If you’re looking to create an eCommerce site, you’ve got several options. You can use software designed specifically for eCommerce, such as PrestaShop, or you can take a WordPress blog and install a plugin such as WooCommerce to turn it into an online store. Both PrestaShop and WooCommerce can be good options for a business that needs to set up an online store, but which is better.
PrestaShop is an open source program that has been downloaded almost four million times so far according to their official site. There are almost 200,000 stores that use PrestaShop around the world, and it’s listed as one of the top 10 eCommerce scripts. It can be used for selling just about anything you can imagine, including physical items, digital downloads, and services. It’s very easy to manage the content of your store, and installation doesn’t take a lot of time.
PrestaShop includes an easy to use dashboard, can generate reports, and much more. It really shines when it comes to shipping and payment—it has several dozen features to assist in these areas, including the ability to connect to USPS, FedEx, and UPS. You can select over 10 different payment methods, too.
WooCommerce is also very popular—it’s the top eCommerce plugin for WordPress and is used by more than 250,000 WordPress blogs. Because it’s a plugin, those who use WooCommerce don’t have to learn a brand new system. You simply use the standard WordPress tools to manage your products, so there’s virtually no learning curve. The plugin also provides sales reports and is very easy to install.
When it comes to shipping and payment features, WooCommerce isn’t quite as flexible as PrestaShop. It does have some integrated shipping options, including the ability to specify local delivery or free shipping, but it only offers four different payment options.
WooCommerce has a very large library of extensions, some of which are available to users for free. These extensions add more shipping and payment options, plus much more. However, the fact that you have to pay for most of the really good extensions is a drawback.
Both of these eCommerce programs are very useful and have a good number of options. WooCommerce may have the edge for those who want something that’s really easy to learn and already have a working WordPress site. On the other hand, PrestaShop has some more powerful features and is good for those who want to focus on only selling products. Either is a great choice—the better option depends on your needs.
