PrestaShop 8 vs 9: what is the difference?

PrestaShop 8 is a stable version supported until 2026. PrestaShop 9 (released 2024) brings native PHP 8.2+, reinforced Symfony architecture, and a new back-office. For a first migration, PrestaShop 8 stays safer.

Are my PrestaShop 1.6 modules compatible with 8/9?

In 80% of cases, no. 1.6 modules follow the old architecture (pre-Symfony). They must be rewritten or replaced. Check with each vendor before migrating.

How long does a PrestaShop migration take?

Depends on volume and complexity: 2-3 weeks for a simple store (500 SKUs, few modules), 2-3 months for a complex one (10,000 SKUs, 30 modules, custom theme, multistore).

How do you avoid SEO loss during migration?

Export all PrestaShop URLs before migration, recreate them identically in the new version (or build a thorough 301 redirect plan), keep the same meta title/description. Seegea exports and re-imports the whole SEO in 1 click.

PrestaShop migration: from 1.6 / 1.7 to 8 or 9 without breaking things

Migrating PrestaShop is the most dreaded technical project for French merchants. And for good reason: between versions (1.6 → 1.7 → 8 → 9), breaking modules, incompatible themes and SEO to preserve, pitfalls are many. This guide gives the step-by-step, secured method we have applied for 3 years.

Seegea is not a pure migration tool (for that, see Cart2Cart, LitExtension or a PrestaShop integrator). Seegea secures the catalog layer: full export before migration, re-import after, SEO audit and regeneration if needed.

Seegea works on every PrestaShop version

The 5 steps of a secure PrestaShop migration

1. Pre-audit

Module inventory, theme, overrides, custom mods, catalog size, existing SEO. 2-3 days for a mid-size shop.

2. Staging environment

Clone production on a subdomain. Test the migration there for 2-4 weeks before switching over.

3. Full catalog export

Via Seegea: products, combinations, images, meta, descriptions, categories, attributes, stock. Everything in a re-importable snapshot.

The SEO trap: what to preserve

Product and category URLs — identical or 301-redirected
Meta title and meta description — do not lose existing optimizations
Product descriptions — identical content, otherwise Google treats it as a new site
Image alts — often lost during migrations
XML sitemap — regenerate and resubmit to Search Console after switch
301 redirects — every modified URL must be redirected

Without Seegea, these 6 points require manual CSV exports, migration scripts and manual verification. With Seegea, everything is automated in a single export/import.

Never migrate directly from PrestaShop 1.6 to 9. Go through 1.7, then 8, then 9 if needed. Major version jumps break incompatible modules and the theme.

What Seegea does during a PrestaShop migration

Pre-migration catalog export

Full snapshot of the current PrestaShop catalog (products, combinations, images, SEO, categories). Stored in Seegea, re-importable at will.

Catalog SEO audit

Empty metas, missing alts, duplicate descriptions. Full report to fix before or after migration.

Post-migration re-import

If the migration loses data, Seegea re-injects the original catalog into the new PrestaShop version. Zero SEO loss.

Step	Without Seegea	With Seegea
Pre-catalog export	Native CSV (risky)	Full 1-click snapshot
SEO preservation	Manual meta export	All integrated
Post-migration audit	Manual (by hand)	Automatic, detailed report
Meta regeneration on loss	Manual typing	AI 1-click, bulk
Rollback on failure	Full DB restore	Snapshot + re-push

Secure your PrestaShop migration

Google Meet · pre-migration audit of your store

Secure your PrestaShop migration

Case study: 1.7 → 8 migration with 8,500 products

A home-deco merchant migrated PrestaShop 1.7.8 to 8.1 with 8,500 products, 22,000 combinations and 60,000 images. Seegea snapshot pre-migration (45 min), integrator-led migration (3 weeks), Seegea post-migration audit: 312 missing metas, 1,800 missing alts, 45 broken URLs. AI regeneration + fixes in 2 days. Zero organic traffic loss over the following 30 days.

Built in France between Annecy and Chantilly, Seegea works alongside your usual PrestaShop integrator. Official module v3.9.1.

Created in France (Annecy – Chantilly) · Email & Google Meet support

FAQ

PrestaShop 1.7 is officially end-of-support since November 2023. Security flaws are no longer patched. Migrating to 8 (LTS) or 9 is strongly recommended, especially for online payments (PCI-DSS).