Question 1

What is the difference between BigCommerce and PrestaShop?

Accepted Answer

PrestaShop is a free, open-source ecommerce solution and can be hosted on-premise. However, while PrestaShop is free to download, once merchants factor in the costs of hosting, technical support, security patches, and version updates, the total cost of ownership can be higher than many merchants anticipate.

While PrestaShop can be a heavily customizable solution, it can also be difficult to manage and maintain long-term.

BigCommerce, on the other hand, is an Open SaaS platform and always includes ecommerce hosting, maintenance and automatic security patching as part of the monthly subscription fee. With the combined benefits of open source and SaaS, BigCommerce allows merchants to integrate to their existing systems and easily install third-party applications without complicating the management and upkeep of their online store.

Question 2

Since PrestaShop is free, isn’t it cheaper than BigCommerce?

Accepted Answer

While PrestaShop is free to install, you still must factor in the costs associated with running your online store, such as an SSL certificate, hosting provider, technical support (either through in-house staff or an agency), security, plugins and any additional functionality needed for your ecommerce site.

BigCommerce is a SaaS platform, meaning your subscription fee includes hosting, security patching, maintenance, updates and support. It will depend on your specific business needs, but generally BigCommerce stores have a lower total cost of ownership than PrestaShop stores. If you’re interested in specific pricing for your business, talk to a BigCommerce expert.

Question 3

Can you edit the source code of PrestaShop and BigCommerce?

Accepted Answer

You can edit the source code of PrestaShop, however this can introduce additional complexity when managing future updates and patches.

On BigCommerce, you can’t edit the source code; however, the platform-wide APIs enable businesses to customize their sites and integrate with best-in-breed external applications and services. In fact, over 90% of the BigCommerce platform is exposed via APIs. This can provide you the flexibility to customize without introducing unnecessary intricacies.

Question 4

Is there a difference in PCI compliance on BigCommerce and PrestaShop?

Accepted Answer

The level of effort you have to extend to maintain PCI compliance varies depending on your platform. PrestaShop without any changes or customization is considered to be PCI compliant, but if you make changes to the source code, the responsibility of proving compliance falls on you.

BigCommerce stores, however, are ISO/IEC 27001:2013 & PCI DSS 3.2, Level 1 certified.

Question 5

What kind of support will I get with BigCommerce and PrestaShop?

Accepted Answer

PrestaShop doesn't come with any support, but various levels of technical support can be purchased for additional fees.

With BigCommerce, we provide fast, US-based support. On average, users are speaking to a live support person in under two minutes. Over 85% of issues are resolved on the first call.

Question 6

How do I migrate from PrestaShop to BigCommerce?

Accepted Answer

Whether you’re a small business or a large enterprise, BigCommerce offers ample support to help you make the switch from open source to SaaS.

In our app marketplace, you’ll find a variety of apps dedicated to data transfer and migration services, or you can get in touch with our Data Migration Services team who can help you seamlessly migrate and launch your store on BigCommerce.

Question 7

Which platform is easier to use: BigCommerce or PrestaShop?

Accepted Answer

Unless you have extensive technical expertise, BigCommerce is likely the better option. Although open-source platforms offer heavy customization, the more you modify the source code, the more complex you make your system. This can mean it’s more expensive and difficult to make updates, and you may find the software itself has a bit of a learning curve.

When it comes to building and managing your ecommerce store, merchants using BigCommerce have a lot less to worry about. Since updates happen automatically, it's easy to always be on the latest version of BigCommerce.

Plus, there are no security patches or updates that require certified developers to install and manage. This gives non-technical merchants the ability to focus on core business activities rather than worry about the upkeep of their website.

Question 8

What risks are involved with choosing open-source software?

Accepted Answer

With more control over your ecommerce environment comes more responsibility and expenses, especially when it comes to security and PCI compliance, ongoing site maintenance, licensing and hosting fees and integration with other systems. On top of day-to-day operations, you’re responsible for all of these aspects of your website — and if you’re not equipped with the coding knowledge or IT team, you may find yourself blindsighted.

However, the beauty of SaaS is that all of these responsibilities are taken on by the platform provider. Many of these additional operating costs are already included in your monthly fee, so you can more easily estimate your total cost of ownership.

BigCommerce vs PrestaShop

BigCommerce Platform Comparison Chart