Compare e-commerce platforms.

From SaaS to composable commerce. We compare Shopify, Commercetools, BigCommerce, Commerce Layer, Salesforce Commerce Cloud, Adobe Commerce, Shopware and SAP Commerce based on practical experience — for B2B, B2C and everything in between.

Comparison Table.

Platform	Founded	B2B support	API-first	Headless	MACH	Pricing Model
Shopify	2006	Native (Plus)	Partial	Via Hydrogen	No	€29–€2,300+/mo
Commercetools	2006	Excellent	Yes	Native	Yes	€5k–€50k+/mo
BigCommerce	2009	Native (B2B Ed.)	Yes	Native	Yes	€29–€254/mo + Ent.
Commerce Layer	2017	Via API	Yes	Native	Yes	Free (Dev) / $649/mo
Salesforce Commerce Cloud	2004 (as Demandware)	No	Partial	Via SDK	No	On request (% of revenue)
Adobe Commerce	2008 (as Magento)	Yes	Partial	Partial	No	On request (% GMV)
Shopware	2000 (Shopware 6 since 2019)	Yes	Yes	Native	No	Free - €2,500+/mo
SAP Commerce	1997	Yes	Partial	Partial	No	On request

Quick summaries.

The world's largest SaaS e-commerce platform. Evolving from entry-level to serious enterprise solution. The OpenAI partnership for agentic commerce is game-changing. Shopify Plus offers native B2B features. Ideal for those who want to go live quickly.

Commercetools

The king of composable commerce and co-founder of the MACH Alliance. Fully API-first, unlimited flexibility, but long implementation time (12-18 months). For enterprise organizations with their own tech teams and complex requirements.

BigCommerce

The "open SaaS" position: combination of SaaS convenience with API openness. Strong B2B Edition for wholesale and manufacturing. MACH Alliance member. Sweet spot for the mid-market that wants more than Shopify but less complex than Commercetools.

Commerce Layer

European headless commerce API from Italy, fully MACH-certified and API-first. Ideal for brands that want to add commerce to any digital experience — from websites to IoT. Free developer plan available, PCI DSS Level 1 certified and data hosting within the EEA.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is the safe but costly choice for established enterprise organizations. It offers stability and a powerful ecosystem, but at the price of reduced agility and high ongoing costs.

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce is yesterday's safe choice. It offers everything you can think of, but at the price of a heavy engine and enormous management burden. We primarily help organizations answer: do we keep maintaining the engine, or is it time for a transition?

Shopware

Shopware is a powerful and flexible e-commerce platform for those who want more control than Shopify offers, but want to avoid the technical baggage of Adobe Commerce. It combines a modern Symfony foundation with deep commercial functionality.

SAP Commerce

SAP Commerce is the only logical choice for large organizations that want to fully integrate e-commerce with their SAP ERP processes. It is a heavy but indestructible system that excels in complex B2B environments.

Frequently asked questions.

What is the difference between SaaS and composable commerce?

SaaS e-commerce (like Shopify) is an all-in-one solution you can get started with immediately. The vendor manages hosting, updates and scaling. Composable commerce (like Commercetools) is API-first: you build your own stack by combining best-of-breed tools. SaaS is faster to launch and cheaper to maintain; composable gives maximum flexibility but requires more technical expertise.

Which e-commerce platform fits me?

The choice depends on your complexity and tech capacity. Shopify is ideal for fast implementation and standard e-commerce — live within 4-6 months. Commercetools suits complex, multi-brand environments with own tech teams — plan 12-18 months. BigCommerce sits in between with strong B2B features and more API openness than Shopify, but less complex than Commercetools.

Can I combine B2B and B2C on one platform?

Yes, all three platforms support this. Shopify Plus offers native B2B with company accounts and custom pricing. BigCommerce B2B Edition is specifically built for hybrid scenarios. Commercetools is architecturally strongest for complex multi-channel scenarios with separate storefronts.

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