PrestaShop Hosting Requirements

Category: PrestaShop & eCommerce · Updated 2026-10-30

PrestaShop needs a Linux server running PHP (a version within the range the installed PrestaShop release supports), a MySQL or MariaDB database, and the Apache or Nginx web server, plus several required PHP extensions. A small catalog can run on 1 to 2 GB of RAM, but a growing store with regular traffic benefits from 4 GB or more, SSD storage and an opcode cache. Checking the exact PHP version against your PrestaShop release before installing avoids most setup failures.

PHP version and extensions

Each major PrestaShop release supports a specific PHP range, and running the wrong version is the most common cause of a failed install or a blank admin screen. As a general rule, PrestaShop 8.x targets PHP 7.4 through 8.1, while PrestaShop 1.6 needs an older PHP 5.6 to 7.1 range; always confirm the exact supported range in the release notes for the version you are installing, since these windows are updated over time.

Beyond the PHP version itself, the server needs these PHP extensions enabled:

cURL
GD (image processing)
Intl
JSON
mbstring
OpenSSL
PDO with the MySQL driver
SOAP (for some payment and webservice modules)
Zip

Database and web server

PrestaShop stores products, orders and customers in a MySQL or MariaDB database, and needs the InnoDB storage engine available, since several core tables rely on it for transactions and relational integrity. The web server can be Apache (with mod_rewrite enabled for clean URLs) or Nginx (with an equivalent rewrite configuration); both are common on shared and VPS hosting.

; A typical php.ini baseline for PrestaShop
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Minimum vs. comfortable resources

Store size	RAM	Storage	Notes
Small catalog, low traffic	1-2 GB	5-10 GB SSD	Shared or entry VPS hosting, basic caching
Growing catalog, steady traffic	4 GB	20-40 GB SSD	VPS with opcode caching and a CDN for images
Large catalog, peak sales traffic	8 GB+	50 GB+ SSD, or object storage for media	Dedicated resources or cloud hosting, plus a separate caching layer such as Redis or Varnish

These figures are general guidance, not a guarantee; a store with many simultaneous shoppers or heavy use of modules needs more headroom than one with the same product count but light traffic.

Other things that affect performance

An SSL certificate is required for checkout and is standard on nearly all current hosting plans, with no major technical obstacle to enabling it. Enabling PHP's OPcache noticeably speeds up page loads by caching compiled PHP code between requests. Cron access is also needed for scheduled tasks such as currency updates, stock synchronization and some module jobs, so confirm the host allows cron jobs or offers them built in.

Frequently asked questions

What PHP version does PrestaShop need?

It depends on the PrestaShop release: 8.x generally runs on PHP 7.4 through 8.1, while 1.6 needs an older PHP 5.6 to 7.1 range. Always check the release notes for the exact version you are installing before setting up hosting.

Can PrestaShop run on shared hosting?

A small store with low traffic can run on shared hosting if it meets the PHP, memory and extension requirements, but a growing catalog with real traffic usually performs better on a VPS or cloud plan with dedicated resources.

Does PrestaShop need MySQL or MariaDB?

It needs one or the other, since both are compatible database engines for PrestaShop, with the InnoDB storage engine available for transactional tables.

How much RAM does a PrestaShop store need?

A small catalog with light traffic can run on 1 to 2 GB of RAM, but a store with a larger catalog or steady traffic benefits from 4 GB or more, plus opcode caching to reduce the load on each request.

Is an SSL certificate required for PrestaShop?

Yes in practice, since checkout pages require HTTPS and most browsers flag non-secure payment forms; nearly all hosting plans now include a free SSL certificate.

Does PrestaShop need cron job access?

Yes, several PrestaShop features such as currency updates and scheduled module tasks rely on cron jobs, so confirm the hosting plan supports them.