Shopify vs Shopware: Which store system is better?

Shopify or Shopware? Who needs a Online store should think about the right store system in advance. With the extensive range of different commerce solutions for small, medium-sized and large retailers, comparing different providers is an important first step that requires an intensive examination of the requirements of a system. Various factors play a decisive role here, which are evaluated differently by each company: Scalability, connection to existing merchandise management systems, budget or adaptability are just a few examples that should be considered when making a comparison.

A thorough examination of the system can be decisive for the success and growth of an online store. The decision for a store system is above all a strategic one, and we are happy to provide independent advice.

Below we take a look at the two most popular e-commerce systems at the moment: Shopware and Shopify.

Shopware

Shopware is an established, modular e-commerce system in Germany with numerous integrated standard solutions and various plug-ins. The company was founded in Germany in 2004 (Shopware AG is based in Schöppingen) and has set itself the goal of making it easier for new market participants and start-ups in particular to get started and to make innovative sales opportunities more accessible with the help of a simple setup.

A major advantage of Shopware is that it is open source. This means that the system can be easily expanded and adapted to individual requirements. The clear user interface with Design templates and drag-and-drop system make it easy to use without a great deal of prior technical knowledge.

Since June 2020, Shopware is also available as Cloud solution This means that there is no instance on your own server. This not only has the advantage of a faster and less complicated start and easier updating of the system, but also enables significantly better scalability that is not dependent on the performance of your own server. This is particularly beneficial for large companies and website operators who want to grow their online store.

The "Made in Germany" label alone means that Shopware enjoys a high level of trust, which is Good documentation and German support is further enhanced. Shopware also pays particular attention to Online marketingShopping worlds and tools offer plenty of scope for marketing within your own online store. Search engine optimization with Shopware is possible thanks to sophisticated settings at a professional level.

Getting started with the Community version is free of chargewhich Professional Edition and Enterprise Edition are subject to a charge. If you would like to find out more about the price modelsWhat does Shopware cost?

Shopify

With Shopify, another e-commerce system from Ottawa, Canada, is conquering the German market. Shopify was founded in 2004 by the German developer Tobias Lübke and the first version of the system has been on the market since 2006.

A clearly laid out Modular system is designed for user-friendly operation and also offers more than 1000 ready-made, free and paid templates and plug-ins. This allows the design and functionality of an online store to be quickly and easily adapted to individual requirements.

In contrast to Shopware, Shopify is a self-contained solution. closed and cloud-based software. Due to the tight restrictions and the closed nature of Shopify, the effort involved in designing individual solutions (such as the connection to your own merchandise management system) is comparatively higher. The effort involved in long-term maintenance, especially with regard to updates, is lower with a cloud-based solution than with a local instance.

Shopify sees itself primarily as a sales platform for small and medium-sized companies that want to set up a professional online store without technical know-how and high costs. With a subscription for USD 29 per month, the costs for the Basic package are initially quite manageable, but Shopify also offers a Commission of up to 2% for each sale. For larger companies the products are suitable Shopify Advanced or Shopify PlusHowever, these are accompanied by correspondingly higher fees.

Store systems in comparison: cloud solution or local instance?

An important question when deciding on a store system is whether you want to have your store with the respective provider in the cloud or on a local instance on your own server. The advantage of a cloud solution or a SaaS solution is that it enables a quick and easy setup and launch of the new online store within a very short time. Updates are also made available automatically. Short-term scalability can also be a major advantage, especially if the store is growing rapidly. However, a cloud solution also means running costs.

Both Shopify and Shopware now offer a cloud solution. Shopware, however, has the advantage that it can be started locally and then switched to the cloud solution if required - or vice versa. Shopify is currently only available as a cloud solution.

Conclusion: Shopware vs Shopify - What we recommend

At the end of the day, of course, it always comes down to individual requirements. In our experience, however, Shopware is more suitable in most cases because - like Shopify - it offers an uncomplicated cloud solution, but thanks to its open source approach, it can also be excellently scaled and adapted to professional requirements.

• Shopify offers the advantages of a cloud solution and enables a quick start at relatively low cost. However, additional commission costs must always be expected here. The modular principle makes it easy to use and offers a wide range of templates and plug-ins that can be used to customize the design and functionality of your own online store. Individual adaptations of the system to your own IT infrastructure can generate higher costs with Shopify, as the system is self-contained and offers little flexibility.
• Shopware now offers its software as a cloud solution (in addition to the local solution), which makes it easy to get started. If required, stores can be easily migrated from the local instance to the cloud and vice versa. Thanks to the flexibility of the open source software, Shopware offers extensive customization options and continuous further development by the community.

Ultimately, the decision for a suitable store system should be well considered and fit the requirements of your own business model.

As the choice depends heavily on the individual framework conditions, we will be happy to advise you on the choice of system. This will help you avoid costly mistakes right from the start of the project. Feel free to contact us!