Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service is NOT like Shopify

The new Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service is launching in June 2025, and there’s a lot of buzz around it. Many people expect it to be like Shopify Advanced, but that’s far from reality. Even Shopify Plus isn’t a direct comparison. Here’s why: Headless by Default – Unlike Shopify, where headless is optional (and mostly a Shopify Plus + Hydrogen + Components game), Adobe’s new SaaS offering mandates headless. This means it’s targeting merchants with more complex needs right from the start. 10x Easier to Deploy – Adobe is promising provisioning in minutes, making it significantly easier to set up compared to its current Cloud infrastructure. But easier doesn’t mean “plug-and-play” like Shopify, it’s still geared toward enterprise-level customization. Lower TCO & Licensing Costs – A major shift from the traditional Adobe Commerce model, bringing it closer to Shopify Plus in terms of affordability and predictability. So where does it fit? This isn’t a direct competitor to Shopify Advanced, nor does it aim for SMBs. Instead, it positions itself for stores that would otherwise require Shopify Plus + Hydrogen + Components, making it an option for enterprises that demand headless architecture by default rather than as an add-on. Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service is not a Shopify killer, but it does carve out its space for brands needing enterprise-grade flexibility in a fully managed SaaS environment. Are you planning to implement Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service or Shopify? Let’s discuss!

Mar 21, 2025 - 22:04

Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service is NOT like Shopify

The new Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service is launching in June 2025, and there’s a lot of buzz around it. Many people expect it to be like Shopify Advanced, but that’s far from reality. Even Shopify Plus isn’t a direct comparison. Here’s why:

Headless by Default – Unlike Shopify, where headless is optional (and mostly a Shopify Plus + Hydrogen + Components game), Adobe’s new SaaS offering mandates headless. This means it’s targeting merchants with more complex needs right from the start.
10x Easier to Deploy – Adobe is promising provisioning in minutes, making it significantly easier to set up compared to its current Cloud infrastructure. But easier doesn’t mean “plug-and-play” like Shopify, it’s still geared toward enterprise-level customization.
Lower TCO & Licensing Costs – A major shift from the traditional Adobe Commerce model, bringing it closer to Shopify Plus in terms of affordability and predictability.

So where does it fit?
This isn’t a direct competitor to Shopify Advanced, nor does it aim for SMBs. Instead, it positions itself for stores that would otherwise require Shopify Plus + Hydrogen + Components, making it an option for enterprises that demand headless architecture by default rather than as an add-on.

Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service is not a Shopify killer, but it does carve out its space for brands needing enterprise-grade flexibility in a fully managed SaaS environment.

Are you planning to implement Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service or Shopify? Let’s discuss!