Adobe Commerce vs Magento: Understanding the Differences and Similarities

Both Adobe Commerce and Magento are powerful ecommerce platforms, but understanding their relationship and differences is crucial for businesses choosing the right solution. This article clarifies how these platforms compare and what each offers for online retailers.

The Relationship Between Adobe Commerce and Magento

Many businesses are confused about whether Adobe Commerce and Magento are different platforms. The simple answer: they're versions of the same platform with different capabilities. Magento was founded in 2008 and later acquired by Adobe in 2018. Following this acquisition, Magento Enterprise Edition was rebranded as Adobe Commerce, while Magento Community Edition became Magento Open Source.

Platform Options and Pricing

Magento Open Source

• Cost: Free to download and use, though you'll need to cover hosting, development, and maintenance costs
• Target: Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses with technical resources and budget constraints
• Customization: Highly flexible with community-developed extensions and modules

Adobe Commerce (On-Premise)

• Cost: Starts at approximately $22,000 annually, scaling based on gross merchandise value
• Target: Mid-sized to large businesses requiring advanced features
• Features: Includes all Magento Open Source capabilities plus enterprise-level additions

Adobe Commerce Cloud

• Cost: Starts at approximately $40,000 annually, increasing with GMV
• Target: Enterprise-level businesses needing scalable, managed infrastructure
• Hosting: Fully managed cloud service built on AWS or Azure

Key Feature Differences

Magento Open Source provides essential ecommerce functionality, but Adobe Commerce adds significant capabilities:

Magento Open Source Features

• Basic ecommerce functionality (catalog management, checkout, payment integration)
• Mobile optimization and site search
• Multi-language and multi-currency support
• Community-supported extensions

Additional Adobe Commerce Features

• Advanced B2B functionality
• Business intelligence dashboards
• Content staging and preview
• Customer loyalty tools and gift cards
• Advanced marketing tools
• Adobe Sensei AI-powered product recommendations and search
• Integration with Adobe Experience Cloud products

Technical Architecture Differences

A significant technical distinction exists between the platforms:

• Magento Open Source: Limited to a single database system, which can impact scalability for growing businesses
• Adobe Commerce: Designed for scalability with a distributed architecture using three separate databases for checkout, orders, and product data

Support and Maintenance

The level of support varies significantly between versions:

• Magento Open Source: Relies on community support through forums and documentation
• Adobe Commerce: Provides dedicated support, maintenance, and security patches 

Which Platform Should You Choose?

The decision between Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source should be based on:

1. Business Size and Growth: Smaller businesses may start with Magento Open Source, while enterprises typically need Adobe Commerce
2. Budget: Consider not just licensing costs but total implementation, hosting, and maintenance
3. Technical Resources: Magento Open Source requires more technical management 
4. Feature Requirements: Advanced marketing, B2B features, or Adobe ecosystem integration might necessitate Adobe Commerce

Both platforms offer robust ecommerce capabilities, but businesses must weigh the additional features of Adobe Commerce against its higher cost to determine the best investment for their specific needs.

Conclusion

Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source share the same foundation but differ significantly in features, support, and cost. While Magento Open Source offers flexibility and cost-effectiveness for smaller businesses, Adobe Commerce provides enterprise-grade capabilities and scalability for larger operations. Understanding these differences is essential for making the right strategic choice for your ecommerce business.