Is Prestashop Free?

Prestashop is a free shopping cart solution that is used by more 300,000 users across the globe. It is an open-source shopping cart. This means that the software is completely free to download and use. It also allows the website owner to make changes to the software to make it more functional and add features which they need.

However, while the base code and software is free, there are going to be some expenses that you’re going to need to prepare for if you would like to have your next eCommerce website with Prestashop.

Domain

The first thing that you will need to buy is a domain name. Domains can be bought for a period of one year to three years normally. However, there are sometimes chances to buy a domain for about 10 years, this is not always the best option.

Domain name purchases can cost between $1 and $20 and it depends on the popularity of the domain and other factors like the top-level domain (.com, .net, etc.). Sometimes you can get a free domain with hosting.

Web Hosting

You will also need to host your website on a server. There are many different hosting solutions that can cost anywhere from $10 per month to hundreds. The higher the costs normally the higher the performance of your website. However, high performance isn’t always necessary for small brands.

A VPS is often a good starting point for new businesses. It offers you the best performance at a good cost. Don’t use a shared hosting package for an eCommerce website as it can slow down your website if the server is busy from your website or another website that is stored on the same server.

Security

You’re likely to need to add security to your website to protect the data that is added to your store from customers. There are lots of options available to you, so you should shop around to ensure that you’re getting a good deal for your website.

Themes

You might also need to purchase a theme for your new website. The costs for this vary. A theme is the general look and style of your website. Themes can be bought from Prestashop or a third party. There are some free Prestashop themes available, but most are charged.

Modules

Modules help to extend the functionality of the website. This can include things like currency conversion, translations, integration with social media channels and more. There are lots of additional modules that can be added to your website with ease but they can cost a lot of money. So be sure that you really need the module before making the purchase.

Final Word: Is Prestashop Free?

Prestashop is open-source software that allows you to build an eCommerce website. There are lots of great options for building a great website. The basic programming is free for your business, but there will be additional charges that you will need to page for hosting, domains and more.