PrestaShop vs soona
PrestaShop and soona serve completely different parts of your business. PrestaShop builds and hosts your online store. soona creates the product photos and videos for that store. This comparison helps you understand which tool fits your specific stage.
Best for: Entrepreneurs needing a quick, hosted launch for a new online store, Small businesses wanting an all-in-one platform with built-in marketing tools
Best for: Ecommerce brands needing a constant stream of photos and videos., Teams frustrated with slow, expensive agency turnaround times.
High customization, reliability risks.
We find PrestaShop excels in offering a complete, highly customizable open-source core, particularly valuable when using the simplified Hosted Offer. However, many users report technical instability, frequent bugs, and notable financial risks associated with the third-party module marketplace. Overall, PrestaShop is a powerful tool best suited for users who possess substantial development resources or are prepared for high ongoing maintenance costs.
Pros
- Simplified launch and hosting is included via the new Hosted Offer plan.
- Strong legal compliance features built-in (GDPR, automatic VAT calculation).
- Highly flexible and customizable open-source core platform.
- Integrated toolkit covering marketing, payments, and shipping solutions.
Cons
- High risk associated with low-quality or obsolete third-party modules.
- Frequent reports of technical bugs and software instability in later versions.
- Requires substantial existing technical knowledge or high ongoing spending.
- Support team sometimes lacks specialized technical advisory skills.
Fast, ecommerce-focused content creation.
We found soona delivers on its promise of speed and simplicity for ecommerce brands needing reliable photo and video assets. The live collaboration and channel-specific optimization are standout features. Overall, it's a strong choice for teams prioritizing a streamlined, fast-to-market content workflow.
Pros
- Dramatically faster content turnaround, often in 24 hours.
- Live virtual shoots for real-time feedback and collaboration.
- Content optimized for specific channels like Amazon and Shopify.
- Generally more affordable than traditional agencies.
Cons
- Pricing can be confusing, with per-asset costs adding up.
- Requires a Studio Pass for one-time bookings, adding to cost.
- Ideal for frequent users; may not suit very low-volume needs.
- Focus is on standard ecommerce content, not complex cinematic work.
AboutPrestaShop
The PrestaShop Hosted Offer is a complete, turnkey solution designed to get your ecommerce business running quickly. It’s built on PrestaShop version 8 and simplifies the entire setup process. This package includes efficient store hosting, providing 50GB of space thanks to our partner Gandi. It’s ideal for entrepreneurs who want a powerful, modular tool but need the technical aspects handled for them. Your store is set up and ready to go in just 30 minutes, guided by our experts. 💡
Aboutsoona
✨ soona is a creative platform designed specifically for ecommerce brands. It connects you to a network of expert photographers and models to produce professional photo and video content.
Think of it as your on-demand content studio. You can plan a shoot, attend virtually, and get finalized assets optimized for all your sales channels.
Highlights
Feature Comparison
Features Overview
We highlight the main differences and pick a winner for each feature.
Core Purpose
PrestaShop builds your store; soona creates content for it. They solve different problems.
PrestaShop provides a complete, hosted ecommerce platform. It gives you a website, shopping cart, payment processing, and shipping tools. It's your entire digital storefront. soona is a creative platform for producing product photos and videos. It connects you to photographers and models to create marketing assets. It doesn't build a store. The key difference is fundamental. PrestaShop is infrastructure for selling. soona is a service for creating what you sell with. You might use soona to make images, then display them in a PrestaShop store.
Setup & Speed
PrestaShop's store launches in 30 minutes. soona's content shoots are planned in minutes.
PrestaShop's Hosted Offer gets you a live store in about 30 minutes. Experts handle installation, hosting setup, and pre-install key modules. You start with a functioning site immediately. With soona, you can plan and book a professional photoshoot in just a few minutes. You select models, styling, and goals. The shoot itself happens live on the platform. PrestaShop's speed is about technical launch. soona's speed is about content production turnaround. For a new business, PrestaShop's instant store might be the first need.
Live Collaboration
soona lets you join shoots in real-time. PrestaShop offers standard support channels.
soona's standout feature is live virtual collaboration. You join your photoshoot directly from the platform. You give real-time feedback to the photographer and approve selects as you watch. PrestaShop provides support via email, live chat, and phone six days a week. You get help with technical issues or setup questions. It's reactive support. soona's collaboration is proactive and creative. It gives you control over the final product before it's finished. This live feedback loop can save money by reducing reshoots.
AI & Automation
soona uses AI for content audits and generation. PrestaShop focuses on marketing automation.
soona offers AI-powered Listing Insights. This tool audits your product pages and flags visual issues. You can also generate new brand imagery with AI Scenes and Props. PrestaShop includes Marketing Automation powered by Klaviyo. This helps with email campaigns, abandoned carts, and customer journeys. It's about automated selling. The AI focus is different. soona's AI optimizes visual content. PrestaShop's AI automates marketing communications. Both use AI to save you time, but in completely different parts of the business.
Integration Ecosystem
PrestaShop integrates with payments, shipping, and ads. soona connects to sales platforms.
PrestaShop's Hosted Offer includes many built-in integrations. You get PrestaShop Checkout (PayPal), eShip for shipping, and automated ads for Google, Facebook, and Instagram. soona directly integrates with Shopify and Amazon. It can pull product data from your store. It also has a Canva integration for design work. PrestaShop's ecosystem is for running store operations. soona's ecosystem is for feeding content into sales platforms. The choice depends on whether you need store tech or content tech.
Pricing Model
PrestaShop has one annual fee. soona uses memberships plus per-asset costs.
PrestaShop charges a single annual fee of €290 (excl. VAT) for the Hosted Offer. This covers hosting, installation, and all included services. It's a fixed, predictable cost. soona offers monthly memberships ($13-$49/month) and a $149 Studio Pass. You then pay per asset ($39/photo, $93/video) after your shoot. Costs vary with usage. PrestaShop's model is better for budgeting. soona's model scales with your content needs. High-volume content creators might find soona's per-unit costs add up.
User Experience
PrestaShop is a technical admin panel. soona is a streamlined creative platform.
PrestaShop provides a comprehensive backend for managing an ecommerce store. It includes product, order, and customer management. It requires some learning curve. soona's platform is praised for being 'slick' and 'super easy.' The process from planning to shoot to delivery is very streamlined. It's designed for marketers. The user experience is tailored to the task. PrestaShop's UX is for store administration. soona's UX is for content creation. soona likely feels more intuitive for its specific purpose.
Scalability
PrestaShop scales via hosting and modules. soona scales via content volume.
PrestaShop scales by handling more traffic and adding features. You get 50GB of hosting with the Hosted Offer. You can add modules for new functionality. soona scales by producing more content. You can book more shoots and purchase more assets. There are no stated limits on content volume per booking. PrestaShop scales the technical infrastructure of your business. soona scales your marketing output. Both can grow with you, but in different dimensions.
PrestaShop costs €290 per year (excluding VAT) with one primary plan currently offered: Hosted Offer at €290 per year.
Here are the details for the provided subscription option.
Hosted Offer
Price: €290 excl. VAT (annual) Best For: New entrepreneurs needing a ready-to-launch store with hosted services and dedicated support. Other Features:
- E-commerce hosting and store installation (50GB)
- Automatic VAT calculation
- Support 6 days a week (email, live chat or phone)
- PrestaShop Checkout payment solution
- Marketing automation and advertising tools
- GDPR compliance and cookie management
- Hosting and installation of your store (50GB)
- Automatic VAT calculation according to your country
- GDPR compliance and cookie management (Legal Assistant)
- Support 6 days a week by email, live chat or phone
- All-in-one payment solution (PrestaShop Checkout built with PayPal)
soona pricing: soona offers flexible creative memberships starting at $13/month annually, plus a one-time Studio Pass option for $149 per booking. Content is purchased individually starting at $39 per photo or $93 per video clip after your shoot is complete. \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\ Plans range: $1–$500/month Billing options: Free plan, Monthly subscription, Yearly subscription, Usage-based pricing
Pricing Notes
- PrestaShop's €290 annual fee is a flat rate covering hosting and core services. No per-user or sales volume fees.
- soona's Studio Pass ($149) is a one-time fee per booking for non-members. Memberships waive this.
- soona content is purchased individually after shoots ($39/photo, $93/video), which can add up.
- PrestaShop offers a 14-day free trial. soona does not mention a free trial.
- PrestaShop's pricing is simpler for budgeting. soona's costs are variable based on content needs.
Pricing Head-to-Head
User Reviews
User feedback for PrestaShop is highly polarized, resulting in a low Trustpilot rating of 2.1 (Poor). We see strong recurring issues concerning reliability and the quality of the Addon Marketplace.
Many long-time users and developers report significant frustration with recurring bugs and stability, especially following version 1.7, including critical errors like VAT calculation problems. Complaints highlight that numerous costly modules stop working after updates, and some sellers disappear, making the marketplace feel unreliable and risky for serious financial investment.
I started using PrestaShop with no prior experience. I was really impressed by how quickly I could create a shop in just a few hours. The new version uses Symfony, which feels powerful and modern.
Based on Trustpilot reviews, users frequently praise soona for its speed, quality, and ease of use. The platform is often called a "game-changer" for its fast turnaround and the professional look of the final assets.
🎯 Many appreciate the live shoot collaboration, which gives them control and direct input. However, a recurring theme is confusion over pricing, particularly the per-asset costs, which some feel are not transparent upfront.
The turnaround time is incredible. We got stunning, on-brand photos in 24 hours, which was a total game-changer for our launch.
Our Verdict
PrestaShop and soona aren't really competitors—they're complementary tools for different jobs. This isn't a 'which one is better' battle. It's about picking the right tool for the task at hand. PrestaShop's superpower is giving you a complete, hosted online store in 30 minutes. It handles the heavy technical lifting so you can focus on selling. It's the engine for your business. soona's superpower is creating professional product content at lightning speed. It gets you photos and videos in 24 hours, ready for Amazon, Shopify, and ads. It's the fuel for your marketing. The deciding factor is simple: what's your immediate need? Do you need to build a house (PrestaShop), or do you need amazing pictures of the furniture to sell in it (soona)? Choose PrestaShop if you need to launch and run your ecommerce store. Choose soona if you need to create the visual content that makes your store successful. Many growing brands will eventually use both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for a new online store: PrestaShop or soona?
Choose PrestaShop. It provides the actual website, hosting, and shopping cart you need to sell. soona creates marketing content, but doesn't build a store.
Can I use soona content in my PrestaShop store?
Absolutely. This is a perfect combination. Use soona to create professional product photos and videos, then upload those assets to your PrestaShop product listings.
Is PrestaShop or soona more expensive?
PrestaShop has a fixed €290/year cost. soona's cost varies; memberships are $13-$49/month, plus $39 per photo. High content volume can make soona more expensive.
Which platform is easier to use?
soona is generally considered easier for its specific purpose. Users praise its 'slick' interface for planning and attending shoots. PrestaShop's ecommerce admin has more features to learn.
Does PrestaShop help with creating product images?
No. PrestaShop is a platform for displaying images on your store, but it doesn't create them. You need a separate service like soona for professional photography.
Which has better customer reviews?
soona has better reviews, with a 4.2 Trustpilot rating. PrestaShop has a lower 2.1 rating, with many users reporting technical issues and problems with third-party modules.
Ready to Choose?
Both tools have their strengths. Choose based on your specific needs.