Magento vs Adobe Commerce: What’s the Difference

Adobe Commerce is the identity of Magento – a player in the world of online shopping platforms that has recently undergone a significant rebranding effort to enhance its appeal and market presence to users, across different industries and scales of operation. 

In April 2021 Adobe decided to rebrand Magento as Adobe Commerce as part of their strategy to incorporate Magento into their range of experience solutions. Consequently, Adobe Commerce is now a component of Adobe’s Experience Cloud providing a holistic and efficient approach to online commerce. This rebrand signifies a milestone for the platform. Presents fresh opportunities for companies looking for top-tier digital retail solutions. 

What is Magento Open Source?

Magento Open Source, the free version of Adobe Commerce, is tailored for small businesses. It allows for extensive customization and integration with extensions to enhance store functionality. With a strong community of developers and a rich marketplace of tools, it exemplifies the collaborative spirit of open-source software, supporting thousands of monthly downloads and active sharing among enthusiasts.

While suitable for those with trained technical staff, managing Magento development requires time and expertise for hosting, backend operations, and feature additions. Although it offers flexibility, the slower speed-to-market for new functionalities could limit business growth if resources and time are constrained.

What is Adobe Commerce?

Adobe Commerce is an advanced e-commerce platform ideal for large-scale operations, unlike Magento Open Source, which is aimed at small businesses. It is backed by the core Magento framework but offers additional functionalities such as multi-faceted sales process management, security measures, and improved performance. This makes it a great choice for businesses with large operations and specific customization requirements.

Since 2018, when Adobe purchased Magento, the system has been integrated into its broader ecosystem, for example, Adobe Experience Cloud. This integration allows businesses to capitalize on AI insights, built-in analytics, and specialization for the particular end buyer. All of this gives a definite advantage to businesses in the fast-paced world of e-commerce.

Difference between Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce

The basics of Magento vs Adobe Commerce are now clear and it is easy to distinguish their differences. Let’s dive into their key features to understand them in more detail.

Pricing

Magento Open Source is free to download and use, but you’ll need to pay for hosting. The cost can vary depending on the provider you choose.

Adobe Commerce, however, comes with a significant cost, ranging from $23,000 annually for the standard version to $45,000 for the Cloud edition. This price increases based on your store’s sales volume.

Hosting

Magento Open Source requires you to find your hosting provider, giving you flexibility but also the responsibility to manage server-side duties.

Adobe Commerce offers self-hosting as well, but the Cloud version provides AWS-hosted services, simplifying server management and contributing to the higher price tag.

Scalability

Magento Open Source supports only a single database system, which can limit performance as your business grows. Multiple websites or storefronts might also cause performance issues.

Adobe Commerce is built for scalability, with three databases to manage different parts of your store. This setup ensures flexibility and better performance as your business expands.

Security

Magento Open Source offers basic security features, but it requires additional configuration to ensure robust protection. Notably, it isn’t PCI-compliant, which can be a concern for handling payments.

Adobe Commerce, in contrast, is PCI-compliant and comes with enhanced security features such as data encryption, fraud prevention, and around-the-clock support, giving your store stronger protection.

Maintenance

While Magento Open Source is free, it requires investments in hosting, customizations, and updates. You’re responsible for managing everything, which can be time-consuming and costly.

Adobe Commerce reduces maintenance costs by offering built-in features and technical support. The subscription includes 24/7 support, and the platform’s comprehensive features make maintenance more manageable.

Is Magento now Adobe Commerce?

In 2021, Adobe officially announced the integration of Magento into Adobe Commerce, marking the beginning of a new era for digital commerce. This followed Adobe’s acquisition of Magento for $1.68 billion in 2018, aligning both companies’ visions of creating exceptional digital experiences.

This merger offers a powerful combination of Magento’s eCommerce capabilities with Adobe’s vast creative and marketing tools, bringing a seamless and innovative shopping experience to users across industries. As we look to 2025, this partnership is set to elevate eCommerce businesses by offering more advanced features and solutions for success.

What is the Adobe Commerce open source market trends 2025

Adobe Commerce (Magento) is a flexible, scalable eCommerce platform designed to power personalized B2C and B2B eCommerce experiences needed to compete today. Today, 85% of the top 100 online retailers in the U.S. use Adobe eCommerce, or 8% of all eCommerce websites around the world. Key aspects include:

Adoption of AI and Machine Learning: Enhanced automation and data-driven tools for personalized commerce experiences.

Composable Commerce Features: Modular services like live search and product recommendations to meet varied business needs.

Integration with Adobe Experience Cloud: Unified tools for better content management and customer experience.

Cross-Border Commerce Growth: Expanded international payment options and reduced friction points in transactions​​

For detailed insights, you can explore Adobe’s official trends reports and related resources.

Top Features of Adobe Commerce

Seller-Assisted Shopping

Sales reps or customer support agents can log into customers’ accounts to assist them with placing orders, improving the shopping experience for both businesses and their customers.

Live Search

Adobe Commerce enhances customer experience by providing instant, AI-powered product search results, allowing shoppers to quickly find what they’re looking for without delays.

Product Recommendations

Using Adobe Sensei’s machine learning, Adobe Commerce can offer personalized product suggestions based on each customer’s browsing behavior and preferences, improving cross-sell and up-sell opportunities.

Page Builder

With the drag-and-drop page builder, you can create, edit, and preview content pages with ease, and dynamically insert blocks into pages, making content management more intuitive and less developer-intensive.

Catalog Service

Centralize and manage your product catalog across multiple sites and stores using a unified system, optimizing performance, indexing, and caching to ensure smooth browsing and purchasing experiences.

Inventory and Order Management

Track inventory in real time and ensure your orders are fulfilled as promised, meeting customer expectations across all sales channels.

Store Fulfillment

This feature optimizes order fulfillment by integrating online and offline stores, offering flexible options like click-and-collect, ship-from-store, and inventory reservation.

PWA Studio

Develop Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) for a fast, mobile-friendly, and engaging shopping experience that works seamlessly across devices.

Customer Segmentation

Target customers more effectively by segmenting them based on attributes and behavior, allowing you to create personalized content, promotions, and offers tailored to each group.

Business Intelligence

Centralize your eCommerce data and visualize it in graphs and charts. Use these insights to monitor cross-channel trends, sales, inventory, and marketing performance.

Cloud Delivery

Leverage Adobe’s cloud-based services for enhanced security, regular updates, continuous monitoring, and robust tools for deploying and managing your store efficiently.

Seamless Integration

Integrate with third-party services such as payment gateways, shipping providers, and CRMs to ensure smooth business operations, with ERP systems synchronizing critical data like orders and inventory.

Payments and Financing

Centralize payments and order data across all storefronts, ensuring a streamlined financial overview and easier cash flow management for your business.

Advantages of Migrating to Adobe Commerce

Here are major benefits of migrating to Adobe Commerce:

Scalability

Adobe Commerce can easily handle growing businesses, offering a flexible platform that supports multiple databases and stores without compromising performance.

Advanced Security

It offers enhanced security features, including PCI compliance, data encryption, and fraud detection, ensuring your customers’ data is protected.

Customizable Features

With a wide range of built-in tools and the ability to integrate third-party applications, Adobe Commerce offers more options to customize the shopping experience.

Faster Time to Market

Its drag-and-drop page builder and pre-built features speed up the design and development process, reducing time spent on hand-coding.

Better Data Insights

Adobe Commerce’s built-in analytics and business intelligence tools help you gain deeper insights into customer behavior, sales trends, and inventory management.

Improved customer experience

With features like personalized product recommendations and seamless mobile integration, Adobe Commerce improves the overall shopping experience for customers.

Read Also: Shopify vs Wix for Ecommerce: Essential Tips 2025

Why Choose Webiators as Your Adobe Commerce Development Services

At Webiators, we specialize in creating custom digital solutions that drive business success. Whether you need help with your website design, development, or ongoing maintenance, our team offers hands-on expertise to help you optimize your online presence. We are committed to providing efficient and cost-effective solutions for businesses of all sizes.

From eCommerce to custom web applications, Webiators provides customized adobe commerce development services to meet your specific needs. Our focus on user-friendly experiences, seamless integration, and long-term support ensures that we can help your business thrive in a digital world. Reach out today to learn how we can help you with your next project.

FAQ’s