Shopware vs Shopify: A Comparison of Modern E-Commerce Platforms

Features and Technical Performance

Both platforms offer comprehensive e-commerce functionalities but differ significantly in their technical implementation and objectives.

Shopware

API-First Architecture

Shopware 6 was developed with an API-first approach and thus supports modern Headless Commerce scenarios.

Shopping Experiences

The Experience Editor allows content to be designed individually without developers – ideal for content commerce strategies.

Flexibility through Open Source

As an Open Source platform, Shopware offers high customization freedom and is particularly suitable for tailor-made projects.

B2B Suite (Enterprise)

Extended functions for business customers, such as customer-specific prices and offers, are available in the Enterprise version.

Shopify

All-in-One Solution

Shopify offers a fully hosted solution that directly integrates hosting, maintenance, and security.

App Ecosystem

The Shopify App Store contains thousands of extensions for easy function expansion without programming effort.

Multichannel Selling

Integrated sales via channels like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Amazon.

POS System

Shopify offers its own POS system for brick-and-mortar retail that seamlessly connects with the online shop.

Shopware is particularly suitable for technically demanding projects with a high degree of individualization, while Shopify offers a ready-to-use solution for quick market launch and international expansion.

User-Friendliness and Operation

User-friendliness significantly influences both the daily work in the backend and the development effort. A clear difference in the target audience of both systems is evident here.

Shopware

Modern Backend

Shopware offers a clear and modern backend with logical structuring and visual support through drag-and-drop editors.

Technical Know-how Required

The comprehensive customization options generally require developer knowledge or professional agency support.

Developer-Friendly

Thanks to modern technologies like Symfony and Vue.js, Shopware is very popular with developers.

Community and Documentation

Large German-speaking community and extensive technical documentation facilitate the start.

Shopify

Beginner-Friendly

Shopify is designed for maximum user-friendliness – a shop can be quickly set up even without technical knowledge.

Intuitive Interface

The backend is clearly structured; even complex settings are easy to find and implement.

Design Editor

Pages can be visually designed with the Theme Editor; many design templates are available.

Support

Round-the-clock support from Shopify via chat, email, or telephone – especially useful for international merchants.

Shopify clearly scores points for user-friendliness and quick implementation, while Shopware is more suitable for companies with technical resources and more complex requirements.

Costs and Licensing Models

The price structure differs fundamentally: while Shopify relies on subscription models, Shopware pursues a more flexible licensing model with an Open Source option.

Shopware

Community Edition

Shopware is available in a free Open Source version – ideal for start-ups with developer resources.

Commercial Editions

The Professional version starts at approx. 600 EUR/month, Enterprise at 2,500 EUR/month – incl. SLA and additional features.

Flexible Infrastructure

Hosting can be freely selected, which offers additional optimization possibilities.

Calculable Plugin Costs

Many free as well as fair paid extensions via the Shopware Store.

Shopify

Subscription Model

Shopify costs between 32 EUR and 384 EUR/month (as of 2025), depending on the chosen plan and scope of functions.

Transaction Fees

Additional fees apply when using external payment providers – these are waived with Shopify Payments.

Additional Costs through Apps

Many functions require paid apps – this can significantly increase the total costs.

Hosting Included

Hosting is already included in the price – no additional infrastructure costs arise.

Shopify is ideal for companies looking for a hosted solution with predictable monthly costs. Shopware, on the other hand, offers more flexibility and often lower long-term TCO – especially with internal technical resources.

Performance and Scalability

Both Shopware and Shopify offer good performance – however, scalability depends heavily on the application case and technical requirements.

Shopware

Optimizable Infrastructure

The performance can be individually tailored to the shop through the choice of server.

Headless Commerce

API-First enables modern, scalable architectures with frontend freedom.

ElasticSearch Integration

Search queries and category pages can be designed for high performance.

Caching & Monitoring

Integrated performance tools support optimization during peak loads.

Shopify

Cloud Scaling

Shopify uses its own global cloud infrastructure that enables automatic scaling during traffic peaks.

Global CDN Usage

Content is delivered quickly worldwide through Content Delivery Networks – even with international traffic.

Less Configuration Effort

Performance is largely automatically optimized – without the need for deeper technical interventions.

99.99% Availability

Shopify guarantees extremely high availability and failure safety.

Shopify convinces with ready-to-use high availability – ideal for international projects. Shopware offers more technical control and customization options for companies with specific requirements.

Conclusion: Shopware vs. Shopify

Shopify is the ideal choice for companies that want to sell quickly, easily, and internationally – with low technical requirements. Shopware, on the other hand, is suitable for organizations with individual business processes, technical resources, and the desire for maximum flexibility. The choice ultimately depends on the planned business model, internal competencies, and the scaling strategy.