Magento is widely viewed as one of the top ecommerce platforms in the market, and its leadership role is well deserved. Shopify Plus, on the other hand, is disrupting the industry with a more streamlined service model built around an all-in-one product portfolio. Both systems have a lot to offer, however, and it can be difficult for organizations to figure out exactly why they should choose one over the other. With this in mind, let’s explore the main attributes of Magento vs. Shopify plus and compare the two.
Magento in a nutshell
An eCommerce Platforms review of Magento 2 points out that Magento has become one of the most popular platforms in the online retail sector, particularly among the big brands in the industry. Essentially, Magento is built with an incredibly robust feature list and a great deal of flexibility. However, these benefits come with a steep learning curve. The platform interface is built with developers in mind and will often be difficult to work with unless an organization has access to a team that has the skills necessary to handle a more complex, rich development environment.
The theme of providing ample room for customization, but limited features for organizations with less development clout, is also evident in its template strategy. The review explained that Magento doesn’t provide any templates. However, it has incredibly powerful design tools and a store featuring pre-built templates from design specialists.
Shopify Plus basics
The Shopify Plus platform has been created to provide a powerful ecommerce foundation with minimal technical overhead. An eConsultancy review of the platform explained that it features simplified administrative tools and a smooth pathway to scalability. Furthermore, it comes with a flat $2,000 per month fee that is accompanied by a modifier based on gross merchandise value and the number of storefronts on the platform.
Simplified pricing, a technically accessible interface, reduced complexity and minimal maintenance overhead come together to make Shopify Plus ideal for organizations that want a robust site, but don’t need a particularly complicated retail configuration, the review said.
Shopify Plus vs. Magento
Put simply, Shopify Plus is ideal for smaller or mid-sized retailers that want a story that can carry their brand well, but limit their technical commitment. Magento is best for companies that have the technical knowledge or partnerships needed to deal with complexity and, with sophisticated tools in hand, create a unique and powerful site. A report from industry consultant Paul Rogers pointed out that Magento is a much richer platform, whereas Shopify Plus provides a user-friendly, intuitive feature set.
Ultimately, retailers that want more development power and customization opportunities at their fingertips can benefit from Magento. Those that want a simple, streamlined experience, are best off with Shopify Plus. Either way, the right platform can deliver value and a good partner can maximize the potential of the platform. Pixafy offers development expertise in both the Magento and Shopify Plus ecosystems, giving organizations a partner that can help them choose the right platform and optimize their site setup. Let’s set up an initial call to find best ecommerce platform for your business.
