Prestashop vs Opencart: what to choose for e-commerce?

You are probably already confused by the terms: CMS, modules, templates... Hundreds of articles promise to reveal all the secrets of choosing the perfect platform, but which one is really true? What is the difference between PrestaShop and OpenCart and why is it so important for your future online store? Let's figure out together which platform will help you simplify development and achieve success.

Installation and use

Prestashop:Offers a relatively simple installation, but the admin interface may seem more complicated for beginners due to its rich functionality and many settings.

Opencart:A more simple system to install and configure, with a less complex and understandable admin interface. It is easier for beginners to master, but may seem limited for experienced users.

Out-of-the-box functionality

Prestashop: Has more features out of the box, including advanced product settings, shipping options, tax calculation, etc. More options for working with multilingualism and multicurrency.

Opencart: Has fewer features out of the box. Has standard product, order, payment, and shipping management features, but many aspects require additional extensions for competitive functionality.

Flexibility and modules

Prestashop: Provides a wide range of official and third-party modules and themes that can significantly expand the functionality of the store. Some of them are paid.

Opencart:Also has a rich ecosystem of extensions, but overall there are fewer of them than PrestaShop.

Integration with large businesses

Prestashop: Offers more extensive opportunities for automating business processes due to integration with various external services, such as payment systems, ERP, CRM and other corporate tools. requires less manual automation settings.

Opencart:Not as developed in this regard and requires more manual settings.

Customization

Prestashop:The platform provides a high level of flexibility for customization and expansion of functionality. Thanks to its modular structure and open source code, it is easy to make changes to the site, adapting it to specific business needs. However, due to its more complex architecture and a large number of settings, customization may require more experience compared to OpenCart.

Opencart: Known for its relatively simpler architecture, so it makes customization easier for less complex projects. OpenCart is an option for smaller stores or projects with less need for deep customization. However, more complex solutions or integrations may require more manual work, since some features are not as well developed as PrestaShop.

Multilingual and multicurrency

Prestashop: Has powerful tools for working with multiple languages ​​and currencies. It is easier to set up a store for global customers.

Opencart: Also supports these features, but PrestaShop provides more flexible and automated solutions.

Performance

Prestashop:Due to a more complex architecture, it can be slower, especially on large stores or weak hosting.

Opencart: A lighter system. It is less demanding on server resources.

SEO and Marketing Tools

Prestashop:More advanced SEO tools, including settings for meta tags, friendly URLs and other options for promotion in search engines. Also has more built-in advertising solutions.

Opencart: Has basic SEO tools, but they can be extended with plugins. Marketing features are also not as developed out of the box.

Community and Support

Prestashop:Has a larger and more active community of users and developers. There are many official and unofficial resources for support.

Opencart: The community is smaller, but still active. There are also many available tutorials and forums.

Scalability

Prestashop:Suitable for medium and large online stores. Allows you to customize the store to suit different business needs.

Opencart:More suitable for small and medium stores. While the platform can be scaled, larger stores may require more effort to maintain stable operation.

Price

Prestashop:Free, but to expand functionality you will have to buy modules and themes. On average, the price of templates and modules is slightly higher than Opencart, but there are more features "out of the box".

Opencart:Also free, often requires spending on additional modules and extensions. However, as in the case of PrestaShop, some functions require paid modules, which on average cost less than the competitor.

Conclusion

PrestaShop and OpenCart are tools for creating online stores that have been tested by many developers, but which one should you choose? Our team will help you understand the features of each platform and choose the best solution. Our experience and knowledge = your successful website. Contact us to discuss the details of your project.