1. Shopify: performance and speed... as long as you avoid tinkering
Shopify has established itself as a reference for creating an online store quickly. But this apparent simplicity masks risks if the implementation lacks rigor.
1.1 A quick launch, but not automatically efficient
Shopify makes it possible to launch a store in a few weeks. The infrastructure is managed: hosting, security, updates, and basic performance are integrated. This promise of simplicity appeals to many businesses. However, fast does not mean efficient. Without serious structuring, stores accumulate overloaded themes, useless scripts, and a confusing customer journey. The result: a degraded user experience and a weakened SEO. A store that is stable at launch can quickly become a brake on growth if it has not been designed as a genuine digital product.
1.2 A powerful ecosystem... often poorly exploited
One of the major strengths of Shopify is its ecosystem of applications. Thousands of extensions allow you to add marketing, logistics or analytical functionalities. But stacked without a strategy, these applications become a problem. Slowdowns, technical conflicts, and uncontrolled monthly costs are rapidly emerging. A successful Shopify store requires a careful selection of tools, aligned with clear business goals and ROI-oriented. Performance does not come from the number of applications installed, but from their consistency in the overall architecture of the site.
1.3 Shopify's limitations rarely come from the platform
Shopify remains a SaaS solution with recurring costs and certain limits on highly customized solutions. However, in the majority of cases, the difficulties encountered do not come from the platform itself, but from an approximate implementation. Entrusting a strategic project to a generalist freelancer chosen solely for its price often leads to technical debt that is invisible at the beginning. In 2026, the mistake is not choosing Shopify, but underestimating the requirements needed to operate it properly.
2. PrestaShop: power and freedom... but zero tolerance for amateurism
PrestaShop offers total technical freedom. This power makes it a powerful tool, but also demanding. Without solid expertise, this freedom becomes a major risk.
2.1 Technical freedom that requires advanced expertise
With PrestaShop, everything is editable: code, architecture, business rules, modules. This flexibility is ideal for complex catalogs, advanced pricing rules, or multi-market strategies. It allows a high level of personalization and a fine adaptation to business needs. But this freedom requires real technical mastery. Without a clear architectural vision, the project quickly grew in size. What should have been an advantage then becomes a technical trap that is difficult to correct.
2.2 The myth of the “cheaper” PrestaShop
The lack of a monthly subscription gives the impression that PrestaShop costs less than Shopify. In reality, development, maintenance, security, and updates represent significant investments. Many companies think of optimizing their budget by going through a low-cost freelancer. A year later, they discovered an unstable site that was difficult to evolve, or even to rebuild entirely. In e-commerce, the initial cost never reflects the real cost of the project over time.
2.3 Without rigor, PrestaShop becomes a brake on growth
A poorly designed PrestaShop results in poor performance, recurring bugs, and total dependence on the initial developer. Each evolution becomes complex and expensive. Technical debt is piling up silently, holding back innovation and growth. In 2026, the market leaves no room for technical approximations. The freedom offered by PrestaShop is a powerful lever, but only when it is framed by a demanding and performance-oriented methodology.
3. In 2026, the real difference is not the platform, but the execution
Shopify and PrestaShop are two great tools for creating a successful e-commerce store. But technology is no longer enough: execution makes all the difference.
3.1 A successful store is a digital product, not a simple site
A modern store should offer a smooth user experience, a consistent brand identity, flawless technical performance, and an optimized structure for SEO and conversion. It can no longer be thought of as a simple online catalog. Without a global vision integrating branding, performance and business strategy, Shopify and PrestaShop become simple technical shells, unable to support sustainable growth.
3.2 General freelancers are rarely suited to e-commerce
E-commerce requires a detailed understanding of business issues, a logic of continuous improvement and an ability to anticipate market developments. “One shot” freelancers, who are not very specialized, often deliver a functional site but not optimized for long-term performance. An e-commerce store is not a one-off project: it is a strategic asset that must be designed to evolve, adapt and convert sustainably.
3.3 The Taram Group requirement: a premium and ROI-oriented approach
At Taram Group, we apply the same rigor to e-commerce as for our high-end institutional Webflow sites: clean architecture, controlled design, technical performance and clear business orientation. Each Shopify or PrestaShop store is designed as a solid, scalable and optimized base for SEO. This requirement makes it possible to deliver sustainable, profitable and truly efficient projects, beyond the effects of technological trends.
In e-commerce, the real choice goes beyond Shopify or PrestaShop
Creating a successful e-commerce store in 2026 is not about choosing a default platform. It's about refusing tinkering, disguised low cost and short-term decisions. Successful businesses invest in quality execution, surround themselves with real experts and build solid technical foundations. Shopify and PrestaShop are just tools. The difference lies in the strategic vision, the methodological rigor and the level of requirements applied to their implementation.
