OpenCart to PrestaShop
A OpenCart to PrestaShop migration transfers your store's products, customers, orders, and content from OpenCart to PrestaShop—preserving data integrity, SEO rankings, and customer access. This guide covers data mapping, migration tools, cost, and step-by-step execution.
Migrating from OpenCart to PrestaShop is a strategic upgrade from a lightweight PHP platform to a feature-rich e-commerce solution. In 2025, with OpenCart's limited extensibility, basic admin UX, and scaling constraints, and PrestaShop's PrestaShop Addons, Back Office, and multi-store support, the case for migration has never been stronger.
OpenCart to PrestaShop Migration: Quick Facts
- Average cost: $69–$400 (automated) vs $2,500+ (custom)
- Typical duration: 2–4 hours (automated) vs weeks (manual)
- Recommended method: Automated cloud migration (Cart2Cart, LitExtension)
- Password migration: Supported with PrestaShop migration module
- SEO preservation: 301 redirects required—automated tools create them
Why Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop? Key Benefits
OpenCart has served its purpose, but limitations hold you back. Moving to PrestaShop opens specific opportunities:
💰 Cost Control
The OpenCart Pain: Limited extensibility. Basic admin. Scaling constraints. No native headless.
The PrestaShop Gain: Open-source. No platform fees. PrestaShop Addons for modules. Lower hosting costs.
🚀 Full Control & Customization
The OpenCart Pain: Limited customization. Vendor or platform constraints.
The PrestaShop Gain: PHP/Smarty templates. Web Service API. Full access to Back Office. PrestaShop Addons ecosystem.
🛠 Product Combinations
The OpenCart Pain: Product options structure can be rigid.
The PrestaShop Gain: Flexible product combinations. Attribute groups. Streamlined catalog management in Back Office.
⚡ Back Office & Multi-Store
The OpenCart Pain: Dated or limited admin.
The PrestaShop Gain: Intuitive PrestaShop Back Office. Multi-store. Multi-language. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop?
OpenCart to PrestaShop migration suits merchants needing a richer module ecosystem (PrestaShop Addons), better multi-store support, or a more polished Back Office. Both are PHP/MySQL—data structures are similar, easing migration.
OpenCart to PrestaShop: Platform-Specific Considerations
Every migration path has unique nuances. For OpenCart to PrestaShop, pay attention to:
- OpenCart product.model maps to PrestaShop reference—ensure SKUs transfer correctly for inventory sync.
- OpenCart extension data (options, attributes) may need custom mapping if no migration tool support.
- OpenCart image/ folder structure differs from PrestaShop img/p/—path conversion required.
OpenCart to PrestaShop Pre-Migration Checklist
Before migrating from OpenCart to PrestaShop, audit your source data and prepare your PrestaShop environment. OpenCart and PrestaShop use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
Understanding the Platform Disconnect
OpenCart uses its own data structure. PrestaShop uses MySQL with ps_ prefix and Web Service API.
- OpenCart Version: 3.x or 4.x? Structure may differ.
- Database: MySQL with oc_ prefix. Direct DB access.
- PrestaShop Setup: Install PrestaShop 8 on PHP hosting.
- Product Structure: OpenCart options map to PrestaShop combinations.
- Images: image/ directory. Upload to PrestaShop img/p/.
OpenCart to PrestaShop Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Accurate data mapping from OpenCart to PrestaShop preserves product variants, customer history, and order relationships. Below are the field mappings developers need.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| OpenCart Field (Source) | PrestaShop Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
oc_product.product_id |
ps_product.id_product |
PrestaShop generates new IDs. Use model for mapping. |
oc_product_description.name |
ps_product_lang.name |
Direct string transfer. |
oc_product.model |
ps_product.reference |
Direct mapping. |
oc_product.price |
ps_product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
oc_product_description.description |
ps_product_lang.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
oc_product_to_category |
ps_category_product |
OpenCart categories map to PrestaShop. |
oc_product_option |
ps_product_attribute |
OpenCart options map to PrestaShop combinations. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| OpenCart Field | PrestaShop Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
oc_customer.email |
ps_customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
oc_customer.password |
ps_customer.passwd |
Password migration supported. |
oc_address |
ps_address |
OpenCart addresses map to PrestaShop. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| OpenCart Field | PrestaShop Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
oc_order.order_id |
ps_orders.reference |
Preserve OpenCart order ID. |
oc_order.order_status_id |
ps_order_state |
Map OpenCart statuses to PrestaShop. |
oc_order.total |
ps_orders.total_paid |
Direct mapping. |
OpenCart to PrestaShop Migration Tools
Choose your OpenCart to PrestaShop migration method: automated cloud migration (recommended), CSV import, or custom development. Compare PrestaShop migration tools for features and pricing.
Option A: Automated Cloud Migration (Recommended)
Tools: Cart2Cart, LitExtension
Specialized tools that connect via OpenCart database/API and PrestaShop Web Service API or migration module.
- ✅ Pros: Handles structure complexity, preserves relationships, formats data for PrestaShop automatically.
- ❌ Cons: Cost scales with data ($200–$400). Requires PrestaShop migration module installation.
Option B: CSV Import
Tools: OpenCart CSV Export + PrestaShop Back Office Import
Export from OpenCart, format for PrestaShop, and import manually.
- ✅ Pros: Lower cost, direct control.
- ❌ Cons: Manual work required. Limited to products and categories.
Option C: Custom Development
Tools: OpenCart DB/API + PrestaShop Web Service API
Build a custom script using OpenCart database or REST API and PrestaShop Web Service API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop: Step-by-Step
Follow this OpenCart to PrestaShop migration process using automated cloud migration. See the full PrestaShop migration guide for detailed planning.
Phase 1: Environment Preparation
1.1. Prepare Target (PrestaShop):
Install PrestaShop 8 on PHP hosting (PHP 8.1+, MySQL 8+). Install migration module if using automated tools. Use subdomain for testing.
Tip: Use maintenance mode to prevent public access during setup.
1.2. Prepare Source (OpenCart):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your OpenCart store live during migration.
Phase 2: Connection Setup
2.1. PrestaShop Access:
Install migration module on PrestaShop. This provides API endpoints for migration tools.
2.2. OpenCart Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to OpenCart data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from OpenCart URLs to PrestaShop URLs.
- Migrate Product Combinations: PrestaShop supports flexible combinations. OpenCart variants map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from OpenCart and uploaded to PrestaShop img/p/.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration module. Customer passwords converted to PrestaShop format.
Phase 4: Post-Migration
Verify products, images, prices, combinations. Notify customers. Choose a PrestaShop theme from PrestaShop Addons.
OpenCart to PrestaShop Migration Cost (2025)
For a medium-sized store (2,000 products, 10,000 orders, 5,000 customers):
Custom Script
Developer Time
Automated Cloud
Average Cost
Agency Service
Starting Cost
OpenCart to PrestaShop: Troubleshooting & SEO
Common Challenges
- Combination Mapping: PrestaShop supports flexible product combinations. OpenCart variants map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: OpenCart structure differs from PrestaShop. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: OpenCart images need re-uploading to PrestaShop img/p/.
- Password Migration: Supported with migration module.
- Multi-Store: PrestaShop supports multi-store natively.
301 Redirects: Preserve SEO
OpenCart URLs differ from PrestaShop URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in PrestaShop Back Office.
OpenCart to PrestaShop: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about migrating from OpenCart to PrestaShop—cost, duration, password migration, and SEO preservation.
OpenCart vs PrestaShop: which is better?
Both are open-source PHP platforms. PrestaShop has a larger module marketplace (PrestaShop Addons), more active development, and stronger European adoption. OpenCart is lighter but has fewer extensions.
How similar is OpenCart to PrestaShop data structure?
Both use MySQL with prefixed tables (oc_ vs ps_). Products, categories, customers, and orders have analogous structures—migration is straightforward with automated tools.
Ready to Migrate from OpenCart to PrestaShop?
A OpenCart to PrestaShop migration unlocks open-source control, PrestaShop Addons, and full Back Office customization. Run a free demo to verify your data maps correctly.