Which eCommerce Platform is Better? Magento vs. Shopify

Using an eCommerce platform to manage your online store can save you time and energy, but it can also be confusing when you’re deciding which platform to use. Shopify and Adobe Commerce (Magento) are two of the top eCommerce platforms in the world and for good reason! Both eCommerce platforms come equipped with tons of features that will allow you to start selling online quickly and easily.

This Magento 2 vs. Shopify comparison will help you evaluate each platform based on certain key criteria in order to make the best decision about which platform is right for your business. We’ll also share some tips on how to get the most out of either eCommerce platform so that you can have the best possible online store experience.

Overview

Adobe Commerce (Magento): Magento is an eCommerce platform for online retailers. It was originally developed in 2009 by Varien Inc. Today, it has become one of the largest open-source eCommerce platforms on earth, powering over 250,000 businesses. It is built on top of PHP, MySQL, and Apache HTTP Server, which are open-source technologies.

The core system was developed for speed and flexibility, with SEO functionality baked into every page. Over 20% of eCommerce websites that conduct business online use it in some capacity, making it one of the most popular eCommerce platforms in existence today.

Shopify: Shopify is an e-commerce storefront that allows you to set up and manage an online store, but it’s much more than that. The platform includes a suite of tools designed to help businesses thrive, including marketing and analytics software and a payment gateway that supports most credit cards and PayPal accounts (for international customers).

There are also third-party apps you can install on your site to add features like inventory management, discount codes, product reviews, and shipping notifications.

Client Base

Adobe Commerce (Magento): Since its release, Magento has been used by all sorts of organizations, from small businesses to global enterprises. One of its biggest selling points is that it’s an open-source platform, meaning that anyone can download and use it for free.

The company behind Magento was acquired by eBay (another large organization that uses it), which may bode well for its long-term success. Plus, there are thousands of plug-ins available for purchase through sites like Code Canyon and ThemeForest.

Shopify: The fast-growing platform powers more than 70,000 businesses in 150 countries. The best part? With no need for servers or inventory management, you can focus on what matters most—growing your business. And since Shopify offers everything you need to sell online right out of one powerful dashboard, creating an online store is simple enough that nearly anyone can do it.

It’s perfect for businesses of all sizes, whether you want to start a small t-shirt store or build a large eCommerce empire. And because it’s so easy to use, many top brands are now using Shopify as their complete eCommerce solution.

Performance

Adobe Commerce (Magento): Since we’re talking about eCommerce and not just content websites, I think it’s important to discuss performance right off the bat. Magento 1 isn’t known for its speed – and that reputation carries over to Magento 2. But with some tuning, you can find a happy medium between usability and performance.

Focus on your core assets (JavaScript libraries, CSS frameworks, etc.) and optimize them before you get too far down the development lane. Be sure to use Google PageSpeed Insights to see where improvements can be made so that your site will load quickly for shoppers no matter what device they’re using.

Shopify: The best thing about Shopify is its performance. The platform is very simple to use and easy to learn. It has an intuitive interface that makes it pretty much impossible for you to get lost or confused when using any of its features. This is especially great if you are new to e-commerce.

When it comes to design, Shopify also has some good options that allow you to create visually appealing websites. Furthermore, even though there are dozens of third-party apps available in their app store, most small business owners should be able to get everything they need out of what’s already available on their website; there really isn’t much need for them (unless you want something super specific).

Also Read: Shopify vs PrestaShop

Key Features

Adobe Commerce (Magento): There are a few key features that make Magento one of the most popular eCommerce platforms available today. As an open-source platform, it’s free to download and use. It’s also easy to install and get up and running quickly on any platform—whether that’s a local server or in hosted environments such as Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Additionally, when you purchase extensions from Magento Marketplace, they can be installed directly from your admin panel using simple tools such as Git and Composer. There’s also no need to wait for third-party support if you encounter issues; you can find answers in forums and receive support directly from developers through their profiles.

Shopify: With a user-friendly and innovative platform like Shopify, sellers can easily set up an online store and start selling their products right away. Store owners will never have to worry about being able to handle customer orders as Shopify has built-in payment processing methods that help merchants handle payments from customers smoothly.

In addition, sellers can also receive order notifications as well as shipping confirmation once a customer completes an order through their online store on Shopify. This way, it is easier for store owners to keep track of all orders they have received since they can simply log in anytime and check their orders even when they are busy running other errands or at work.

Security

Adobe Commerce (Magento): With such a large codebase and an ever-expanding community, it’s inevitable that there will be security flaws in Magento 2. Luckily, system administrators can take advantage of several tools that help them identify and fix vulnerabilities quickly and easily. Additionally, making sure that you’re always running on the latest version is essential to ensuring your store stays safe and secure.

Shopify: Security is pretty simple with Shopify: login authentication requires a special token that is unique to each user, payment processing is done through Stripe or PayPal (instead of more insecure options like Paypal), and SSL certificates are built into Shopify’s platform at no extra cost. In addition to these built-in features, you can purchase additional security measures from third-party providers including McAfee and Sucuri for an additional fee.

Scalability

Adobe Commerce (Magento): If you’re in need of robust scalability, or simply looking to take your eCommerce platform to new heights, then Magento 2 is most certainly for you. The newest version of one of the most powerful eCommerce solutions currently available boasts an impressive list of improvements. And if you’re considering updating your current platform or migrating over to Magento 2, there are many reasons why it’s well worth taking a closer look at just what is included in its portfolio.

Shopify: One of Shopify’s biggest advantages is that it is a truly scalable solution. If you start off with a smaller eCommerce business, you don’t have to upgrade anything as your store grows. You simply add more apps and tools as your business expands and your needs change.

And if you decide to sell on other marketplaces such as Amazon or eBay, they integrate seamlessly with Shopify so you can manage all of your orders in one place. That kind of flexibility and adaptability is crucial to every growing eCommerce business and that’s why we think their platform is ideal for beginners looking to get started selling online.

Ease of Use

Adobe Commerce (Magento): One of our biggest concerns with previous versions of Magento was how hard it was to customize. The new eCommerce software boasts a wide range of professional-grade tools, which greatly simplify many aspects of running your business. Ease of use is an important factor when choosing an eCommerce platform and we’re happy to report that out-of-the-box features like prebuilt content and layouts make it easier than ever for store owners to get started selling quickly and efficiently.

We anticipate that most users will be able to create a basic website with little help from developers (after all, you can’t grow if you can’t buy), though they may want more advanced functionality such as multi-language support or an integrated marketplace.

Shopify: The biggest benefit of using a platform like Shopify is its ease of use. If you don’t know how to code and create a site, having a platform that allows you to set up shop and add products with relative ease can make it easier for customers to purchase your product.

Also, if you already have an eCommerce website but want to get more sales on your product, adding an app like Wishpond (social media contests) will also help bring in sales from new customers. Platforms like these are easy for anyone with basic computer skills to use without needing any knowledge of coding or programming languages.

Advantages

Adobe Commerce (Magento): In comparison to other eCommerce platforms, Magento has a number of advantages that make it an excellent choice for new merchants. One of these is its mobile app. With mobile eCommerce growing more popular every day, having an app that works seamlessly on mobile devices is essential for merchants looking to build their businesses on digital transactions.

Additionally, while any good platform will include security features like HTTPS and data encryption, it’s especially important in online shopping. For example, some shoppers are worried about their credit card information being stolen if they make purchases on sites without secure checkout options.

By offering encryption methods like EV SSL Certificates (which display your business name in green), you can reassure potential customers you take security seriously and increase your conversion rates.

Shopify: The biggest advantage that Shopify has is that it’s incredibly easy to use. In fact, you could go from creating your first store to putting products on sale in a matter of minutes. And with its competitive price point and great set of features, you get more for your money. It’s no wonder that so many online retailers choose to work with Shopify!

Its value proposition is simple: a powerful e-commerce tool at an affordable price. Not only does it provide an incredible suite of tools and resources, but also a robust infrastructure that allows for stores to be profitable right out of the gate.

Disadvantages

Adobe Commerce (Magento): Magento’s biggest disadvantage is that it isn’t nearly as easy to use as WordPress, SquareSpace, or other competitors. In order to reap all of its benefits, you must be proficient in PHP and MySQL. It also takes a bit more time and resources to host a website with Magento than other platforms because its database needs must be integrated with an Apache server. If your business is just starting out, you may not have those resources readily available so consider choosing a different platform for now.

Shopify: There are a few disadvantages to using a platform like Shopify. First, because your store is going to be hosted through them, you won’t have as much control over it as if you had a standalone site. Second, because your store will be hosted by Shopify, they can potentially know more about your customers than you can – meaning that they could have access to information that you wouldn’t want anyone else to have. However, for most stores that aren’t doing anything too private or confidential, these shouldn’t pose much of an issue.

Let’s Wrap Up

From a sheer numbers perspective, both platforms are capable of scaling to meet your business’s needs. The flexibility and scalability of both platforms make them easy to work with on large projects. However, Magento’s platform may be better for larger enterprises that require multi-vendor management or an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) integration.

If you anticipate expanding your enterprise to more than 20 employees at some point in time, it might be wise to choose Magento 2 as your platform so you can grow with it as your business does. On smaller projects or shops looking for more basic services, Shopify is likely more than sufficient for all your needs because of its lower price tag and user-friendly tools.