Ever since Magento released the enterprise version, people have wondered, “What’s the difference?” Now that Adobe has renamed Magento Enterprise to Adobe Commerce, the differences haven’t gotten easier to spot.
There are two different eCommerce options under the Adobe umbrella, Adobe Commerce and Magento Open Source. Here is some background:
Magento Open Source
Magento Open Source, also known as Magento Community Edition, is a free version of the platform that experienced or tech-savvy coders can use to create online stores without paying expensive licensing fees or development fees. It allows for unlimited customization options, and with plenty of extensions available on the Magento Marketplace, small and medium-sized businesses can build highly successful websites at no cost.
Although this version is officially under the Adobe umbrella, users refer to it as “Magento Open Source,” not “Adobe Open Source.” After the Magento acquisition in 2018, Adobe agreed to partner with the Magento community to form the Magento Association: a global network of passionate developers and merchants who want to keep the platform updated and freely available for everyone to use. (By the way: Join the Magento Association, it’s free, and you can get the inside scoop on what is new).
Features and Benefits
Magento Open Source comes with all the features and capabilities needed for a small business, and store owners can always add more integrations or extensions if required. If they know how to code, they can even build their customized solutions or hire a developer to help them out.
Right out of the box, the open-source platform’s built-in features include:
- Integrated Checkout, Payment, and Shipping
- Mobile Optimized Shopping
- Global Selling
- Catalog Management
- Extended Functionality via App Marketplace
- Instant Purchase
- Site Search
- and more and more!
Although these are essential tools for modern eCommerce stores, the built-in capabilities can’t compare to the Adobe Commerce platform.
Adobe Commerce
Adobe Commerce, while powered by Magento, is typically called “Adobe Commerc” by users. Developers or merchants who have been using the platform before Adobe acquired it may still refer to it as “Magento Commerce,” but its official name is Adobe Commerce.
This feature-rich eCommerce platform is designed for SMB businesses and enterprises that desire more support and capabilities than Magento Open Source can offer. There is an On-Prem version as an all-in-one, cloud-hosted solution; it’s well worth the money for some business owners.
If you choose to use Adobe Commerce Cloud, your site will benefit from enhanced security features and faster page loading speeds for your customers. If anything goes awry, you can always rely on 24/7 tech support to help you find and resolve the issue quickly.
Features and Benefits
Adobe Commerce comes with all the features included in the open-source version, plus dozens of additional capabilities and tools, including:
- Business intelligence dashboards
- B2B functionality
- Advanced marketing tools
- Content staging and preview
- Customer loyalty tools
- WYSIWYG page builder
- Visual merchandising
- Product recommendations
- Performance monitoring tools
- Customer segmentation
- System Wide Analysis Tool
- MORE AND MORE
The cloud-hosted solution is one of the critical differences between Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce. The cloud is optimized for global availability up to 99.99% of the time, and users will get full onboarding support as they learn how to use and navigate the platform. Other benefits of the cloud include:
- Fast page loading with a Content Delivery Network (CDN)
- Performance monitoring tools
- Web application firewall
- Enhanced security with Fastly WAF and DDoS services
- PCI compliance
- Easy deployment
- Streamlined updates and testing
How to Choose a Platform
Magento Community may be the best option if you’re just about to launch your business or own a small to medium-sized store. It will require the least amount of money up-front and will let you familiarize yourself with the platform before investing in it further. If you’re not tech-savvy, you can always connect with a professional Magento developer who can help you set up your online store and ensure that it continues running smoothly. You can also feel free to ask questions to other members of the Magento community or browse through the Community Resources page.
On the other hand, if your store needs to process hundreds of visitors and orders per day, you might find Adobe Commerce best suited for your needs. With your Adobe Commerce license fee, you’ll get access to the full support of the Adobe team, along with plenty of built-in tools designed to make your job easier.
