For enterprise-level online stores, there are two platforms worth considering – Shopify Plus and Magento 2. Whether you’re a Shopify merchant who’s outgrown the Standard platform or starting from scratch with an eCommerce platform, it can be tough to decide which one is right for your business.

While both platforms offer many features and benefits, they each have unique strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we’ll compare Shopify Plus and Magento 2 side-by-side to help you decide which platform is right for your business. Let’s get started.

What Is Magento 2?

A highly popular eCommerce platform, Magento 2 is the successor to the original Magento 1. First launched in 2015, Magento 2 was acquired by Adobe in 2018.

Magento 2 offers improvements and new features over the original Magento, such as mobile-friendliness, faster load times, new technologies, and more.

There are several variations of the Magento platform:

• Magento Open Source: The basic, open-source version of Magento. Developers can write their extensions or choose from various third-party apps and add-ons.
• Magento Commerce/Adobe Commerce: A paid Magento 2 platform as a service (PaaS).
• Magento Commerce Cloud: Magento 2 Enterprise Edition, a hosted platform version of Magento that runs in Amazon Web Services cloud hosting.

What Is Shopify Plus?

It’s an e-commerce platform that helps businesses of all sizes run their online store, from small to enterprise-level. There is no open-source version. Shopify provides multiple pricing tiers for businesses with different needs.

Shopify Plus is the advanced Shopify version, „enterprise-grade solutions for high-volume merchants and large businesses.” Handling concerns include website hosting, infrastructure, security patches, performance testing, and more.

Shopify Plus partners include major retailers such as Heinz, Crate & Barrel, and Dressbarn using the platform to manage their e-commerce stores.

Shopify Plus Vs. Magento 2 Comparison

Now that we know the basics of each platform, let’s compare them side by side. Both Shopify Plus and Magento 2 are great eCommerce platforms. But which one should you choose for your business? Here’s a quick comparison of the two platforms:

1. Costs

One of the first things businesses consider when choosing an eCommerce platform is the cost. Both have an upfront license fee plus hosting and transaction costs.

Shopify Plus: With a monthly license fee of just $2,000, it is a great option for businesses looking to scale their operations. Additionally, the transaction fees for Shopify Plus are very reasonable, with most businesses paying just 1.6% + $0.35 per transaction. Hosting is also included in the monthly fee, while from build costs to Shopify migration costs, the pricing is also reasonable.

Magento 2: With more development required, the total cost of a Magento 2 website is usually higher. This makes it a good choice for companies who want robust backend functionality. Like Shopify Plus, the license fee is an annual charge rather than monthly. The fee is based on the Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and company size. Starting prices for Magento 2 licensing begin at around $22,000 per year. There are no transaction fees. However, you will need to pay for hosting and ongoing maintenance. Expect to spend at least $100,000 to migrate the Magento store or build a project. Maintenance costs can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per month.

2. Scalability

Enterprise-level platforms are designed for high-growth businesses. They are built to handle large traffic volumes and transactions from the get-go. They also have the scalability to support businesses as they expand into new markets and geographies.

Shopify Plus: Shopify Plus is a great choice for businesses that need a scalable platform. Its hosting and infrastructure are designed to handle increased traffic and transactions, making it ideal for businesses that experience fluctuating traffic levels. Thanks to Shopify Plus’ fully-hosted platform, developers can focus on strategy rather than worrying about if performance will suffer. Shopify’s servers will be ready for whatever comes.

Magento 2: If you need the ability to scale products, marketplaces, traffic, and transactions, the Magento store is the better choice. It can handle volume fluctuations better than Shopify Plus. If you’re hosting Magento 2, you’ll need to be prepared for traffic spikes accordingly. Also, note that Magento 2 requires more work to manage than Shopify Plus, but you’ll be able to do more with it in online retail.

3. Extensions And Apps

Both Shopify Plus and Magento 2 have a huge dedicated marketplace for apps. This is one of the main advantages of using a platform as your eCommerce solution. With an app store, you can find an extension for almost anything. And if you can’t find an extension that does what you want, you can always hire a developer to create a custom extension.

Shopify Plus: With a SaaS offering, Shopify Plus has an ecosystem of third-party apps that require separate licenses. However, users often report more native functionality and better extensions with Magento Commerce than the Shopify app store. Also, the license costs of additional Shopify Plus apps must be weighed against the cost of Magento Commerce development or a similar extension. Many apps provide services not found in the new Shopify store, such as Recharge for monthly subscription billing. Users over Shopify prefer the native subscription billing in Magento.

Magento 2: With functionality, you simply can’t do in the Shopify store, Magento 2 is the better choice when you need more robust customer support or want to turn your store into a multi-vendor marketplace. With certain Magento extensions, you can enable accounting and finance within the platform and custom shipping and fulfillment solutions. Also, the Magento marketplace provides a greater selection of services and extensions. From a customization standpoint, Magento 2 gives you more control because it’s an open-source platform.

4. Features

What are the must-have features for your eCommerce website? Does Shopify Plus have them? Does Magento 2 have them? Shopify Plus and Magento 2 are both feature-rich platforms. Here are some of the main standing points.

Shopify Plus: With a dedicated Shopify Plus account manager, unlimited staff accounts, and wholesale channels, you’ll have everything you need to get your store up and running quickly and easily. The Facebook community and Partners directory are also great resources for support and advice. Also, the Shopify Scripts editor allows you to customize checkout, and the Shopify Flow eCommerce automation platform makes product launches and sales campaigns a breeze. Finally, the bulk customer import data tools make it easy to start Shopify Plus.

Magento 2: Magento 2 offers many features that make it a great choice for businesses of all sizes. With Magento 2, businesses can manage multiple brands, products, vendors, and even stores in multiple countries. Magento 2 also has a built-in promotions engine that makes creating and managing promotions and discounts easy. Additionally, it supports 7 core product types, more than double the number of product types supported by Shopify Plus. Migration SEO URLs and storing data process is also easy. Magento 2 is also a great choice for businesses that need to handle international currencies and global shipping.

5. Store Management

An essential difference between Shopify Plus and Magento is how they handle multiple stores. With Shopify Plus, each store is its entity under the same account. This can be cumbersome to manage, particularly if you have a lot of stores. Magento’s multi-store architecture, on the other hand, allows you to manage all your stores from one interface. This can save you a lot of time and effort, especially if you have many stores.

Handling product attributes is another area where Magento’s multi-store architecture shines. With Magento, you can set product attributes like name and price at the store or global level. This is impossible with Shopify Plus, meaning you’ll need to find a workaround or use a plugin – which will likely add to your monthly costs.

GMV charges of Shopify Plus can also add up when expanding your business. With Shopify Plus, you’re charged for each additional store’s gross merchandising volume (GMV). So if you’re planning on expanding your business, be sure to factor in this additional cost to Shopify.

On the other hand, Magento doesn’t charge extra for expanding your business. This makes it a more cost-effective option, particularly if you’re planning on growing your business.

6. User Friendliness And Support

For those who are not technically savvy or don’t have the time to learn how to manage a complex system, user-friendliness and support are crucial.

Shopify Plus: With upgrades for enterprise-level needs like more API integrations, access to theme code, exclusive apps, and analytics reports, Shopify Plus presents a solution that businesses upgrading from Shopify will find familiar and robust. The development work required is less than most other platforms, making Shopify an attractive option for busy eCommerce businesses.

Magento 2: Built mainly for experienced developers looking for advanced features and customization options, it can be heavily customized to suit specific needs. However, this also means that retailers using Magento Commerce usually have a dedicated development team to manage to build additional features. Magento 2 may be a good choice if you’re already skilled in development. Keep in mind that it takes more time, effort, and money to maintain than Shopify Plus.

Which One Should You Choose?

After comparing Shopify Plus and Magento 2, it is evident that each platform has its advantages. The right platform for your business depends on your unique needs and preferences.

If you are new to the world of eCommerce web development or if you want more control over customization, Shopify Plus may be the right choice for you. It is easy to use and very difficult to break. You won’t need to spend as much time and resources on development and hosting.

On the other hand, Magento Commerce may be a better option if you need more flexibility or have a larger inventory. It offers unlimited product variants and is more flexible regarding integration platforms. Also, remember that Magento Commerce requires more time and resources for development and hosting. You’ll need to factor this into your decision.

Ultimately, the best platform for your business is the one that meets your specific requirements. Consider all of your options carefully before making a final decision.

Final Thoughts

Shopify Plus and Magento 2 are both great eCommerce platforms. They each have their unique features and benefits. You must consider your specific needs and requirements when choosing between the two. Whether you’re looking for an easy-to-use platform with plenty of features or a more customizable option, Shopify Plus or Magento 2 can provide your needs. If you’re still unsure which platform is right for you, reach out to a professional at Blue Owl, and we can help you make the best decision for your business.

With a focus on efficiency and profitability, we create world-class eCommerce solutions that improve our clients’ businesses. Our goal is to help clients reach their potential and exceed their expectations. From start to finish, we work with clients to create unique and customized eCommerce solution that meets their specific needs and requirements.

We are proud to offer a variety of services that can be tailored to each client’s business. Our team of experts is here to help you every step of the way, ensuring your project is a success.