Shopify Plus vs Adobe Commerce: Which Is Worth It?

Choosing between Shopify Plus and Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Commerce) depends on your business needs, technical resources, and growth plans. Shopify Plus is a fully hosted, user-friendly solution ideal for rapidly scaling brands that want simplicity and reliability. Adobe Commerce offers more customization and control, but requires greater technical knowledge and infrastructure management.

To decide if Shopify Plus is worth it for you over Adobe Commerce, evaluate your priorities: ease of use, scalability, total cost, customization, and required technical resources.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Assess Your Team's Technical Expertise

   • Shopify Plus is managed and hosted for you, requiring minimal IT involvement.
   • Adobe Commerce is self-hosted or cloud-hosted, often needing developers and IT support.

2. Determine Customization Needs

   • Shopify Plus offers robust APIs and apps, but has some platform limitations.
   • Adobe Commerce allows deep customization and complex integrations.

3. Evaluate Your Budget

   • Shopify Plus pricing starts around $2,000/month, with predictable costs.
   • Adobe Commerce can have higher upfront and ongoing costs (licenses, hosting, development).

4. Consider Scalability and Speed to Market

   • Shopify Plus handles scaling automatically, with high uptime and security.
   • Adobe Commerce can scale, but may require manual optimization and infrastructure upgrades.

5. Review Support and Ecosystem

   • Shopify Plus includes 24/7 priority support and a large app ecosystem.
   • Adobe Commerce support varies by plan and partner; marketplace is extensive but more technical.

6. List Your Must-Have Features

   • Make a checklist of features you need (multi-store, B2B, APIs, internationalization, etc.).
   • Compare how each platform delivers these features out of the box or via extensions.

7. Request Demos or Trials

   • Contact both Shopify Plus and Adobe Commerce for tailored demos.
   • Ask about migration, onboarding, and ongoing support.

8. Calculate Total Cost of Ownership

   • Factor in licensing, hosting, development, maintenance, and support.

Before You Start

• Ensure you have a clear understanding of your business model and growth plans.
• Involve stakeholders from IT, marketing, and operations to define requirements.
• Back up your current store data before considering migration.
• Be aware that switching platforms involves time, cost, and potential downtime.

Alternatives to This Action

• If neither Shopify Plus nor Adobe Commerce fits, consider:
  • BigCommerce Enterprise: Hosted, scalable, and customizable.
  • Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Powerful for large enterprises.
  • WooCommerce: Flexible, but best for smaller businesses with WordPress expertise.
• You can also explore staying on your current platform and enhancing it with new integrations or apps.

FAQs

Q: What are the main differences between Shopify Plus and Adobe Commerce?

Shopify Plus is fully hosted and user-friendly, making it ideal for fast-growing brands with limited IT resources. Adobe Commerce offers more customization and control but requires technical expertise and ongoing management.

Q: Is Shopify Plus easier to use than Adobe Commerce?

Yes, Shopify Plus is generally easier to use with a straightforward admin interface, managed hosting, and built-in support. Adobe Commerce is more complex and suited for businesses with dedicated development teams.

Q: Which platform is better for enterprise-level ecommerce?

Both platforms serve enterprise needs, but Shopify Plus focuses on simplicity and scalability, while Adobe Commerce excels in customization and advanced features. The best choice depends on your specific requirements.

Q: How much does Shopify Plus cost compared to Adobe Commerce?

Shopify Plus starts at around $2,000 per month with predictable pricing. Adobe Commerce costs vary widely, including licensing, hosting, and development, often resulting in higher total ownership costs.