PrestaShop stands out as a compelling choice between Prestashop 1.7 and Prestashop 8.1 for e-commerce ventures, thanks to its open-source nature, which makes it both free and highly customizable. It boasts a user-friendly interface, supports multiple languages and currencies, and comes equipped with essential e-commerce functionalities.
Additionally, PrestaShop offers SEO capabilities and scalability to accommodate the growth of your business. Supported by a large community, the platform provides extensive support, modules, and regular updates, making it ideal for small to medium-sized businesses aiming for a global market reach.
The release of PrestaShop 8, with its numerous improvements, has sparked interest among e-commerce enthusiasts. Hence, if you’re considering upgrading to PrestaShop 8, or if you’re unsure which version to choose for your online store, so this blog will help you make an informed decision. We’ll root about the differences and comparisons between PrestaShop 1.7 and PrestaShop 8.
Why Choose the Right Platform?
Choosing the right e-commerce platform is significant for the success of your online business. An inadequate platform can lead to limitations in scalability, customization, security, and other critical areas. PrestaShop, being a robust and customizable platform, could be the ideal choice for your e-commerce venture. With SW Hosting, you can deploy PrestaShop with its pre-configured version 8 in just one click.
Pros and Cons of PrestaShop 1.7 and PrestaShop 8.1
When deciding between PrestaShop 1.7 and PrestaShop 8.1, it’s crucial to consider how each version aligns with your business needs, technical resources, and future goals. Here’s a practical comparison:
PrestaShop 1.7
Pros:
- Stability: With years of market presence, this version is well-vetted and reliable for everyday operations.
- Strong Community: An extensive array of themes and modules, supported by a vibrant community, ensures you have numerous resources for troubleshooting or enhancing your store.
- Continued Support: Despite its age, PrestaShop 1.7 still receives essential updates and support, keeping it viable for many businesses.
Cons:
- Aging Technology: The technology underpinning 1.7 is somewhat dated, potentially limiting your ability to leverage newer web technologies.
- Performance Limitations: For stores with high traffic volumes or large inventories, 1.7 may struggle to keep up, impacting user experience.
- Diminishing Updates: As newer versions emerge, the focus on 1.7 will wane, possibly reducing the frequency and scope of future updates.
PrestaShop 8.1
Pros:
- Improved Performance: 8.1 brings optimizations that enhance loading times and overall responsiveness, crucial for retaining customers and improving search engine rankings.
- Updated Infrastructure: Built on the latest versions of Symfony and PHP, 8.1 offers increased security and efficiency, making your site more robust against vulnerabilities.
- User-Friendly Backend: The redesigned backend simplifies daily management tasks, which can be particularly beneficial for new users or expanding businesses.
Cons:
- Migration Challenges: Upgrading from 1.7 might involve significant hurdles due to changes in core and module architectures.
- Compatibility Issues: Some existing modules and themes may need updates or replacements to work seamlessly with 8.1, incurring additional time and cost.
- Increased Resource Needs: The newer technology stack might require a more powerful hosting solution, increasing monthly operational expenses.
Functionalities/Supports added in PrestaShop 8 and above versions:
Bootstrap and Symfony upgrades:
Versions 8 and above have upgraded to Bootstrap and Symfony versions v4.4.
PHP requirements:
PrestaShop 8 and above require at least PHP 7.2.5 and are compatible with PHP v8.1, while some previous versions of PrestaShop 1.7 support PHP v7.1.
Changes in registration and login:
Customer registration and login have been divided between two controllers, potentially causing issues with third-party modules incompatible with PrestaShop 8.
Password Strength Indicator:
Introduced to provide real-time clues for a strong password, with the minimum password length set to 8 characters.
Changes in Tools functions:
Parameters like $id_lang and $separator have been removed from Tools::displayDate(), and Tools::jsonDecode() and Tools::jsonEncode() functions have been replaced with PHP functions json_decode() and json_encode() respectively.
Conclusion:
Further, if you value stability and have existing familiarity with the platform, PrestaShop 1.7 might be easier for you to continue using. On the other hand, if you’re starting fresh or seeking a platform with a more modern and efficient user interface, PrestaShop 8.1 could be easier to adopt and use effectively. Carefully weighing these factors against your specific needs and goals will help you make an informed decision between PrestaShop 1.7 and PrestaShop 8.1 for your e-commerce venture.
Recommended read: Why migrate from PrestaShop1.7 to PrestaShop 8.1?
You can also explore a wide range of Prestashop, Opencart, WooCommerce, Shopify, and Magento 2 ready-to-use eCommerce extensions.
In case you have queries/suggestions, you can reach out to our technical support portal at our email address support@knowband.com.
Take a look at our bestseller module One Page Supercheckout for Prestashop and Android and iOS App Maker for Prestashop. Also, you can watch our latest videos here:
