Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Magento is a powerful, open-source e-commerce platform now owned by Adobe and marketed as Adobe Commerce. It's known for flexibility and scalability, powering complex B2B and B2C stores.
Editions
| Edition | Description | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Magento Open Source | Self-hosted, community-supported | Free (hosting + dev costs) |
| Adobe Commerce | Enterprise features, support | $22k+/year |
| Adobe Commerce Cloud | Managed cloud hosting | Higher |
Key Features
- Highly customisable: Extensive module and theme system
- Multi-store: Run multiple brands from one installation
- B2B capabilities: Company accounts, negotiated pricing, requisition lists
- Advanced catalog: Complex product types, configurable products
- PWA Studio: Headless frontend framework
Architecture
Magento is built on:
- PHP: Backend language
- MySQL: Primary database
- Elasticsearch: Catalog search
- Redis: Caching and sessions
- Varnish: Full-page caching
- RabbitMQ: Message queue for async operations
What We Like
- Flexibility: Can build almost anything
- B2B features: Strongest native B2B capabilities
- Multi-store: Excellent for multi-brand retailers
- Community: Large ecosystem of extensions and developers
What We Don't Like
- Complexity: Steep learning curve, slow development
- Performance: Requires significant optimisation and infrastructure
- Hosting costs: Demands robust servers; cheap hosting won't work
- Upgrade difficulty: Major version upgrades can be painful
- Development cost: Specialised developers command premium rates
When to Choose Magento
- Complex B2B requirements
- Multi-brand, multi-store operations
- Existing Magento investment and expertise
- Need for extreme customisation
- Large catalog with complex product relationships
When to Avoid Magento
- Small to medium stores (overkill)
- Limited budget or technical resources
- Need for rapid time to market
- Simple catalog and checkout requirements
Consider Shopify or BigCommerce for simpler requirements with faster implementation.