Adobe Commerce vs Shopify Plus – Which One Wins in 2025?

Choosing the right eCommerce platform is one of the most critical decisions for any business aiming to scale. Two of the most popular platforms catering to high-growth businesses are Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento) and Shopify Plus. While both are powerful, they differ significantly in terms of architecture, customization, scalability, and cost.

This blog breaks down the key differences between Adobe Commerce and Shopify Plus to help you determine the best fit for your business.

Platform Architecture and Hosting

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce provides businesses with both self-hosted and cloud-based options. This flexibility offers full control over hosting environments, enabling deep customization of infrastructure and security settings. However, this also requires significant technical expertise to manage effectively.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is a fully hosted SaaS platform. Shopify manages the hosting, ensuring high reliability, security, and performance. Businesses can focus on their operations without the burden of managing servers, making it an excellent option for companies seeking simplicity and reliability.

Customization and Flexibility

Adobe Commerce

As an open-source platform, Adobe Commerce allows unparalleled customization. Businesses can modify the code to create highly specific functionality, making it ideal for complex, unique business models. However, this requires skilled developers and a higher investment in time and resources.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus offers a more user-friendly interface with customization through pre-designed themes and apps. While custom scripts and APIs provide some flexibility, it doesn’t match Adobe Commerce's depth of customization, which may limit highly specialized needs.

Implementation and Time-to-Market

Adobe Commerce

Implementation with Adobe Commerce is time-intensive due to its complexity and customization options. While this offers a tailored solution, businesses should prepare for longer deployment times.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is known for its quick setup and ease of use. Businesses can launch their stores faster, making it ideal for companies prioritizing speed to market.

Total Cost of Ownership

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce involves higher upfront costs, including annual licensing fees starting around $22,000, development expenses, and ongoing maintenance. Businesses must also account for hosting and security costs.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus follows a subscription model with pricing starting at approximately $2,000 per month. This fee covers hosting, security, and platform updates, offering a predictable cost structure for budgeting.

Scalability and Performance

Adobe Commerce

Highly scalable, Adobe Commerce supports complex catalogs and high traffic volumes. However, scalability depends on the hosting environment and requires proactive management to maintain performance during peak periods.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus offers robust scalability out of the box. Its infrastructure handles significant traffic spikes seamlessly, ensuring consistent performance without the need for additional management.

B2B Capabilities

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce shines in its comprehensive B2B features, such as custom catalogs, pricing, and advanced inventory management. These features make it an excellent choice for businesses with complex B2B requirements.

Shopify Plus

While Shopify Plus offers B2B functionality, businesses may need to integrate additional apps to match Adobe Commerce’s depth in handling B2B operations.

Multi-Store Management

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce excels at managing multiple stores from a single backend, making it ideal for businesses with multiple brands or regional operations.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus supports up to nine expansion stores. This is sufficient for simpler multi-store needs but may not provide the same level of flexibility as Adobe Commerce.

Support and Community

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce benefits from a vast community of developers and extensive documentation. Businesses can tap into a wealth of resources for troubleshooting and custom development.

Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus offers dedicated 24/7 support, along with access to a network of certified partners. This ensures fast issue resolution and assistance for businesses at every stage of their growth.

Which Platform Is Right for You?

The choice between Adobe Commerce and Shopify Plus depends on your business needs:

• Choose Adobe Commerce if you require extensive customization, control over hosting, and have the technical resources to manage a complex platform. Adobe Commerce is ideal for businesses with unique requirements, complex B2B operations, or multi-store needs.

• Choose Shopify Plus if you prioritize ease of use, quick deployment, and a fully managed environment. Shopify Plus is perfect for businesses seeking scalability, reliability, and omnichannel capabilities without the technical overhead.

Still unsure which platform is right for you? Contact CLEARgo, a certified partner for both platforms, for a consultation. We’ll help you evaluate your options and make the best decision for your business.