Launched in 2007, Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce, quickly became one of the leading open-source ecommerce platforms out there. Fast forward to today, over 250,000 online stores are powered by Magento 1 and 2. With robust features and solid support, it’s no wonder why it’s a favorite among retailers.
But here's the thing – no two businesses are exactly alike. What works for one might not be the best fit for another. If the platform doesn’t meet your distinct needs or you’re curious about what else is out there, you’re at the right place. This guide explores the top Magento competitors, helping you find the perfect match for your online store.
Types of Magento alternatives: Open-source vs. SaaS ecommerce platforms
When searching for Magento alternatives, you'll come across two main types: open-source ecommerce platforms and Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. Both have their perks and drawbacks. Understanding what sets the two apart can help you choose the best fit for your business’s online goals.
Open-source ecommerce platforms
Open-source platforms are software systems that are completely customizable. Think of them like a box of LEGO bricks that come with a guidebook. You can either follow the guide or use the bricks to build whatever you like.
Because the original source code is freely available to users, you can modify and extend the software as much as you want. This makes it a popular choice for tech-savvy individuals or businesses who want complete control over their ecommerce environment.
Pros | Cons |
Customizability: Adjust every detail of your online store to fit exactly what you need and want. | Requires Skill: You'll need some technical knowledge or a developer team to help you set up and maintain your site. |
Community Support: A whole community of developers and users to offer support and share their extensions and plugins. | Ongoing Maintenance: Keeping your site secure, up-to-date, and compliant falls on you. This can be resource-intensive. |
Cost-Effectiveness: Generally, there are lower ongoing costs as there are no licensing fees. Your main costs come from hosting, maintaining, and growing your site as needed. |
SaaS ecommerce solutions
With SaaS platforms, you pay a monthly or annual fee to a third-party provider who takes care of everything – hosting, maintenance, updates, and security. There’s no need to download or install anything; you simply access your store via the web. It’s a hassle-free solution that lets you focus on running your business without worrying about the technical details.
Pros | Cons |
Ease of Use: Comes with out-of-the-box templates and user-friendly interfaces. This makes setup and daily management straightforward. | Less Customization: While you can personalize various aspects of your online store, there’s a limit. |
Scalability: Designed to scale with your business. Adjusts resources automatically to handle spikes in traffic and sales. | Ongoing Costs: Subscription fees can add up. Plus, as your web traffic and sales increase, you might need to upgrade to a more expensive plan to accommodate that growth. |
Security and Updates: Takes care of all the updates and security measures, so your site has the latest features and security measures. |
What to look for in a Magento alternative
There are several factors that come into play when looking for a Magento alternative. Here are key elements to look for to help you pick the best fit for your business:
Open Source vs. SaaS | Do you have the tech expertise to manage an open-source platform? Or would a SaaS solution that handles everything for you be more your style? |
Scalability | Can the platform grow with you? It’s important that your choice can handle increased traffic and sales effortlessly as your business expands. |
Price Point and Budget | Consider both upfront costs and ongoing expenses. Open-source might be cheaper initially, but remember to factor in maintenance costs. SaaS, on the other hand, comes with a predictable monthly fee. |
Integrations | Make sure the platform integrates well with your existing tools, such as CRM, marketing platforms, or payment systems. |
Technical Support | When unexpected tech emergencies arise, it’s crucial to have excellent support at your fingertips. |
Customization and User Experience | Choose a customizable platform that perfectly fits your brand and can make your store stand out from the crowd. It should also provide a quality user experience – both for you as an administrator and for your customers. |
Security Features | Since you’ll be handling sensitive data, strong security measures are non-negotiable. The platform needs to comply with the latest standards to protect your business and your customers. |
Below, we explore the top alternatives to Magento, featuring both open-source and SaaS solutions. We’ll match each entry against the above criteria. Highlighting the unique features along with its strengths and drawbacks will help you make an informed choice.
6 Top open-source Magento alternatives to consider
Shopware
WooCommerce
OpenCart
Drupal
PrestaShop
Zen Cart
1. Shopware
Founded in Schöppingen in 2000, Shopware stands out for its flexibility and depth of customization. Since it offers full access to its source code, it’s especially useful for those who want to tweak their site from top to bottom and integrate it with their existing systems. The platform is particularly favored by businesses upgrading from Magento. In fact, many former users now opt for Shopware due to its robust features and scalable infrastructure.
Key features
Customizability and Ease of Use: Design your store from the ground up or modify existing templates to better match your vision. Although setting up does require some technical know-how, the powerful admin dashboard makes up for it. You can simplify your day-to-day operations even with limited expertise.
Product and Customer Streams: Allows you to fine-tune product details and manage different versions of a product with ease. The customer streams feature automatically segments your customers based on set criteria, such as age, shopping habits, etc. This helps you target your marketing campaigns more effectively.
Integration and Scalability: Supports a range of third-party services like ERP, CRM, payments, and shipping. It can handle spikes in traffic and high transaction volumes to ensure your store performs smoothly, even during the busiest sales periods.
In-Store Experience: The Digital Sales Room feature enables live, interactive video events right from the Shopware platform. You can give a personalized tour of your products or a detailed consultation from anywhere in the world.
Pros | Cons |
Total Cost of Ownership: A cost-effective option for mid-market businesses. There are no hefty licensing fees, which can make a big difference in your overall budget. | Technical Complexity: Setting up and customizing Shopware can be challenging, especially if you lack the technical expertise or developer resources |
Strong Capabilities: Features are designed specifically for B2B operations. It can streamline processes to handle bulk orders, complex pricing models, and more. | Less Suitable for Small Inventories: If you only have a few products to sell, the platform may be more complex than necessary for your requirements. |
Community and Developer Support: Benefits from a community of developers who are always on hand to push the platform forward, troubleshoot issues, and expand its functionality with a variety of plugins and themes. | |
Multi-Channel Platform: Offers a seamless shopping experience across online, mobile, and brick-and-mortar stores. | |
Internationalization Features: Has support for multiple currencies, languages, and localized payment methods. |
Pricing
Shopware offers several pricing tiers, each catering to different business needs:
Rise Plan: Starts at approximately $600 per month. It provides a comprehensive feature set that includes content management, customer experience enhancements, and advanced B2B capabilities. It is designed for businesses ready to scale up and includes the cost of SaaS services.
Evolve and Beyond Plans: These offer customized pricing to fit unique business requirements. They include advanced features similar to the Rise plan but are tailored to support larger operations or businesses needing highly specific setups.
Ready to take your ecommerce to the next level? Discover how Shopware’s tailored solutions can accelerate your business growth. Schedule a personalized consultation and sign up for a free sales demo today! Book your session now.
2. WooCommerce
A flexible ecommerce solution, WooCommerce transforms any WordPress site into a fully functional online store. Featured on many best platform lists, it powers over 3.9 million businesses globally. And thanks to its open-source framework, you can tailor every aspect of your store to fit your unique style and needs.
Key features
Product Variety: Sell everything from handmade goods to digital downloads and professional services with ease.
Customization: Tap into a vast catalog of plugins and themes to tailor your store exactly to your specifications.
SEO Capable: Boost your site’s visibility with built-in SEO tools that help increase your rankings on search engines.
Mobile Optimization: Create a mobile-friendly shopping experience to ensure your online store is accessible and appealing on any device.
Pros | Cons |
Cost-Effective: Budget-friendly for businesses of all sizes. Install for free without the hassle of long-term contracts. | Complexity for Beginners: Might feel overwhelming if you're not already familiar with WordPress. |
Extensive Support: Access a wide community that's always ready to offer a wealth of plugins and development insights. | Maintenance: Requires regular updates and you'll also need to handle hosting separately. |
3. OpenCart
OpenCart comes with all the features needed for small to medium-sized businesses to thrive online. It's known for being straightforward yet powerful. This makes it an ideal choice for those transitioning from platforms like Magento. It promises to provide many similar features that ease the changeover process.
Key features
Ecommerce Essentials: Has everything you need to boost sales, from gift vouchers and coupons to recurring payments. Plus, it handles a wide range of products.
Global Reach: Supports multiple languages and currencies, so expanding your business internationally couldn’t be simpler.
Flexible Payments: Easily integrates with popular payment gateways like PayPal, Klarna, and SagePay. You can also add more through available extensions if your customers demand it.
Pros | Cons |
Marketing and SEO: Equips customizable meta titles and descriptions to help your store climb the search rankings. You'll also find robust email marketing features to keep your customers engaged. | Performance Hurdles: If you're handling large inventories, be prepared for potentially slower checkout times, which could affect customer satisfaction. |
Budget-Friendly: Completely free to install. Makes powerful ecommerce tools accessible without the upfront investment. | Hidden Costs: While OpenCart itself doesn’t cost anything, deeper customization and adding premium plugins might add to your expenses. |
4. Drupal
For those who crave customization and need a platform that can grow with them, Drupal is a perfect choice. It's especially useful for large organizations or businesses that handle complex, data-heavy websites. Being both sturdy and adaptable, it easily caters to everything from straightforward blogs to extensive government sites.
Key features
Customization: Comes packed with over 16,000 modules, letting you tweak and modify your site’s functionality however you like.
Security: Known for strong security measures, it's a trusted choice for high-profile sites that can’t afford breaches.
Scalability: Whether you’re just starting out or scaling up to meet growing demands, it's built to handle large-scale projects and heavy traffic with ease.
Pros | Cons |
Strong Community Support: Backed by a large and active community of developers who provide updates and help troubleshoot any issues. | Complex for Beginners: Comes with a steep learning curve as significant coding knowledge is essential. Plus, keeping the system updated and secure often calls for assistance from a developer. |
API-First Approach: Strong API capabilities make it easy to develop web services and distribute content across various platforms. | Resource Intensive: As your site grows, it demands more from your server resources. This can require more advanced hosting solutions to handle the increased load, potentially driving up operational costs. |
5. PrestaShop
Popular in the USA and Europe, PrestaShop caters to over 300,000 ecommerce websites. The platform is celebrated for accommodating a diverse range of needs for businesses, both large and small. Its extensive feature set makes it an excellent choice for those seeking a scalable solution.
Key features
Diverse Product Options: No matter if you’re selling physical goods, digital downloads, or customizable items, it handles them all with ease.
Marketing Tools: Boost your sales with features like coupons, cross-selling opportunities, and tools to recover abandoned carts.
Payment and Shipping: Use basic payment methods like PayPal and bank transfers, or expand your options with additional modules. Set up flexible shipping rules tailored to different markets, and integrate with top shipping providers.
Pros | Cons |
Extensive Module Marketplace: Offers a vast selection of over 4,000 modules to upgrade your store's functionality | Theme Costs: While the PrestaShop marketplace boasts over 3,000 themes, none are free, with prices starting at around $100. |
SEO Optimization: Manage meta titles, descriptions, and integrate social media to boost your online presence and draw more traffic. | Limited Direct Support: Being a self-hosted solution, direct support is limited. While there is a contact form, more comprehensive help often comes at an additional cost. |
6. Zen Cart
Developed and maintained by a global community of volunteers, Zen Cart offers a robust alternative to Magento. This group of like-minded shop owners, programmers, designers, and consultants think ecommerce web design could be and should be done differently. The platform is known in particular for its PHP/MySQL-based architecture, which anyone can install and customize.
Key features
Product Management: You have complete control over your product listings. Fine-tune details like product attributes, keep track of inventory, and implement varied pricing strategies according to your needs.
Marketing Tools: The suite of marketing tools helps ramp up your sales and keep customers coming back, from discount coupons and gift certificates to managing newsletters and offering bulk purchase discounts.
Template System: Customize the look of your website without touching the core code. This means you can refresh your site's design as often as you like to match your brand and customer expectations.
Pros | Cons |
Cost-Effective: Completely free under the GPL2 license, suited to businesses on even the smallest budgets. | Aesthetic Design: Some users might find the default interface a bit outdated compared to more modern ecommerce platforms. |
Training Resources: Includes video-based training to help new users understand ecommerce basics and how to use the software. | Initial Setup Complexity: The setup process can be tricky and time-consuming, particularly for those without a technical background. |
5 Top SaaS Magento alternatives to consider
Shopify
Wix
BigCommerce
Squarespace
Volusion
1. Shopify
Recognized as one of Forbes Advisor’s 10 Best Website Builders, Shopify supports over 1.7 million businesses worldwide. It has established itself as a pillar in the ecommerce platform arena, powering ambitious startups and established businesses alike with tools that support everything from initial setup to expansive growth.
Key features
Robust Ecommerce Tools: Provides everything you need to stock your virtual shelves without limits, manage your inventory with precision, and handle transactions smoothly.
Marketing and SEO: Helps draw more visitors with powerful SEO tools and versatile blogging options. Plus, features like abandoned cart recovery nudge customers closer to purchase, boosting your sales potential.
Extensive App Integration: With access to over 6,000 apps, it allows you to customize and enhance your store's functionality to perfectly fit your business's unique needs.
Pros | Cons |
Secure Environment: Provides built-in security features, including SSL certificates and PCI compliance, to protect your store and customers' data. | Customization Dependencies: To truly customize your store, you need to rely on third-party themes and apps, which can increase costs and complexity. |
Support and Scalability: 24/7 customer support and scalable solutions adapt as your business grows. | Transaction Fees: Unless you use Shopify Payments, transaction fees can add up, which may cut into your margins. |
2. Wix
Wix shines as a website builder that caters to both novices and seasoned creators. Its user-friendly design, paired with a rich selection of customizable templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop editor, makes building a professional-looking website straightforward and enjoyable for users of all skill levels.
Key features
Versatile Templates: Boasts over 900 professionally crafted templates, each designed to cater to the specific needs of various industries, ensuring you find just the right look for your site.
AI Tools: Cutting-edge AI simplifies the website setup process and assists in generating content, making site creation as effortless as possible.
Comprehensive App Market: Enriches your website with its vast app market, providing a wide array of applications that enhance functionality and expand your site’s capabilities.
Pros | Cons |
Mobile Optimization: Websites are automatically optimized for mobile devices to ensure a good user experience across all platforms. | Limited Functionality on Free Plan: The free version includes Wix advertisements on your site and a domain that carries the Wix branding, which might not suit everyone’s needs for a professional presence online. |
Ease of Use: Straightforward interface and AI-powered tools streamline the website creation process, making it quick and hassle-free for users at any skill level. | Template Restrictions: Once your website is live, you cannot switch templates. This means any major redesigns would require you to start from scratch, which could be a drawback for evolving businesses. |
3. BigCommerce
Established in 2009 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, BigCommerce is a dynamic platform empowering your business to expand smoothly and efficiently. With an impressive set of features, it stands toe-to-toe with giants like Shopify, providing tailored solutions that cater to both retail and wholesale digital sales.
Key features
Comprehensive Ecommerce Tools: Packed with features like multi-storefront capabilities and multiple inventory locations, along with advanced sales tools designed to support high-volume selling.
Drag-and-Drop Site Editor: The platform’s drag-and-drop editor simplifies the process of personalizing your site, allowing you to tweak and adjust your online presence with ease.
Integrated SEO and Marketing: From SEO optimization to blogging features and product review management, everything is designed to enhance engagement and keep your customers coming back.
Pros | Cons |
Seamless Integrations: Effortlessly connects with major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, along with popular social media platforms. This integration broadens the horizon for your online store. | Pricing Structure: As your sales grow, so do the costs. The platform requires upgrades to more expensive plans once certain sales thresholds are exceeded. |
High Performance: Designed to keep your site running swiftly and reliably, even during the busiest times. This boosts the shopping experience, helping convert more visitors into customers. | Limited Free Design Options: The availability of free design templates is limited, pushing businesses towards purchasing premium themes to differentiate their store's appearance. |
4. Squarespace
Ideal for artists, photographers, and small business owners, Squarespace blends elegance with functionality. It offers a range of high-quality templates that set the stage for any project. Known for its reliable ecommerce tools and responsive customer service, this is one of the more stylish platforms for building an online presence.
Key features
Design-Driven Templates: Offers over 160 meticulously crafted templates, specifically designed for visual appeal and industry-specific functionality.
Advanced Design Features: Integrates unique tools like video backgrounds and full custom CSS control for deep customization.
Blogging Platform: Features a robust blogging system with rich text options, multiple author capabilities, and advanced categorization.
Pros | Cons |
Built-In Analytics: Includes detailed analytics tools natively, allowing users to track visitor behavior and site performance without needing third-party services. | Structured Editor Constraints: While the editor promotes design uniformity and ease of use, it can sometimes limit creative flexibility, requiring users to work within predefined layouts. |
All-in-One Platform: Simplifies the website creation process by integrating all essential services – website builder, domain registration, and hosting – into a single streamlined platform. | Lack of Autosave: Does not automatically save your progress, which means you need to manually save your work during editing to avoid losing changes. |
5. Volusion
Helping small to medium-sized businesses flourish online since 1999, Volusion is known for its straightforward tools and functionalities. It makes launching and managing an online store accessible for entrepreneurs and established businesses alike, all while ensuring that every detail of selling online is well-handled.
Key Features
Comprehensive Payment Solutions: Supports a variety of payment gateways, offering seamless integration with major providers and facilitating secure transactions.
Dynamic Inventory Management: Features intuitive tools that allow for real-time inventory updates, low stock alerts, and streamlined order fulfillment processes.
Tailored Marketing Resources: Leverages built-in tools such as custom discount generators, email marketing campaigns, and an SEO dashboard designed to optimize your online presence.
Pros | Cons |
Comprehensive Support: Delivers 24/7 customer support via live chat, phone, and tickets. | Bandwidth Limitations: Some plans come with bandwidth limitations, which can incur additional fees if exceeded. This can potentially increase operational costs for high-traffic stores. |
Data Reporting: Provides extensive reporting tools that offer insights into sales trends, customer behavior, and site performance, helping you make informed decisions. | Add-On Features Cost: While Volusion offers a solid base, many advanced features and integrations require additional purchases. |
Wix –– Wix is well-suited for small business owners and solo entrepreneurs who value design and want a visually appealing online store without extensive technical demands. Its drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to set up, but the customization options are limited compared to more robust platforms.
Drupal –– Best for large organizations or those needing a highly bespoke ecommerce environment, Drupal offers powerful and flexible tools but requires significant technical expertise. Ideal for enterprises with dedicated development resources, it supports complex needs with extensive customization capabilities.
PrestaShop –– A solid choice for small to medium-sized businesses, PrestaShop offers comprehensive ecommerce tools with more built-in functionality than other platforms like Wix. While it is free to use, leveraging its full potential often involves purchasing premium modules and themes.
Volusion –– Also targeting small to medium-sized enterprises, Volusion provides a user-friendly platform with strong inventory and data reporting tools. It lacks the customization depth of other website builders but is simpler to manage and maintain.
Squarespace –– Perfect for small companies and individual entrepreneurs, Squarespace is focused on design and simplicity. While it offers less complex capabilities than BigCommerce or Shopify, its stunning templates and intuitive interface make it ideal for visually-driven sellers.
Zen Cart –– Zen Cart is a good option for businesses looking for a free, open-source solution with a strong community. It offers extensive personalization features, similar to OpenCart, but like Drupal, it can require a steep learning curve and might need technical proficiency to maximize its potential.
Frequently asked questions
What is better than Magento?
Determining what is "better" than Magento depends on specific business needs and preferences. For those seeking a more user-friendly interface and less complex setup, platforms like Shopify or Wix may be better suited. However, for those requiring extensive personalization and scalability, Shopware could provide a more robust alternative to Magento.
Is Magento the best ecommerce platform?
Magento is a powerful option for businesses needing greater control over their ecommerce processes. However, for those seeking an alternative that offers similar capabilities with potentially greater backend visibility and customization, Shopware is an excellent choice. It combines robust features with a user-friendly interface that can adapt as a business grows.
Is Magento still relevant?
Yes, Magento remains highly relevant in the ecommerce space. Its wide range of features and strong community support make it a powerful choice for businesses aiming to enhance their online operations. However, for those seeking similar alternatives with potentially greater ease of use, Shopware is the ideal option. It offers advanced backend visibility and a user-friendly approach suitable for businesses of all sizes.
Which is better: Shopify or Magento?
Choosing between Shopify and Magento depends on your business needs and technical capacity. Shopify is generally better for those who need an easy-to-use platform without requiring extensive technical skills. On the other hand, Magento offers greater customization and control, which suits larger businesses that require complex solutions and have the technical resources to manage them.
