What's new in PrestaShop 9? The most important changes
PrestaShop is a user-friendly and flexible webshop system; a system that has become especially popular among small and medium-sized businesses around the world. Since PrestaShop was launched in 2007, the platform has developed significantly.
Now PrestaShop is on the way with a new version: PrestaShop 9. A release date for this version has not yet been set, as the project is still in the development phase. The first Alpha 1 release came on June 6, 2024, and Beta 1 was released on February 10, 2025. There is no fixed date yet for the final 9.0 release.
Why is PrestaShop 9 exciting?
As with any other update to PrestaShop (and other CMSs), the new version will offer new capabilities. The new version will bring the platform to a new level in terms of performance, security and functionality. PrestaShop 9 provides, among other things, an upgrade to Symfony 6.4 (from Symfony 4.4) and support for PHP 8.1-8.3, ensuring that PrestaShop 9 will be future-proof with long-term support until 2027.
In addition, one of the biggest news is that PrestaShop is introducing a completely new API platform. This change makes it possible to integrate the platform with external systems in a much more efficient and flexible way, opening up a wide range of new opportunities for companies looking to optimize their business processes.
At itpilot, we have extensive experience in custom developing integrations between different IT systems, and we are therefore also looking forward to seeing what opportunities the new API platform offers for both existing and new PrestaShop users.
New features in PrestaShop 9
With PrestaShop 9, a number of different new features are introduced, including:
- New API platform
- Improved performance
- Enhanced security
- Improved user interface (UI)
New API platform
With PrestaShop 9's introduction of a new API platform, PrestaShop wants to make the platform even more flexible.
Through the new API platform, it should be possible to connect PrestaShop with other systems, such as ERP, CRM or inventory management systems in a much more efficient way than before. This improvement means that data can be exchanged more easily between PrestaShop and other IT systems, which can automate and optimize many processes in a company.
This means that orders, inventory and customer data, for example, can be automatically transferred between PrestaShop and the company's other systems. This reduces the amount of manual tasks and at the same time minimizes the risk of errors. This is especially valuable for companies with complex business processes that require integrations across multiple platforms.
The API platform in PrestaShop 9 is designed with future expansion in mind, meaning it can be easily adapted to new needs and technologies as they arise. This makes the platform much more flexible and scalable, allowing businesses to grow without having to worry about limitations in their PrestaShop solution.
Improved performance
PrestaShop has always focused on platform performance, and version 9 is no exception. The new version provides improvements in backend handling, and in addition, the upgrade to Symfony 6.4 will also have a major impact on PrestaShop's performance and security. Symfony 6.4 is built with optimized code and better memory management, which contributes to faster load times and better scaling of the webshop.
Symfony 6.4 also brings code modernizations that can make it easier for developers to implement customizations and integrations, helping companies build faster and more maintainable solutions.
Enhanced security
PrestaShop 9 has improved security, so your webshop is better protected against modern threats. Thanks to the upgrade to Symfony 6.4 and support for the latest PHP versions, you have access to a number of improvements that make the platform more robust and future-proof.
This means, among other things, that sensitive data such as personal information is handled more securely in the system's underlying log files, and that it becomes easier for the system to detect and handle suspicious activity. In addition, it becomes more difficult for unauthorized people to gain access to the webshop, thanks to improved handling of login and access control.
Another significant change is that PrestaShop has removed older technologies that could previously pose a security risk. Instead, it now uses more modern and maintainable solutions, giving you a webshop that is both easier to update and less vulnerable to attacks.
User interface (UI) improvements
It's not just technical improvements that PrestaShop 9 offers. The version also provides an updated and improved user interface, making it even easier and more intuitive to navigate - both in the frontend and backend.
On the frontend side, the design and overall navigation are improved. With PrestaShop 9, you can ensure that your customers have an even better experience with an improved layout that includes, among other things, an optimized product display, better search functions and an easier and more fluid checkout process. These improvements help optimize the purchase flow, which can increase the conversion rate on the webshop.
PrestaShop 9 also provides a number of updates in the backend that make the administration of the webshop both easier and more efficient. Here, PrestaShop has optimized the administrator dashboard with a more clear structure that gives you a better overview of your business. This makes it even easier to access the most important functions and data, such as inventory management, order management and reports, directly from an updated, user-friendly dashboard.
What you need to know before upgrading to PrestaShop 9
Although PrestaShop 9 has not yet been released, it is important to understand how upgrading to version 9 may affect your current setup. As described, PrestaShop 9 provides a number of new features and technologies, and therefore it is very important to check the compatibility of your current modules and themes with the new version before upgrading PrestaShop.
When you want to upgrade your PrestaShop installation, it is a good idea to plan the upgrade to avoid unnecessary downtime. By checking the compatibility with the existing modules and themes, you will know what to pay attention to during the upgrade.
If you do not want to upgrade your PrestaShop installation yourself, we at itpilot are ready to help you. When we upgrade to new versions, it happens in our development environment, so that the upgrade can take place undisturbed and without being a nuisance to your website visitors. This allows us to test the compatibility with the different modules and themes, and we can perform any bug fixes and ensure that all modules are compatible with each other, before we finally move the upgraded version back to your domain.
Do you need help with your PrestaShop webshop?
At itpilot, we develop and operate future-proof solutions for our customers. Our experience with PrestaShop and other CMS solutions ensures that we can help your company get the most out of your digital platforms. We do this, among other things, through upgrades to new system versions, which provide access to new features and improvements without interruptions in operations.
When we upgrade a CMS, including PrestaShop, to the latest version, we do it in our development environment, where we test and optimize the solution before it is launched. This ensures you an easy and professional transition to the latest version and a stable solution.
Would you like to hear more about how we can help with your PrestaShop upgrade? Call us on tel. +45 87 25 07 87 or fill out the contact form and we will get back to you quickly.
