PrestaShop 8 vs 1.7: what changes for those managing multiple stores

PrestaShop 8 introduced important changes under the hood, particularly in how external systems access store data. If you manage one or more stores, understanding the differences between PrestaShop 8 and PrestaShop 1.7 is essential — especially for integrations.

The two generations compared

PrestaShop 1.7 was the standard for years. PrestaShop 8 is its natural evolution: same philosophy, but with technical modernizations, security updates and a new way of exposing data to the outside.

For the merchant’s daily work, the back-office experience stays familiar. The real difference is felt most by integrations: modules, connectors and analytics tools that read store data.

Webservice (PS 1.7) vs Admin API (PS 8)

The most relevant technical difference concerns data access:

• PrestaShop 1.7 — Webservice API: the legacy API, based on Webservice keys. It works well but is older in architecture and permission handling.
• PrestaShop 8 — Admin API: the new interface, more modern, with more granular authentication and access management in line with current standards.

For developers or anyone using integrations, this means a connector designed only for the PS 1.7 Webservice won’t automatically work with the PS 8 Admin API, and vice versa. You need support for both.

What to assess before migrating

If you’re considering moving to PrestaShop 8:

1. Module compatibility. Check that critical modules (payment, shipping, marketing) have a PS 8-compatible version.
2. Integrations and connectors. Make sure the external tools you use support the Admin API.
3. Test environment. Run the migration first on a staging copy, never directly in production.
4. Full backup. Database and files, before any operation.
5. PHP and hosting. PS 8 requires more recent PHP versions: check with your host.

The problem for those managing multiple stores

If you follow multiple stores — typical of agencies — it’s common to end up with a mix: some clients on PS 1.7, others already on PS 8. Managing different integrations for different versions multiplies the complexity.

The solution is to use tools that abstract the difference: they read data regardless of the version, so you always work the same way.

How NothingSell handles both versions

The NothingSell connector supports both PrestaShop 1.7 (Webservice API) and PrestaShop 8 (Admin API). You connect the store once and get the same data — orders, products, stock, customers — in the same format, whatever the version.

For an agency, that means a single dashboard for all clients, regardless of which PrestaShop version they use. And with the PrestaShop MCP you can query the data of all stores in natural language.

In short

The main difference between PrestaShop 8 and 1.7, from a data standpoint, is the shift from the Webservice to the Admin API. Before migrating, check modules and integrations. And if you manage multiple stores, choose tools that support both versions without making you think about the technical differences.

👉 Explore the NothingSell features for PrestaShop 1.7 and 8, or start free.