Adobe Commerce vs Shopify Plus: Total Cost of Ownership & Conversion Compared (2026)

When enterprise brands compare Adobe Commerce and Shopify Plus, the license fee is the easy part. The real difference shows up in total cost of ownership (TCO) — everything it takes to keep the store running and improving — and in how much revenue the checkout turns into orders.

This article breaks down both, so you can build a fair comparison for your own business.

What you pay for on each platform

Cost line	Shopify Plus	Adobe Commerce
License	From $2,300/month (3-year) or $2,500/month (1-year), per Shopify; variable fee at high volume	Not published; quoted by Adobe, based on GMV and average order value
Hosting & CDN	Included	Bundled into the Adobe Commerce Cloud license, or your own servers on-premises
Security & PCI	Included	Shared: you apply patches and secure your stack
Version upgrades	Included, automatic	Recurring projects for your developers
Checkout	Shopify Checkout + Shop Pay included	Built and maintained by you
Development	Theme, apps, Functions, custom apps	Full-stack PHP development

License: predictable vs negotiated

Shopify Plus starts at $2,300 per month on a three-year term or $2,500 on a one-year term, with a variable platform fee for high-volume merchants, according to the Shopify Help Center; exact pricing is confirmed in a quote. In Australia it starts at A$3,700 or A$4,000 a month. Adobe does not publish Adobe Commerce pricing; licenses are quoted individually based on gross merchandise value (GMV) and average order value, so they rise as you grow. If you are comparing quotes, ask both vendors for the total over three years at your projected revenue.

Hidden costs: hosting, patches and upgrades

On Adobe Commerce, hosting, scaling for peaks, security patches and version upgrades are your responsibility — either bundled into a higher Adobe Commerce Cloud license or paid separately for your own infrastructure, and always through developer time. These costs don't appear on the license quote, but they show up every month.

On Shopify Plus, those lines are part of the subscription. That is the main reason TCO comparisons usually favor Shopify Plus even when the license fees look similar.

Development: where the budget goes

Adobe Commerce gives you full code access, and most brands use it: custom modules, checkout changes, integrations. Each one needs maintaining through every upgrade.

On Shopify Plus, the same needs are met by built-in features, apps and upgrade-safe extensions (Shopify Functions, checkout UI extensions). Your development budget shifts from maintenance to growth — new features, CRO and content.

Conversion: the revenue side of TCO

Cost is only half the equation. Shopify reports, from a study it commissioned from a Big Three consulting firm, that its checkout converts up to 36% better than competing platforms and 15% better on average, and that Shop Pay can lift conversion by up to 50% compared with guest checkout. These are Shopify's own figures, so run your own numbers — but even a small lift in checkout conversion often outweighs the license difference for a high-revenue store.

A simple way to compare your own TCO

Add up three years of each line for both platforms:

1. License fees at your projected revenue
2. Hosting, CDN and monitoring
3. Security patching and version upgrades (developer hours × rate)
4. Ongoing development and agency retainers
5. Apps and extensions
6. Migration cost (one-off, Shopify Plus side only)

Then compare the totals against your expected conversion rate on each. We build this model with clients as part of a free consultation.

When Adobe Commerce still makes sense

• You rely on deep custom business logic that can't be built with Shopify's extension tools.
• You are heavily invested in the Adobe Experience Cloud and want one vendor.
• You have an in-house team sized to run the platform.

When Shopify Plus wins

• Hosting, patches and upgrades take a growing share of your budget.
• You want predictable platform costs.
• You want a checkout that improves without rebuilds.
• You want marketing to move without waiting on developers.

FAQ

Is Shopify Plus cheaper than Adobe Commerce? Over three years, usually yes once hosting, patching, upgrades and development are included, even when license fees look similar.

How much does Adobe Commerce cost? Adobe doesn't publish pricing; licenses are quoted individually, based on GMV and average order value. Hosting and development are on top.

How much does Shopify Plus cost? From $2,300 per month on a three-year term or $2,500 on a one-year term, plus a variable platform fee for high-volume brands, according to Shopify. Shopify confirms exact pricing in a quote.

Does Shopify Plus really convert better? Shopify's commissioned study says its checkout converts 15% better on average than competitors. Your result depends on your store, so test and measure after launch.

How long does it take to move from Adobe Commerce to Shopify Plus? About 6–10 weeks for a mid-size store and 3–6 months for enterprise builds. See our Magento and Adobe Commerce to Shopify migration page.

This article compares costs. For features, maintenance and when Magento is still the right choice, read Shopify Plus vs Magento Enterprise; for project budgets, see our Magento to Shopify migration cost guide.

Want your own TCO comparison?

We'll model three years of costs on both platforms using your numbers. Book a free consultation.