Shopify, PrestaShop, Base: which eCommerce platform is right for scaling?
- Noham Layani
- Jan 20
- 4 min read
When the issue is no longer about selling, but about sustaining growth
Creating an online store has never been easier. However, managing a profitable, multi-channel, sometimes international eCommerce business with transparent finances remains a real challenge for SMEs.
At Blendy , we often see the same scenario:
a platform chosen “for speed”,
accelerating growth,
Then came friction: technical limitations, accumulation of tools, difficulties in financial management, accounting complexity.
This is where the choice of eCommerce platform becomes a strategic issue , far beyond marketing or the product.
In this article, we compared Shopify , PrestaShop , Base and WooCommerce from a rarely discussed angle: their ability to support an SME when finance, internationalization and management become critical .
Shopify: The scaling champion… with conditions
Shopify is now THE most adopted platform for growing e-commerce businesses. Its strength is clear: speed of execution . The app ecosystem, infrastructure stability, and native international support make it a very attractive choice for rapid scaling.
But at Blendy , we also see the other side of the coin. As the business becomes more complex, Shopify becomes just one component among many , requiring numerous integrations for finance, international VAT, multi-channel sales consolidation, and monitoring of actual margins.
👉 Shopify is excellent for selling quickly and widely. 👉 However, it requires a solid finance & data architecture to remain legible beyond a certain volume.
PrestaShop: Total freedom… at the price of complexity
PrestaShop remains a historical player in European eCommerce, highly regarded for its open-source nature and freedom of customization. For some SMEs, this is a decisive advantage: total control, choice of hosting, and a "tailor-made" approach.
But this freedom comes at a price. PrestaShop requires technical resources , constant maintenance, and close attention to performance, security, and updates. Financially, everything depends on the modules chosen… with highly variable results.
👉 PrestaShop can be powerful. But without a technical team and clear governance, it quickly becomes an operational and financial obstacle .
Base: eCommerce conceived as a building block of a global system
Base clearly distinguishes itself from traditional eCommerce platforms. Here, we're not just talking about an online store, but a unifying platform : sales, payments, back office, connections with other eCommerce and financial tools.
This positioning is particularly attractive for already structured SMEs that want to:
centralize their sales channels,
limit dependence on “stacked apps”,
and above all, to streamline the link between sales and finance .
At Blendy , we appreciate Base for its ability to seamlessly interconnect with a wider ecosystem , which facilitates the implementation of virtuous financial processes, particularly for multi-channel or international companies.
👉 Base is not the most well-known platform. But it is one of the most consistent when the question is no longer “how to sell”, but “how to manage”.
WooCommerce: Maximum flexibility for hybrid organizations
WooCommerce is often underestimated. Built on WordPress, it offers extreme flexibility , ideal for SMEs that combine content, eCommerce, lead generation and international sales.
Its main advantage: anything is possible. Its main risk: everything depends on the quality of the architecture put in place (hosting, security, plugins, integrations).
At Blendy , we see WooCommerce working very effectively for mature digital SMEs capable of structuring their stack (payment, logistics, finance). Conversely, if poorly managed, WooCommerce can quickly become financially opaque .
Comparative table: Which platform for which type of SME?
Platform | Main strength | Key limit | Adapted for international use | Financial readability |
Shopify | Scalability & speed | App addiction | ✅ Excellent | ⚠️ Needs structuring |
PrestaShop | Total freedom | Technical complexity | ⚠️ Variable | ⚠️ Depends on the modules |
Base | System coherence | Less mainstream | ✅ Very good | ✅ Native |
WooCommerce | Maximum flexibility | Governance needed | ✅ Good | ⚠️ Depends on the architecture |
Blendy's point of view: The platform is never the real issue
At Blendy, we often repeat this:
It is not the eCommerce platform that determines performance, but the ability to integrate it into a clear financial architecture.
An SME with €500k, €1M or €5M in turnover no longer has the same challenges as an “early stage” e-commerce company.
VAT, net margins, multi-currency, international payments, bank reconciliations, cash management… these topics go far beyond the choice of an eCommerce CMS.
That's why we help our clients to:
choose the platform best suited to their level of maturity,
Properly connect sales, payments, and accounting.
and build a financial management system capable of keeping pace with growth, both in France and internationally.
Selling online is easy. Managing it is strategic.
Shopify, PrestaShop, Base, or WooCommerce are neither "good" nor "bad" in themselves. They meet different levels of maturity .
The real question to ask is therefore not:
“Which platform is the most popular?”
But rather:
“Which platform will still allow me to understand my business in 12 or 24 months?”
And it is precisely in this area — that of finance, management and internationalization — that Blendy supports SMEs that want to grow without losing control.
With Blendy, as an international digital accountant, take advantage of all the benefits of digital accounting to accelerate your financial process and develop your business.
Pennylane, Dext, QuickBooks and Stripe certified, we support digital, e-Commerce, IT services, SaaS companies in France and internationally.
