Zen Cart to PrestaShop
A Zen Cart to PrestaShop migration transfers your store's products, customers, orders, and content from Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart to PrestaShop is a strategic upgrade from an osCommerce-derived PHP/MySQL platform to a modern, open-source e-commerce solution. In 2025, with Zen Cart's legacy architecture, limited updates, and no headless capabilities, and PrestaShop's Web Service API, product combinations, and PrestaShop Addons, the case for migration has never been stronger.
Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart to PrestaShop? Key Benefits
Zen Cart has served its purpose, but limitations hold you back. Moving to PrestaShop opens specific opportunities:
💰 Cost Control
The Zen Cart Pain: Legacy PHP/MySQL structure. No modern framework. Extensions can conflict. Limited scalability.
The PrestaShop Gain: Open-source. No platform fees. PrestaShop Addons for modules. Lower hosting costs.
🚀 Full Control & Customization
The Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart Pain: Dated or limited admin.
The PrestaShop Gain: Intuitive PrestaShop Back Office. Multi-store. Multi-language. Built-in SEO tools.
Who Should Migrate from Zen Cart to PrestaShop?
Zen Cart to PrestaShop migration suits merchants on legacy Zen Cart (osCommerce fork) seeking active development, modern modules, and Web Service API. Zen Cart development has slowed; PrestaShop 8 is actively maintained with security updates.
Zen Cart to PrestaShop: Platform-Specific Considerations
Every migration path has unique nuances. For Zen Cart to PrestaShop, pay attention to:
- Zen Cart products_model maps to PrestaShop reference—legacy SKU formats may need normalization.
- Zen Cart products_attributes structure differs from PrestaShop combinations—migration tools map options.
- Zen Cart images/ folder and PrestaShop img/p/ use different naming conventions.
Zen Cart to PrestaShop Pre-Migration Checklist
Before migrating from Zen Cart to PrestaShop, audit your source data and prepare your PrestaShop environment. Zen Cart and PrestaShop use different data structures—mapping them correctly prevents data loss.
Understanding the Platform Disconnect
Zen Cart uses its own data structure. PrestaShop uses MySQL with ps_ prefix and Web Service API.
- Zen Cart Version: 1.5.x or 1.6.x? Table structure may differ.
- Database: MySQL. Direct DB or REST API (if extension installed).
- PrestaShop Setup: Install PrestaShop 8 on PHP hosting.
- Product Structure: Zen Cart attributes map to PrestaShop combinations.
- Images: images/ directory. Upload to PrestaShop img/p/.
Zen Cart to PrestaShop Data Mapping: Products, Customers, Orders
Accurate data mapping from Zen Cart to PrestaShop preserves product variants, customer history, and order relationships. Below are the field mappings developers need.
🛍 Product Data Mapping
| Zen Cart Field (Source) | PrestaShop Field (Target) | Notes & Logic |
|---|---|---|
products_id |
ps_product.id_product |
PrestaShop generates new IDs. Use SKU for mapping. |
products_name |
ps_product_lang.name |
Direct string transfer. |
products_model |
ps_product.reference |
Direct mapping. |
products_price |
ps_product.price |
Direct price transfer. |
products_description |
ps_product_lang.description |
HTML content. Images need re-uploading. |
products_to_categories |
ps_category_product |
Zen Cart products_to_categories maps to PrestaShop. |
products_attributes |
ps_product_attribute |
Zen Cart attributes map to PrestaShop combinations. |
👥 Customer Data Mapping
| Zen Cart Field | PrestaShop Field | Critical Logic |
|---|---|---|
customers_email_address |
ps_customer.email |
Unique identifier. |
customers_password |
ps_customer.passwd |
Password migration supported. Both use similar hashing. |
address_book |
ps_address |
Zen Cart address_book maps to PrestaShop. |
📦 Order Data Mapping
| Zen Cart Field | PrestaShop Field | Mapping Logic |
|---|---|---|
orders_id |
ps_orders.reference |
Preserve Zen Cart order ID. |
orders_status |
ps_order_state |
Map Zen Cart statuses to PrestaShop. |
orders_total |
ps_orders.total_paid |
Direct mapping. |
Zen Cart to PrestaShop Migration Tools
Choose your Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart 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: Zen Cart CSV Export + PrestaShop Back Office Import
Export from Zen Cart, 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: Zen Cart DB/API + PrestaShop Web Service API
Build a custom script using Zen Cart database or REST API and PrestaShop Web Service API.
- ✅ Pros: Complete control, reusable.
- ❌ Cons: Expensive ($2,500+), time-consuming.
How to Migrate from Zen Cart to PrestaShop: Step-by-Step
Follow this Zen Cart 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 (Zen Cart):
Ensure database or API access. Keep your Zen Cart 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. Zen Cart Access:
Provide database credentials or API access. Migration tool connects to Zen Cart data source.
Phase 3: Migration Execution
Select what to move. Critical settings:
- Create 301 Redirects: Essential for SEO. Redirects from Zen Cart URLs to PrestaShop URLs.
- Migrate Product Combinations: PrestaShop supports flexible combinations. Zen Cart variants map automatically.
- Migrate Images: Images downloaded from Zen Cart 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.
Zen Cart 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
Zen Cart to PrestaShop: Troubleshooting & SEO
Common Challenges
- Combination Mapping: PrestaShop supports flexible product combinations. Zen Cart variants map automatically.
- Database/API Structure: Zen Cart structure differs from PrestaShop. Migration tools handle translation.
- Image Migration: Zen Cart 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
Zen Cart URLs differ from PrestaShop URLs. Create 301 redirects to preserve search rankings. Automated tools create redirects—verify in PrestaShop Back Office.
Zen Cart to PrestaShop: Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about migrating from Zen Cart to PrestaShop—cost, duration, password migration, and SEO preservation.
Is Zen Cart still supported?
Zen Cart receives occasional updates but development is limited. PrestaShop has a larger community and active release cycle.
Can I migrate Zen Cart attributes to PrestaShop?
Yes. Zen Cart product attributes (options, values) map to PrestaShop attribute groups and combinations. Automated tools handle the conversion.
Ready to Migrate from Zen Cart to PrestaShop?
A Zen Cart to PrestaShop migration unlocks open-source control, PrestaShop Addons, and full Back Office customization. Run a free demo to verify your data maps correctly.