Magento Open Source vs. Adobe Commerce / Which E-Commerce Solution Fits Your Business Needs? 

Choosing the right e-commerce platform is a key decision that can determine the success of your online business. Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce are two popular solutions that offer different capabilities tailored to the needs of companies. While Magento Open Source is a flexible open-source platform, ideal for smaller companies, Adobe Commerce provides comprehensive functionality and support for larger organizations. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two systems and help you decide which is best for your business. 

The Development History of Magento and Adobe Commerce 

Since its debut in 2008, Magento has quickly gained popularity as a versatile open-source e-commerce platform. Thanks to its flexibility and broad community support, it became the foundation for many companies, offering full customization and adaptation to different business needs. Over the years, a paid version, Magento Enterprise Edition, was developed in parallel, aimed at larger organizations, offering additional features and a higher level of support. 

Adobe’s acquisition in 2018 changed the platform’s development trajectory, transforming Enterprise Edition into Adobe Commerce. Integration with the Adobe ecosystem enriched it with analytics, personalization, and content management tools, enabling better management of complex e-commerce operations and global growth. Adobe Commerce, also available in a cloud version, has become an enterprise-class solution for companies that need scalability and advanced infrastructure. 

At the same time, the original Magento Open Source remained a free version developed by the community, ideal for smaller businesses seeking technological independence. Thanks to a rich ecosystem of extensions, it is still a popular choice for companies that want full control over the code and infrastructure. Today, both systems represent different development paths: Magento Open Source as a flexible starter platform, and Adobe Commerce as a tool for large companies, integrating sales and marketing in one ecosystem. 

Differences Between Magento and Adobe Commerce 

The choice between Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce depends on the project’s specifics and business and technical requirements. Both systems are based on the Magento platform but differ in terms of costs, functionality, and the scale of implementation. 

License Costs 

Magento Open Source is free software, meaning companies can use the platform without additional licensing fees. This is a good option for businesses looking to reduce costs and focus on other aspects of their business. However, it is worth noting that the implementation and further development of this platform, due to its extensive architecture, may require cooperation with a specialized e-commerce agency or the creation of an in-house technical team. As a result, although the system is free, the budget for customization, maintenance, and optimization of the store must be considered. 

Adobe Commerce is a paid solution with a license cost that depends on the store’s annual revenue. However, larger companies can gain access to advanced features and technical support, making Adobe Commerce a more attractive option for businesses with high operational demands. 

Hosting 

Magento Open Source gives users complete freedom in choosing hosting services, ensuring flexibility but also involving the need to manage the server infrastructure. Users must choose a hosting provider that is tailored to the store’s performance requirements and its load, which may involve additional technical support or IT resources within the company. 

Adobe Commerce offers two options: it can be hosted on-premises, like Magento Open Source, or in Adobe Commerce Cloud, where cloud hosting is provided. The cloud version offers a ready-made infrastructure based on services such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, or Google Cloud Platform. This solution takes over the process of server management and optimization, automatically scaling resources according to needs, so the client does not need to have an internal IT team or seek an external provider. 

Functionality 

Magento Open Source provides a robust set of tools that allow for efficient management of key e-commerce aspects. Users have full control over product catalog management, order processes, payments, and deliveries. The platform supports multiple currencies and languages, making it a good choice for companies planning international expansion. Thanks to open-source code, Magento Open Source offers great flexibility in integrating external modules and customizing functions to specific needs. Moreover, access to the Magento Marketplace enables the expansion of the store with additional extensions, such as discount systems, sales analytics tools, marketing modules, and SEO modules, making it easier to optimize for search engines. 

Adobe Commerce, on the other hand, extends the standard features of Magento Open Source with a range of advanced solutions that streamline the management of more complex e-commerce projects: 

• AI-Based Recommendations: Adobe Sensei features support offer personalization and generate real-time recommendations, increasing customer engagement. 

• Advanced Catalog Management: Allows for more precise management of products and prices, which is crucial for stores operating in the B2C and B2B segments. 

• Real-Time Search: AI technology ensures fast and accurate search results, improving user experience. 

• Loyalty Programs and Gift Cards: Built-in tools support building customer relationships through loyalty programs and the ability to sell gift cards. 

• Content Staging: Enables content changes to be scheduled and updates to be planned without interrupting the store’s operation. 

Scalability and Technical Support 

Magento Open Source is suitable for both medium and large-scale projects, offering great flexibility and growth opportunities. Thanks to open-source code, the platform can be adapted to specific needs and optimized for performance as store traffic increases. 

Adobe Commerce offers built-in solutions that efficiently handle more complex e-commerce operations. Thanks to the cloud architecture in Adobe Commerce Cloud and built-in scalability, the system automatically adjusts server resources to increase traffic, minimizing the need for manual intervention. 

Why Choose Magento Open Source? 

Let’s summarize why Magento Open Source could be a good choice: 

• No Licensing Costs: Magento Open Source is free, which is a huge advantage for companies looking for economical e-commerce solutions. The lack of licensing fees allows companies to invest resources in other aspects of the business, such as marketing or product development. 

• Flexibility and Customization: Thanks to open-source code, users can fully customize the platform to their unique business needs. The platform’s flexibility allows for the modification of almost every element of the store, enabling the creation of unique solutions tailored to the specific needs of the business. Moreover, Magento Marketplace offers a large number of plugins that can significantly extend the platform’s functionality, both free and paid, allowing additional features to be integrated without the need to write your code. 

• Community Support: Magento Open Source has an active global developer community, giving users access to technical support and numerous additional resources, such as forums, discussion groups, and technical documentation. This allows for quick problem-solving and the benefit of other users’ experiences. 

• Self-Hosting: Magento Open Source requires users to choose and manage hosting themselves, giving them full control over the server infrastructure. This flexibility allows for the adjustment of server resources to the specific requirements of the project, which is beneficial for companies that prefer full control over performance and security. 

• Comprehensive E-Commerce Features: Despite being a free version, Magento Open Source offers the essential features required for modern online stores. Features such as product management, orders, payments, and support for global sales allow companies to effectively run their e-commerce operations. Additionally, the platform is mobile-optimized, making shopping on smartphones and tablets more convenient. 

Why Choose Adobe Commerce? 

Now, let’s take a look at the main advantages of Adobe Commerce: 

• Advanced B2B and B2C Functions: Adobe Commerce offers a wide range of features for both B2C and B2B customers. For B2B, additional options for product catalog management, customer management, and tools for price negotiations, purchase lists, or bulk orders are available, making Adobe Commerce ideal for companies handling larger sales structures. 

• Integration with Adobe Ecosystem: Adobe Commerce can fully integrate with other services offered within the Adobe Experience Cloud, such as Adobe Analytics, Adobe Experience Manager, or Adobe Target. This integration enables full personalization of the customer experience, better content management, and access to analytical tools that support marketing, sales, and customer retention. 

• Enterprise-Level Technical Support: Adobe Commerce provides technical support, ensuring that companies receive immediate assistance in solving technical problems. With 24/7 support and regular updates, the platform remains secure and stable, which is crucial for larger-scale businesses, where downtime can result in significant financial losses. 

• Cloud Hosting: Adobe Commerce in the Cloud version provides integrated cloud hosting, eliminating the need for companies to manage the technical infrastructure themselves. The cloud solution automatically scales servers as needed and offers additional tools for performance monitoring. This allows businesses to focus on growing their business without worrying about managing the underlying technology. 

• Security and Scalability: Adobe Commerce is designed with large e-commerce operations in mind. It offers advanced security tools such as data encryption, protection against DDoS attacks, and PCI compliance, ensuring the security of customer data and transactions. Additionally, Adobe Commerce is highly scalable, allowing companies to smoothly adjust resources as their operations grow and the number of transactions increases. 

Choosing the Right E-Commerce Solution – What to Consider? 

The decision between Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce should be based on a thorough analysis of the company’s business needs and long-term development plans. This choice is not just about licensing costs or available features but also the level of support, flexibility, and the company’s readiness to adapt its e-commerce environment to changing market demands. Both systems, although differing in many aspects, can effectively support the growth of businesses at every stage of their operations, provided they are appropriately matched to the business strategy and organizational resources.