The TL;DR
- Choose Shopify if you want to launch fast, reduce technical debt, and grow on a modern SaaS stack with native B2B features.
- Choose Adobe Commerce if you need full control, deep customisation, and have the development resources to back it up.
What matters most in B2B ecommerce?
Before we compare platforms, let’s zoom out. What actually matters when building a great B2B experience?
- Custom pricing and catalogues
- Multi-user company accounts with roles and permissions
- Quote requests and approval workflows
- ERP, CRM and PIM integrations
- Support for hybrid B2B/B2C models
- Performance, uptime and scalability
- Ease of updates and maintenance
- Cost over time (TCO)
- Roadmap and product innovation
These are table stakes for any serious B2B brand. The question is: which platform delivers them best, in a way that aligns with how your business actually runs?
Adobe Commerce: strengths & trade-offs
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Adobe Commerce is a heavyweight. Originally Magento, it’s built to serve complex merchants with nuanced needs.
Strengths:
- Feature-rich B2B suite: Account hierarchies, negotiable quotes, requisition lists, company-specific pricing; it’s all there.
- Customisation: It’s open source (if you choose Magento Open Source), so you can customise just about anything.
- Hybrid flexibility: One backend can run both B2B and B2C, with options for shared or separate websites (so can Shopify).
- ERP integration: Built-in support for real-time syncing with major ERPs.
- Adobe ecosystem: If you're already using Adobe Experience Manager or Target, there's synergy to be had.
Trade-offs:
- Expensive and complex: Total cost of ownership is high. Licensing, implementation, upgrades, and support quickly add up.
- Not pure SaaS: You're still on the hook for hosting, patching, and platform maintenance.
- Slow to innovate: Most updates are bug fixes. B2B features are stable, but not evolving fast.
- All-or-nothing licensing: You pay for both B2B and B2C, even if you only use one.
This is a platform for big teams, big budgets, and big requirements.
Shopify: strengths & trade-offs
Once seen as a B2C-only solution, Shopify is now firmly in the B2B game, and gaining ground fast.
Strengths:
- Native B2B: Shopify’s B2B functionality is built into the core. No messy plug-ins.
- Speed to market: Launch in weeks, not months.
- Scalability: Start with a solid base using native out-of-the-box functionality, scale to add more custom features when needed.
- SaaS simplicity: Automatic updates, built-in compliance, minimal maintenance.
- Lower TCO: Fewer developer hours, fewer surprises.
- Innovation velocity: With 4,500+ engineers, Shopify is constantly rolling out new features.
- Built for hybrid: One backend for DTC and B2B, with separate storefronts and price lists if needed.
Trade-offs:
- Less customisation: You work within the Shopify framework. Deep customisations require workarounds or apps.
- Early-stage enterprise features: It’s catching up, but some niche features Adobe has had for years are still on Shopify’s roadmap.
If you value agility, ease of use, and modern architecture, Shopify is hard to beat.
Cost comparison: total cost of ownership
Adobe Commerce pricing is based on order volume and GMV, with enterprise licensing often ranging from $75k to $850k per year. Add implementation, support, and upgrade costs, and you’re into seven figures fast.
Shopify Plus has more transparent pricing, typically around $2k to $3k/month, with optional add-ons and lower implementation costs. You don’t need a team of system integrators to launch or maintain your store.
If you're a mid-market brand aiming for efficiency, that delta matters.
Which platform is right for you?
Choose Adobe Commerce if:
- You run a highly complex B2B operation with multiple business units, SKUs and pricing models.
- You have an in-house dev team or agency partner who knows Magento inside out.
- You're already deep in the Adobe ecosystem and want full control.
Choose Shopify if:
- You want a modern platform that evolves with you.
- You need to move fast and can’t afford to wait 6-12 months for a site rebuild.
- You’re focused on reducing technical debt and prioritising customer experience over engineering effort.
Looking ahead
Adobe is integrating more with its DX Suite and leaning into AI and personalisation tools. But the pace of e-commerce-specific innovation feels sluggish.
Shopify, meanwhile, continues to double down on B2B with regular releases, partner enablement, and native functionality that doesn’t require patching things together.
As B2B ecommerce matures, platforms that simplify complexity without sacrificing capability will win. Right now, Shopify is leading that charge.
Final thoughts
Both Adobe Commerce and Shopify can power successful B2B operations, but they serve very different business models.
If you’re in the business of managing complexity and want complete control, Adobe might still be the safer bet. But if you're looking to scale efficiently, reduce maintenance overhead, and benefit from a fast-moving product roadmap, Shopify is likely your best bet.
Because sometimes, less platform baggage means more focus on what really matters: your customers.
Curious what this actually means for your bottom line?
Use our interactive calculator to compare the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) between Adobe Commerce and Shopify, and see which platform really makes sense for your B2B growth.
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