Shopware vs Shopify: Hosting, Costs, Limits
· DigifyNow
Shopify is software you rent. Shopify runs the servers, updates and checkout. You extend it through apps and APIs, but only within the limits Shopify sets. You can host Shopware 6 yourself or through a provider and customize it down to the code. Then updates, plugin compatibility and server operations are on you. If you have no developer budget, Shopify usually fits. For complex B2B logic or full code control, Shopware is often the better fit. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
Shopware vs Shopify: what's the fundamental difference?
The biggest difference isn't on any feature list. It's about who runs the store. Shopify is software as a service (SaaS). You pick a plan, and Shopify takes care of the servers, security updates, traffic spikes and the checkout. You don't touch the core system. You can customize the theme, install apps and read and write data through APIs.
Shopware is a PHP application built on the Symfony framework. There's an open-source version you can run yourself, plus paid editions and cloud offerings from the vendor. If you run Shopware yourself, you decide on the server, the database and the code. But you're also the one responsible for installing updates and making sure your plugins still work afterward. To see which features come with which edition, check Shopware's current edition overview rather than older comparison articles.
So you can put this comparison in context: DigifyNow is an official Shopify Partner agency. We cover how the same basic choice between renting a system and running it yourself plays out with another alternative in our article on WooCommerce vs Shopify.
Shopware vs Shopify compared: the criteria
| Criterion | Shopify | Shopware 6 (self-hosted) |
|---|---|---|
| Operations and hosting | Handled by the vendor, no server of your own needed | Up to you or your hosting provider: server, PHP version, database, caching |
| Core system updates | Installed by the vendor; you don't choose the timing | Installed by you; timing and testing are your responsibility |
| Code customization | Theme code (Liquid) and apps, no access to the core | Access to the full source code, custom plugins possible |
| Extensions | Apps from the App Store, usually running on the app vendor's servers | Plugins run inside your store and must match the installed version |
| Checkout | Defined by the vendor, extensible only within permitted limits | Fully customizable, as long as you maintain the changes yourself |
| Server location | Set by the vendor; check its contract documents | Your choice, through your hosting provider |
| Headless setup | Possible via the Storefront API | Possible via the Store API |
| Day-to-day internal effort | Maintaining products, apps and theme | Plus monitoring, backups, update testing and plugin maintenance |
The table only compares the two operating models. If you choose Shopware's own cloud offering, the right-hand column moves closer to Shopify: Shopware then handles the servers and core updates, and your access to the code becomes more limited. Again, for context: DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
Shopware 6 vs Shopify: what does version 6 change?
Shopware 6 was rebuilt from scratch. It isn't simply a newer version of Shopware 5. That's why plugins and themes from Shopware 5 don't run on Shopware 6. Anyone still running a Shopware 5 store has to migrate anyway, even if they stay with the same vendor. Many comparisons leave this out.
Under the hood, Shopware 6 is API-first. The admin (Admin API) and the frontend (Store API) talk to the system through separate APIs. That lets you connect a custom frontend without touching the core. Shopify also separates its Admin API from its Storefront API, so when it comes to headless, the two are now very close. The real difference is in the backend. In Shopware 6 you can put custom logic directly into the system, such as pricing rules or shipping conditions. On Shopify, that kind of logic runs through apps or through the extension points Shopify provides. If the API terms are new to you, our article What Is an API: Definition, Example, Practice explains them. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
How much do Shopware and Shopify cost to run?
We don't list fixed amounts here. Plans change, and on both platforms the biggest cost depends on the project. What matters is which line items make up the total.
- Shopify: monthly plan, per-transaction fees (depending on plan and payment provider), app subscriptions, possibly a paid theme, and development time for customizations. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
- Self-hosted Shopware: hosting, a license for a paid edition (if you need its features), plugins with licenses or subscriptions, development time for customizations, and ongoing time for updates, testing and security patches.
- Both: data migration, integration with your ERP or inventory system, accounting or shipping, and content maintenance.
Ongoing operations are often underestimated. With Shopware you don't pay a subscription for rented software, but someone has to handle every major update. With Shopify, on the other hand, lots of small app subscriptions add up without anyone noticing. You'll find a breakdown of Shopify's cost items in our article Shopify Pricing: Plans, Fees, Extra Costs. A reliable figure is only possible once the scope, the integrations and the data volume are clear.
When is Shopify the wrong choice, and when is Shopware?
Both platforms have limits that you actually run into in practice. Weighing them on a "which one has more features" basis doesn't help much.
- Shopify is a poor fit when your ordering process differs fundamentally from the standard. Examples include multi-step approvals in B2B purchasing, quote requests instead of a cart, or customer-specific prices pulled from an external ERP. You can solve this with apps or custom development, but only within the extension points Shopify offers.
- Shopify is also a poor fit if you need to decide the server location yourself. Whether the vendor's contract documents meet your requirements is something your data protection officer has to review.
- Shopware is a poor fit if nobody, either in-house or at a contracted provider, is responsible for updates. A self-hosted store that doesn't get updated becomes a security risk over time.
- Shopware is also a poor fit when many plugins from different vendors have to work together. After a major update, not every vendor catches up at the same time. As long as even one plugin isn't compatible, the update is delayed for the entire store.
For a small catalog with standard shipping, neither platform is a mistake. Then the decision mostly comes down to operating effort and the fee structure. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
What breaks when you migrate between Shopware and Shopify?
Exporting your products and importing them again doesn't finish a platform switch. Things typically break in four places:
- URLs: Each platform builds product and category URLs according to its own patterns. Every old URL therefore needs a permanent (301) redirect to the new one. Without it, search results, bookmarks and backlinks from other sites lead nowhere. The mapping from old to new URLs should be finished before the move.
- Customer passwords: Passwords are only stored as hashes. Whether the target platform can accept hashes from another system depends on the platform. Plan for an invitation that lets customers set a new password.
- Variants and attributes: Shopware and Shopify model variants differently. Products with many options have to be restructured before import.
- Order history and integrations: Old orders can usually only be transferred to a limited extent. Every connection to your ERP or shipping has to be rebuilt for the new platform.
When moving to Shopify, you also need apps to replace what your old plugins did. Review each one individually instead of rebuilding your old plugin list one for one. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner. How to plan the test run, data reconciliation and cutover day is covered in our article Data Migration: Strategies, Checklist, Example.
How DigifyNow works with Shopify
This section isn't part of the comparison above. It describes how we work. DigifyNow is an official Shopify Partner agency. If you want us to build your Shopify store, you get the store setup, the theme, and integration with your existing systems such as ERP, CRM or shipping. Before we plan in an app from the App Store, we check whether the same function could be built as a custom component using Shopify's APIs.
If you're considering a custom frontend, our article on Shopify with a custom frontend and no plugin explains when a headless setup is worth it and when it isn't. The other tools we use, and where we're a partner, are listed in our system recommendations.
When outside help makes sense
Outside help is mainly worth it in three cases: when a Shopware 5 store has to be replaced, when the store needs to connect to an ERP or CRM, or when B2B processes such as customer-specific pricing go beyond the standard. Have these ready: the number of products and variants, a list of your current plugins or apps, the systems your store needs to exchange data with, and who will look after the store going forward. In a free, no-obligation assessment of your store project, we go through it together, and we'll tell you if switching isn't worth it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopware or Shopify better for B2B?
It depends on how far your purchasing process differs from the standard. Shopware 6 lets you build custom pricing and approval logic directly into the system, as long as you maintain the code yourself. Shopify handles B2B through plans, apps and extension points, and stays within the limits Shopify sets. Check each vendor's current B2B features directly. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
Can I self-host Shopware but not Shopify?
Yes. Shopware comes in an open-source version you can run on your own or a rented server, choosing the location, PHP version and database yourself. Shopify runs only on the vendor's infrastructure. In return, with Shopify you don't have to deal with server operations, security updates or backups of the core system. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.
How long does a migration from Shopware to Shopify take?
There's no one-size-fits-all answer. It depends on how many products and variants you have, how many redirects and integrations are needed, and how much work goes into the content. A store with a simple catalog and no ERP integration moves much faster than a B2B store with customer-specific pricing and a connected ERP. DigifyNow is a Shopify Partner.