Prestashop Review 2022: Pros, Cons, and Verdict

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Pricing
3. Features
4. Prestashop Modules
5. Support
6. Theme Selection and Customization Options
7. Overview of Prestashop's User Experience
   1. Getting Started
   2. Managing Inventory
   3. Order Management
   4. Overall User Experience
8. Pros of Using Prestashop
9. Cons of Using Prestashop
10. Conclusion

Introduction

Welcome to the Ecommerce Gold YouTube channel! In this video, we will be diving deep into Prestashop, a popular option for building ecommerce websites. We will be exploring its pricing, features, theme selection and customization options, as well as its user experience. By the end of this video, you will have a better understanding of whether Prestashop is the right choice for your ecommerce website.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, the self-hosted version of Prestashop is completely free to use. However, you will need to invest in hosting for your website. Starting with normal shared hosting, which typically costs between $5 and $10 per month, should be sufficient for beginners. As your website grows and attracts more visitors and customers, you may need to consider upgrading to specific e-commerce quality hosting, which starts from around $30 per month and can go up to hundreds of dollars per month based on your requirements. Additionally, there may be initial startup costs associated with Prestashop, such as premium themes or specific functionality modules, which can result in a higher initial investment.

Features

Prestashop comes with a wide range of features that are more than enough to set up a basic ecommerce website. These features include e-commerce tools, marketing and SEO tools, a variety of payment gateways, and several shipping options. However, finding information about these features on the Prestashop website can be challenging, as they are not easily accessible. Despite this, Prestashop offers an extensive selection of modules, similar to Shopify's apps or WordPress' plugins, which allow you to add additional functionality to your website. There are over 4,000 modules available, offering one of the largest selections among e-commerce platforms. Most modules are paid options, with only around 150 available for free. Prices for paid modules vary but generally range from less than $100 to a few hundred dollars.

Prestashop Modules

Prestashop's extensive library of modules provides users with the opportunity to enhance their website's functionality. The Add-On Marketplace offers over 4,000 modules to choose from. However, the majority of these modules are paid options, with only a limited number available for free. Prices for paid modules can be quite high, but there is often a lower recurring cost for subsequent years. It's important to consider the necessary features for your website and assess whether they are included in Prestashop's standard offerings or if you will need to invest in additional modules. The need for paid modules may make Prestashop a more expensive option compared to other platforms.

Support

Support options for the self-hosted version of Prestashop are somewhat limited. Although the website advertises various support plans and services, many of these options are not actually available for purchase. However, you can still contact Prestashop for support through their contact form, and they will respond with relevant solutions or documentation. Additionally, Prestashop provides a forum where users can ask questions and receive answers from the community. The platform also offers guides and documentation to assist with troubleshooting. While general support directly from the platform is limited, there are alternative resources available for assistance.

Theme Selection and Customization Options

Prestashop offers a massive selection of themes, with over 2,000 options available in the marketplace. However, all themes available directly from Prestashop's marketplace are paid options, with prices ranging from around $50 to a few hundred dollars. There is only one free theme available, but developers outside of the Prestashop ecosystem may offer additional free themes that can be found through online searches. Unfortunately, theme customization in Prestashop is quite limited. While you can change certain elements of the theme, the lack of a live customizer and the inability to preview changes can be frustrating. The workflow for theme customization is not optimal and can be challenging to navigate.

Overview of Prestashop's User Experience

Getting Started

Getting started with Prestashop requires more technical involvement compared to other platforms. You need to set up your hosting and install the Prestashop software. While some hosts offer automatic installation, you may need to install it manually through your hosting's admin area. The initial setup wizard in the Prestashop admin dashboard provides helpful tips and guidance. The admin dashboard itself is well-designed, featuring a sidebar navigation menu and clear subheadings. However, the cluttered home page and lack of customization options for the dashboard can be inconvenient.

Managing Inventory

Prestashop offers a simple interface for managing inventory. Creating and organizing categories is straightforward, allowing for a hierarchy of parent and child categories. The process of setting up products is relatively easy, thanks to a user-friendly add new product page. However, bulk editing options are minimal, which can be time-consuming when dealing with a large product inventory. The lack of bulk editing features is a significant drawback in Prestashop's inventory management system.

Order Management

Order management in Prestashop is somewhat disjointed, with limited bulk options available. Printing invoices and delivery slips is not as streamlined as desired, requiring the selection of a date range rather than individual orders. While Prestashop does offer credit slips, allowing for the issuance of documentation for refunds, the overall order management system could be improved. Combining print options with the main order overview page would enhance the efficiency of order processing.

Overall User Experience

Prestashop's user experience has its drawbacks. The workflow throughout the platform feels fragmented, with various tools and features spread across different pages. This lack of cohesion can lead to frustration and wasted time. Additionally, many essential features and customizations require additional modules that come at a high price. While Prestashop's foundation is strong, it falls short in execution when compared to other e-commerce platforms. This, along with the limited support options and steep initial setup costs, may make it less attractive to users seeking a user-friendly and cost-effective solution.

Pros of Using Prestashop

• Self-hosted version is free to use.
• Extensive library of modules for added functionality.
• Good selection of e-commerce features.
• Access to credit slips for refunds.

Cons of Using Prestashop

• Limited support options.
• Theme customization is frustrating and lacks a live customizer.
• Bulk editing options are scarce.
• Workflow throughout the platform is disjointed.
• Most features and customizations require paid modules.
• Additional costs associated with premium themes and specific functionality.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while Prestashop is not a bad choice for building an ecommerce website, it may not be the most optimal option. Its pricing structure, limited support, frustrating theme customization, and disjointed workflow are significant drawbacks. While Prestashop offers a good selection of e-commerce features and an extensive library of modules, the added costs and usability issues may deter users from choosing it as their preferred platform. Considering the availability of other more user-friendly and cost-effective options in the market, Prestashop may not be the ideal choice for everyone.

Highlights

• Prestashop is a popular option for building ecommerce websites with over 300,000 globally powered websites.
• The self-hosted version is free to use, but additional costs for hosting and premium themes may apply.
• Prestashop offers a wide range of features and a vast library of modules for added functionality.
• Theme selection is extensive, but customization options are limited and lack a live customizer.
• Support options are somewhat limited, with community forums and documentation available.
• The user experience in Prestashop can be frustrating due to its disjointed workflow and lack of bulk editing options.
• Pros of Prestashop include its free self-hosted version, extensive module library, e-commerce features, and credit slips for refunds.
• Cons of Prestashop include limited support, frustrating theme customization, disjointed workflow, and additional costs for most features and customizations.

FAQ

Q: Is Prestashop a free platform? A: Yes, the self-hosted version of Prestashop is free to use. However, there may be additional costs associated with hosting, premium themes, and certain functionalities.

Q: How many options are available in the Prestashop marketplace? A: The Prestashop marketplace offers over 4,000 modules, making it one of the largest selections of add-ons among e-commerce platforms.

Q: Can I customize the themes in Prestashop? A: Yes, you can customize themes in Prestashop, but the options for customization are limited, and there is no live customizer for previewing changes.

Q: Are there support options available for Prestashop users? A: While support options for the self-hosted version are limited, Prestashop provides a forum and documentation for assistance. Support plans and services advertised on the website may not be readily available.

Q: Does Prestashop offer bulk editing options for managing inventory? A: Unfortunately, Prestashop has limited bulk editing options, which may be inconvenient when dealing with a large product inventory.

Q: Is Prestashop a user-friendly platform? A: Prestashop's user experience can be frustrating due to its disjointed workflow and lack of customization options. Other platforms may offer a more user-friendly and intuitive interface.