Platform Comparison

Magento vs Shopify for Your Business

Comparing Magento and Shopify for Australian businesses. Honest analysis of features, pricing, and performance to help you choose the right platform.

50+

Businesses Served

3 months

Post-Launch Support

98%

Client Retention

100% custom code, no templates

Custom Code

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Why Choose Clever Ops

What makes our web design approach different for magento vs shopify.

Custom Design, No Templates

Every website is designed from scratch to match your brand identity. No cookie-cutter templates - just unique design that sets you apart from competitors.

Conversion-Focused Layout

Strategic placement of calls-to-action, forms, and trust signals designed to turn visitors into enquiries and customers.

Ongoing Support Included

3 months of post-launch support covering bug fixes, performance tuning, and content updates so you are never left stranded.

Lightning-Fast Performance

Hand-coded websites that load in under 2 seconds. No bloated page builders or unnecessary plugins slowing down your site.

Accessible and Compliant

Built to WCAG accessibility standards so every visitor can use your site. Proper alt text, keyboard navigation, and contrast ratios.

Quick Comparison

Side-by-side feature comparison to help you decide.

Feature	Magento	Shopify
Deployment model	Self-hosted open source (Magento Open Source) or Adobe Commerce Cloud	SaaS; fully hosted and managed by Shopify
Customisation depth	Unlimited; full PHP source access, custom modules, database control	Theme and app layer; no access to Shopify source code
Developer ecosystem	Skilled Magento developers are scarce and command premium rates	Liquid and React; large developer pool available at varied rates
Total cost of ownership	Free software; server, development, and maintenance costs are substantial	Predictable monthly SaaS cost; lower technical overhead
Catalogue scale	Purpose-built for catalogues of 100,000+ SKUs with complex attributes	Handles large catalogues well; very large ranges require optimisation
B2B commerce features	Adobe Commerce includes full B2B suite: quotes, company accounts, custom pricing	Shopify B2B (Plus only); functional but less mature than Magento
Time to launch	Months of development for a production-quality store	Weeks from signup to first sale with a competent team

Our Verdict

Choose Magento (Adobe Commerce) if you are running a complex operation with a large catalogue, B2B sales channels, and a development team able to manage a PHP application over time. Choose Shopify if you want a managed platform, predictable costs, and access to a large developer pool. For Australian businesses turning over under $10M online annually, Shopify delivers more value faster; Magento is justified when the customisation requirements exceed what any SaaS platform can satisfy.

What We Include in Every Website

Features and capabilities built into every web design project.

Multi-Device Testing

Rigorous testing across browsers, devices, and screen sizes to ensure consistent experience everywhere.

✓ Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge
✓ iOS and Android
✓ Desktop, tablet, mobile

Component Library

Reusable UI components that maintain consistency across your site and speed up future page development.

✓ Design system tokens
✓ Accessible components
✓ Consistent spacing

Hand-Coded Development

Every line of code is written by hand for maximum performance and flexibility. No WordPress themes, no page builders.

✓ Next.js / React framework
✓ TypeScript for reliability
✓ Tailwind CSS for styling

Performance Monitoring

Core Web Vitals monitoring and performance budgets to maintain speed as your content grows.

✓ LCP under 2.5s
✓ CLS under 0.1
✓ FID under 100ms

Optimised Media

Automatic image compression, lazy loading, and modern formats (WebP, AVIF) for fast load times without sacrificing quality.

✓ Responsive images
✓ Lazy loading
✓ Next-gen formats

Content Management

Easy-to-update content systems that your team can manage without developer involvement.

✓ Structured data files
✓ Markdown support
✓ Media library

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, mobile responsiveness is built into every project from the start. We test across multiple devices and screen sizes to ensure a seamless experience everywhere.

Timelines depend on complexity, but most sites launch within 4-8 weeks. We start with a rapid prototype in the first 2 weeks so you can see your site taking shape early.

Every project includes: a discovery workshop, wireframes and design mockups, custom development (no templates), SEO foundation, device testing, training for your team, and 3 months of support.

If neither platform fits, we build fully custom websites using modern frameworks like Next.js. This gives you complete control over performance, design, and functionality without platform limitations.

We can work with both platforms, but we often recommend a custom-coded approach that outperforms both for performance, SEO, and long-term flexibility. Book a free assessment to discuss your options.

It depends on your specific needs. Magento excels in some areas while Shopify is stronger in others. Our detailed comparison above helps you decide based on your priorities.

Every website is scoped individually based on complexity, number of pages, and required integrations. Most projects fall within our standard tiers. Book a free assessment to get an accurate quote tailored to your business.

Yes. Every website includes 3 months of post-launch support covering bug fixes, performance monitoring, and minor content updates. After that, we offer flexible ongoing support plans.