Magento vs Shopify
type: Article
description: Shopify is a fully managed SaaS platform with lower technical barriers and predictable costs starting at $29/month, while Magento is a self-hosted open-source solution requiring developer expertise but offering unlimited customization and lower long-term costs for high-volume stores. Shopify suits most merchants; Magento suits enterprise retailers needing complete control.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T07:37:33.453Z
date created: 2026-07-09T07:37:33.453Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T07:37:33.626Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T07:37:33.626Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Magento
about: Shopify
abstract: Shopify is a fully managed SaaS platform with lower technical barriers and predictable costs starting at $29/month, while Magento is a self-hosted open-source solution requiring developer expertise but offering unlimited customization and lower long-term costs for high-volume stores. Shopify suits most merchants; Magento suits enterprise retailers needing complete control.
text: Hosting & Infrastructure. Starting Monthly Cost. Customization Flexibility. Technical Expertise Required. App Marketplace Size. Time to Launch. Monthly Cost (Mid-Size Store, $500K Revenue)
conclusion text: Choose Shopify if you want to launch quickly (under 1 week), need minimal technical overhead, and value 24/7 support and automatic updates with predictable costs. Choose Magento if you're an enterprise retailer generating $1M+ in annual revenue, require deep customization, have in-house development teams, and want to minimize per-transaction fees and monthly platform costs.
additional property: Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 4-8 weeks | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Annual Total Cost of Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $15,000-$100,000 | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Maximum Product Catalog Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 1,000,000+ | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Community/Marketplace Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 8,500+ | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Payment Gateway Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 350+ | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Admin Interface Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 40-80 hours | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Native REST API Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 200+ | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Developer Cost (Hourly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $125-200 (required) | Shopify: $100-150 (optional)
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Enterprise segment leader (~5-10%) | Shopify: ~30% of all online stores
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 0% | Shopify: 2.0-2.9%
  value reference: Magento
additional property: Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $10-80 (hosting only) | Shopify: $5-39 (all-inclusive)
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Enterprise Plan Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Custom quote (est. $833-4,166/mo) | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus)
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Initial Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 2-8 weeks | Shopify: Hours to 1 day
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Time to Launch
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 8-16 weeks | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Monthly Cost (Small Business)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $1,500-$3,000+ (with hosting/dev) | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Built-in Features Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Core + 5,000+ extensions | Shopify: Hosting, SSL, domain, support included
additional property: Maximum Product SKUs
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Unlimited (1M+ in production) | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Customization Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 10 (unlimited) | Shopify: 6 (limited to Liquid)
  value reference: Magento
additional property: Developer Community Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 47,000+ Certified Developers | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Hosting & Infrastructure
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Self-managed or Adobe Commerce (managed) | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Setup Technical Knowledge Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Expert (PHP/MySQL/Linux required) | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Initial Setup Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $20,000-50,000 | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Monthly Server Infrastructure
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $200-2,000 | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Product Catalog Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 100,000+ (tested) | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Multi-Store Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 1,000+ native | Shopify: Separate subscriptions required
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 2.2% | Shopify: 27%
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Average Deployment Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 8-16 weeks | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Available Extensions/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 600+ (official marketplace) | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 28,000+ questions | Shopify: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $0 (software) | Shopify: $29
  value reference: Magento
additional property: Hosting Cost (Budget Provider)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: $5-15 | Shopify: Included
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Implementation Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 4-12 | Shopify: 0.3-0.7 (2-5 days)
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Available Extensions/Apps
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 5,000+ | Shopify: 10,000+
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Technical Skill Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: 8 (advanced developer skills) | Shopify: 2 (minimal technical knowledge)
  value reference: Shopify
additional property: Maximum Monthly Revenue Supportable
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: Unlimited | Shopify: 100+ (Shopify Plus)
additional property: Active Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 4.6 Million+
additional property: Platform Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.0% (third-party gateways) / 0% (Shopify Payments)
additional property: Available Apps/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 13,000+
additional property: Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 1.4%
additional property: Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 1.2%
additional property: Hosting Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Fully Managed SaaS
additional property: AI/Automation Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Native AI-driven commerce agents built-in
additional property: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $39/month
additional property: Top Tier Plan Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $399
additional property: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 200+ templates
additional property: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 8,000+
additional property: Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Phone, Email & Chat
additional property: Enterprise Plan Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Yes ($2,300+/month)
additional property: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $468
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/magento
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/magento
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/shopify
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/magento-vs-shopify)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/magento-vs-shopify)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/magento-vs-shopify
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-squarespace
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-wix
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/etsy-vs-shopify
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/shopify-vs-square
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ecwid-vs-shopify
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/bigcommerce-vs-magento
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/amazon-vs-shopify
teaches: How to choose between Magento and Shopify
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Magento vs Shopify — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Magento
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Open-source e-commerce platform requiring self-hosting and developer expertise.
image: ImageObject
  caption: Magento
subject of: Magento vs Shopify
image: ImageObject
  caption: Magento

Shopify
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Cloud-based SaaS e-commerce platform with managed hosting and user-friendly interface.
subject of: Magento vs Shopify

Magento vs Shopify — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Magento vs Shopify. Contains 154 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Implementation Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Annual Total Cost of Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Maximum Product Catalog Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Community/Marketplace Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Payment Gateway Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Admin Interface Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Native REST API Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Developer Cost (Hourly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operating Costs
variable measured: Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Base Cost (Starter Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Enterprise Plan Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Initial Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Time to Launch
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Small Business)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Built-in Features Included
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum Product SKUs
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Customization Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Developer Community Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Hosting & Infrastructure
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Setup Technical Knowledge Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Initial Setup Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Monthly Server Infrastructure
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Product Catalog Capacity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Multi-Store Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Average Deployment Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Available Extensions/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Developer Resources (Stack Overflow Tags)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Hosting Cost (Budget Provider)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Implementation Timeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Available Extensions/Apps
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Technical Skill Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Maximum Monthly Revenue Supportable
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Active Stores
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Platform Transaction Fees
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Available Apps/Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Average Conversion Rate (Desktop)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Average Conversion Rate (Mobile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Hosting Model
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: AI/Automation Optimization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Innovation
variable measured: Starting Monthly Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Top Tier Plan Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design
variable measured: App Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Support Channels
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Enterprise Plan Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Annual Cost (Base Plan)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Per-Transaction Commission
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Accessible Customer Base
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Access
variable measured: Setup Time to First Sale
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Time to Revenue
variable measured: Brand Control Score
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control
variable measured: App/Integration Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Annual Account Suspension Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reliability
variable measured: Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scale Potential
variable measured: Product Variation Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Product Management
variable measured: Multi-Currency Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: International
variable measured: Transaction Processing Fee
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Customization Entry Point
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Available Templates
variable measured: Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
variable measured: Transaction Fee Rate
variable measured: Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
variable measured: Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
variable measured: Listing Renewal Fee
variable measured: Product Variant Limit
variable measured: Sales Breakeven Point
variable measured: Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/magento-vs-shopify)

Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Magento vs Shopify.
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Operating Costs
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Innovation
has defined term: Design
has defined term: Market Access
has defined term: Time to Revenue
has defined term: Control
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Scale Potential
has defined term: Product Management
has defined term: International
has defined term: Economics
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Costs
has defined term: Reach & Traffic
has defined term: Speed
has defined term: Control & Flexibility
has defined term: Payments & Integrations
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Market Fit
has defined term: Setup & Deployment
has defined term: Traffic
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Product Type
has defined term: Payments
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Free Plan
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Ownership
has defined term: Total Cost of Ownership
has defined term: Market Reach
has defined term: Setup

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operating Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operating-costs
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Innovation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: innovation
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-access
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Time to Revenue
type: DefinedTerm
term code: time-to-revenue
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scale Potential
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scale-potential
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-management
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

International
type: DefinedTerm
term code: international
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economics
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Costs
type: DefinedTerm
term code: costs
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reach & Traffic
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reach-&-traffic
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control & Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control-&-flexibility
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payments & Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payments-&-integrations
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Fit
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-fit
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup & Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup-&-deployment
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Traffic
type: DefinedTerm
term code: traffic
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Product Type
type: DefinedTerm
term code: product-type
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Payments
type: DefinedTerm
term code: payments
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Free Plan
type: DefinedTerm
term code: free-plan
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Total Cost of Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: total-cost-of-ownership
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-reach
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup
in defined term set: Magento vs Shopify — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T07:37:33.626Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: magento-vs-shopify)
main entity: Which platform is cheaper for a $500K/year online store?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Magento is significantly cheaper at this scale. A mid-size Magento store with hosting ($150/month), SSL ($10/month), and extensions ($100/month) costs ~$260/month or $3,120/year. The equivalent Shopify store would use Shopify Plus at $2,300/month ($27,600/year) plus 2.0% transaction fees (~$10,000/year), totaling ~$37,600 annually—12x more expensive.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I migrate from Shopify to Magento later?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, but it requires effort. Shopify allows CSV exports of products, orders, and customer data. However, you'll need a developer to map Shopify's data structure to Magento's architecture, rebuild customizations, and reimplement apps. Expect 3-8 weeks of development time and $5,000-20,000+ in costs, depending on store complexity.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is Magento secure enough for PCI DSS compliance?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Magento can be PCI DSS Level 1 compliant, but YOU are responsible for maintaining security. This requires regular patches, SSL certificates, firewalls, and security audits. With Shopify, PCI DSS compliance is managed by Shopify's infrastructure—you inherit compliance automatically. For non-technical teams, Shopify's built-in security is significantly safer.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better app support and integrations?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Shopify has 10,000+ vetted apps in its App Store, while Magento has ~5,000+ extensions. However, Shopify's ecosystem is more curated and app quality is more consistent. Magento's flexibility means custom integrations are possible but may require developer work. For quick, plug-and-play integrations, Shopify wins.
    language: en-US
main entity: What is the typical cost per transaction on each platform?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Shopify charges 2.0-2.9% + $0.30 per transaction via Shopify Payments. On a $50 order, that's ~$1.30-1.75. Magento has zero platform transaction fees, but you pay payment gateway fees directly (typically 2.2% + $0.30 with Stripe). The real advantage for Magento emerges at 10,000+ monthly transactions.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Magento and Shopify
type: HowTo
description: Shopify is a fully managed SaaS platform with lower technical barriers and predictable costs starting at $29/month, while Magento is a self-hosted open-source solution requiring developer expertise but offering unlimited customization and lower long-term costs for high-volume stores. Shopify suits most merchants; Magento suits enterprise retailers needing complete control.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Hosting & Infrastructure
step: Consider: Starting Monthly Cost
step: Consider: Customization Flexibility
step: Consider: Technical Expertise Required
step: Consider: App Marketplace Size
step: Consider: Time to Launch
step: Consider: Monthly Cost (Mid-Size Store, $500K Revenue)
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Shopify if you want to launch quickly (under 1 week), need minimal technical overhead, and value 24/7 support and automatic updates with predictable costs. Choose Magento if you're an enterprise retailer generating $1M+ in annual revenue, require deep customization, have in-house development teams, and want to minimize per-transaction fees and monthly platform costs.

Consider: Hosting & Infrastructure
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Hosting & Infrastructure: Magento has Self-hosted (your servers), while Shopify has Fully managed cloud (Shopify-hosted).

Consider: Starting Monthly Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Starting Monthly Cost: Magento has $0 (software only) + hosting from $5-50+, while Shopify has $29/month (includes hosting).

Consider: Customization Flexibility
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Customization Flexibility: Magento has Unlimited (open-source codebase), while Shopify has Limited to Shopify's architecture.

Consider: Technical Expertise Required
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Technical Expertise Required: Magento has Advanced (PHP, MySQL, server management), while Shopify has Minimal (drag-and-drop interface).

Consider: App Marketplace Size
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: App Marketplace Size: Magento has ~5,000+ extensions, while Shopify has ~10,000+ apps.

Consider: Time to Launch
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Time to Launch: Magento has 4-12 weeks (setup, development), while Shopify has 2-5 days (templates, quick setup).

Consider: Monthly Cost (Mid-Size Store, $500K Revenue)
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Monthly Cost (Mid-Size Store, $500K Revenue): Magento has $100-300 (hosting + extensions), while Shopify has $299/month (Shopify Plus).

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Magento vs Shopify
review body: Shopify is a fully managed SaaS platform with lower technical barriers and predictable costs starting at $29/month, while Magento is a self-hosted open-source solution requiring developer expertise but offering unlimited customization and lower long-term costs for high-volume stores. Shopify suits most merchants; Magento suits enterprise retailers needing complete control.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Magento vs Shopify

Per-Transaction Commission
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 0%

Accessible Customer Base
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 0 (self-driven)

Setup Time to First Sale
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 1-3 days

Brand Control Score
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 9-10 (full)

App/Integration Ecosystem
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 4,600+

Annual Account Suspension Risk
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: ~0.01%

Typical Seller Monthly Revenue Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $5,000+ (lower barrier)

Product Variation Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2,000+

Multi-Currency Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 200+

Transaction Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 0% (on Shopify Payments)

Design Customization Entry Point
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Advanced (Liquid code access)

Available Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: ~300 (optimized for sales)

Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

Transaction Fee Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 3.89%

Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $214

Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $29

Listing Renewal Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Included in subscription

Product Variant Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

Sales Breakeven Point
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $1,350

Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Self-driven traffic

Commission Fee (Per Transaction)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30

Built-in Customer Base
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Zero (must generate own traffic)

Average Time to First Sale
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 5 days (with traffic setup)

Brand Customization Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Complete (10/10)

Customer Data Access
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 100% direct access to customer emails and data

Product Listing Limits
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited products

Payment Methods Supported
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 100+

Setup Time to Live Store
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 7-14 days

Available Apps & Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 6,000+ apps

Checkout Conversion Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 3.2-3.5%

Platform Uptime SLA
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 99.99%

Built-in Enterprise Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Moderate; app-dependent for advanced needs

API Control & Headless Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Good GraphQL API; limited headless options

Ideal Business Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $0-20M GMV (optimal fit)

Implementation Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Low; point-and-click setup

Payment Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30 (Shopify Payments)

Monthly Base Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $29-$399

Store Design Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Extensive (9/10)

Transaction Fee Percentage
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.9%

Annual Marketplace Visitors
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Self-generated

Available Apps/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 10,000+

Suitable Product Categories
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: All product types

Free Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter plan minimum)

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.7% + $0.30

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 10+ (online store, POS, social, marketplace, B2B, wholesale)

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited with advanced sync

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $5 (Starter Plan)

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $2,300+ (Shopify Plus enterprise)

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Ongoing regular updates

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $105 (Shopify Plan)

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 6000+

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 30-60 minutes

Free Physical Items Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: None (paid plans only)

Mobile Responsiveness
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Mobile-optimized by default

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $39

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 8,500+

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 days

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 6 (Liquid templating limits)

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Shopify manages all compliance

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited (pricing tier independent)

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $468 + transaction fees ($2,900)

Transaction Fees (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 99.99%

Native App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 6,800 verified apps

Setup Time (No-Code)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 hours to launch

Customization Depth (Code Access)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Theme/app API limited (Liquid template language)

Payment Gateway Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 26+

PCI DSS Compliance Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Level 1 (fully managed)

Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + $0.30

Product Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2-3 days

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: ~8,000+ apps

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 28%

Native Multi-Vendor Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: No (requires apps)

Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Limited (basic automation)

Starting Monthly Cost (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $39/month

Available App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 10,000+

Product Listings Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

API Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Full REST & GraphQL APIs

Multi-Channel Selling Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 100+ sales channels (Amazon, Facebook, TikTok, eBay, etc.)

Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Included in all plans

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $348-3,588/year

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 99.99% guaranteed

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 24/7 dedicated support team

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Built-in tools with limitations on code-level access

Data Portability
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Possible but complex; vendor lock-in concerns exist

Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 0% (Shopify Payments)

Design Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 200+

Setup Time (Days to Live Store)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 3-5

Global Merchant Users
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 4.6M (2025)

Annual Cost for $250k Revenue Store
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $468 (plan) + $0 (fees)

Monthly Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $29

Transaction Fee per Sale
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 0%

Monthly Active Buyers Accessible
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Must drive own traffic

Customer Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 100% - you own all customer records

Profit Margin Retention (Example: $100 sale)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $71 (after $29 monthly allocation)

Design & Customization Freedom
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited - custom domain, full HTML/CSS

Support Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2-4 hours (24/7 chat)

Mid-Tier Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: $105/month

Payment Processing Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2.9% + 30¢ (Shopify Payments)

Global E-Commerce Market Share (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 28%

Built-in Sales Channel Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 6-8 native, 120+ via apps

Time to First Sale (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 1-2 hours

API Rate Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: 2 requests/second (standard)

Product Image Storage Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Magento: N/A | Shopify: Unlimited

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

Magento — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Shopify — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Magento vs Shopify
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/magento-vs-shopify)
object: Magento
object: Shopify

Available Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Recommended Maximum Annual Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Transaction Fee Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Costs at 100 Sales ($50/item)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Base Monthly Subscription (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Listing Renewal Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Product Variant Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Sales Breakeven Point
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economics

Monthly Active Buyers (Marketplace Access)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Commission Fee (Per Transaction)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Costs

Built-in Customer Base
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reach & Traffic

Average Time to First Sale
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Speed

Brand Customization Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Control & Flexibility

Customer Data Access
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Control & Flexibility

Product Listing Limits
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Payment Methods Supported
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments & Integrations

Setup Time to Live Store
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Available Apps & Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Checkout Conversion Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Platform Uptime SLA
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Built-in Enterprise Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Functionality

API Control & Headless Capability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Ideal Business Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Fit

Implementation Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Setup & Deployment

Payment Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Base Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Store Design Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Transaction Fee Percentage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Annual Marketplace Visitors
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Traffic

Available Apps/Extensions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Suitable Product Categories
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Product Type

Free Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fee (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Payments

Supported Sales Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Inventory Locations Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

New Features (Feb-Mar 2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Innovation

Mid-Tier Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Third-Party App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Free Physical Items Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Free Plan

Mobile Responsiveness
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees (Standard)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Uptime SLA Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Native App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Setup Time (No-Code)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Depth (Code Access)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Payment Gateway Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

PCI DSS Compliance Built-in
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Transaction Fees (Basic Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Product Upload Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

App Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Market Share (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Native Multi-Vendor Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Advanced SEO Tools (Built-in)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Starting Monthly Cost (USD)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available App Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Product Listings Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Multi-Channel Selling Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free SSL Certificate & Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Data Portability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ownership

Transaction Fees (Payment Processing)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Design Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design

Setup Time (Days to Live Store)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Global Merchant Users
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Annual Cost for $250k Revenue Store
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Total Cost of Ownership

Monthly Cost (Starter Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fee per Sale
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Active Buyers Accessible
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Reach

Customer Data Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Control

Profit Margin Retention (Example: $100 sale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Economics

Design & Customization Freedom
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Control

Support Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Mid-Tier Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Payment Processing Transaction Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Global E-Commerce Market Share (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Position

Built-in Sales Channel Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Time to First Sale (Typical)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Setup

API Rate Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Product Image Storage Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features