The verdict in three sentences
Leaving PrestaShop makes sense when paid modules (2 000 to 6 000 EUR/year) and update conflicts throttle your growth. A custom migration costs 18 000 to 45 000 EUR, plus 3 000 to 9 000 EUR for catalog and SEO transfer. With well-built 301 redirects, SEO loss stays below 5% and the investment pays back on module savings and conversion gains.
Migration cost items
| Item | 2026 cost (order of magnitude) |
|---|---|
| Custom front + back rebuild | 18 000 to 45 000 EUR |
| Catalog transfer (5 000-30 000 SKUs) | 3 000 to 9 000 EUR |
| 301 redirect plan | 1 500 to 4 000 EUR |
| SEO transfer (meta, structure, sitemap) | 2 000 to 5 000 EUR |
| Payment + carrier integration | 3 000 to 7 000 EUR |
| QA + e2e testing | 2 000 to 4 500 EUR |
| Project total | 29 500 to 74 500 EUR |
Catalog and SEO transfer
| Element | 2026 detail |
|---|---|
| Number of SKUs migrated | 5 000 to 30 000 |
| 301 redirects per old URL | 1 to 1 |
| Controlled SEO traffic loss | < 5% over 3 months |
| PrestaShop modules avoided | 2 000 to 6 000 EUR/year |
| Migration timeline | 10 to 14 weeks |
| Cutover window (downtime) | < 2 hours |
The critical point: every old URL must have its 301 redirect. That is what protects earned rankings and prevents a post-migration traffic drop.
Typical 12-week plan
| Phase | Duration | Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Scoping + catalog audit | 2 weeks | Specs + redirect plan |
| Design + architecture | 3 weeks | Approved mockups |
| Front/back development | 4 weeks | Staging store |
| Catalog + SEO transfer | 2 weeks | Migrated catalog |
| QA + cutover | 1 week | Go-live |
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Mini case study
Marc, who runs an auto-parts e-commerce, manages 14 000 SKUs on PrestaShop and pays 4 800 EUR/year in modules (search, filters, marketplace, SEO). His custom migration costs 38 000 EUR, catalog and SEO transfer included. By removing modules he saves 4 800 EUR/year. Above all, a rebuilt funnel lifts conversion from 1.4% to 1.9%, i.e. +35% orders on 1.2 M EUR of revenue = +180 000 EUR of revenue/year. The investment is repaid in under 3 months of additional margin.
FAQ
How much is a PrestaShop-to-custom migration? Plan 18 000 to 45 000 EUR for the rebuild, plus 3 000 to 9 000 EUR for catalog and SEO transfer, i.e. a total project of 29 500 to 74 500 EUR.
Will I lose my rankings? No, if the 301 redirect plan is complete: traffic loss stays below 5% and recovers within 2 to 3 months.
How many SKUs can be migrated? A standard migration covers 5 000 to 30 000 SKUs with attributes, variants and images transferred.
What is the migration timeline? Plan 10 to 14 weeks depending on catalog size and payment/carrier integrations, with a cutover under 2 hours.
Is custom worth it versus modules? Yes: avoiding 2 000 to 6 000 EUR/year of modules, plus conversion gains, often repays the build in under 12 months.
Let's scope your project. Share your SKU count, current modules and revenue: we price the migration and the redirect plan. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.