3DCart and Magento: What Is It and Why Use It?Shift4Shop.

So what is the general difference between hosted and self-hosted platforms and why exactly Adobe Commerce and Shift4Shop are worth considering?

What is Shift4Shop and why use it?

Shift4Shop is a hosted solution so it includes all the common benefits of these platforms:
  1. Reliable servers (99% up-time guarantee and daily data back-ups).
  2. Easy to use admin panel.
  3. Template system and user-friendly design editor.

So if you do not have a lot of programming experience but want to have a fancy design. Or you don’t want to search for appropriate hosting than a hosted shopping cart is a great option to start.

Apart from standard advantages Shift4Shop can offer you a set of unique features that will definitely bring you sales and profit. The core benefits of Shift4Shop include the following.

  • Shift4Shop stores have powerful product management that will help you run your shop effectively. Add and manage any type of items (physical or virtual). Product review and comparisons, wish lists, multiple pricing levels, up-selling, image zoom and many other features will help you to make your store profitable.
  • One of the best marketing and SEO set of features in the industry: discount and coupon codes system, search engine friendly URLs. Some of advanced options are opportunity to sell via Facebook/mobile devices and XML sitemap generator. In addition you can easily set up an affiliate program and blog to make a buzz around your store and products.
  • Top level security (PCI compliance) and full 24/7/365 support. You can be sure that store won’t be hacked and you will always get an expert help in case of any issues.

What is Adobe Commerce and why use it?

Adobe Commerce cart is a licensed solution so it means that you will have to search hosting on your own. Main peculiarities of self-hosted solutions include :

  1. Generally require middle to high programming skills for customization and design.
  2. Have a huge community and big number of free/paid extensions to expend functionality.
  3. Usually do not have an official support. However, if it’s there than most likely it is paid.
So if you are not a newcomer in eCommerce or have enough PHP programming experience go for one of licensed solutions.

The platform is a known leader among open source carts and can offer unlimited customization options and full range of eCommerce features out-of-the-box.

  • Adobe Commerce store management will enable virtually unlimited options. You can easily run several stores via one admin panel, add unlimited number of any products (single, configurable, bundled, etc.), categories and images. Adobe Commerce supports handful of languages, currencies and taxes options. Moreover, built-in content management system will help you manage your store pages easily.
  • Your Adobe Commerce store will also have a huge number of checkout (one-page, guest, etc.), payment (Amazon Payments, PayPal, Authorize.Net, etc.) and shipment (FedEX, DHL, UPS, etc.) options.
  • Full range of business reports and integration with Google Analytics allows to keep an eye on the most important performance indexes.

Both platforms are definitely very beneficial and can be used for any size of business. However, Adobe Commerce will require extensive programming on set up step while Shift4Shop will let you to jump straight into the business. On the other hand Adobe Commerce has more customization possibilities which gives you virtually unlimited opportunities. Before making a final decision check both platforms on your own. Shift4Shop offers free trial period and Adobe Commerce offers a powerful Open Source edition for free.

If you already run a store with another shopping cart and don’t know how to migrate to a better platform, use Cart2Cart automated migration service. Make your data transfer smooth and quick. All you need to do is simply register an account and proceed with full migration. Your dream store will be set in less then a few hours.

Monthly Update – September 2025

As we move further into 2025, the e-commerce landscape is increasingly shaped by demand for highly flexible and integrated solutions. Businesses migrating their stores are prioritizing platforms that support composable commerce architectures, allowing them to mix and match best-of-breed services for specific functionalities like personalized customer experiences, advanced analytics, and sophisticated inventory management. The ability to seamlessly migrate and integrate data from legacy systems into these modular environments is crucial for achieving true agility and scalability.

Furthermore, the focus on sustainable and ethical e-commerce practices continues to grow. Merchants are seeking platforms that offer robust tools for transparent supply chain management, carbon footprint tracking, and ethical sourcing, all of which require meticulous data migration and integration. When planning your migration, consider how your new platform will support not just your sales goals but also your brand's commitment to social and environmental responsibility. A well-executed migration can be a cornerstone for future-proofing your business in these key areas.

For more details, explore our FAQ section or schedule a call with a migration expert.