I couldn't believe how easy it was to get my first online shop up and running thanks to Prestashop

Get your online shop up and running in minutes

by · TechRadar

Features By Bryan M Wolfe published 4 May 2026

(Image credit: Future)

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If you’re a small business that has avoided selling goods online because you’re unsure where to start, I have some good news. Even if you have no online retail experience or, for that matter, no coding experience, you can set up an e-commerce site for little to no cost, courtesy of PrestaShop. This freemium, open-source e-commerce platform allows businesses to create and manage online stores in just a few steps.

You can install PrestaShop on a company server or a web-hosted one. When I checked out PrestaShop, I installed it through my Hostinger web-hosted account. As you’ll read below, it was a relatively pain-free experience.

What is PrestaShop?

(Image credit: Prestashop)

Since 2007, PrestaShop has gained popularity among small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and some larger businesses because it balances cost-effectiveness and adaptability. The open-source PrestaShop software is available for download at no cost, allowing businesses without significant software expenses to begin operations. Users have access to modify the code base because of the open nature, while developers who have technical knowledge or can hire developers can achieve extensive customization. The platform benefits from a vast community of developers, translators, and agencies who develop the platform while supporting users.

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PrestaShop functions as a freemium service because it provides free core software. It generates revenue from the PrestaShop Addons Marketplace, which offers paid modules/extensions that enhance store functions with payment gateways, SEO tools, and marketing solutions. Although free options are available, users can acquire premium themes for sophisticated designs. Additionally, PrestaShop offers professional services, including technical support and custom development.

The e-commerce management features of PrestaShop enable users to create and organize products, categories, and stock through product management tools. The platform includes order management tools that let users view and edit orders while creating invoices and handling delivery notes. The customer management system enables users to build customer profiles while handling customer service requests. PrestaShop offers marketing and promotional tools, including discount management, campaign creation, newsletter distribution, social media connectivity, and robust SEO features such as customizable URLs and meta tags. Standard features include multiple payment integration options (PayPal and Stripe) and a complete shipping and logistics management system. Businesses can use their reporting system to track sales in real-time and monitor performance while benefiting from multilingual and multi-currency support for international sales, alongside single back office management of multiple stores.

What is Hostinger?

Hostinger is a premier web hosting provider, offering a comprehensive suite of solutions designed to empower individuals and businesses to establish and manage a successful online presence. They cater to a wide range of needs with four core hosting types: shared hosting for beginners and smaller websites, managed WordPress hosting tailored for WordPress CMS users, cloud hosting for those requiring scalable performance, and Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting for projects demanding dedicated resources.

Beyond server space, Hostinger enhances the user experience with an intuitive AI-powered website builder that enables rapid site creation. Their annual plans provide significant value, including complimentary domain names for a unified online identity and free SSL certificates to encrypt data transmissions and ensure security. Furthermore, Hostinger simplifies the transition for existing websites with seamless website migration services.

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