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E-Commerce · head to head

PrestaShop vs SamCart

PrestaShop logo

PrestaShop

E-Commerce

Open-source ecommerce platform for online merchants

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
SamCart logo

SamCart

E-Commerce

The number one checkout platform

From
$79/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only PrestaShop has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: PrestaShop no specific pricing tiers or costs disclosed on homepage; SamCart no feature differentiation between CORE and PRO tiers, pricing tier based on expected transaction volume only
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PrestaShop and SamCart actually diverge.

Attributes where PrestaShop and SamCart differ
AttributePrestaShopSamCart
Starting priceFree$79/month
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in PrestaShop

  • Product catalog management
  • Order management
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Shipping module
  • Customer management
  • SEO tools
  • Analytics
  • Mobile-responsive design

Only in SamCart

Nothing recorded that PrestaShop does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

PrestaShop

  • Fully customizable ecommerce platform for startups to enterprisesnot SamCart
  • Stores handling millions in annual revenuenot SamCart
  • Access to thousands of modules and themesnot SamCart
  • Payment solutions integration with Stripe, Alma, Klarnanot SamCart

SamCart

  • Increasing average order value through automated order bumps and upsellsnot PrestaShop
  • Recovering failed subscription payments with retry logic and dunning managementnot PrestaShop
  • Generating sales pages, emails, and ads with AI from product descriptionsnot PrestaShop
  • Sending cart abandonment recovery emails without customer re-entrynot PrestaShop
  • Migrating existing customer bases from competing platforms without data lossnot PrestaShop

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

PrestaShop

  • No specific pricing tiers or costs disclosed on homepage
  • Requires navigation to dedicated pricing pages for cost details

SamCart

  • No feature differentiation between CORE and PRO tiers, pricing tier based on expected transaction volume only
  • Transaction fees of 2.9% plus $0.30 apply to all plans

Pricing, plan by plan

PrestaShop

Free
  • Classic$undefined/mo
    • Download source code and install from scratch
    • Self-hosted ecommerce platform
  • Hosted$undefined/mo
    • CivicPlus handles technical aspects
    • Ready-to-use store

SamCart

$79/month
  • CORE$79/month
    • All features included
  • PRO$199/month
    • All features included

Which should you pick?

Choose PrestaShop if

  • You need product catalog management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want order management.
PrestaShop review

Choose SamCart if

Nothing in the data separates SamCart from PrestaShop on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

SamCart review

Questions people ask

Is PrestaShop or SamCart better?
Neither clearly leads. PrestaShop starts at Free and SamCart at $79/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PrestaShop or SamCart?
PrestaShop has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for PrestaShop and $79/month for SamCart.
Does PrestaShop or SamCart run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use PrestaShop for free?
Yes. PrestaShop has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SamCart starts at $79/month.
What is PrestaShop best used for?
PrestaShop is most often used for fully customizable ecommerce platform for startups to enterprises, stores handling millions in annual revenue, access to thousands of modules and themes, payment solutions integration with stripe, alma, klarna. Of those, fully customizable ecommerce platform for startups to enterprises and stores handling millions in annual revenue are not what SamCart is typically brought in for.
What can PrestaShop do that SamCart cannot?
PrestaShop covers Product catalog management, Order management, Payment gateway integration, Shipping module.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PrestaShop: How much does PrestaShop cost?

PrestaShop offers two models: Classic (free download with self-installation) and Hosted (vendor-managed). Specific pricing figures are not displayed on the homepage. Visit the pricing pages or contact PrestaShop directly for cost details.

Source
SamCart: How much does SamCart cost?

SamCart offers two subscription tiers: CORE at $79/month and PRO at $199/month. Both plans include all features with no restrictions between tiers.

Source
PrestaShop: Does PrestaShop have a free version?

Yes, the Classic plan is free and allows you to download the source code and install your store from scratch.

Source
SamCart: What are SamCart's transaction fees?

SamCart charges a transaction fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction on all payments processed through the platform.

Source
PrestaShop: What payment methods does PrestaShop support?

PrestaShop integrates with payment solutions including Stripe, Alma, and Klarna.

Source
SamCart: Does SamCart offer a free trial?

Yes, SamCart offers a 7-day free trial available for both the CORE and PRO plans, allowing customers to test the platform before committing to a subscription.

Source
SamCart: Does SamCart offer migration services from other platforms?

Yes, SamCart offers done-for-you migration services for customers switching from Kajabi, ThriveCart, ClickFunnels, Shopify, and Teachable. Specific pricing for migration services is not listed on the main page.

Source
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