Global e-commerce sales are set to hit $7.4 trillion by 2025 (Statista, 2025). In the United States, retailers face fierce digital competition and need powerful platforms to grow.
While Shopify is popular for its ease of use, many large retailers are choosing Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Enterprise) for its flexibility and advanced features.
This blog looks at why Adobe Commerce is winning over big brands in 2025 and why consulting with an Adobe Commerce development company could be your next step to success.
Understanding Adobe Commerce and Shopify
Let’s first establish what each platform offers prior to discussing why we use them.
Adobe Commerce: The Enterprise Powerhouse
Adobe Commerce, formerly called Magento Enterprise, is a full-fledged e-commerce solution for businesses requiring complex functionality. With immense customization, scalability, and integration support, Adobe Commerce is suited for high-volume retailers who handle complex product catalogs and high traffic volumes.
Its flexibility allows businesses to tailor their online stores to specific requirements, from unique storefront designs to intricate backend processes. In 2025, Adobe Commerce’s new cloud-based, fully SaaS model has further simplified its management, positioning it as a direct competitor to Shopify’s ease of use while retaining its enterprise-grade features.
Shopify: The Accessible All-Rounder
Shopify is a prominent cloud-based SaaS e-commerce solution renowned for its simplicity of use and rapid deployment. Shopify is often a first choice for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking an online store without needing advanced technical know-how.
Shopify provides various pre-made designs, an extensive app library, and integrated payment gateways, making it accessible for startups and growing brands. However, its customization options are more limited compared to Adobe Commerce, which can be a drawback for retailers with unique or complex operational needs.
While both platforms are powerful, Adobe Commerce’s advanced capabilities make it the preferred choice for large USA retailers in 2025. Let’s explore why.
Key Reasons USA Retailers Choose Adobe Commerce
In 2025, more large U.S. retailers are shifting from Shopify to Adobe Commerce and it’s easy to see why. With better scalability, deeper customization, and a growing list of enterprise-grade features, Adobe Commerce is proving to be a smarter fit for big, complex businesses.
Unmatched Scalability
Large retailers deal with huge product catalogs and massive traffic. Adobe Commerce can handle up to 250 million SKUs; it can ingest up to 10,000 products and 50,000 prices per minute. (Adobe for Business). This kind of scale is essential for big brands like HP, Rossignol, and more.
Shopify works well for small and midsize growth, but it struggles with ultra-large catalogs and intricate pricing.
Extensive Customization
Large retailers need custom checkouts and unique customer experiences. Adobe Commerce’s open-source platform offers the flexibility to build tailored storefronts and workflows that match their brand.
Shopify suits simpler setups but lacks deep customization. For complex needs, Adobe Commerce delivers better customization, strong enterprise support, and a developer network built for scale.
Enterprise-Grade Integrations
Large retailers rely on systems that work well together, especially when they already use tools like Adobe Experience Manager or Adobe Analytics. Adobe Commerce integrates natively with these, creating a connected ecosystem that boosts efficiency and improves customer experiences. It also syncs easily with third-party systems like ERPs and CRMs, making it ideal for complex operations.
SCUF Gaming, for example, uses Adobe Commerce to connect its global e-commerce setup.
Shopify supports integrations too, but they often need extra apps or setup, which can’t always match Adobe Commerce’s built-in flexibility.
Advanced Features for 2025
In 2025, Adobe Commerce added key features for large retailers:
- AI Personalization: Create product variations and A/B tests by device, location, or audience.
- Asset Management: Easily update campaigns with Smart Imaging and Dynamic Media.
- B2B Tools: Support for parent-child accounts, multi-buyers, and quick context switching.
- Performance Layer: Boosts speed and SEO, with top Google Lighthouse scores.
Fully SaaS Model
Setting up and running Adobe Commerce used to require a lot of technical work. That changed with the June 2025 launch of its new cloud version. Now fully SaaS and multi-tenant, it’s fully managed, so there’s no need for patches or upgrades.
Onboarding takes less than five minutes, and instances are ready in under two. It’s as easy to use as Shopify, while still offering enterprise-level power. This makes it a simpler, low-maintenance choice for retailers.
Cost-Effectiveness for Enterprises
Adobe Commerce starts higher around $22,000 for on-premise or $40,000 for cloud but its all-in-one features can save big retailers money by cutting the need for extra tools or custom work.
Shopify costs less upfront, from $29 to $2,300 per month for Shopify Plus, making it great for smaller businesses. But relying on apps for advanced features can add up, so for bigger retailers, Adobe Commerce’s full package often ends up cheaper.
Robust Security and Compliance
Large retailers deal with sensitive customer data, so security and compliance are crucial. Adobe Commerce provides strong security, including PCI compliance and advanced encryption, plus regular cloud updates to protect against threats that are important for retailers managing many products across multiple locations.
While Shopify also focuses on security, Adobe Commerce’s enterprise features and deeper integration with a wider security system make it better for retailers with strict compliance needs.
Strong Community and Support
Adobe Commerce has a strong developer community and solid support, giving retailers expert help and resources; especially for complex projects where tailored solutions are needed.
Shopify also offers 24/7 support and many apps, but Adobe Commerce’s enterprise-level support and developer network better fit the needs of large retailers.
Statistics and Trends Supporting the Choice
The preference for Adobe Commerce among large USA retailers is backed by compelling data and trends:
- 85% of top 100 USA online retailers use Adobe Commerce, showing its strength with big businesses (Cleargo).
- Adobe Commerce powers 8% of global e-commerce sites, proving its worldwide reach (Cleargo).
- Shopify leads USA e-commerce with 29% market share but mostly among small to mid-size businesses (Yaguara).
- The global e-commerce platform market will grow from $6.81B in 2025 to $18.5B by 2033 at 12.3% CAGR, showing high demand for platforms like Adobe Commerce (Straits Research).
- 71% of retail web traffic is from smartphones, highlighting the need for mobile-optimized platforms like Adobe Commerce with PWA (AVADA).
- Adobe’s digital experience revenue hit $5B+ in 2024, showing its growing role in e-commerce (Digital Commerce 360).
Overall, Adobe Commerce is a top choice for large retailers needing advanced features and scalability.
Case Studies: USA Retailers Thriving with Adobe Commerce
Several prominent USA retailers have leveraged Adobe Commerce to achieve significant growth:
- HP: With over 3,000 staff across 35+ countries, HP uses Adobe Commerce to manage its extensive product catalog and deliver smooth shopping experiences globally. The platform’s scalability supports HP’s 116 web pages launched last year, with plans for 110 more.
- Shoebacca: This online shoe retailer saw a 1,400% sales increase over three years after adopting Adobe Commerce, with a 25% rise in revenue and a 30% increase in market transactions.
- SalonCentric: Managing 15,000 SKUs across 200 locations, SalonCentric relies on Adobe Commerce’s robust inventory management and B2B features to streamline operations.
- Lovesac: After switching to Adobe Commerce in 2020, Lovesac reported that 60% of its purchases occur via its website and storefronts, benefiting from the platform’s flexibility and integration capabilities.
These examples illustrate how Adobe Commerce empowers large retailers to achieve operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Why Some Retailers Still Choose Shopify?
While Adobe Commerce is the preferred choice for large enterprises, Shopify remains a strong contender for many businesses, particularly smaller ones. Its key advantages include:
- Ease of Use: Shopify’s intuitive interface and preset themes allow businesses to launch online stores quickly, ideal for startups or retailers with limited technical resources.
- Lower Entry Costs: With plans starting at $29/month, Shopify is more accessible for small businesses compared to Adobe Commerce’s higher initial costs.
- Extensive App Ecosystem: Shopify’s app store, with over 13,000 apps, enables retailers to add functionality without extensive development.
- Strong Support: Shopify offers 24/7 customer support via live chat and a comprehensive Help Center, making it accessible for businesses without dedicated IT teams.
Forever 21 and Steve Madden use Shopify for its simplicity and multichannel support (Aftership).
But bigger businesses with complex catalogs or B2B needs choose Adobe Commerce for more customization and scalability.
Comparing Adobe Commerce and Shopify: A Snapshot
| Feature | Adobe Commerce | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Scalability | Supports 250M SKUs, ideal for enterprises | Suitable for scaling, but less robust |
| Customization | Extensive, open-source flexibility | Limited by section-based editor |
| Integration | Seamless with Adobe ecosystem, third-party systems | App-based integrations, may require add-ons |
| Cost | $22,000-$40,000/year, cost-effective for large retailers | $29-$2,300/month, affordable for smaller businesses |
| Ease of Use | Complex, requires technical expertise | User-friendly, quick setup |
| 2025 Features | GenAI, SaaS model, B2B enhancements | AI Sidekick, improved POS, global selling |
| Market Share (US) | 85% of top 100 retailers | 29% overall |
This table highlights Adobe Commerce’s strengths for large retailers, while Shopify excels for smaller, less complex operations.
The Role of Adobe Commerce Development Services
Implementing Adobe Commerce effectively requires expertise, especially for large retailers with complex needs. An experienced Adobe Commerce development company can:
- Customize Solutions: Tailor the platform to specific business requirements, from unique storefront designs to custom workflows.
- Optimize Performance: Leverage tools like Adobe Commerce Optimizer to enhance SEO and site speed, ensuring top performance.
- Facilitate Migration: Support seamless transitions from other platforms, with extended support for older versions until August 2026.
- Integrate Systems: Connect Adobe Commerce with ERP, CRM, or other Adobe products for a cohesive digital strategy.
Conclusion
In 2025, many big USA retailers prefer Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Enterprise) over Shopify because it offers better scalability, customization, and advanced features for large businesses.
Adobe Commerce Cloud, with its new GenAI tools and strong B2B options, handles complex retail needs easily. Shopify still works well for smaller stores thanks to its simplicity and low cost, but Adobe Commerce’s powerful features and integration with Adobe’s tools make it the top choice for big retailers. In fact, 85% of the top 100 USA online retailers use Adobe Commerce (Cleargo).
Want to grow your e-commerce business? Reach out to us today!