Shopware vs Shopify: Which Wins for D2C, B2B & Hybrid in 2025?

Which is better: Shopify or Shopware?

Shopify is known for being simple to use, affordable, and perfect for direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands that want to launch quickly and grow steadily. On the other hand, Shopware offers powerful tools made for businesses with more complex needs, especially B2B companies or those who want to customize every part of their online store.

In this Shopware vs Shopify comparison, we’ll break down the biggest differences between these two platforms, starting with what matters most:

• Pricing
  
• Ease of use
  
• AI tools (yes, one of the hottest topics in eCommerce today)
  

…and a full feature-by-feature breakdown to help you choose the best fit for your business goals.

Now, let’s live in!

Shopware vs Shopify Platform Overviews

What’s Shopify?

Shopify is a popular SaaS platform that enables individuals and brands to launch online stores quickly, without needing technical skills. It handles hosting, security, and performance by default, offering a seamless experience from setup to scale. With 200+ official themes and thousands more on third-party marketplaces, plus access to powerful tools like Shopify Magic (AI), page builders, and app integrations, it’s designed to support rapid growth.

Shopify website

Shopify works especially well for D2C brands, creatives, and founders who want a streamlined platform that balances ease of use with flexibility. Whether you’re launching your first store or expanding internationally, Shopify simplifies everything—from storefront design to inventory, payments, and multi-channel selling.

👉 Is Shopify worth it? Read all the pros and cons of Shopify in our blog post now!

What’s Shopware?

Shopware, one of Shopify competitors, is a German-born eCommerce platform built for flexibility and deep customization. Available in both open-source and cloud versions, it caters to businesses that want full control over their storefronts. 

Shopware website

It’s well-suited for businesses with more complex needs, such as custom logic, B2B selling, or multi-language/multi-store operations. Developers and enterprise teams appreciate the platform’s extensibility and open architecture, while the cloud version allows less technical teams to enjoy Shopware’s features with managed hosting.

The latest version of Shopware is Shopware 6 - now let’s take a quick look at how it stacks up against Shopify in a concise comparison.

Shopware 6 vs Shopify side-by-side quick comparison

Shopify vs Shopware In-Depth Comparison: 10 Key Differences TESTED

Pricing and fees: Shopify is more affordable 

When comparing Shopify vs Shopware, pricing is a critical factor in determining the total cost of ownership. Here’s how both platforms measure up:

Shopify

1/ Platform fee: Shopify offers a range of subscription plans:

• Basic Shopify: $39/month
  
• Shopify: $105/month
  
• Advanced Shopify: $399/month
  
• Shopify Plus: Starting at $2,300/month (for enterprise-level merchants with custom needs)

Shopify pricing plan

2/ Transaction fee: If you use Shopify Payments, the transaction fees are:

• 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction for online payments
  
• If you use a third-party gateway, Shopify charges an additional 0.6%-2% fee.
  
• Shopify Plus has lower transaction fees (around 2.15% + 30¢ for online transactions), but it still applies if you use third-party payment processors.
  

3/ Other fees:

• Apps & integrations: The Shopify app marketplace offers many essential apps, often costing between $10 - $100+/month, depending on functionality.
  
• Maintenance: Shopify handles all server and software maintenance, so there are no extra fees for hosting, updates, or security.
  
• Development fees: If you require custom design or advanced features, you may need a developer. Freelancers or agencies can charge between $50 - $150/hour for these services, depending on the complexity of your store.
  

Shopware

1/ Platform fee:

• Community Edition (Self-hosted): Free
  
• Cloud Edition: Starts at €600/month for the Rise plan, €2400/month for the Evolve plan, and €6500/month for the Beyond plan

Shopware pricing plan

2/ Transaction fee:

The Community Edition and Cloud Edition do not charge transaction fees; it depends on your 3 party payment gateway rates. 

3/ Other fees:

• Maintenance: For self-hosted stores (Community Edition), you'll need to handle server costs, ranging from $50 - $500/month, depending on traffic and server specifications.
  
• Development fees: Customization for Shopware can be more complex and often requires a developer. Expect to pay $60 - $150/hour for Shopware development, which could cost $1,000 - $5,000+ depending on how much you need to customize.
  
• Extensions: Many features, like advanced B2B tools, ERP integrations, or marketing extensions, are offered as paid extensions that can cost €50 - €500/month (roughly $55 - $550/month).
  

💡My verdict for Shopware vs Shopify fees: Shopify 70 - Shopware 30

• Shopify is a more predictable, all-inclusive platform with lower ongoing costs and no server maintenance required. 
  
• Shopware offers flexibility but at a higher cost for customization and maintenance, especially for self-hosted versions.
  

For most small to mid-sized merchants, Shopify is the more affordable and manageable option. For large or complex businesses needing highly tailored features, Shopware may be worth the investment.

Ease of use and setup: Shopify is significantly easier for beginners

If you’re just getting started, Shopify clearly leads in ease of use. From my experience using both platforms, Shopify gets you from zero to live much faster, especially if you don’t have a tech background.

• User-friendly interface: Shopify’s dashboard is intuitive and beginner-focused. The drag-and-drop editor allows you to build pages without writing a line of code, making it perfect for first-time store owners.
  
• Step-by-step onboarding: From product listings to payment setup, Shopify guides you through each step with helpful prompts, reducing guesswork during setup.
  
• Professional themes ready to go: With 200+ official themes and thousands more via third-party marketplaces, it’s easy to launch a clean, mobile-friendly store.
  
• Seamless app ecosystem: Apps are easy to install and integrate. Most require no technical setup - great for quickly adding features like marketing, analytics, or live chat.
  
• Quick launch: In my experience, you can get a fully functional Shopify store up and running in 2–4 weeks, especially if you follow a clear plan.
  

Shopware

Shopware Open Source (Self-Hosted)

• Requires technical setup and hosting: You’ll need to manage your own server, security updates, and configurations. This version gives you maximum control, but setup can be time-consuming if you don’t have in-house developers.
  
• Ideal for complex customizations: If you need to implement unique features or B2B flows, the open-source edition gives you full access to backend code—but it’s not beginner-friendly.
  
• Longer setup time: Based on my experience, expect 4–6 weeks for a typical launch.
  

Shopware Cloud (Hosted)

• Simplified setup with managed infrastructure: Shopware Cloud takes care of hosting and security, reducing the technical overhead significantly.
  
• Still requires some manual setup: While easier than the self-hosted version, it’s not as streamlined as Shopify. The interface can feel a bit more complex for first-time users.
  
• Moderate time to launch: With a clear roadmap, a store can typically go live in 3–4 weeks.
  

💡 My verdict for Shopify vs Shopware ease of use: Shopify 70 – Shopware 30

If you want speed, ease, and minimal friction during setup, Shopify is the better choice, especially for solo founders or small teams. Shopware Cloud is more manageable than the self-hosted version, but still not as intuitive as Shopify.

Online store builder: Shopify offers sleeker templates, Shopware provides hyper-customization 

Shopify makes it easy to build an online store using ready-made themes, offering over 250 official themes (15+ free themes included) on its Theme Store and access to thousands more through third-party marketplaces.

Customization is flexible with page builders, editable theme sections, and even AI tools like Shopify Magic and Shopify Sidekick that help you fine-tune your design without touching code. You can try any theme for free and only pay when you publish, making it accessible for testing and starting strong. 

💡 Free Shopify themes are great for getting started, but if you want full design control, faster performance, and features that truly drive sales, a paid theme is worth the investment. Our top picks? Sleek and Hyper — both crafted for serious growth.

Sleek Theme – Clean aesthetic. Smart design. Serious results.

• Modern & immersive: Create rich, engaging shopping experiences with stylish layouts combining images, text, and videos.
  
• Speed meets style: Enjoy fast-loading pages, subtle animations, and built-in SEO optimizations that look great and perform even better.
  
• Next-level UX: Every touchpoint—from homepage to checkout—is designed to be intuitive, elegant, and conversion-friendly.
  

Try Sleek free

Sleek Shopify theme

Hyper theme - Built for B2B, optimized for scale

• Fast & high-performing: Load pages up to 2× faster with lightning-quick performance and SEO-friendly architecture that boosts both conversions and discoverability.
  
• Wholesale-ready: Take your B2B game further with advanced pricing rules, bulk ordering, and multi-currency support—all optimized for efficiency and large-scale operations.
  

Try Hyper free

Hyper Shopify theme

Shopware also supports theme-based store building, with around 170 available themes, though many require a subscription or monthly fee. Where Shopware really shines is its "Shopping Experiences" feature - a visual editor that lets you customize sections directly within an existing theme. It’s especially useful for building homepages, landing pages, and promotional content with a more modular approach.

Shopware theme store

B2B & Wholesale features: Shopware wins with native tools

When it comes to B2B, the conversation often turns to Shopify Plus vs Shopware. Both platforms are evolving to meet wholesale needs, but Shopware’s foundation in B2B gives it a strong edge, especially for businesses with more complex requirements.

Shopify: Flexible, but full features require Plus

Shopify B2B features

• Blend B2B with D2C: Shopify allows merchants to manage both B2B and D2C in the same store using third-party apps. Features like tiered pricing, customer-specific discounts, and bulk ordering are possible, even on lower plans, making it accessible for small to mid-sized businesses.
  
• Separate wholesale store option: You can also create a dedicated Shopify store for B2B to deliver a distinct experience without disrupting your main D2C operations.
  
• Advanced tools on Shopify Plus: For native B2B features, you’ll need to upgrade to Shopify Plus. This unlocks:
  
  • Custom pricing per customer group
    
  • Advanced discount logic
    
  • Account management for B2B clients
    
  • More control over checkout experiences
    
  • Personalized catalogs and dedicated support
    

While powerful, Shopify’s B2B features are gated behind Shopify Plus, which may not be viable for smaller businesses.

Shopware: B2B Built In

Shopware B2B Components

• Native B2B functionality: Shopware offers built-in B2B features starting from its Evolve plan, tailored for businesses that need structured B2B workflows out of the box.
  
• Key capabilities include:
  
  • Customer-specific pricing
    
  • Bulk ordering and advanced order management
    
  • Flexible payment methods for wholesale
    
  • Order approval processes
    
  • A self-service B2B portal
    
  • Deep customization for unique workflows
    

Shopware’s B2B setup is more advanced and integrated, making it ideal for businesses with established wholesale operations or plans to scale aggressively.

💡My verdict for Shopware vs Shopify B2B: Shopify 40 – Shopware 60

Shopify is more accessible and flexible for getting started, especially if you're blending D2C and B2B. But for fully-featured, enterprise-grade B2B tools, Shopware leads the way with its native and customizable capabilities.

App ecosystem & integrations: Shopify dominates with 13,000+ integrations

When comparing Shopify apps vs Shopware extensions, there are several key differences in terms of availability, functionality, and ease of integration. Here’s a detailed comparison:

💡My verdict for Shopware vs Shopify apps & extensions: Shopify 50 - Shopware 50

• Shopify’s ecosystem is especially strong for businesses looking to scale quickly without heavy technical overhead. Need to add upsells, cross-sells, product reviews, or social proof? You’ll find multiple user-friendly apps ready to go in minutes.
  
• Shopware Extensions offer more specialized, enterprise-level solutions for businesses with complex needs, like advanced B2B operations or highly customized product catalogs. While the marketplace is smaller, it provides greater flexibility but requires technical expertise.
  

Both platforms excel in their own right, and your choice should depend on your business needs, resources, and how hands-on you want to be with your store’s setup and maintenance.

🔥 Pro Tip: Power up your sales with FoxKit – Smart Upsell & Cross-Sell

If you’re running a Shopify store and looking to boost your average order value, FoxKit is a top pick. It’s an all-in-one conversion app that helps you:

• Add upsells and cross-sells with smart product recommendations
  
• Increase urgency with countdown timers and low-stock warnings
  
• Launch sticky add-to-cart bars and quick views to boost convenience
  
• Set up everything visually—no coding needed
  

Whether you're a new merchant or a scaling brand, FoxKit gives you the conversion power of multiple apps - without the clutter or high costs. 

Marketing: Shopify provides better all-in-one solutions 

Comparing SEO structure and built-in marketing tools, both Shopify and Shopware offer solid capabilities, but they do it differently. Look deeper in this table below: 

💡My verdict on Shopify vs Shopware Marketing & SEO: Shopware 60 - Shopify 40

While Shopify offers a more user-friendly and ready-to-go experience, Shopware excels in customization and deeper control, especially valuable for merchants with complex SEO and marketing needs. That said, Shopify’s app store can help you bridge most gaps, especially if ease of use and quick setup are your priorities.

Sales channels: Shopify excels with native multichannel selling

When comparing Shopify and Shopware for sales channels, it’s clear that both platforms have their strengths, but they approach multichannel selling in different ways. Let’s break it down.

Shopify

Shopify really shines with its built-in features. For any merchant looking to get up and running quickly, Shopify offers an online store, POS system, and global sales via Shopify Markets - all included in the platform. This is ideal for businesses that need a straightforward, plug-and-play solution with minimal setup.

Shopify sales channels

However, when it comes to selling on marketplaces like Amazon or eBay, or leveraging social media sales channels, Shopify doesn’t provide native support. To fill this gap, you must use third-party apps, such as LitCommerce. While this gives you flexibility to choose your integrations, it does add an extra layer of complexity and requires you to manage additional subscriptions or fees.

For selling on marketplaces like Amazon, read our article on Shopify vs Amazon if you want to see the difference.

Shopware

Shopware offers an online store built right into the platform, but for anything beyond that - like POS systems, global sales, or selling through marketplaces, you’re going to need to rely on third-party integrations.

Shopware multichannel connects

For marketplace integrations, Shopware uses Channel Engine, which allows you to connect to over 950 marketplaces. This is fantastic for businesses that want to sell globally and on various platforms without manually managing each marketplace, but it also means you’ll need to set up and manage an additional tool.

💡My verdict for Shopware vs Shopify sales channels: Shopify 60 - Shopware 40

In short, Shopify is best for quick, easy setup, while Shopware is better for businesses needing a customizable, global approach - if you're willing to handle the extra setup.

Payments & Checkout: Shopify provides faster checkout conversion 

Having worked with both platforms, I can say Shopify offers one of the smoothest checkout processes out of the box, while Shopware gives you more control, if you're willing to handle the setup.

Shopify: Streamlined checkout with built-in features

Shopify is designed for speed and simplicity, and its checkout experience reflects that. The entire flow is clean, mobile-optimized, and conversion-focused.

Shopify payments

• Shopify Payments: If available in your region, Shopify Payments removes the need for third-party gateways and eliminates extra transaction fees. It’s easy to set up and integrates directly into your store. If not available, you can still use third-party gateways, though additional fees apply (already covered in the pricing section).
  
• Shop Pay: This is one of Shopify’s most valuable checkout features. Returning customers can check out in seconds using saved payment and shipping info, which significantly boosts conversion rates.
  
• Installments: Shopify also offers installment payment options, allowing customers to split purchases into smaller payments—a helpful feature for higher-ticket items.
  
• Limitations: The main drawback is that checkout customization is locked behind Shopify Plus. Unless you upgrade, you won’t be able to modify the checkout page beyond basic branding. That said, Shopify’s default checkout is widely recognized as one of the highest-converting in eCommerce.
  

Learn more: Shopify payment methods

Shopware: Full customization with more setup effort

Shopware payment gateways extensions

• Third-party integrations: Shopware doesn’t have a native payment gateway. You’ll need to connect third-party providers using extensions. This gives you more choice, but requires manual setup and testing.
  
• No platform fees: Shopware itself charges no transaction fees, which can reduce long-term costs, depending on your payment provider.
  
• Full checkout customization: Shopware allows total control over the checkout flow, regardless of your plan. If your business needs a custom flow or special features, Shopware makes it possible from the start.
  

AI capabilities: Shopware leads in AI potential

In the Shopify vs Shopware debate, both platforms offer strong AI and automation features, but they differ in focus and depth. Shopify emphasizes ease of use and productivity for small to mid-sized merchants, while Shopware aims to provide a more comprehensive, AI-driven ecommerce experience.

Shopify’s AI tools include Shopify Magic and Shopify Sidekick, designed to simplify day-to-day operations:

• Shopify Magic auto-generates product descriptions, emails, blog content, and policies. It also supports multilingual content, background image editing, and even theme block generation, saving tons of time on routine work.
  
• Shopify Sidekick is your built-in AI assistant. You can type natural prompts to set discounts, organize collections, configure domains, manage metafields, and interpret reports. It also supports voice chat and screen sharing for hands-on help. I’ve used it to build customer segments, run queries, and even tweak design—all without touching code.
  

Shopware, in contrast, positions itself as an AI-first platform with broader commerce-specific capabilities:

• AI Copilot enables the automatic generation of product information, SEO content, and translations. It supports customer segmentation and smart rule-based automation for tasks like shipping conditions and promotions.
  
• AI Commerce expands further, embedding AI throughout the customer journey—from personalized product recommendations to real-time behavioral targeting—allowing merchants to deliver tailored experiences at scale.
  

💡My verdict for Shopware vs Shopify for AI: Shopify 60 - Shopware 40

Shopify is ideal for fast, productivity-boosting AI tools; Shopware wins in strategic, commerce-wide AI execution. 

If you give Shopify a go, unlock the full potential of your store with Foxify’s AI builder - easily create any page with AI-generated content and instant language translation for global reach. Plus, speed up your design workflow with one-click Figma to Shopify integration.

Community & Support: Shopify wins with 24/7 assistance.

Shopify offers round-the-clock support via live chat, email, and phone, making it easy for merchants to get help anytime. You’ll also have access to a wide network of sales agents and agency partners who can assist with anything from setup to custom development. Plus, its active community ensures that if you ask a question, you’ll likely get a quick, helpful response.

Shopify community

On the other hand, Shopware is backed by a strong developer-driven community. It’s a great space to connect with experienced developers, ask technical questions, and find experts to help grow your store, especially if you prefer a more hands-on, customizable approach.

Shopware community

💡My verdict on Shopify vs Shopware community & support: Shopify 60 - Shopware 40

Shopify is more beginner-friendly with accessible, real-time support, while Shopware leans towards experienced users who are comfortable navigating a technical ecosystem

Shopware vs Shopify: Which One Truly Fits Your Business? 

After working with both platforms, here’s what I’ve learned:

Shopify is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses, especially in D2C. It’s super intuitive, quick to set up, and packed with built-in tools. I’ve launched stores in under a month without touching code. 

Shopware, on the other hand, really shines when the business is more complex, like B2B, multi-store, or customized workflows. It takes longer to set up, but the flexibility and native B2B features are on another level. I’ve worked with teams that needed tailored checkout flows and custom automation - Shopware handled it beautifully, but always with developer involvement.

Shopware vs Shopify FAQs

Is Shopware better than Shopify?

Not necessarily—it depends on what stage your business is in and what you need. From my experience, Shopify is better for small to mid-sized businesses, especially in D2C. It’s easy to use, affordable, and fast to launch. Shopware, on the other hand, is a strong choice if you're running a more complex or B2B-focused operation and need a high level of customization. It’s powerful, but more technical and expensive.

Why should I choose Shopware instead of Shopify?

Choose Shopware if you need:

• Built-in B2B features like customer-specific pricing and approval workflows.
  
• Deep customization, especially for checkout and business logic.
  
• A flexible API-first structure to connect with custom systems.
  

It’s ideal for larger brands or manufacturers that require full control over the customer experience, pricing rules, and order flows.

What are the pros and cons of Shopware as an eCommerce platform?

Pros:

• Native B2B tools are built into mid-tier and enterprise plans.
  
• Advanced checkout customization and smart automation.
  
• No transaction fees from Shopware itself.
  
• Scalable and developer-friendly with open-source flexibility.
  

Cons:

• Higher cost: Evolve plan starts around €600/month.
  
• Fewer themes and plug-and-play apps compared to Shopify.
  
• Longer setup time, especially without in-house developers.
  
• More suited to teams with technical expertise.
  

That wraps up our comparison of Shopware vs Shopify! I hope this breakdown gave you a clearer view of what each platform offers - and helped you figure out which one fits your business best.

For more insights, expert tips, and practical strategies to grow your eCommerce brand, be sure to check out the FoxEcom blog.