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E-Commerce · head to head

PrestaShop vs Shopware

PrestaShop logo

PrestaShop

E-Commerce

Open-source ecommerce platform for online merchants

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Shopware logo

Shopware

E-Commerce

Explore the open-source commerce platform, backed by our global community

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: PrestaShop no specific pricing tiers or costs disclosed on homepage; Shopware rise tier starts at 600 euro per month and Evolve at 2,400 euro per month, both excluding VAT, so pricing is published in euros only and not converted for other regions
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PrestaShop and Shopware actually diverge.

Attributes where PrestaShop and Shopware differ
AttributePrestaShopShopware
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
Founded2007Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Shopware

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 Shopware
  • Stores handling millions in annual revenuenot Shopware
  • Access to thousands of modules and themesnot Shopware
  • Payment solutions integration with Stripe, Alma, Klarnanot Shopware

Shopware

  • Managing unlimited sales channels across online, POS, marketplacesnot PrestaShop
  • Setting customer-specific pricing for B2B customersnot PrestaShop
  • Automating complex workflows with Flow Builder without codingnot PrestaShop
  • Segmenting customers automatically with behavioral tagsnot PrestaShop
  • Managing multi-language, multi-currency, multi-tax for global expansionnot 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

Shopware

  • Rise tier starts at 600 euro per month and Evolve at 2,400 euro per month, both excluding VAT, so pricing is published in euros only and not converted for other regions
  • Beyond, the top tier with digital sales rooms, multi-inventory and customer-specific pricing, is custom priced and requires contacting sales
  • The Shopware Intelligence+ AI add-on is billed separately at 29 euro per month on Community Edition or 19 euro per month on paid tiers, on top of the plan price

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

Shopware

Free
  • Community EditionFree
    • free open-source platform
    • global developer community access
    • Shopware Intelligence+ add-on at 29/month
  • Rise$600/month
    • subscription model
    • Shopware Intelligence+ add-on at 19/month
  • Evolve$2400/month
    • subscription model
    • Shopware Intelligence+ add-on at 19/month
  • Beyond$null/custom
    • custom pricing
    • contact sales required

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 Shopware if

  • You want to start without paying.
Shopware review

Questions people ask

Is PrestaShop or Shopware better?
Neither clearly leads. PrestaShop starts at Free and Shopware at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, PrestaShop or Shopware?
PrestaShop starts at Free and Shopware at Free.
Does PrestaShop or Shopware run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use PrestaShop for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Shopware is typically brought in for.
What can PrestaShop do that Shopware 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
Shopware: How much does Shopware cost?

Shopware offers Community Edition free (open-source), Rise at 600/month, Evolve at 2,400/month (all in EUR), and Beyond at custom pricing requiring sales contact.

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
Shopware: What is the difference between Shopware Community and Rise editions?

Shopware Community Edition is a free open-source platform with global developer community access. Rise is a subscription tier starting at 600/month (EUR) with included features and support.

Source
PrestaShop: What payment methods does PrestaShop support?

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

Source
Shopware: What add-on services does Shopware offer?

Shopware offers Shopware Intelligence+ at 29/month (Community Edition) or 19/month (Rise, Evolve, and Beyond tiers). Shopware Nexus is in a free introductory phase through September 1, 2026.

Source
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