Shopify vs Adobe Commerce: Full Comparison for 2025

Shopify vs Adobe Commerce in 2025: The Complete Comparison

Choosing an ecommerce platform is one of the first and most important decisions for any online business. Later, the decision might rear its head again if you are considering migrating or re-platforming.

With so many options available, it can be difficult to know where to start.

Two of the most well-known platforms today are Shopify and Adobe Commerce. While both enable businesses to sell products online, they operate in fundamentally different ways. Adobe Commerce powers approximately 131,491 websites worldwide, with strong adoption in Europe and among Fortune 500 brands like Nike and Hermès.

Shopify, on the other hand, currently powers over 2,500,000 stores, ranging from mom and pop upstarts all the way to enterprises and household names, like Khy, Skims, and AG1.

This guide compares Shopify vs Adobe Commerce (formerly known as Magento) to help you understand which platform might work better for your business needs.

Shopify vs Adobe Commerce: Core Platform Differences

Shopify is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform where everything is hosted and maintained by Shopify. You pay a monthly fee to use it, and Shopify handles the technical aspects like hosting and security.

Adobe Commerce is an open-source platform, which means you can access and modify its code. You can either host it yourself or use Adobe's cloud hosting service.

Here's how they differ at a basic level:

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Think of Shopify like renting a fully-furnished apartment where everything is taken care of, while Adobe Commerce is more like building your own custom house.

Ease of Use and Setup Experience

Shopify's User-Friendly Approach

Shopify is designed for a very large spectrum of users–from people who aren't necessarily tech experts all the way to engineers. Its dashboard is straightforward, with clear menus for products, orders, and settings.

You can set up a basic Shopify store in a few days. The platform includes:

• A drag-and-drop editor for changing your store layout
• Simple tools for adding products and managing inventory
• Built-in payment processing
• One-click app installations

Most tasks in Shopify can be completed without writing any code, making it accessible to beginners and small business owners.

Adobe Commerce's Technical Requirements

Adobe Commerce requires more technical knowledge to set up and manage. A basic store setup often takes several weeks and usually needs developer help.

You'll need to understand (or hire someone who understands):

• Server configuration
• PHP programming
• Database management
• Regular maintenance and security updates

This higher technical barrier makes Adobe Commerce better suited for businesses with dedicated IT teams or budget for outside developers.

Customization Options

Shopify and Adobe Commerce offer different levels of customization, which affects how unique your store can be.

Shopify's App Ecosystem

Shopify relies on its App Store (with over 8,000 apps) to add features to your store. These apps can be installed with a few clicks and cover functions like:

• Marketing and SEO tools
• Inventory management
• Shipping solutions
• Customer support features

For design changes, Shopify offers themes that can be customized through its editor. More advanced changes require knowledge of Liquid (Shopify's template language), HTML, and CSS.

Customization limitation: While Shopify is flexible, you can only customize what Shopify allows. Core platform functions can't be changed.

Adobe Commerce's Open Architecture

Adobe Commerce gives you complete access to modify any part of your store. This includes:

• Custom checkout processes
• Unique product types
• Special pricing rules
• Backend workflows

This flexibility comes from Adobe Commerce's open-source nature, allowing developers to change anything in the code.

Development requirement: Most Adobe Commerce customizations require professional development work, which adds to the overall cost.

Pricing and Total Cost

Understanding the full cost of each platform helps make a more informed decision.

Shopify's Clear Pricing Structure

Shopify uses a subscription model with transparent monthly fees:

• Basic: $39/month
• Shopify: $105/month
• Advanced: $399/month
• Shopify Plus (enterprise): starts at $2,300/month

Additional costs include:

• App subscriptions ($0-$200+ monthly)
• Theme purchases ($0-$350 one-time)
• Transaction fees (varying prices for each Shopify plan)

Adobe Commerce costs are harder to calculate because they include: For a mid-sized business processing $5M–$10M GMV, total first-year costs for Adobe Commerce typically range from $80,000–$189,000, making it prohibitive for SMBs without dedicated IT budgets.

• Hosting
• Security updates
• Customer support
• Basic analytics

Adobe Commerce's Complex Cost Structure

Adobe Commerce costs are harder to calculate because they include:

• Licensing fees (for Adobe Commerce, not the free open-source version)
• Hosting costs (self-hosted or Adobe Cloud)
• Developer fees for setup and maintenance
• Extension purchases
• Additional design, development, and maintenance fees

A basic Adobe Commerce setup typically starts at $15,000-$20,000 for initial development, plus ongoing costs for hosting and maintenance.

Cost comparison: Shopify usually has lower upfront and predictable monthly costs, while Adobe Commerce often has higher initial costs but might offer more value for complex businesses.

Performance and Scalability

How well does each platform handle growth and traffic?

Shopify manages performance for you with:

• Global content delivery networks (CDNs)
• Automatic scaling during traffic spikes
• Built-in optimization tools

This means your store should maintain consistent performance even during busy periods. For example, during Black Friday 2024, Shopify stores processed $4.2 million in sales per minute, demonstrating the platform's ability to handle extreme traffic spikes.

Adobe Commerce performance depends on:

• Your hosting setup
• How well your store is configured
• Custom optimizations

With proper setup, Adobe Commerce can handle very large catalogs (100,000+ products) and high traffic volumes, but this requires expert configuration.

Scalability difference: Shopify handles scaling automatically but has some limits on extremely large catalogs (which is only an issue for a small minority of merchants). Adobe Commerce can scale to any size but requires ongoing, manual optimization.

Enterprise Features: Shopify Plus vs Adobe Commerce

For larger businesses, both platforms offer enterprise-level solutions.

Shopify Plus provides:

• Higher API limits
• More staff accounts
• Advanced automation tools
• Powerful marketing features, like Shopify Audiences
• Dedicated support

Adobe Commerce offers:

• B2B functionality
• Complex catalog management
• Multi-store capabilities from one backend
• Advanced permissions and roles

The key difference is in approach: Shopify Plus extends the user-friendly Shopify experience with more capabilities, while Adobe Commerce provides a completely customizable foundation for enterprise needs.

Security and Compliance

Security is critical for any online store handling customer data and payments.

Shopify includes:

• PCI compliance (payment card security)
• Automatic security updates
• Fraud analysis tools
• Regular backups

With Shopify, security is handled for you, reducing your responsibility but also limiting your control.

Adobe Commerce requires:

• Manual security updates and patches
• Self-managed PCI compliance (for self-hosted)
• Custom backup solutions
• Third-party fraud protection tools

This gives you more control but also more responsibility for keeping your store secure.

Which Platform Fits Your Business?

The right choice depends on your specific business needs.

Shopify Works Best For:

• New or growing businesses without technical teams
• Stores needing to launch quickly
• Brands with straightforward product catalogs
• Businesses preferring predictable monthly costs

Shopify excels when you want to focus on selling rather than managing technology.

Adobe Commerce Works Best For:

• Businesses with complex product catalogs
• Companies needing unique shopping experiences
• Organizations with in-house development teams
• Stores requiring advanced B2B features

Adobe Commerce makes sense when standard ecommerce features don't meet your specific business requirements.

How Platter Enhances Shopify Stores

Many businesses choose Shopify for its ease of use but later find they need more advanced features. This is where Platter comes in.

Platter builds on Shopify's foundation by providing:

• A customizable theme with 40+ built-in features
• Checkout optimization tools through Shopify extensions
• Post-purchase experience enhancements

These tools help Shopify merchants get some of the advanced capabilities normally found in platforms like Adobe Commerce, without the technical complexity.

For example, Platter's checkout extensions allow you to add upsells and custom logic to Shopify's checkout - something that traditionally required custom development in Adobe Commerce.

By using Platter with Shopify, merchants can achieve a balance of user-friendliness and advanced functionality.

Book a demo to see how Platter works with Shopify

Frequently Asked Questions About Shopify vs Adobe Commerce

How does checkout customization compare between Shopify and Adobe Commerce?

Shopify offers limited checkout customization through checkout extensions, while Adobe Commerce allows complete modification of the entire checkout process but requires developer support.

What's the best way to migrate from Adobe Commerce to Shopify?

The best migration approach involves exporting your product, order, and customer data from Adobe Commerce, then using migration tools or partners to import this data into Shopify while rebuilding your store design.

Is Adobe Commerce better than Shopify for B2B ecommerce?

Adobe Commerce has traditionally offered more comprehensive B2B features like company accounts and quote management, though Shopify Plus has been expanding its B2B capabilities through its Shopify B2B offering.

How do development costs compare between Shopify and Adobe Commerce?

Shopify typically has lower development costs due to its user-friendly tools and templates, while Adobe Commerce often requires significant development investment for both initial setup and ongoing maintenance.

Can small businesses use Adobe Commerce effectively?

Small businesses can use Adobe Commerce but often find the technical requirements and costs prohibitive compared to more accessible platforms like Shopify or Shopify with Platter.