In order to decide which ecommerce platform to use, Volusion vs PrestaShop. A detailed comparison between features must be thoroughly done. If you want to decide which eCommerce platform to choose, there are many things to consider.
These are some examples of these factors:
- Cost.
- SEO friendliness.
- Page load speed.
- Canonical website URL.
- Indexing Control.
- Customizable HTML capabilities.
- Sitemap Generator.
- Integration with Google Analytics.
- Product Tagging and Categorization.
- Batch Uploading.
- Mobile Optimization.
- Built-in Blogging and Marketing Features.
- Social Sharing Buttons.
- Content Management Capabilities.
- Discount and promotion code tools.
- Easy to use Checkout.
- Reporting tools and custom reports.
- Integration of email marketing tools.
- Multiple payment options.
- Flexibility to add new eCommerce features.
- Exclusive features.
- Cons and pros.
Here we’ll discuss these factors to help you decide which platform is better for you, PrestaShop or Volusion. And at the end of the discussion, we’ll recap and make a comparison for the scores of all these points to find out which eCommerce platform has the higher score, so that you’ll have a good view about both of them.
Pricing (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Pricing Model: Volusion offers a traditional Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model with fixed monthly plans.
- Pricing Tiers: Volusion has four pricing plans, each with limitations on annual online sales and features:
- Personal: $29/month (supports up to $50,000 annual sales)
- Professional: $79/month (supports up to $100,000 annual sales)
- Business: $299/month (supports up to $500,000 annual sales)
- Prime: Custom pricing for high-volume businesses
- Additional Costs: There are no transaction fees charged by Volusion itself, but payment processors might have their own fees. Consider these when calculating your total cost.
PrestaShop:
- Pricing Model: PrestaShop is an open-source platform, meaning the software itself is free to download and install.
- Hosting Costs: However, you’ll need to pay for web hosting to run your PrestaShop store. Hosting costs vary depending on the provider and chosen plan, typically ranging from $3 to $30 per month.
- Module Costs: PrestaShop offers a large marketplace of modules (add-ons) that extend functionalities. Many modules are free, but some require a one-time purchase or a monthly subscription fee.
- Development Costs (potentially): Since PrestaShop is self-hosted, you might need to hire a developer for customization, theme installation, or troubleshooting, which can incur additional costs.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | SaaS (fixed monthly plans) | Open-source (free software, requires hosting) |
| Base Price | Starts at $29/month | Free |
| Additional Costs | None (except payment processor fees) | Hosting, modules (potentially), development (potentially) |
| Sales Limitations | Yes (based on chosen plan) | No |
| Ease of Use | Easier to set up and manage | Requires technical knowledge or developer assistance |
SEO Capabilities (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in SEO Features: Volusion provides basic built-in SEO tools for managing on-page optimization, including:
- Editing meta titles and descriptions for product pages and categories
- Setting up canonical URLs to avoid duplicate content issues
- Controlling robots.txt file to manage search engine access to certain pages
- Limited Advanced Features: Volusion lacks some advanced SEO features like built-in schema markup or image optimization tools.
- Ease of Use: Volusion’s SEO tools are relatively user-friendly and accessible within the platform’s interface.
- Dependence on Apps: While Volusion offers basic SEO functionalities, you might need to rely on third-party apps from their marketplace to access more advanced features like SEO audits or competitor research. These apps often come with additional costs.
PrestaShop:
- Flexibility and Customization: PrestaShop offers more flexibility for SEO customization compared to Volusion.
- Module Marketplace: PrestaShop has a vast marketplace with numerous SEO modules available. These modules can address tasks like:
- Schema markup implementation
- Image SEO optimization
- Internal linking suggestions
- SEO sitemap generation
- Content optimization tools
- Technical Knowledge Needed: Effectively utilizing PrestaShop’s SEO potential often requires some technical knowledge or developer expertise, especially when installing and configuring modules.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in SEO Features | Basic (meta tags, canonical URLs, robots.txt) | More extensive (through modules) |
| Advanced Features | Limited, relies on apps (potentially additional costs) | More options available through modules |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface for basic SEO tools | Requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance |
Page Load Speed (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Pros:
- Hosted Solution: Volusion is a hosted platform, meaning their servers are optimized for their software. This can lead to faster loading times compared to a self-hosted solution like PrestaShop.
- Built-in Caching: Volusion offers built-in caching mechanisms to store frequently accessed data and improve page load speeds.
- Managed Infrastructure: Volusion takes care of server maintenance and upgrades, ensuring optimal performance for their platform.
- Cons:
- Limited Control: As a hosted solution, users have less control over server configurations that might impact performance.
- Potential for Slowdowns: During peak traffic periods or with large product catalogs, Volusion’s servers could experience slowdowns.
PrestaShop:
- Pros:
- High Customization Potential: PrestaShop allows for server configuration optimization for faster loading times.
- Caching Modules: A wide range of caching modules are available in the PrestaShop marketplace, allowing users to choose the solution that best suits their needs.
- Image Optimization Options: Modules can be used for image compression and optimization, reducing file size and improving load speed.
- Cons:
- Self-Hosted: PrestaShop requires independent web hosting, and the hosting provider’s infrastructure and configuration significantly impact page load speed. Choosing a good hosting plan is crucial for optimal performance.
- Technical Expertise Needed: Optimizing server configuration and managing caching modules often requires technical knowledge or developer assistance.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting Model | Hosted | Self-Hosted |
| Server Optimization | Managed by Volusion | Requires technical knowledge or developer assistance |
| Caching | Built-in | Achieved through modules |
| Image Optimization | Limited options | Achieved through modules |
| Control Over Speed | Limited | High customization potential |
Canonical Website URL (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Functionality: Volusion provides built-in options for setting canonical URLs on product pages and categories. This allows you to specify the preferred version (with or without trailing slashes, http vs https, etc.) to avoid search engines indexing multiple variations of the same page.
- Ease of Use: Volusion’s interface makes setting canonical URLs user-friendly, accessible within product and category editing sections.
- Limited Customization: While Volusion allows setting canonical URLs, customization options might be limited compared to PrestaShop.
PrestaShop:
- Module Approach: PrestaShop relies on modules to manage canonical URLs. These modules offer broader functionalities compared to Volusion’s built-in options.
- Flexibility and Customization: Modules can handle complex scenarios like automatically generating canonical URLs based on product variations or automatically adding store domain names.
- Technical Knowledge Needed: Effectively utilizing modules for managing canonical URLs in PrestaShop often requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Management Method | Built-in functionality | Modules |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface | Requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance |
| Customization Options | Limited | More flexible and customizable through modules |
Indexing Control (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Limited Control: Volusion offers minimal direct control over how search engines index your website.
- Robots.txt Management: Volusion provides access to manage your robots.txt file. This file can be used to instruct search engines which pages on your site to crawl and index, and which to exclude. However, extensive control over indexing might be limited.
- Meta Robots Tags (Potentially): Volusion might offer options to set meta robots tags (like “noindex” or “nofollow”) on individual pages, but this functionality might be limited depending on the specific plan.
PrestaShop:
- Greater Control: PrestaShop offers more granular control over indexing through various methods:
- Robots.txt Editing: Similar to Volusion, you can edit the robots.txt file for basic indexing control.
- Meta Robots Tags: PrestaShop allows setting meta robots tags on a wider range of elements, including product pages, categories, and blog posts. This allows for more precise control over what gets indexed.
- Module Functionality: Modules available in the PrestaShop marketplace can provide advanced indexing control features, such as:
- Selective page indexing based on product availability or other criteria
- Automatic generation of meta robots tags based on pre-defined rules
- Sitemap management for better search engine communication
- Technical Knowledge Needed: Effectively utilizing advanced indexing control methods in PrestaShop often requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance for module installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Level of Control | Limited | More granular control |
| Methods | Robots.txt, meta robots tags (potentially) | Robots.txt, meta robots tags, modules |
| Ease of Use | Easier to manage basic settings | Requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance |
Customizable HTML Capabilities (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Limited Customization: Volusion offers a limited ability to directly edit HTML code.
- Theme Editing (Partially): Volusion themes use a drag-and-drop interface with pre-defined sections. You can only edit HTML within these designated sections, offering some control over layout elements but limiting overall design changes.
- Limited Code Injection: Volusion might allow injecting custom HTML or CSS code into specific areas of the theme, but this functionality might be restricted depending on the plan and could potentially break the theme’s layout if not done carefully.
PrestaShop:
- High Level of Customization: PrestaShop offers a high degree of HTML customization through themes and templates.
- Theme Editing: PrestaShop themes use HTML, CSS, and sometimes PHP files. This allows for extensive editing and control over the website’s design and layout.
- Template Editing: You can modify core PrestaShop templates to customize the structure and presentation of various store elements like product pages, shopping carts, and checkout processes.
- Third-Party Module Integration (potentially): Many PrestaShop modules might require editing theme files or injecting custom code for proper integration, further increasing customization possibilities.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Level of Customization | Limited | High |
| Editing Methods | Theme editor (limited sections), code injection (potentially restricted) | Theme editing (HTML, CSS, PHP), template editing, module integration (potentially requiring code editing) |
| Ease of Use | Easier to use for basic design changes | Requires technical knowledge of HTML, CSS, and potentially PHP |
Sitemap Generators (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Automatic Generation: Volusion automatically generates a sitemap for your store. You can typically access it by appending “/sitemap.xml” to your store’s domain (e.g., [invalid URL removed]).
- Limited Control: Volusion’s automatic sitemap generation offers limited control over what gets included. While it likely covers essential pages, you might not be able to customize its content.
- Frequency Updates: Volusion likely updates the sitemap automatically whenever you add or remove products or pages from your store.
PrestaShop:
- Built-in Functionality (Potentially): PrestaShop might have a built-in module for generating sitemaps. The functionalities of these built-in modules can vary depending on the PrestaShop version.
- Module Options: The PrestaShop marketplace offers a wide range of third-party sitemap generation modules. These modules often provide more features compared to a potential built-in solution, including:
- Customization: Ability to specify which pages and content types to include in the sitemap.
- Frequency Control: Options to control how often the sitemap gets automatically updated.
- Advanced Features: Some modules might offer additional features like automatic sitemap submission to search engines.
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Using modules for advanced sitemap functionalities in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Sitemap Generation | Automatic | Built-in (potentially) or Third-party modules |
| Control over Content | Limited | More customization options through modules |
| Frequency Updates | Automatic | Automatic (potentially with more control through modules) |
| Ease of Use | Easiest to use (automatic generation) | Requires technical knowledge for advanced functionalities (modules) |
Integration With Google Analytics (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Integration: Volusion offers built-in integration with Google Analytics.
- Ease of Use: Setting up the integration is relatively straightforward. You typically need to provide your Google Analytics tracking ID within the Volusion platform settings.
- Limited Control: Volusion’s built-in integration might offer basic tracking functionalities, but you might have limited control over what data gets sent to Google Analytics or customization options for tracking events.
PrestaShop:
- Module Approach: PrestaShop relies on modules for integrating with Google Analytics. There are various free and paid modules available in the marketplace.
- Flexibility and Customization: Modules offer more control and customization compared to Volusion’s built-in integration. You can choose a module with features like:
- Enhanced e-commerce tracking for detailed product performance data
- User behavior tracking (e.g., button clicks, scroll depth)
- Integration with other marketing tools
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Installing and configuring modules for advanced Google Analytics integration in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Integration Method | Built-in | Modules |
| Ease of Use | Easier to set up | Requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance (potentially) |
| Control and Customization | Limited | More flexibility and customization through modules |
Product Tagging and Categorization (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Categories: Volusion offers a hierarchical category structure for organizing products. You can create parent and sub-categories to group similar items.
- Tags: Volusion allows assigning tags to products. These tags are independent of categories and can be used for broader product attributes or promotions.
- Ease of Use: Volusion’s interface makes assigning categories and tags to products a user-friendly process.
- Limited Advanced Features: Volusion might have limitations for managing large product catalogs or complex category structures.
PrestaShop:
- Categories: PrestaShop offers a similar hierarchical category structure for product organization.
- Tags: Similar to Volusion, PrestaShop allows assigning tags to products for broader categorization.
- Advanced Features (potentially): Modules available in the PrestaShop marketplace can offer advanced features for product tagging and categorization, such as:
- Automatic tag generation based on product attributes
- Bulk editing of categories and tags
- Tag/category suggestions based on product data
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Utilizing advanced tagging and categorization features through modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Category Structure | Hierarchical | Hierarchical |
| Product Tags | Available | Available |
| Advanced Features | Limited | Potentially available through modules |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface | User-friendly interface (potentially with additional complexity for modules) |
Batch Uploading (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- CSV Import: Volusion allows uploading product data in bulk using a Comma-Separated Values (CSV) file format.
- Template Download: Volusion provides a downloadable CSV template that includes all the necessary fields for product information. You can populate this template with your product data and then upload it back to Volusion.
- Limited Customization: While the template covers essential product details, customization options for the import process might be limited.
- Error Handling: Volusion typically provides error reports after the import process, identifying any issues with your CSV file that prevented successful product creation.
PrestaShop:
- CSV Import: Similar to Volusion, PrestaShop allows bulk product uploads using CSV files.
- Module Approach (Potentially): PrestaShop might rely on modules for advanced import functionalities. These modules can offer features like:
- Support for additional file formats (e.g., XLSX)
- Image import alongside product data
- Automatic category and tag assignment based on data in the file
- Validation checks before import to minimize errors
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Using advanced import modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Import Method | CSV file upload | CSV file upload (potentially with modules for additional formats) |
| Template/Guide | Downloadable CSV template | Potentially module-specific templates or guides |
| Customization Options | Limited | More customization options through modules (potentially) |
| Error Handling | Error reports after import | Potentially more advanced error handling with modules |
Mobile Optimization (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Responsive Themes: Volusion offers a selection of responsive themes that automatically adjust their layout to fit different screen sizes, including mobile devices.
- Mobile Storefront (Optional): Volusion provides an optional “Mobile Storefront” feature that creates a separate mobile-optimized version of your store. This can offer a more streamlined experience compared to a responsive theme.
- Ease of Use: Volusion’s themes and mobile storefront feature are generally user-friendly and require minimal technical setup.
- Limited Customization: While Volusion’s themes are responsive, customization options for the mobile experience might be limited compared to PrestaShop.
PrestaShop:
- Responsive Themes Available: Similar to Volusion, PrestaShop offers a variety of responsive themes that adapt to mobile devices.
- Theme Customization: PrestaShop themes often allow for deeper customization of the mobile layout compared to Volusion. You can potentially edit HTML and CSS code to fine-tune the mobile experience.
- Module Approach (Potentially): PrestaShop offers a wider range of mobile optimization modules in their marketplace. These modules can address specific needs like:
- Image optimization for faster loading times on mobile devices
- Mobile-specific menus and navigation
- Caching solutions for improved mobile performance
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Effectively utilizing advanced mobile optimization features through modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Optimization Method | Responsive themes, Mobile Storefront (optional) | Responsive themes, Theme customization, Modules (potentially) |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface | Requires some technical knowledge for advanced customization (potentially) |
| Customization Options | Limited | More customization options for mobile themes and layouts |
Built-in Blogging & Marketing Features (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Blogging (Limited): Volusion offers limited built-in blogging functionalities. You might be able to create basic blog posts, but features for managing categories, scheduling posts, or SEO optimization might be restricted.
- Marketing Features: Volusion provides a range of marketing tools, but some features might be limited to higher-tier plans. These features can include:
- Email marketing campaigns (limited functionality)
- Coupon codes and promotions
- Social media integration
PrestaShop:
- Blogging (Potentially): PrestaShop itself might not have built-in blogging functionalities. However, modules available in the marketplace can add comprehensive blogging capabilities, including:
- Creating and managing blog posts
- Categorization and tagging
- Commenting system
- SEO optimization options
- Marketing Features (Modules): PrestaShop relies heavily on modules for marketing functionalities. The marketplace offers a wide range of modules for various needs, including:
- Email marketing with advanced features (e.g., segmentation, automation)
- SEO optimization tools
- Social media marketing tools
- Loyalty programs
- Pop-ups and promotional banners
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Blogging | Limited | No built-in blogging (modules available) |
| Marketing Features | Available (limited functionality, might depend on plan) | Modules required for most features |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly for basic marketing tools | Requires some technical knowledge for installing and configuring modules (potentially) |
| Features and Flexibility | Limited options | Wide range of features and customization options through modules |
Social Sharing Buttons Availability (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Options (Limited): Volusion might offer basic built-in functionalities to enable social sharing buttons for products. These buttons might be limited to a few popular platforms like Facebook and Twitter.
- Customization (Potentially Limited): The ability to customize the appearance or behavior of the social sharing buttons on Volusion might be restricted.
PrestaShop:
- Module Approach: PrestaShop relies on modules for adding social sharing buttons. The marketplace offers a wide range of social sharing button modules with various features.
- Flexibility and Customization: Modules can provide a wide range of functionalities and customization options, including:
- Support for a wider variety of social media platforms beyond Facebook and Twitter (e.g., Pinterest, Instagram)
- Customization of button appearance (icons, colors)
- Button placement options (on product pages, blog posts, etc.)
- Advanced features like social share counts
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Social Sharing Buttons | Built-in (limited options) | Modules required |
| Customization Options | Potentially limited | More flexibility and customization through modules |
| Platform Support | Limited platforms (likely Facebook, Twitter) | Wider range of platforms supported (depending on the module) |
Content Management Capabilities (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Focus on Products: Volusion is primarily designed for ecommerce and prioritizes product management features.
- Basic Content Creation: You can create static content pages like “About Us” or “Contact Us,” but functionalities might be limited compared to dedicated CMS platforms.
- Limited Editing Options: Editing content might be restricted to a WYSIWYG editor with limited formatting options.
- Limited SEO Control: Control over Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for content pages might be restricted.
PrestaShop:
- CMS Functionality: PrestaShop offers more robust content management functionalities, similar to dedicated CMS platforms.
- Content Types: You can create various content types beyond static pages, including blog posts, news articles, and landing pages.
- Flexible Editing: PrestaShop might offer a richer editing experience with more formatting options and potentially support for HTML editing for advanced users.
- SEO Control: PrestaShop might offer more control over SEO optimization for content pages, allowing you to manage meta descriptions, title tags, and URLs.
- Module Potential (Potentially): Modules available in the PrestaShop marketplace can further enhance content management capabilities, such as:
- Advanced content scheduling and publishing
- Content version control
- SEO optimization tools
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Content Focus | Product-centric | More general content management capabilities |
| Content Types | Limited (static pages) | More diverse (static pages, blog posts, news articles, landing pages) |
| Editing Options | WYSIWYG editor (limited formatting) | WYSIWYG editor (more formatting options, potentially HTML editing) |
| SEO Control | Limited | More control over meta descriptions, title tags, URLs |
| Module Potential | Limited | Modules can enhance content management features (potentially) |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly for basic content creation | Requires some technical knowledge for advanced features (potentially) |
Discounts & Promotion Codes Capabilities (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Functionality: Volusion provides built-in tools for creating various types of discounts and promotion codes.
- Discount Types: You can typically create discounts as percentages off entire orders, fixed amounts off orders, or percentages off specific products.
- Promotion Codes: Volusion allows assigning unique codes for each discount to track usage and redemption.
- Ease of Use: Creating and managing discounts and promotion codes within Volusion is generally user-friendly.
- Limited Scheduling: Scheduling options for discounts and promotions might be limited in Volusion’s basic plans.
PrestaShop:
- Coupons and Cart Rules: PrestaShop uses the concept of “coupons” or “cart rules” for discounts and promotions.
- Discount Types (Potentially More Flexible): Modules available in the PrestaShop marketplace can offer a wider range of discount types compared to Volusion’s built-in options. These might include:
- Buy-one-get-one-free (BOGO) offers
- Free shipping thresholds
- Minimum purchase amount discounts
- Product bundle discounts
- Promotion Codes: Similar to Volusion, PrestaShop allows assigning unique codes for tracking discount usage.
- Advanced Targeting (Potentially): Modules can offer advanced targeting options for discounts, allowing you to apply them to specific customer groups, product categories, or based on cart total.
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Utilizing advanced discount functionalities through modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Discount Creation Method | Built-in functionality | Coupons/Cart rules (potentially with modules) |
| Discount Types | Percentage off order, fixed amount off order, percentage off specific products | Potentially wider range of discount types through modules (BOGO, free shipping, etc.) |
| Promotion Codes | Available | Available |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface | User-friendly interface (potentially with additional complexity for modules) |
| Targeting Options | Limited | Potentially more advanced targeting through modules (customer groups, product categories, etc.) |
Easy to Use Checkout (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Strengths:
- Simpler Setup: Volusion offers a more straightforward setup process for configuring your checkout options.
- Built-in Features: Essential checkout functionalities like guest checkout and shipping options are readily available within the platform.
- User-friendly Interface: Volusion’s interface is generally user-friendly for managing checkout settings.
- Weaknesses:
- Limited Customization: Volusion might offer limited options for customizing the checkout page layout or workflow.
PrestaShop:
- Strengths:
- Customization Potential: PrestaShop provides more flexibility for customizing the checkout page layout and workflow through themes or modules.
- One-Page Checkout (Potentially): Modules can enable a one-page checkout experience for a potentially faster checkout process.
- Weaknesses:
- Steeper Learning Curve: Setting up and customizing the checkout process in PrestaShop might require more technical knowledge compared to Volusion.
- Module Reliance: Advanced checkout features like one-page checkout often rely on installing and configuring modules, which can add complexity.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Complexity | Simpler setup | Steeper learning curve (potentially) |
| Customization Options | Limited | More customization potential through themes or modules |
| Checkout Flow Management | User-friendly interface | Requires more technical knowledge (potentially) |
| Guest Checkout | Built-in functionality | Built-in functionality |
Reporting Tools and Custom Reports (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Reports: Volusion provides a set of built-in reports covering essential sales, customer, and inventory data.
- Report Types: You might find reports on:
- Sales performance (revenue, orders, products)
- Customer behavior (acquisition, demographics)
- Inventory levels and stockouts
- Marketing campaign performance (potentially limited)
- Customization (Limited): Volusion’s built-in reports might offer limited options for customizing the data displayed or creating custom reports based on your specific needs.
- Data Export: You can typically export reports in various formats (CSV, PDF) for further analysis.
PrestaShop:
- Basic Reports: PrestaShop offers some basic built-in reports, but they might be less comprehensive than Volusion’s.
- Module Approach: PrestaShop relies heavily on modules for advanced reporting functionalities. The marketplace offers a wide range of reporting modules with features like:
- More detailed sales reports (including product profitability, abandoned carts)
- Customer segmentation and behavior analysis
- Marketing campaign performance tracking
- Custom report creation with filters and data manipulation
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Utilizing advanced reporting features through modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Reports | Basic reports on sales, customers, inventory | Less comprehensive basic reports |
| Customization Options | Limited | More customization options and custom report creation through modules (potentially) |
| Advanced Reporting | Limited (potentially through higher-tier plans) | Modules offer advanced reporting features (sales details, marketing, custom reports) |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly interface | Requires some technical knowledge for advanced modules (potentially) |
Integration of Email Marketing Tools (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Option (Limited): Volusion might offer a basic built-in email marketing tool for sending simple email campaigns. However, functionalities might be limited compared to dedicated email marketing platforms.
- Third-Party Integrations: Volusion integrates with various popular email marketing services through their app store. This allows you to connect your Volusion store with a more robust email marketing platform you prefer.
- Ease of Use: Volusion’s built-in email marketing tool (if available) is likely user-friendly. Integrating with third-party services might require following the specific instructions of both Volusion and the chosen email marketing platform.
PrestaShop:
- No Built-in Tool: PrestaShop itself doesn’t offer a built-in email marketing tool.
- Module Approach: PrestaShop relies on modules for email marketing functionality. The marketplace offers a wide range of modules for integrating with various email marketing services.
- Flexibility: Modules provide flexibility in choosing the email marketing platform that best suits your needs. Some modules might offer additional features like:
- Abandoned cart recovery emails
- Product recommendations
- Segmented email campaigns based on customer behavior
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Utilizing email marketing modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Email Marketing | Limited functionality (potentially) | No built-in tool |
| Third-Party Integration | App store with various email marketing services | Modules for integrating with various email marketing services |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly for built-in tool (if available), integration complexity varies | Requires some technical knowledge for modules (potentially) |
| Feature Flexibility | Limited with built-in tool, potentially more options with integrations | Flexibility in choosing email marketing platform and potentially additional features through modules |
Multiple Payment Options (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Built-in Payment Gateway (Limited): Volusion offers a built-in payment gateway service (Volusion Merchant Services powered by Stripe) for credit card processing.
- Third-Party Integration: Volusion integrates with various additional payment processors through their app store. This allows you to expand your payment options beyond the built-in gateway.
- Ease of Use: Setting up the built-in gateway is generally user-friendly. Integrating with additional processors might require following specific instructions from both Volusion and the chosen payment processor.
PrestaShop:
- No Built-in Payment Gateway: PrestaShop itself doesn’t have a built-in payment gateway.
- Module Approach: PrestaShop relies on modules for adding payment gateways. The marketplace offers a wide range of modules for integrating with popular payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net, and many more.
- Flexibility: Modules provide flexibility in choosing the payment processors that best suit your needs and regional requirements.
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Utilizing payment gateway modules in PrestaShop might require some technical knowledge for installation and configuration.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in Payment Gateway | Limited (Volusion Merchant Services) | No built-in gateway |
| Third-Party Integration | App store with various payment processors | Modules for integrating with various payment processors |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly for built-in gateway, integration complexity varies | Requires some technical knowledge for modules (potentially) |
| Flexibility | Limited with built-in gateway, more options with integrations | High flexibility in choosing payment processors and regional options |
Flexibility to Add New eCommerce Features (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Approach: Volusion relies on apps from their app store to add new functionalities.
- Selection: The app store offers a decent selection of apps for various needs, but it might be limited compared to open-source solutions.
- Ease of Use: Adding apps to Volusion is generally user-friendly. They can be installed and configured within the Volusion interface.
- Vendor Dependence: You depend on the app developer for updates, bug fixes, and ongoing support for the app.
PrestaShop:
- Approach: PrestaShop relies on modules available in their marketplace.
- Selection: The PrestaShop marketplace offers a vast selection of modules for almost any eCommerce need, including marketing tools, payment gateways, shipping options, and more. This surpasses what Volusion’s app store typically offers.
- Customization Potential: Many modules offer customization options, allowing you to tailor features to your specific needs.
- Technical Knowledge (Potentially): Installing and configuring modules might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance, especially for complex modules.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Apps from Volusion app store | Modules from PrestaShop marketplace |
| Selection | Decent selection, but potentially limited | Vast selection for various eCommerce needs |
| Ease of Use | User-friendly installation and configuration within Volusion interface | Potentially requires some technical knowledge or developer assistance |
| Customization Potential | Limited | Many modules offer customization options |
| Vendor Dependence | Dependent on app developer for updates, bug fixes, and support | Dependent on module developer for updates, bug fixes, and support |
Exclusive Features (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion Exclusive Features:
- Built-in Customer Service Tools: Volusion offers built-in features for managing customer service interactions, including live chat functionality and ticketing systems (potentially in higher-tier plans).
- Uptime Guarantee: Volusion provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee for your online store, ensuring high availability for your customers.
- Scalability Options: Volusion offers various plans with different levels of scalability and features to accommodate businesses of various sizes.
PrestaShop Exclusive Features:
- Open-Source Platform: PrestaShop is an open-source platform, giving you complete control over the code and the ability to customize it to a much deeper level compared to Volusion.
- Free to Use: The core PrestaShop software is free to download and use. However, you might need to pay for web hosting, domain name, modules, and any additional services you require.
- Highly Customizable: With its open-source nature and vast module marketplace, PrestaShop offers a near-limitless level of customization for your online store’s design and functionalities.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion | PrestaShop |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Type | Proprietary (closed source) | Open-Source |
| Cost | Paid subscription plans | Free to download and use (potentially additional costs for hosting, modules, etc.) |
| Customer Service Tools | Built-in features (potentially in higher-tier plans) | Potentially available through modules |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% uptime guarantee | No guaranteed uptime |
| Scalability Options | Various plans with different scalability levels | Requires manual scaling through server upgrades |
| Customization Potential | Limited to app store options | Extensive customization through code editing and modules |
Market Share (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
While there isn’t a single definitive source for market share, here’s what some reliable data providers show for Volusion and PrestaShop:
- W3Techs:
- Volusion: Less than 0.1% of all websites with a known CMS [1].
- PrestaShop: 1.1% of all websites with a known CMS [2].
- BuiltWith Trends:
- Volusion: They don’t provide a specific market share percentage, but their data shows Volusion has customers in over 5,600 live websites [3]. They also show a historical trend, which can be helpful to understand Volusion’s market presence over time [3].
- PrestaShop: Similar to Volusion, BuiltWith Trends doesn’t provide a specific market share percentage, but their data shows PrestaShop has customers in over 49,300 live websites [2]. They also offer historical data for PrestaShop [2].
Limitations to Consider:
- Market share data can be collected and reported differently by various sources.
- These numbers might not represent the entire market or the specific niches where Volusion or PrestaShop might be more popular.
Additional Resources:
- 6sense: While not providing a specific market share percentage, 6sense offers some insights into Volusion’s customer base (primarily US-based) [4].
In Conclusion:
Based on the available data, PrestaShop appears to have a larger market share compared to Volusion. However, it’s important to consider the limitations of market share data and your specific needs when choosing an ecommerce platform.
Cons Of (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion Cons:
- Limited Customization: Volusion offers a user-friendly platform, but its app store might limit your ability to heavily customize the design and functionalities of your store.
- Potentially Higher Costs: Volusion has paid subscription plans, and depending on the features you need, the cost might be higher compared to PrestaShop (which is free to use at its core).
- Limited Control Over Data: Volusion is a closed-source platform, and you have less control over your store’s data compared to PrestaShop.
- Vendor Dependence for Apps: You rely on app developers for updates, bug fixes, and ongoing support for apps you integrate with Volusion.
PrestaShop Cons:
- Steeper Learning Curve: PrestaShop offers more flexibility but can have a steeper learning curve, especially for beginners, due to the need for some technical knowledge for managing modules and customizations.
- Potential Security Concerns: As an open-source platform, PrestaShop requires more vigilance regarding security updates and potential vulnerabilities compared to a managed service like Volusion.
- Technical Knowledge Needed (Potentially): Utilizing many functionalities in PrestaShop, like advanced features of modules or customizations, might require some technical knowledge or developer assistance.
- Hosting and Maintenance: Since PrestaShop is self-hosted, you’ll need to find your own web hosting provider and handle maintenance tasks yourself.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion Cons | PrestaShop Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Customization | Limited customization options | Steeper learning curve for customization and managing modules |
| Cost | Paid subscription plans | Free to use (potentially additional costs for hosting, modules, etc.) |
| Control Over Data | Less control over store data (closed-source) | More control over data (open-source), but requires vigilance for security |
| Vendor Dependence | Dependent on app developers for apps | Less vendor dependence, but potential reliance on developers for customization |
| Technical Knowledge | Less technical knowledge required | Potentially steeper learning curve, technical knowledge needed for some functionalities |
Hidden Charges / Cost & Fees (Volusion vs PrestaShop):
Volusion:
- Transaction Fees (Potentially): While Volusion plans advertise no transaction fees, some higher-tier plans might have transaction fees associated with exceeding a certain sales volume. Check plan details carefully.
- App Costs: While Volusion offers a free app store, many valuable apps have paid subscriptions or require in-app purchases for additional features. These ongoing costs can add up depending on your needs.
- Payment Gateway Fees: Transaction fees charged by your chosen payment processor are separate from Volusion’s fees. Be sure to factor these processing fees into your budget.
PrestaShop:
- Hosting Costs: PrestaShop itself is free to download and use, but you’ll need to find your own web hosting provider. Hosting costs will vary depending on the provider, plan you choose, and the resources your store requires.
- Module Costs: Similar to Volusion’s app store, PrestaShop’s marketplace offers many free modules, but some essential or advanced modules require paid licenses or subscriptions. These ongoing costs can accumulate.
- Security and Maintenance: As a self-hosted platform, PrestaShop requires vigilance for security updates and potential vulnerabilities. You might need to invest in security solutions or developer assistance to maintain a secure store.
Here’s a table summarizing the key points:
| Feature | Volusion Hidden Charges | PrestaShop Hidden Charges |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction fees | Potentially in higher-tier plans exceeding a certain sales volume | None |
| App Costs | Many valuable apps have paid subscriptions or in-app purchases | Many essential or advanced modules require paid licenses or subscriptions |
| Payment Gateway Fees | Separate from Volusion’s fees, charged by your chosen payment processor | Separate from PrestaShop costs, charged by your chosen payment processor |
| Hosting Costs | None (managed service) | Required cost, varies depending on provider and plan |
| Security and Maintenance | Less concern (managed service) | Requires vigilance for updates and potential vulnerabilities, might need security solutions or developer assistance |
What are the Fortes of eCommerce Platform (Volusion vs PrestaShop)?
Volusion’s Fortes:
- Ease of Use: Volusion offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies setting up and managing your online store.
- Managed Service: Volusion takes care of web hosting, server maintenance, security updates, and other technical aspects, allowing you to focus on running your business.
- Built-in Features: Volusion provides essential features like product management, shopping cart functionality, order processing, and basic marketing tools within its plans.
- Uptime Guarantee: Volusion offers a 99.9% uptime guarantee for your online store, ensuring high availability for your customers.
- Scalability: Volusion offers various plans with different levels of scalability and features to accommodate businesses of various sizes.
PrestaShop’s Fortes:
- Open-Source Platform: PrestaShop is free to download and use, making it a cost-effective solution for budget-conscious businesses.
- Highly Customizable: With its open-source nature and vast module marketplace, PrestaShop offers near-limitless customization for your store’s design, functionalities, and features.
- Complete Control: As an open-source platform, PrestaShop grants you complete control over your store’s data and code, allowing for deeper customization if needed.
- Wider Feature Selection: The PrestaShop marketplace offers a vast selection of modules for almost any eCommerce need, potentially exceeding what Volusion’s app store offers.
- Flexibility: PrestaShop allows you to choose your own web hosting provider and tailor your store’s technical infrastructure to your specific needs.
In Conclusion:
The best platform for you depends on your priorities:
- Choose Volusion if:
- You prioritize ease of use and a user-friendly platform.
- You prefer a managed service that takes care of technical aspects.
- You’re comfortable with Volusion’s built-in features and app store selection.
- Choose PrestaShop if:
- You’re on a budget and the free core software appeals to you.
- You need a highly customizable platform with a wider range of features.
- You value complete control over your store’s data and code.
- You have the technical skills or resources to manage a self-hosted platform.
Conclusion (Comparison Table for Volusion vs PrestaShop):
As we can see from the detailed comparison between these two platforms (Volusion vs PrestaShop) that the overall score for PrestaShop is better than Volusion’s.
Note that the comparison was done with eCommerce and online business in mind.
I hope this could give you the required insight to choose which eCommerce Platform to use for your future projects!
Here is the full comparison, PrestaShop vs Volusion Review in easy to comprehend bullet points:
| eCommerce Platform | Prestashop | Volusion |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 9.0 | 8.0 |
| SEO Friendliness | 8.9 | 8.2 |
| Page Load Speed | 6.4 | 6.2 |
| Canonical Website URL | 7.9 | 7.3 |
| Indexing Control | 8.0 | 7.1 |
| Customizable HTML capabilities | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Sitemap Generator | 8.9 | 8.0 |
| Integration With Google Analytics | 8.2 | 7.9 |
| Product Tagging & Categorization | 8.0 | 7.5 |
| Batch Uploading | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| Mobile Optimization | 7.7 | 7.2 |
| Built-in Blogging & Marketing Features | 8.5 | 8.0 |
| Social Sharing Buttons | 8.0 | 7.7 |
| Content Management Capabilities | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Discount & Promo Code Tools | 7.9 | 6.9 |
| Easy to Use Checkout | 7.0 | 6.7 |
| Reporting Tools & Custom Reports | 8.8 | 8.3 |
| Integration of Email Marketing Tools | 8.0 | 7.3 |
| Multiple Payment Options | 8.0 | 6.8 |
| Flexibility to Add New eCommerce Features | 8.0 | 7.0 |
| Exclusive Features | 7.7 | 7.3 |
| Market Share | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| CONS | 7.8 | 7.8 |
| PRO | 7.2 | 7.3 |
| Hidden Fees & Charges | 6.6 | 6.4 |
| Overall Assessment (Average) | 7.7 | 7.2 |