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Magento Guide → Vs Shopify
Magento vs Shopify: which ecommerce platform is right for you?
Choosing an ecommerce platform isn’t just about features—it’s about picking the one that matches your business’s goals, size, and growth potential. If you’re weighing Magento against Shopify, you’re already on the right path.
Let’s walk through how these two platforms differ in customization, ease of use, pricing, performance, and more.
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Magento vs Shopify: key differences at a glance
Let’s walk through how these two platforms differ in customization, ease of use, pricing, performance, and more.
| Feature | Magento (Adobe Commerce) | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Type | Open-source (self-hosted or Adobe Cloud) | Fully hosted SaaS |
| Ease of Use | Requires technical expertise | Beginner-friendly |
| Customization | Highly customizable | Limited without Shopify Plus |
| Scalability | Enterprise-level scaling capabilities | Scales well for most SMBs |
| SEO & Marketing | Advanced built-in SEO tools | Good SEO, relies more on apps |
| Payment Gateway Fees | No platform fees | Extra fees for third-party gateways |
| Pricing Model | Free core software (Open Source) | Monthly subscription |
| Hosting | Self-managed or Adobe-hosted | Included with subscription |
| Best For | Medium to large businesses | Small to midsize businesses |
Platform overview and who they’re built for
Both platforms support powerful online stores, but their core philosophies are different.
Shopify: built for ease, speed, and simplicity
Shopify is a cloud-based ecommerce solution known for its clean interface, fast setup, and minimal need for technical skills. It’s a popular choice for solopreneurs and small businesses launching quickly.
Magento: designed for control, power, and customization
Magento (now Adobe Commerce) gives you deep control over every aspect of your store. The open-source version is free to use, but it does require hosting and development expertise. It’s favored by larger or more complex businesses with dedicated technical teams.
1. Ease of use and learning curve
Shopify is the clear winner on ease of use. Its dashboard is beginner-friendly, with built-in themes, a visual editor, and app integrations that require little to no code. Most users can go live within days.
Magento, on the other hand, has a steep learning curve. You’ll need to work with developers for setup, theming, and backend customization. But with that comes far more flexibility in how your store looks and functions.
2. Customization and flexibility
Magento offers full code access, so you can build just about anything. You can customize layouts, workflows, integrations, and checkout processes with precision. It also has a massive extension marketplace.
Shopify is more limited. You can customize themes with Liquid, its proprietary templating language, or upgrade to Shopify Plus for deeper customization. But you’re still working within a controlled environment.
3. Ecommerce features and capabilities
Magento shines when it comes to robust ecommerce features:
- Multi-store support from a single dashboard
- Complex product catalogs with customizable attributes
- Advanced B2B modules
- Flexible promotions and cart rules
Shopify also includes excellent out-of-the-box features:
- Product variations and inventory tools
- Abandoned cart recovery
- Marketing and discount features
- App store with hundreds of integrations
For advanced scenarios—especially B2B or multi-store—Magento has the edge.
4. Scalability and performance
Magento handles large product catalogs, global stores, and high-traffic surges with ease—assuming your server or cloud environment is properly configured. It’s built for growth, but it needs technical support to scale efficiently.
Shopify’s infrastructure scales automatically for most small to midsize businesses. But enterprise merchants may run into limitations without Shopify Plus, especially around internationalization and custom backend workflows.
5. Pricing and total cost of ownership
Shopify’s costs are predictable: you pay a monthly fee plus any app subscriptions. The basic plan starts at $39/month, with additional charges for advanced features and higher-tier plans.
Magento Open Source is free, but that’s just the start. You’ll pay for:
- Web hosting
- Development time
- Extensions
- Ongoing maintenance
Magento Commerce (Adobe-hosted) is priced for enterprise clients, often starting in the five-figure range annually.
6. Payment gateways and fees
Magento supports virtually any payment processor with no platform fees.
Shopify pushes its own payment system—Shopify Payments—which waives extra fees. But if you use another gateway (like Stripe or PayPal), Shopify adds a 0.5% to 2% transaction fee depending on your plan.
7. SEO and marketing tools
Magento includes advanced SEO tools by default:
- Custom URLs and meta tags
- Canonical tags
- Schema markup
- SEO-friendly redirects
Shopify also supports strong SEO practices but relies more on apps to fill in the gaps. Its blog and email marketing features are user-friendly but more limited in scope than Magento’s.
8. Support, resources, and community
Shopify provides 24/7 support via chat, email, and phone, along with a robust help center.
Magento relies on a global community of developers and agencies. Adobe offers paid support for Commerce Cloud customers, but Open Source users depend on forums, GitHub, and third-party agencies.
Migrating from one platform to the other
Migrations are common in both directions. Some reasons include:
- Moving from Magento to Shopify for ease of use and maintenance
- Switching to Magento for more customization or enterprise readiness
Migration typically involves exporting products, customers, order history, and media, then reimplementing URLs and SEO structures. Several tools and agencies offer services to assist with this process.
Magento vs Shopify for specific industries
Both platforms can serve almost any niche, but some industries lean strongly one way:
- Fashion and beauty: Shopify’s easy theme setup makes it popular here.
- B2B/wholesale: Magento’s B2B module is unmatched.
- Subscription businesses: Shopify has app integrations like Recharge, but Magento supports deeper customization for recurring orders.
- Global retail: Magento supports multi-store, multilingual, and multi-currency out of the box.
- Handmade and niche goods: Shopify’s speed-to-market helps smaller sellers get going quickly.
Magento vs Shopify FAQs
Next steps for choosing between Magento and Shopify
Magento and Shopify are both excellent ecommerce platforms, but they’re built for different goals. Magento offers long-term flexibility and enterprise-grade power. Shopify gives you a faster, easier path to selling online.
If you’re a growing business with technical resources or a complex catalog, Magento could give you the edge you need.
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Additional resources
What is Magento Ecommerce? →
A complete beginner’s guide to the Magento Ecommerce platform
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