The eCommerce landscape offers dozens of platform choices, yet Shopify and Magento (now Adobe Commerce for the licensed version) remain the two names most retailers compare first. According to the report Shopify powers an estimated 28 percent of the top one-million online stores, thanks to its quick setup and built-in payments source. Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce combined now account for 7% of that same cohort, but they still attract high-volume brands such as HP, Canon and Land Rover because of their deep flexibility and B2B tools.
These updated market-share numbers show how each platform has carved out a clear niche: Shopify dominates the small-to-mid market with out-of-the-box speed and AI tools, while Magento shines for complex catalogs, custom workflows and enterprise security.
So what are the practical differences in 2025, and which platform is the smarter choice for your growth goals? We will analyze both of these services in this guide and hopefully answer all the questions you have of both platforms.
Shopify vs. Magento
Shopify
Shopify remains the go-to choice for merchants who want to launch fast with little or no code. More than a dozen free Online Store 2.0 themes are now available in the Shopify Theme Store along with 100-plus paid designs. The drag-and-drop editor lets merchants add “sections” to any page, while Shopify Magic AI can draft product descriptions and generate images in seconds. Sidekick, an AI chat assistant announced in 2024, helps troubleshoot design issues and walks merchants through tasks in plain language (see the launch video in Shopify Unite recap).
The Shopify App Store now lists more than 11,900 apps that cover everything from CRM syncs to 3PL dashboards, according to the latest Uptek App-Store Report.
Shopify Pricing
| Plan | Monthly (annual billing) | Third-party gateway fee |
| Basic | $39 | 2% |
| Shopify | $105 | 1% |
| Advanced | $399 | 0.5% |
| Plus | from $2,300 | 0% with Shopify Payments |
Shopify Markets Pro automates duty, tax and currency conversion at checkout, as described in the Shopify duties-and-taxes guide.
Shopify Markets Pro automates duty, tax and currency conversion at checkout. Security and performance are handled for you: Shopify is PCI DSS Level 1 compliant and claims capacity for 100,000 checkouts per minute on Plus. New B2B on Shopify features add company profiles, quantity rules and net-payment terms, making the platform viable for wholesale catalogs.
What Shopify gains in speed and simplicity, it gives up in deep custom design. The core theme library includes just twelve free Online Store 2.0 themes; anything beyond that carries a price tag that ranges from $150 to $400 per premium theme. Theme code is written in Liquid, so extensive visual changes or a pixel-perfect brand experience usually require a developer or a headless build with Hydrogen. Because Shopify is a closed SaaS, server-side customization and multi-step checkout logic are only available on the Plus plan. Integrations outside the 11,900-app ecosystem must be built with Shopify’s API, adding extra time and cost. If your roadmap calls for bespoke storefronts, advanced product configurators, or complex back-office workflows, these limits can become a constraint compared with open-source platforms like Magento.
Pros
- Quick no-code setup, AI content tools and 24/7 live support
- 12+ free themes plus 100-plus premium designs, all responsive
- 11,900+ apps for nearly every integration scenario
- Built-in Level 1 PCI compliance and automatic scaling
- Native B2B suite and Markets Pro for easy global selling
Cons
- Deep design freedom still requires Liquid or Hydrogen development
- Premium themes and advanced apps increase total monthly cost
- Third-party payment gateways incur transaction fees unless you use Shopify Payments
- Advanced multistep checkout customisation requires the Plus plan
Magento 2
Magento, now officially known as Adobe Commerce for its licensed cloud-hosted version, remains one of the most powerful and flexible eCommerce platforms on the market. It is especially popular with large or complex online stores that require custom functionality, integrations, and business logic that go far beyond out-of-the-box solutions. Notable users include HP, Canon, and Land Rover.
Out of the box, Magento supports advanced features like mobile-optimized shopping, global multi-store setups, native B2B support, business intelligence dashboards, elastic site search, instant purchase, and drag-and-drop visual merchandising. Many of these tools are included with Adobe Commerce, while others can be extended via thousands of third-party modules from the Magento Marketplace.
The latest version, Magento 2.4.7, includes support for PHP 8.3, performance improvements to category and product pages, and over 170 security fixes. Full-page caching is standard and performance scales well when paired with Varnish and a dedicated server or cloud stack. The platform now also includes improved GraphQL support, a more secure token system for APIs, and a refined PWA (Progressive Web App) Studio toolkit for headless storefronts.
Magento Pricing
| Edition | License cost | Notes |
| Magento Open Source | Free | Pay only for hosting, extensions, development |
| Adobe Commerce (cloud or on-prem) | From $24 000/yr | Tiered by GMV and order volume (Adobe pricing FAQ) |
Magento’s flexibility comes with a tradeoff. It is a developer-centric platform. Store owners without technical experience often need to hire certified developers or agencies to get the most out of Magento. The learning curve is significant, and getting a store production-ready takes time compared to hosted platforms like Shopify.
That said, the open ecosystem, enterprise-level scalability, and security features make Magento a compelling choice for merchants with complex needs.
Pros
- Complete design and checkout control, ideal for custom workflows
- Native B2B suite, multi-store, multi-currency and localisation
- Large open-source community and extensive extension marketplace
- AI product recommendations and embedded BI with Adobe Sensei (Commerce edition)
Cons
- Significant development skill required for setup and ongoing maintenance
- Longer launch timelines compared with SaaS solutions
- Self-hosting, patching and dev hours add to total cost; Adobe Commerce license is premium-priced
Magento vs. Shopify: The Verdict
Choosing between Shopify and Magento comes down to your growth goals, budget, and technical resources. Newbird implements and optimizes both platforms daily. Whether you need a fast-to-launch Shopify Plus build or a fully customized Adobe Commerce solution, our eCommerce team can map the right path for you.
Reach out to us today so we can review your needs with you and point you in the right direction.