PrestaShop pricing in 2025: a complete guide to the real costs

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PrestaShop pricing in 2025: a complete guide to the real costs

One of the first things you’ll hear about PrestaShop is that it’s "free." And let’s be honest, that’s a pretty compelling word. It’s a powerful, open-source e-commerce platform that you can download without opening your wallet.

But if you’ve ever adopted a "free" puppy, you know the initial cost is never the full story. There’s food, vet bills, and the occasional chewed-up shoe. PrestaShop is a bit like that.

So, what does it really cost to run a store on PrestaShop?

That’s what we’re here to figure out. This guide will walk you through every expense you should expect, from the obvious setup fees to the sneaky ongoing costs that can catch you by surprise. We’ll cover hosting, themes, and even the cost of customer support, which can quietly grow into a major expense as your business takes off.

First, what is PrestaShop?

Before we dive into the numbers, let’s quickly touch on what makes PrestaShop different. It’s a self-hosted, open-source e-commerce solution. In plain English, that means you download the software for free and then install it on a web server that you rent.

Think of it as the opposite of a platform like Shopify, where you pay a monthly fee for an all-in-one package that bundles hosting, software, and support together.

The open-source route has some serious perks. You get full control to tweak and customize every corner of your store, and you don’t pay transaction fees on your sales. The flip side? You’re in the driver’s seat for everything, from finding hosting to handling security updates, which means the costs can be a lot less predictable.

Breaking down the essential PrestaShop pricing and costs

The "free" core software is just the foundation. To build a functional, professional-looking store, you’ll need to budget for a few other key items. Let’s break them down into what you’ll pay upfront and what you’ll pay month-to-month.

PrestaShop pricing: your one-time setup costs

These are the initial hurdles to get your store ready for launch day.

• Domain Name: This is your store’s address on the web (like yourcoolshop.com). Think of it as your piece of internet real estate. You can expect to pay around $10 to $20 a year for a standard domain.

• SSL Certificate: This little guy encrypts data and gives your customers that reassuring padlock icon in their browser, showing your site is secure. It’s a must-have for building trust and for SEO. The good news is many hosting providers now include a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate, so you might not have to pay for this.

• Theme/Design: First impressions matter. While you can start with a free theme, most businesses opt for a premium theme from a marketplace to get a more polished look. These usually run from $60 to $200. If you want something totally unique, you could hire a developer for a custom design, but that can set you back a few thousand dollars.

• Essential Modules: Modules (or add-ons) are how you add extra features to your store. The basic PrestaShop is solid, but you’ll almost certainly need modules for things like connecting payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal), setting up advanced shipping options, or boosting your store’s SEO.

• Initial Development: If you’re not super comfortable with the technical side of things, you might want to hire a developer to help get everything set up, install your theme, and make sure your modules are playing nicely together. This can be a one-time cost worth budgeting for.

PrestaShop pricing: your recurring monthly costs

These are the ongoing expenses that keep the lights on.

• Web Hosting: This is where your store’s files live online, and it’s one of your most important ongoing costs. You’ve got a few options:

  • Shared Hosting: A great, budget-friendly choice for brand new stores ($10-$25/month).

  • VPS Hosting: More power for stores that are starting to see some real traffic ($30-$80/month).

  • Dedicated/Cloud Hosting: The top-tier option for high-traffic stores that need serious performance ($150+/month).

• Module Subscriptions & Updates: Some premium modules aren’t a one-and-done purchase. They may require an annual renewal to keep getting support and important software updates.

• Maintenance & Security: With a self-hosted platform, you’re the one in charge. That means you’re responsible for installing updates, running backups, and keeping your store secure. You can do it yourself if you’re up for it, or pay a maintenance service a monthly fee to take care of it for you.

Here’s a quick summary of what those costs might look like:

Cost Item	Type	Estimated Cost	Notes
PrestaShop Software	One-Time	Free	The core platform is open-source.
Domain Name	Recurring (Annual)	$10 – $20 / year	Your shop’s web address.
Web Hosting	Recurring (Monthly)	$10 – $150+ / month	Scales with your store’s traffic.
SSL Certificate	Recurring (Annual)	$0 – $70 / year	Often comes free with your hosting plan.
Premium Theme	One-Time	$60 – $200	Optional, but gives a more professional vibe.
Essential Modules	One-Time / Recurring	$50 – $500+	Depends entirely on the features you need.
Developer Fees	One-Time / As-Needed	$500 – $5,000+	For setup, custom work, or fixing issues.
Ongoing Maintenance	Recurring (Monthly)	$0 – $300 / month	Depends on if you DIY or hire help.

The hidden cost in PrestaShop pricing: scaling customer support

Okay, your store is launched, it looks great, and orders are coming in. Success! But with that success comes a new challenge that can quickly turn into a major expense: a growing mountain of customer support requests.

As your sales increase, so do the questions. "Where’s my order?" "Can I return this?" "When will this be back in stock?" Answering the same things over and over takes time and people. The old-school solution is just to hire more support agents. The problem? Your support costs start growing right alongside your revenue, which isn’t great for your profit margins.

There’s a much smarter way to handle this.

Instead of just adding more people, you can use AI-powered automation to deal with most of those common questions. An AI agent works 24/7, instantly answering queries about order status, returns, and product availability. This frees up your human team to focus on the tricky issues where their expertise really matters.

This is where a tool like eesel AI can help you keep those scaling costs in check.

• Connect all your knowledge, instantly: You can plug eesel AI into all the places all your knowledge is stored,your help articles, product docs, and even past support tickets. The AI learns from your real business data, so it gives customers accurate, relevant answers from day one without you having to manually build responses.

• Go live in minutes, not months: As a PrestaShop user, you appreciate having control. eesel AI is designed to be completely self-serve. You can build out your AI support agent yourself. No waiting for a sales demo or a long setup process. You can be up and running in a few minutes.

• Pricing that makes sense: The biggest headache with manual support is the unpredictable cost. eesel AI’s transparent pricing plans fix that. You pay based on usage, not per resolution, so you won’t get a shocking bill after a busy month. It gives you the cost predictability you need to grow your business without stress.

Here’s what that looks like in the real world:

Based on PrestaShop pricing, is it the right choice for you?

Now that you’ve got a clearer picture of the real costs involved, you can make a better call.

PrestaShop is probably a great fit for you if:

You want total control over your store’s design and features. You’re either comfortable getting a little technical or have the budget to hire someone who is, and you like the idea of not paying transaction fees on every sale.

PrestaShop might not be your best bet if:

You’re a total beginner looking for a simple, all-in-one package with a flat monthly bill. If that’s you, a platform like Shopify might be an easier place to start.

Pro Tip: No matter which platform you end up with, thinking about how you’ll scale from the beginning is a huge advantage. Putting tools in place early for things like customer support automation will save you so much time and money down the road.

Budgeting for the real PrestaShop pricing

PrestaShop’s core software is genuinely free, but building and running a great store is an investment. The true cost includes everything from your domain and hosting to themes, modules, and maybe a little help from a developer.

But as we’ve seen, one of the biggest costs,and one that’s easy to overlook,is the operational cost of handling customer support. A successful store isn’t just about saving money on platform fees; it’s about making smart investments in automation that let you grow efficiently.

Ready to get a handle on your support costs and scale your store without scaling your headaches? An AI support agent can handle up to 70% of common questions, letting you focus on the bigger picture.

Learn more about eesel AI for customer service

This video demonstrates the Advance Pricing Rules Module for PrestaShop, offering insights into how specialized modules can enhance your store’s functionality and contribute to your overall PrestaShop pricing strategy.