Shopify and Magento (now Adobe Commerce) sit at opposite ends of the e-commerce spectrum. One is simplicity. The other is raw power.
Here is how they compare.
Ease of Use
Shopify is designed for non-technical users. You can set up a store in a day. Magento requires significant technical expertise — you need a developer, hosting knowledge, and regular maintenance.
Customization
Magento wins here by a wide margin. Open source means you can modify everything. Shopify limits customization to what the platform allows, though Liquid and theme editing give reasonable flexibility.
Cost
Shopify costs $29/month and up. All included. Magento Open Source is free, but you pay for hosting (often $50–$200/month), a developer (hourly or retainer), extensions, and maintenance. Total cost is typically much higher.
Performance
Shopify handles hosting and performance for you. Magento performance depends entirely on your hosting setup and optimization. A well-optimized Magento store can be extremely fast, but it requires work.
Who Should Choose What
Shopify is for most businesses — especially small to medium stores, startups, and anyone without a dedicated development team.
Magento is for large enterprises with complex requirements, big catalogs, and the budget for ongoing development and maintenance.
For the vast majority of businesses, Shopify is the practical choice. Magento only makes sense when you have outgrown Shopify or need specific enterprise features.