly support. We wholeheartedly recommend sjmedia!“
