Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce: A Side-by-Side Comparison for eCommerce Leaders

You've built an amazing eCommerce business and are ready to take it to the next level. But which platform is right for your growing company? The two top dogs in the game are Commercetools and Adobe Commerce. As an eCommerce leader, you want the solution that's going to scale with you, not hold you back. Both platforms offer robust features for B2C and B2B selling, but there are some key differences you need to consider based on where you want to go. 

This guide will compare commercetools and Adobe Commerce side by side so you can determine which is the best fit for your business. Let's take a quick look at what each offers.

What is Adobe Commerce?

Adobe Commerce, previously known as Magento, is a beacon for enterprises aiming to establish a commanding digital storefront. Tailored for businesses with ambitions to scale and tap into new customer segments, this platform offers a comprehensive toolkit for online store management.

• Open-Source Flexibility: Adobe Commerce offers an open-source solution, granting businesses unparalleled control over their store's appearance, content, and functionalities.

• Feature-Rich: From promotions, product merchandising, and order management to insightful analytics, the platform is equipped with a robust set of features to drive eCommerce success.

• Vast Ecosystem: With a sprawling ecosystem of themes, extensions, and a dedicated developer community, customization possibilities are endless. Additionally, its seamless integration with other Adobe products amplifies its capabilities.

• Cost Considerations: While the platform is robust, potential users should be mindful of the licensing and hosting fees, which might be steep for some.

• Flexible and Customizable: Adobe Commerce's strength lies in its adaptability. The platform's code is malleable, allowing businesses to craft bespoke experiences that resonate with their brand ethos and cater to their customer base.

• Extension Galore: The vibrant open-source community continuously churns out free and premium extensions. Whether it's loyalty programs, subscription models, or the latest in conversational commerce, there's likely an extension tailored to your needs.

• Robust API & Webhooks: Integration is a breeze with Adobe Commerce. Its sturdy API and webhooks empower businesses to mesh other tools seamlessly, automating processes and deriving actionable insights.

• Adobe Synergy: The platform's integration capabilities extend to the Adobe Experience Cloud suite. Tools like Analytics, Targets, and Campaigns can be harnessed, paving the way for advanced marketing personalization.

Adobe Commerce emerges as a formidable choice for brands aiming to curate a tailored digital journey for their customers. Its enterprise-grade features and scalability ensure businesses are well-equipped for the future, regardless of their growth trajectory.

What is Commercetools?

Commercetools is a pioneer in headless commerce championed by numerous top-tier eCommerce brands. Its API-first ethos ensures businesses wield unparalleled flexibility, enabling them to curate bespoke shopping journeys across diverse channels.

• Beyond the Conventional: Instead of a generic frontend, Commercetools equips developers with potent commerce APIs. This empowers brands to carve out distinctive customer experiences meticulously tailored to their unique requirements.

• Flexibility & Scalability: At the heart of Commercetools is its API-centric architecture, ensuring effortless scalability and performance optimization. With complete autonomy over the front end, brands can seamlessly craft experiences spanning multiple channels.

• Feature-Loaded: Commercetools is no slouch when it comes to functionalities. From carts, orders, and payments to shipping logistics, it encapsulates every tool required to steer an enterprise-grade eCommerce venture.

• Seamless Integrations: With a vast repository of pre-configured integrations, connecting to services like payment gateways, shipping providers, ERPs, and CMSs is a breeze. This ensures a harmonious synergy between Commercetools and third-party platforms.

• Global Outreach: Catering to a global audience is straightforward with Commercetools. It inherently supports many languages, currencies, and payment gateways, facilitating localized shopping experiences for a worldwide clientele.

In a nutshell, Commercetools emerges as a dynamic, API-driven enterprise commerce platform. It's the go-to choice for avant-garde e-commerce brands aiming to offer scalable, tailored shopping experiences. While it leans towards the technical side, its robust feature set ensures developers have all the tools they need to craft bespoke solutions.

Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce: Market Comparison

In the bustling arena of eCommerce, two platforms have emerged as frontrunners: Commercetools and Adobe Commerce. Global brands trust both platforms but cater to different needs and business models.

• Commercetools: A headless, API-first eCommerce solution, Commercetools is the choice of renowned brands like Audi, Dyson, and Bosch. As a SaaS offering, it ensures users always have access to the latest features and security updates. Its microservices architecture promises scalability and an optimized customer experience across various channels.

• Adobe Commerce: Formerly known as Magento, Adobe Commerce is an open-source platform trusted by giants like Coca-Cola, Canon, and Nestle. While its open-source version is free, implementation and maintenance demand developer expertise. For businesses seeking more advanced features, the enterprise edition is available. Adobe Commerce stands out for its extensive integrations and themes, allowing for deep customization. However, scaling and fine-tuning the platform might necessitate considerable development efforts.

The Verdict: Both Commercetools and Adobe Commerce are titans in the eCommerce domain, each with strengths. Your choice hinges on your business's needs, technical prowess, and budgetary constraints. If you prioritize ease of use, continuous innovation, and scalability, Commercetools might be your best bet.

On the other hand, if you value deep customization and control, Adobe Commerce should be on your radar. Assessing each platform against your core requirements will guide you to the ideal solution to fuel your digital commerce ambitions.

Difference between Adobe Commerce & Commercetools

Functionality

Adobe Commerce offers built-in features like marketing, sales, and reporting tools. However, Commercetools provides an open API to connect with various third-party apps and services. So, while Adobe Commerce may have more out-of-the-box features, Commercetools offers more flexibility to customize your stack.

Ease of Use

Adobe Commerce is generally seen as easier to set up and use, with an intuitive interface and drag-and-drop template builder. Commercetools, on the other hand, requires more technical skills to implement since it’s a headless API. Themes and templates are handled by third-party providers. So, if you want an easy do-it-yourself setup, Adobe Commerce is probably better. If you have a developer team, Commercetools could work well.

Cost

Adobe Commerce is licensed software with monthly subscription fees. Pricing starts at around $22,000 per year. Commercetools charges based on usage, starting at $99 per month. So, if budget is a concern, Commercetools may be more affordable, especially for smaller stores. However, costs can increase quickly as your business grows.

Modern Architecture

Commercetools is built on modern technologies like microservices, REST APIs, and GraphQL. This makes the platform highly flexible, modular, and scalable. Adobe Commerce still relies on older tech, limiting flexibility.

Pricing and Licensing

Commercetools has transparent pricing with monthly subscriptions. Adobe Commerce can be pricey, with upfront licensing fees and ongoing support costs.

Reviews and Ratings: Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce

Diving into user reviews and ratings sourced from Gartner, Commercetools boasts an impressive average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars, derived from 11 reviews. In contrast, with a broader user feedback base, Adobe Commerce holds an average score of 4.1 out of 5 stars from 258 reviews. This larger volume of reviews for Adobe Commerce suggests a more extensive user base and provides a more consistent representation of user sentiment.

Adobe Commerce 

Likes:

• Successful management and delivery of diverse websites (B2B, B2C, catalog sites).

• High customizability.

• Availability of resources for development changes.

Dislikes:

• High-cost relative to the service provided.

• Adobe's acquisition of Magento led to increased costs.

• Complexity in UI and personalized content maintenance.

• Built on complex code, making customization challenging.

• Sluggish performance.

Commercetools

Likes:

• Comprehensive documentation.

• Intuitive API representations.

• Modular design allows for selective feature implementation.

• Facilitates gradual transition from monolithic systems.

• Recognized as a top choice for technically mature businesses.

• Strong community support through the MACH alliance.

Dislikes:

• Hosting is limited to the EU and US, affecting performance in Asia.

• Clinical approach to account management.

• Limited post-sales support.

• Push towards using their professional services.

Pros and Cons of Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce

When evaluating eCommerce platforms, the pros and cons of each option play a big role in your decision-making. Here's a quick rundown of the main positives and negatives of Commercetools and Adobe Commerce:

Pros of Commercetools

• Headless architecture provides flexibility and scalability.

• Open source, so full control and customization

• Modern tech stack (Microservices, Docker, Kubernetes)

Cons of Commercetools

• Higher implementation and maintenance costs

• The steeper learning curve for developers

• Less out-of-the-box functionality

Pros of Adobe Commerce

• Packed with built-in features like promotions, product recommendations.

• Intuitive interface, easier to use.

• Large selection of ready-made themes and extensions

Cons of Adobe Commerce

• Monolithic architecture limits flexibility.

• A closed-source platform offers less customization.

• Uses older tech stack (LAMP stack)

As the eCommerce leader for your business, you need to evaluate how well each platform meets your current needs and supports your future growth plans. Think about your technical capabilities, budget, and desired level of control over the platform. Finding the right balance of pros and cons for your unique situation will point you to the best solution.

FAQs

What types of businesses use Commercetools?

Global brands with complex needs like customized experiences, integrations, and scalability. Companies like UGG, Dewalt, and Lancôme use Commercetools.

What types of businesses use Adobe Commerce?

Mid-size to large businesses looking for an easy-to-use, full-featured eCommerce platform. Customers include Bosch, Godiva, and Harvey Norman.

How much does Commercetools cost?

Commercetools has custom pricing based on your business needs and a number of API calls. Costs start around $2,000/month.

How much does Adobe Commerce cost? 

Adobe Commerce starts at $22,000/year for the Enterprise Edition. The B2B Edition starts at $45,000/year.

What features do the platforms offer?

• Commercetools: API-first architecture, headless commerce, high scalability, customization.

• Adobe Commerce: Content management, promotions, product information management, order management, customer service.