Adobe Commerce vs Commercetools: Which eCommerce Platform Is Right for You?

If you're running or scaling an online store, you've likely heard of Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Commerce) and Commercetools. Both are powerful enterprise-grade platforms, but they cater to very different needs and come with their own set of pros and cons. Choosing between them can feel like comparing apples to oranges—especially if you’re not 100% sure what your business will need six months or two years down the line.

In this guide, we break down the key differences between Adobe Commerce vs Commercetools, so you can make a more informed decision based on your goals, resources, and tech stack.

What Is Adobe Commerce?

Formerly known as Magento Commerce, Adobe Commerce is a robust and highly customisable eCommerce platform. It’s packed with built-in features that make it easier to manage your store, products, and customer experience—all from one admin panel.

Adobe acquired Magento in 2018 and has since integrated it into the broader Adobe Experience Cloud. This means Adobe Commerce now offers powerful content and marketing capabilities, including personalisation, A/B testing and customer journey mapping—all built in.

Highlights of Adobe Commerce: Rich product and catalogue management

Seamless Adobe ecosystem integration (like Analytics and Experience Manager)
Built-in B2B functionality
Visual page builder and content management tools
Open-source flexibility via Magento Open Source for smaller businesses

Adobe Commerce works well for brands that want a scalable solution but still need a well-structured backend with less dependency on developers for day-to-day operations.

What Is Commercetools?

Commercetools is a cloud-native, API-first, headless commerce platform. Unlike Adobe Commerce, it doesn’t come with a pre-built front end or admin panel. Instead, it provides all the commerce features you need via APIs—giving your development team total control over how your store looks and functions.

Commercetools is built for brands with complex requirements, such as omnichannel sales, global expansion, or highly tailored customer experiences. It’s part of the MACH Alliance (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, Headless), which is setting the standard for modern digital architecture.

Adobe Commerce vs Commercetools: The Key Differences

Platform Architecture
Adobe Commerce is a monolithic platform with optional headless capabilities. Everything comes bundled—frontend, backend, and admin panel.

Commercetools is microservices-based and headless by default. You’ll need to build your own frontend or integrate with a CMS like Storyblok or Contentful.
Ease of Use
Adobe Commerce has a visual admin and a built-in page builder, making it more user-friendly for marketers and merchandisers.

Commercetools is developer-centric. You’ll need a frontend team or digital agency to make the most of its capabilities.
Speed to Market
With Adobe Commerce, you can launch quicker thanks to its out-of-the-box features and available themes/extensions.

Commercetools takes longer to implement due to the custom frontend and system integration work, but offers greater flexibility in the long run.
Customisation and Scalability
Adobe Commerce is highly customisable with extensions and developer input, but can become resource-intensive as complexity grows.

Commercetools is infinitely scalable and designed for global brands with evolving needs—but requires a strong dev team and upfront planning.
Pricing and Cost Structure
Adobe Commerce uses a licensing model based on gross merchandise value (GMV) and order volume.

Commercetools uses a pay-as-you-go model, charging based on API calls and usage, which can offer better value for businesses with fluctuating demand.

When Should You Choose Adobe Commerce?

Adobe Commerce is a smart choice if:

You want a more traditional, all-in-one platform
You need robust built-in features for B2C or B2B
You’re already using other Adobe products
Your team prefers a platform with a visual UI for managing content and marketing

It’s perfect for businesses that want the power of enterprise eCommerce but with a smoother learning curve and faster time to value.

When Should You Choose Commercetools?

Commercetools might be right for you if:

You have (or plan to build) a headless architecture
You need a platform that can scale across regions, languages, and channels
Your dev team wants flexibility to create a unique front-end experience
You want a future-ready, microservices-based solution

It’s best suited for enterprise brands with complex technical needs, such as omnichannel strategies or global expansion.

Final Thoughts: Adobe Commerce vs Commercetools

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to the Adobe Commerce vs Commercetools debate. Both platforms are powerful, but they suit very different businesses.

Choose Adobe Commerce if you want a comprehensive platform with strong content and product management, and less dependency on developers.
Go with Commercetools if you’re ready to invest in a fully custom, headless setup built for innovation and scalability.

Still unsure which platform fits your business? At Envisage Digital, we help brands evaluate, implement, and scale on the right eCommerce platforms. Get in touch with our team of certified experts to find your perfect fit.