Magento and Adobe Commerce: Is It The Same Platform?

In blog posts and videos, online sales professionals sometimes use the names "Magento" and "Adobe Commerce" interchangeably. This is largely because Adobe acquired Magento in 2018, which resulted in a rebranding.

However, there are some differences between the two, as the new product, Adobe Commerce, has new features and is being developed in a slightly different direction than it was planned by Magento's original creators. There is more to that; we will explore the topic thoroughly in this article. Keep reading if you are curious about the distinctions between the two e-commerce platforms.

The History of Magento and Adobe Commerce

The e-commerce platform we know as Magento was first made available to the public in 2008. Meant to provide retailers with more than osCommerce (another popular e-commerce platform at the time), Magento was developed with flexibility in mind. Its many advantages drew in a large user base, quickly making it a business favorite.

The platform gained so much praise that it caught the attention of eBay, a then-leading Internet commerce company that acquired Magento in 2011. For several years, the platform has continued to grow and develop into an even more sophisticated solution. Being the backbone of countless online stores, Magento remained a top choice among online store owners, expanding much further than just English-speaking countries. In February 2014, the company announced that Magento had reached 4 million downloads.

In 2015, however, eBay has decided to sell the platform to a private equity firm Permira for an undisclosed amount. Permira did not keep Magento for too long, as just a year later Adobe has become its new owner. The transaction was finalized in May 2018, marking a new chapter for Magento under Adobe's ownership.

By that point, Magento already had several different versions of its platform, including an open-source and enterprise edition. In the e-commerce world, the brand has established itself as a top choice for businesses of all kinds, from solopreneur startups to big corporations. As it was integrated into Adobe Experience Cloud, it was renamed Adobe Commerce. This  Adobe Magento Acquisition meant great improvements for the platform, as the new owner brought in many additional resources and the solution could offer more than it ever did.

The Difference Between Magento and Adobe Commerce

We have already established that both of these platforms share the original Magento base, but Adobe Commerce was developed further, along with Adobe's vision for an integrated pack of services they offer to e-commerce businesses. What are other differences, and the advantages and disadvantages both products have? Take a look at what we have found.

• Magento: A Solid Toolset for Businesses of All Sizes

Seeing as Magento has different versions available to the public, we will use the Enterprise edition as the main point of comparison. This version offers a wide set of tools that many other e-commerce platforms lack, for example, full-page caching, built-in security tools, and SEO-friendly features. Magento also supports mobile optimization, which is crucial today, when most people around the world access the Internet through their smartphones.

Many companies providing e-commerce software development services are familiar with Magento, and it is easy to find specialists who could help you with any problems you might encounter while using the platform or develop custom extensions to make your shop even better.  For businesses aiming to tailor the platform to their exact needs, professional Magento customization services can help unlock the full potential of the system. Magento also has a very active online community of users and many online spaces where you can look for support and answers to any questions you may have.

Unfortunately, Magento is not as easy to use as template-based e-commerce platforms like Shopify. It requires more technical knowledge to utilize all of its useful features effectively. Those without experience in the field may find it too complex.

• Adobe Commerce: An Expensive, But Powerful Solution

Adobe has significantly built upon the foundation that Magento originally constructed, which has resulted in a feature-rich platform that could satisfy the most demanding retailers. The support provided to users is professional and highly responsive, and there is a strong focus on providing a seamless experience.

Adobe Commerce includes a wide array of features that an online store owner may find useful, such as full B2B integration, Live Search, and AI-powered analytic tools. It also has a cloud (PaaS) version that can be used for extra scalability and DDOS protection for higher security.

However, the licensing cost can deter smaller businesses in this case, as Adobe Commerce is rather expensive compared to its competitors. Additionally, just like in Magento, the learning curve for the platform is quite steep and will require investing in training and education for any employees who might need to use it. Its complexity is often reported as its biggest drawback, and many businesses need to hire POS e-commerce integration and other technical experts to set up and maintain the platform for them.

Which Platform is Better? Magento vs. Adobe Commerce

Giving a definite answer to this question would require knowing the situation the future user is in - the budget, size, and specific requirements of their business. Such factors affect the choice and, finally, the outcome.

Adobe Commerce is usually recommended to large businesses and enterprises that have more complex needs and require something up-to-date and professional. Regular updates and the recent introduction of AI-based tools are some of the reasons why it is a more popular choice among large businesses that have to quickly adhere to changing market trends.

Using Magento may be less expensive, but comes with its limitations - official support for it is limited (completely ended for Magento 1), and it does not give the users the same opportunities Adobe Commerce does. However, not everyone wants to use all of the functionalities, so if you will be satisfied with what regular Magento offers, there is no reason to overpay on another platform.

Magento and Adobe Commerce Are Not the Same

To conclude, we need to underline that the two e-commerce platform are not the same. They have started from the same seed, but at one point separated and live their own lives, developing in different directions. Because both are reliable and have lots of useful features, there isn't a clear winner between them. The choice comes down to what the store owner needs.