Shopware vs Shopify: Which Platform Fits Your Store?
A practical comparison of Shopware 6 and Shopify: costs, B2B features, flexibility, hosting and which stores each platform suits best.
Shopify is the faster, simpler choice for direct-to-consumer brands with standard processes, while Shopware 6 is usually the better fit for B2B sellers, complex catalogues, custom integrations and stores focused on Germany and Europe. Shopify is a hosted subscription service. Shopware is open source: you can start with the free Community Edition on your own hosting or book a paid Shopware plan. The right choice depends on your business model more than on features.
Shopware vs Shopify at a glance
| Shopify | Shopware 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Hosted SaaS subscription | Open source; self-hosted, PaaS or Shopware SaaS |
| Entry cost | Basic plan $39/month ($29 with annual billing) | Community Edition: no licence fee; you pay hosting and development |
| Paid tiers | Grow $105, Advanced $399 per month; Shopify Plus from about $2,300/month | Rise from €600/month, Evolve from €2,400/month, Beyond on request |
| Payment fees | Extra fee when you use a payment provider other than Shopify Payments | No platform fee on third-party payment providers |
| B2B | B2B features mainly in Shopify Plus | B2B components (quotes, approvals, customer-specific prices) in Evolve and Beyond |
| Customization | Themes and apps; core code cannot be changed | Full access to code, data model and APIs |
| Data and hosting | Hosted by Shopify | You choose the host and server location |
| Strongest market | USA, UK, international D2C | Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Europe |
Cost: licence fees are only part of the bill
Compare the total cost over three years, not the monthly plan price. Include development, apps or extensions, hosting, payment fees and maintenance.
- Shopify: low start-up cost, but monthly app subscriptions and payment fees grow with your revenue.
- Shopware Community Edition: no licence fee, but you pay for hosting, setup, updates and security. If the shops in your Shopware account exceed €1 million GMV in a year, Shopware requires a paid plan for continued account and Store access.
- Shopware paid plans: priced by GMV and other factors; they add support, B2B and advanced features.
Prices as published on shopify.com/pricing and shopware.com/pricing (checked October 2026). Prices change; always confirm with the vendor.
When Shopify is the better choice
- You sell standard products direct to consumers.
- You want to launch quickly with a small team.
- You do not need deep integrations with ERP or custom pricing logic.
- Your main market is the USA or another English-speaking country.
When Shopware is the better choice
- You sell B2B, with customer groups, individual prices, quotes or approval workflows.
- You have a large catalogue with many variants or configurable products.
- Your store must connect closely to an ERP such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, a PIM or a warehouse system.
- You sell mainly in Germany or Europe and need German legal requirements and payment methods.
- You want full control over code, data and hosting.
Already on another platform? Read WooCommerce to Shopware migration or Magento 2 to Shopware 6 migration.
FAQ
Is Shopware cheaper than Shopify?
It depends on size. Shopware Community Edition has no licence fee, but hosting and development cost more at the start. For larger or B2B stores, Shopware often costs less over time because there are no platform payment fees and fewer paid apps.
Is Shopware good for small stores?
Yes, if you have a partner for hosting and setup. Very small D2C stores that want a quick launch without technical work are often better served by Shopify.
Can I migrate from Shopify to Shopware?
Yes. Products, customers and orders can be exported from Shopify and imported into Shopware 6, with 301 redirects to protect SEO.
Which platform is better for B2B?
Shopware, in most cases. Its paid plans include quotes, purchase approvals and customer-specific prices, and the open data model makes ERP integration easier.