The verdict in three sentences
You don't migrate off PrestaShop because it's old, but because modules, slowness and technical debt cost more than custom. The 2026 tipping point sits around high GMV, 20+ paid modules and 1,500 EUR/month of maintenance. Migration costs 15,000 to 50,000 EUR, ships in 12 to 20 weeks, and must preserve SEO through a rigorous 301 redirect plan.
When migration becomes profitable
Staying on PrestaShop is perfectly reasonable while the site handles the load and modules suffice. The maths change when every evolution becomes a project and performance drags conversion down.
| Signal | Stay on PrestaShop | Migrate to custom |
|---|---|---|
| Number of paid modules | < 10 | 20+ |
| Monthly maintenance | < 500 EUR | > 1,500 EUR |
| Load time | < 2 s | > 4 s |
| Module conflicts per update | Rare | Frequent |
| Specific business needs | Standard | Non-standard |
| Mobile conversion | Fine | Degraded |
Budget and 3-year TCO
| Line item | Scope | 2026 order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Audit & scoping | Modules, data, SEO | 2,000-5,000 EUR |
| Platform development | Custom front + back | 8,000-28,000 EUR |
| Catalogue & customer migration | Products, accounts, orders | 2,000-8,000 EUR |
| 301 redirect plan | SEO preservation | 1,500-4,000 EUR |
| Acceptance & go-live | Tests, DNS switch | 1,500-5,000 EUR |
Over 3 years, a loaded PrestaShop can cost 54,000 to 90,000 EUR (modules + maintenance + hosting), where an amortised custom platform runs at 20,000-40,000 EUR in recurring costs. The TCO crossover shows from year 2.
Mini case study
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Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Karim, head of a sports-equipment e-commerce in Toulouse, does 2.4 M EUR GMV on PrestaShop with 26 modules. He pays 1,800 EUR/month maintenance and his site loads in 4.3 s. After custom migration (38,000 EUR project), load time drops to 1.4 s, conversion gains 0.6 point (from 1.8 % to 2.4 %), i.e. ~+140,000 EUR annual GMV, and maintenance falls to 600 EUR/month. The project pays back in under 6 months on the conversion gain alone.
FAQ
Will we lose our SEO? No if the 301 redirect plan is complete and tested before go-live. A 2-4 week dip is normal, followed by a rebound if performance improves.
Can we keep our current theme? Rarely identically: custom precisely frees you from theme constraints. We reproduce the visual identity, not the code.
How long for data migration? 2 to 4 weeks depending on catalogue cleanliness and the number of customer accounts and orders to move.
Must we migrate everything at once? No, a two-step switch (catalogue then checkout) reduces risk on large volumes.
What if our GMV is modest? Below 500,000 EUR GMV and with few modules, optimise PrestaShop rather than migrate. Custom is justified by scale.
Let's scope your project. Give us your GMV, module count and current maintenance: indicative budget 15,000-50,000 EUR, deployment 12-20 weeks. 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.
