Magento vs Shopify
Magento fits mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex b2b needs; Shopify fits merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure.
Magento
Open-source Magento core (free) plus Adobe Commerce enterprise licenses (GMV quote) — deep catalog/B2B with high hosting and agency TCO.
Best for
- • Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs
- • Teams with Magento/Adobe partner capacity
- • Merchants who outgrew WooCommerce simplicity and need deeper commerce core
Starting from $0.00/user/mo
Free plan available
VS
Our verdict
There is no universal winner between Magento and Shopify. Choose Magento when Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs. Choose Shopify when Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Choose Magento if: Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs
Choose Shopify if: Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
Shopify
Hosted SaaS ecommerce platform with themes, checkout, channels, and POS — Basic from $39/mo ($29 annual), Grow $105 ($79 annual), Advanced $399 ($299 annual), Plus from $2,300/mo.
Best for
- • Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
- • Brands scaling across online + retail channels
- • Teams that value app ecosystem over building custom stacks
Starting from $39.00/user/mo
No free plan
Quick verdict
Start here — then dig into the evidence below.
Choose Magento if…
- Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs
- Teams with Magento/Adobe partner capacity
- Merchants who outgrew WooCommerce simplicity and need deeper commerce core
Choose Shopify if…
- Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
- Brands scaling across online + retail channels
- Teams that value app ecosystem over building custom stacks
Overall recommendation
There is no universal winner between Magento and Shopify. Choose Magento when Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs. Choose Shopify when Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Key trade-off
Neither product dominates every criterion — prioritize the jobs that matter most.
Side-by-side feature matrix
Normalized availability from product research — empty rows are not shown.
Platform
| Feature | Magento | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| AI assistance | Moderate | Strong |
Additional capabilities
| Feature | Magento | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Online storefront | Strong | Strong |
| Product catalog | Strong | Strong |
| Checkout & payments | Strong | Strong |
| Order management | Strong | Strong |
| Inventory management | Strong | Strong |
| Shipping & fulfillment | Strong | Strong |
| POS & omnichannel | Moderate | Strong |
| Marketplace & sales channels | Moderate | Strong |
| B2B / wholesale | Strong | Moderate |
| Marketing automation | Moderate | Strong |
| Analytics & reporting | Strong | Strong |
| Dropshipping sourcing | Moderate | Moderate |
| App / extension ecosystem | Strong | Strong |
Pricing comparison
Pricing evidence last checked Aug 18, 2026.
Magento
From $0.00/user/mo
- Magento Open Source$0.00/user/mo
- Adobe CommerceCustom
Shopify
From $39.00/user/mo
- Basic$29.00/mo
- Grow$79.00/mo
- Advanced$299.00/mo
- PlusCustom
Seat-count estimates
Labeled estimates from verified starting per-seat pricing — not invoices.
| Seats | Magento | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | — | ~$195.00/mo (5 × starting seat) |
| 10 | — | ~$390.00/mo (10 × starting seat) |
| 25 | — | ~$975.00/mo (25 × starting seat) |
| 50 | — | ~$1,950.00/mo (50 × starting seat) |
Estimate from verified starting per-seat pricing — actual total depends on plan, annual discounts, and add-ons.
Magento researched starting price from $0/mo; a free plan is researched. Shopify researched starting price from $39/mo. Affiliate economics excluded.
Who should not choose each product
Decision quality improves when we say who should walk away.
Don't choose Magento if…
- Your primary fit looks closer to: Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
- Your primary fit looks closer to: Brands scaling across online + retail channels
Don't choose Shopify if…
- Your primary fit looks closer to: Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs
- Your primary fit looks closer to: Teams with Magento/Adobe partner capacity
Alternatives worth considering
When neither product is the right fit.
Open-source WordPress commerce plugin — free core; paid extensions, hosting, and WooPayments processing are separate TCO lines.
Open-SaaS ecommerce platform — Core $39/mo ($29 annual), Growth $105 ($79), Scale $399 ($299); GMV thresholds and open payment provider fees apply on 2026 plans.
Square ecosystem online store — Free $0/mo (higher online processing), Plus $49/location, Premium $149/location; 30-day trials on paid tiers.
Final verdict
Scenario-level close — not a repeat of the intro.
Magento wins when…
Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs
Shopify wins when…
Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
Which one should you choose?
Choose Magento if:
- Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs
- Teams with Magento/Adobe partner capacity
- Merchants who outgrew WooCommerce simplicity and need deeper commerce core
Choose Shopify if:
- Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
- Brands scaling across online + retail channels
- Teams that value app ecosystem over building custom stacks
Product screenshots
Real product UI from our media library — no placeholders.
Magento
Shopify
FAQ
- Is Magento better than Shopify?
- There is no universal winner between Magento and Shopify. Choose Magento when Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs. Choose Shopify when Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
- Which Ecommerce fits which team?
- Magento: Mid-market and enterprise catalogs with complex B2B needs Shopify: Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
- Does Magento or Shopify have a free plan?
- Magento: Free plan available. Shopify: No free plan.
- How does Magento vs Shopify pricing compare?
- Magento starts from $0.00/user/mo. Shopify starts from $39.00/user/mo. Confirm live vendor pricing before purchasing.
- How did SoftwareGlimpse compare these products?
- We map both products to the same category criteria, then evaluate trade-offs using verified product, pricing and feature evidence. Affiliate relationships never change outcomes.
- reviewMagento review
- reviewShopify review
- pricingMagento pricing
- pricingShopify pricing
- alternativeWooCommerce alternative
- alternativeBigCommerce alternative
- alternativeSquare Online alternative
- guideWhat Is Ecommerce Software?
- guideHow to Choose Ecommerce Software
- guideEcommerce Software Pricing Guide
- categoryEcommerce hub
- finderFind My CRM
- calculatorCost calculator
Related comparisons
Alternatives to consider
WooCommerce
Open-source WordPress commerce plugin — free core; paid extensions, hosting, and WooPayments processing are separate TCO lines.
BigCommerce
Open-SaaS ecommerce platform — Core $39/mo ($29 annual), Growth $105 ($79), Scale $399 ($299); GMV thresholds and open payment provider fees apply on 2026 plans.
Square Online
Square ecosystem online store — Free $0/mo (higher online processing), Plus $49/location, Premium $149/location; 30-day trials on paid tiers.
Still deciding between Magento and Shopify?
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- No invented scores or prices
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