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Read time : 8 min
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Published on 08-10-2023
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Read time : 8 min
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Published on 08-10-2023
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Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce: A Side-by-Side Comparison for eCommerce Leaders

Aakanksha Sharma
Aakanksha Sharma
Content Marketer
Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce: A Side-by-Side Comparison for eCommerce Leaders

You've built an amazing eCommerce business, and now you're ready to take it to the next level. But which platform is right for your growing company - Commercetools vs Adobe Commercetools? 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.

On this page:

  1. What is Adobe Commerce?
  2. What is Commercetools?
  3. Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce : Main Differences
  4. Reviews and Ratings: Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce
  5. Pros and Cons of Commercetools vs. Adobe Commerce

What is Adobe Commerce?

Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento Commerce, is a versatile e-commerce platform designed for both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) markets. This platform supports personalized shopping experiences for multiple brands, ensuring flexibility and scalability for various business needs.

Here is what Adobe Commerce offers:

1. Adobe Commerce Platform: This platform is built on the solid foundation of Magento and provides a comprehensive set of e-commerce features such as product & customer management, and order processing. A key advantage of Adobe Commerce is its integration with Adobe's suite of tools. With a standard subscription, users gain access to powerful Adobe services like Analytics for tracking and insights, Marketing for personalized campaigns, and Advertising for strategic ad placements, enhancing the overall e-commerce functionality.

2. Magento Open Source: Magento Open Source is the free version of Adobe Commerce, offering developers complete flexibility to customize and enhance e-commerce sites. It provides core functionalities such as shopping cart management, checkout, product management, and order processing. Additionally, it includes default features like Customer Groups, Product Price Alerts, Newsletter Email Marketing, an Advanced Reporting system, Tier Pricing, and CMS Nested Static Block sections. Developers can modify the source code, add new features, and integrate with various third-party applications to tailor the platform to specific business needs.

3. Adobe Commerce Cloud: A cloud-based version of Magento that provides a fully managed hosting environment. This solution integrates Mangeto's robust features with the reliability and scalability of cloud hosting, enhanced by Adobe's enterprise tools for a comprehensive e-commerce solution.

What is Commercetools?

Commercetools is a cloud-based, headless commerce platform tailored for large businesses/enterprises. It uses an API-first approach to enable e-commerce functionalities such as sales processing and customer engagement across various digital channels.

The headless architecture of Commercetools allows businesses to manage and deliver content across multiple channels without being tied to a specific front-end framework.

Commercetools provides a comprehensive suite of tools that support the customization of solutions to manage multiple brands, languages, and currencies. This flexibility helps businesses create tailored shopping experiences designed to enhance customer engagement and increase conversions efficiently.

Difference between Commercetools vs Adobe Commerce

1. Market Comparison

Adobe Commerce dominates the U.S. market with a 13.9% share, significantly outpacing Commercetools, which holds just 0.02%.

Commercetools, while having a significant presence in terms of its global customer distribution, with 42% of its customers based in the United States, captures only about 0.02% of the U.S. market share in the e-commerce platform category. This indicates that although a substantial portion of Commercetools' overall customer base is in the U.S., it remains a minor player in the broader market landscape, overshadowed by larger platforms.

On the other side, Adobe Commerce has established a much stronger foothold in the market, holding approximately 13.9% of the market share. This substantial figure reflects its dominance and widespread adoption across a broad range of businesses within a mature e-commerce market. The difference in market share between the two platforms highlights Adobe Commerce’s extensive reach and influence compared to Commercetools, which, despite a strong customer presence in the U.S., has not translated into a significant market share.

2. Architecture

Adobe Commerce is the preferred choice for a robust, integrated platform with reliable performance under diverse & demanding conditions. Commercetools, for its cloud-native, headless architecture is ideal for those prioritizing agile e-commerce solutions.

Commercetools is designed as a cloud-native, headless commerce platform that prioritizes an API-first strategy. This setup allows organizations to select any technology for the frontend while relying on commercetools for the backend services. The architecture of commercetools adheres to the MACH principles, which include Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless. These principles ensure that the platform is modular, flexible, and scalable.

Commercetools Architecture.png

Also, commercetools supports multi-tenancy, which means a single instance of the software can serve multiple tenants (customers) but still allows each one to manage their data and configurations independently. This multi-tenant architecture enhances the platform's scalability, speed, resilience, and cost-effectiveness, making it a highly adaptable solution for businesses.

Adobe Commerce is known for its robust and integrated platform that supports both traditional and headless implementations. Unlike the fully headless approach of commercetools, Adobe Commerce often integrates the frontend and backend, although it can be decoupled if needed.

Adobe Commerce Architecture.png

The architecture of Adobe Commerce is cloud-based, facilitating easy scalability and maintenance. It supports multiple development environments, allowing businesses to smoothly transition from development to production. This includes dedicated integration, staging, and production environments.

Also, because Adobe features a scalable infrastructure designed around a tiered architecture, it can manage increased load and maintain performance stability, which is crucial for large e-commerce operations that experience variable demand.

3. Customization and Integration

It's a tie. Adobe Commerce is ideal for enterprises seeking a full, integrated solution within the Adobe ecosystem. Commercetools is better for businesses that require a highly customizable and scalable platform, ready to adapt quickly and integrate smoothly with various systems.

Adobe Commerce, through its marketplace, provides a wide range of customization options. This includes adding unique features like tailored checkouts, different payment methods, and marketing tools. They’re also focusing on tools for quick e-commerce feature deployment and AI-driven personalization to lower integration costs.

Here are some key integration features:

1. Headless commerce using API Mesh: This feature lets Adobe Commerce work smoothly with various front-end technologies.

2. Event-based data routing (Events): This allows Adobe Commerce to share data with other systems.

3. Webhooks and Admin UI SDK: These tools help you add more features to the platform and customize the admin interface.

4. Integration starter kit: Launched in 2024, this kit aids in integrating back-office operations using Adobe Developer App Builder. It comes with reference integrations for common e-commerce data like orders and products and ready-to-use integrations with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and SAP S/4HANA.

For example, with the headless commerce, you could use a modern front-end technology like React or Vue.js for your online store’s user interface while still managing your backend operations through Adobe Commerce. This gives you the flexibility to create a unique and engaging shopping experience for your customers.

Similarly, the integration starter kit can help streamline your back-office operations. For instance, if you use Microsoft Dynamics 365 for your financial management, you can easily sync your financial data with your e-commerce operations using the pre-built integration provided in the kit. This ensures a smooth flow of information between your systems, reducing manual effort and potential errors.

Adobe Commerce is best suited for businesses that require robust, out-of-the-box e-commerce features combined with the flexibility to integrate with a variety of other systems and data platforms, particularly those within the Adobe ecosystem.

Commercetools offers tools that are grouped into two categories: customizations and extensions. These tools help businesses create integrations that fit well with their current systems and processes. Here are some common tools:

1. Commercetools Extensions for the addition of specific functionalities, like dynamic discounting during sales, without altering the core e-commerce engine. This modularity is excellent for businesses that need to quickly adapt to market changes or promotional strategies.

2. Custom Fields and Objects to tailor data models to specific needs, such as adding unique product attributes (e.g., fabric type for clothing). This customization is crucial for businesses that require detailed product information that aligns with their niche market.

3. Subscriptions and API Extensions for automatic updates between commercetools and other systems, such as inventory management, ensuring real-time accuracy in stock levels and other critical operational data.

Commercetools is ideal for businesses looking for a highly customizable, API-first platform that can easily integrate into a complex, multi-system environment. This platform is particularly beneficial for tech-forward companies that prioritize agile responses to consumer demands and operational flexibility.

4. Features

Adobe Commerce wins with its integrated multi-channel and multi-brand capabilities. It offers a comprehensive solution for both B2B and B2C management. The wide range of personalization options and robust built-in features make it useful for businesses to improve their online shopping experience.

As I mentioned earlier, Commercetools’s cloud-native, API-first platform is designed for flexibility and scalability. With the following features that Commercetools offers, enterprises can adapt quickly to market changes and customer demands. Let’s take a look -

1. Robust Product Management: Commercetools streamlines product information management (PIM) with capabilities that support complex catalogs and quick navigation. Businesses can efficiently manage product types, attributes, and variants, enhancing customers' product discovery experience.

2. Comprehensive Order Processing: The platform optimizes the order lifecycle, from cart creation to returns management. It supports advanced pricing, tax calculation, and shipping configurations, ensuring seamless integration with existing systems and compliance with international standards.

3. Versatile Integration Options: Commercetools offers numerous third-party integrations through its marketplace, allowing businesses to enhance their e-commerce ecosystem. These integrations facilitate connections with payment gateways, ERP systems, and more, supporting a holistic approach to e-commerce management.

4. Customizable Shopping Experiences: Commercetools allows brands to create innovative shopping experiences across different platforms, from web and mobile to IoT devices, thanks to its headless architecture. This flexibility will enable brands to engage customers through personalized interactions and user interfaces.

5. Advanced Discount and Promotion Handling: The platform's powerful discount management capabilities enable businesses to create dynamic promotional strategies. Using rule-based promotions and discount codes, companies can increase sales and make customers happier.

6. Secure and Scalable Infrastructure: Commercetools guarantees high performance and availability, backed by modern cloud infrastructure and best-in-class security measures. This ensures businesses scale effortlessly and maintain continuous operations without compromising security or customer satisfaction.

Adobe Commerce features are designed for both B2C and B2B shopping experiences. Here’s a look:

1. Sell Anywhere: Adobe Commerce enables you to unify shopping experiences across various channels. On the same platform, you can manage multiple brands, expand internationally, and cater to individual consumers and businesses.

2. Quick Checkout: Customers enjoy a fast, secure, and mobile-optimized checkout process that doesn't require a password.

3. Multi-brand Solution: From a single platform, manage multiple brands and engage with all your customers, whether B2C or B2B, across digital channels.

4. Mobile Centricity: Adobe Commerce's progressive web applications (PWA) deliver a smooth, app-like shopping experience on mobile devices, ensuring effective customer engagement and conversion.

5. Integrated B2B Functionality: The platform enhances B2B transactions with tailored catalogs and pricing, personalized experiences, and self-service portals for streamlined account management and ordering.

6. Channel Manager: For U.S.-based merchants, integrating Adobe Commerce with Walmart Marketplace is streamlined through a powerful integration, making multi-channel management more accessible.

7. Payment Services: This integrated payment solution ensures secure management of payments and order data from all your storefronts directly from the Commerce dashboard.

8. Powerful User Experience: Adobe Commerce provides extensive features out-of-the-box, with ample customization options and easy third-party integrations.

9. Page Builder: Effortlessly create and publish compelling content with a powerful Page Builder that requires no developer support, enhancing the overall shopping experience.

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.

What businesses like about Adobe Commerce:

  • 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.

What businesses like about Commercetools:

  • 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

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.
  • Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native and Headless (MACH) architecture.
  • Modern tech stack (Microservices, Docker, Kubernetes).

Cons of Commercetools:

  • The total cost of ownership can be higher than other PaaS solutions
  • The steeper learning curve for developers.
  • Less out-of-the-box functionality compared to some other platforms.
  • Promotion engine is limited meaning some discounts cannot be run

Pros of Adobe Commerce

  • Includes robust tools for promotions, product recommendations, customer segmentation, and personalized shopping experiences.
  • Offers extensive customization options, third-party extensions and plugins available to tailor the platform to specific business needs.
  • Designed to handle large volumes of traffic and transactions, making it suitable for growing businesses and large enterprises.
  • Seamless integration with Adobe’s suite of tools, including Adobe Analytics and Adobe Experience Manager, enhancing marketing and analytics capabilities.
  • Allows for greater flexibility and performance with headless commerce option

Cons of Adobe Commerce

  • The platform’s complexity can lead to higher development and maintenance costs, requiring skilled technical expertise.
  • Enterprise-level implementations can be very expensive, often exceeding six figures, excluding the license fees for Adobe software.
  • Requires substantial training and technical knowledge to manage and customize effectively.
  • Due to its extensive features and capabilities, the platform may require significant server resources, impacting performance if not properly optimized.
  • 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 - Commercetools Vs Adobe Commerce

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 Features: Microservices architecture, API-first approach, Cloud-native infrastructure, Merchant Center, Developer Tooling, Dashboards and Audit Log, B2B support, Product Information Management (PIM) - Adobe Commerce Features: Cloud native, headless, Content management, promotions, product information management, order management, customer service., Multi-brand solution, Mobile centricity, Integrated B2B functionality, Amazon Sales Channel, Page Builder