Magento Open Source (formerly Magento Community) is a free version of Magento. This version is primarily used by small businesses. Magento Open Source users have access to various functionalities and Magento extensions to enhance their stores. For merchants considering a platform change, understanding the intricacies of different platforms is key, such as options for migrating from Magento to WooCommerce.
In contrast, Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Enterprise) is a paid edition of the platform. This version is best for enterprise-level businesses, offering many advanced features, such as high levels of security, and enhanced scalability.
In this article, we compare Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce to help you choose between them.
Magento Open Source vs Adobe Commerce. Key differences
Cost
The first obvious difference between the two is pricing. Magento Open Source is free while Adobe Commerce requires a license fee. The license fee pays for top-notch security for your store and includes more built-in features for e-Commerce, such as marketing features, which help store owners to improve their sales and generate more revenue.
The license cost is based on a store's revenue – the higher the revenue, the higher the license fee. The license fee for Adobe Commerce is substantial, with pricing typically starting in the low-five figures annually and scaling up based on the store's Gross Merchandise Value (GMV).
Installation time
The implementation time frame of the Open Source edition is shorter than the Commerce edition. A standard implementation can take from a few weeks to a couple of months for the Magento Open Source edition. The implementation time for Adobe Commerce is typically several months. The Magento Open Source installation time frame can be longer or shorter depending on the extent of the customization. The developers working on the Adobe Commerce version won't be able to implement the eCommerce platform in a shorter time than a few months.
It also costs more to implement the Adobe Commerce version. The implementation cost for Adobe Commerce can easily run into six figures. Implementation of the Open Source version can be free, but you'll need to install external extensions and that can cost anything from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the level of desired customization.
Security
There is no comparison between the two platforms when it comes to security. Online stores must offer top-level security and Adobe Commerce offers that for all online transactions.
Adobe Commerce has a variety of robust security features that offer a wide range of benefits for online retailers. Ensuring your data is handled with care during any transition is paramount; you can review our security policy to understand our commitment to protecting your information. These include multiple secure payment gateways like PayPal, Braintree, CyberSource, WorldPay, and others.
Other than that, the platform offers advanced password management tools, adaptable file permissions, and regular updates.
Magento Open Source, on the other hand, lags behind in terms of security. It is not PCI compliant, and doesn’t provide credit card tokenization or secured payment bridges.
So, with the Magento Open Source version, you have to keep an eye out for security issues. If you opt for the Adobe Commerce version, you can relax as all threats are taken care of without you being aware of their existence.
Note: look through the Cart2Cart Blog for useful tips & tricks on how to migrate data across various shopping cart solutions.
Performance
Both Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce perform well for the purpose that they were developed. You can use both of them to build a successful online store. However, Adobe Commerce is better equipped to handle large businesses with high traffic volumes due to its advanced scalability. Adobe Commerce is engineered to handle millions of page views and hundreds of thousands of orders per hour.
On the other hand, Magento Open Source performs perfectly for small to mid-sized enterprises, typically supporting tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of products.
So, if you have a large eCommerce site with many products and a lot of traffic, Adobe Commerce is the right choice. On the other hand, Magento Open Source is a perfect choice for small enterprises. Magento Open Source works fast on websites with less traffic or fewer products.
Both versions offer third-party extensions, which will further improve performance.
The paid version offers more performance-enhancing features. Also, with the paid option, you can deploy your software through the Adobe Commerce Cloud, which will further increase the speed and performance of the platform.
Scalability
The level of scalability is a key difference between the two versions. As mentioned earlier, Adobe Commerce is meant for large enterprises that experience a lot of traffic and offer many products. In other words, if you choose Adobe Commerce, you are choosing a platform that will allow your business to scale. A proper plan, like our Adobe Commerce migration checklist, can ensure a smooth transition.
Features
The two platforms share a long list of basic features, but the Adobe Commerce edition includes some additional features, such as advanced scalability, performance enhancements, customer segmentation, scheduled import/export, more payment options, and much more. For businesses needing custom data handling, our CSV migration service provides tailored solutions.
Magento Open Source users can add more features to customize the platform, but they have to be prepared to do some coding.
Marketing
Both platforms come with basic marketing features, but they handle marketing differently. Magento Open Source has basic SEO tools such as altering meta tags, headers, and URLs to improve a store’s search engine optimization.
The Adobe Commerce edition, on the other hand, comes integrated with more advanced capabilities such as comprehensive content staging, intelligent attribute-based customer segmentation, targeted content, abandoned cart reminder emails, and so on.
Open Source edition users have the option to use third-party apps to help them improve their marketing campaigns.
Support
Magento Open Source users get no technical support from Adobe and are responsible for fixing their own errors. They can get support via community forums, open-source communities, documentation, blogs, developers, and various groups. Links to the official forums and documentation can be found on the Adobe website.
For technical issues, Adobe has an extensive resource of tutorials user guides, easy-to-follow tutorials, user guides, release information, downloads, security updates, and more. Plus there is comprehensive developer documentation on the Adobe website.
With the Adobe Commerce edition, you get 24×7 support from Adobe. In addition, Adobe Commerce users get a dedicated account manager associated with them.
Magento Open Source vs Adobe Commerce. How to decide between them
The choice between Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce comes down to two factors: your needs and budget. There is no doubt that the Adobe Commerce version is far superior, but the reality is that it is far too expensive for small to mid-sized business owners. For them, the Magento Open Source version is the more viable choice.
Adobe Commerce is a better fit for a large-scale business or a merchant with a strong financial background who can afford to pay for a premium platform and 24/7 technical support.
Magento Open Source users can always switch to Adobe Commerce once their store is profitable and stable.
Are you planning to migrate your store? If you are thinking to migrate from your existing store to another one, the Cart2Cart Shopping Cart Migration tool can accomplish it for you with no fuss. Ours is an advanced automated migration tool that transfers all your data to another platform quickly and securely.
Monthly Update – September 2025
In the evolving eCommerce landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming a cornerstone for advanced platforms like Adobe Commerce. For enterprise-level businesses, leveraging AI-driven personalization is no longer an option but a necessity to stay competitive. AI can analyze vast amounts of customer data, predict purchasing behaviors, and deliver highly relevant product recommendations and content in real-time. This level of personalization significantly enhances the customer journey, leading to higher engagement rates, improved conversions, and stronger brand loyalty.
Beyond recommendations, AI also powers predictive analytics for inventory management, automates marketing campaigns, and streamlines customer service through chatbots, freeing up resources for strategic growth. While Magento Open Source users can integrate AI via extensions, Adobe Commerce offers more native and scalable AI capabilities, providing a robust foundation for businesses aiming for a truly intelligent and personalized storefront experience in 2025 and beyond.
For more details, explore our FAQ section or schedule a call with a migration expert.
