The verdict in three sentences
For a Berlin fashion brand with €4 million to €25 million in online revenue, Shopify Plus usually delivers the lowest three year cost and the fastest launch in 2026, as long as pricing and catalogue logic stay fairly standard. Adobe Commerce earns its cost when you run several stores or brands on one backend, mix B2B wholesale with D2C, or need deep checkout customisation with an in-house tech team. In both cases integration runs €70,000 to €320,000, and that, more than the licence, drives the difference.
The Berlin context
Take the head of ecommerce at a Berlin streetwear and outerwear brand with 9 own stores, €8 million online and wholesale accounts across the DACH region. The catalogue has 6,000 SKUs with sizes and colours. German shoppers expect specific payment methods: invoice payment (Kauf auf Rechnung), PayPal, SEPA direct debit and Klarna, plus a legally compliant checkout under German consumer law and GDPR. The brand also runs separate stores for Austria and Switzerland.
Feature comparison
| 2026 criterion | Shopify Plus | Adobe Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Licence model | Subscription from roughly USD 2,300 a month, variable fee above a sales threshold per contract | Annual licence based on revenue, quoted by Adobe |
| Hosting | Included, managed by Shopify | Adobe cloud included or self managed depending on offer |
| German payment methods | Via payment apps and providers | Via extensions and payment service providers |
| Multi store (DE, AT, CH) | Expansion stores and Markets | Native multi website on one instance |
| Checkout customisation | Within platform extension points | Very broad, full code access |
| B2B wholesale | B2B features available, less flexible | Very complete |
| Upgrades | Automatic | Planned upgrade projects |
Licence figures are 2026 estimates; ask both vendors for a written proposal based on your revenue forecast.
Three year total cost
Assumptions: €8 million online in year one, 12 % annual growth, 6,000 SKUs, three country stores.
| Three year item | Shopify Plus | Adobe Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Licence and variable fees | €100,000 to €180,000 | €180,000 to €350,000 |
| Initial integration | €70,000 to €170,000 | €140,000 to €320,000 |
| Apps or extensions | €35,000 to €80,000 | €25,000 to €70,000 |
| Hosting and infrastructure | Included | €0 to €100,000 depending on offer |
| Maintenance and roadmap | €70,000 to €140,000 | €140,000 to €280,000 |
| Indicative total | €275,000 to €570,000 | €485,000 to €1,120,000 |
| Time to launch | 4 to 6 months | 6 to 9 months |
Dependency and scalability
| Criterion | Shopify Plus | Adobe Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Vendor dependency | High: hosting, rules and pricing set by the platform | Medium: code access, licence required |
| Integrator dependency | Low to medium, large partner pool | Higher, scarcer specialist developers in Berlin |
| Reversibility | Data export, theme rebuilt elsewhere | Full export, code reusable on open source edition |
| Wholesale growth | Good for simple B2B | Strongest option |
| New country stores | Weeks | 1 to 3 months per site |
Recommendation by profile
- Single brand D2C with fast international growth: Shopify Plus.
- Multi brand group with heavy wholesale and complex pricing: Adobe Commerce.
- No in-house engineering team: Shopify Plus unless a hard constraint says otherwise.
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Mini case study
Illustrative example: Jonas, head of ecommerce at a Berlin outerwear brand, takes midpoint values. Shopify Plus: €420,000 over 3 years, live in 5 months. Adobe Commerce: €800,000 over 3 years, live in 8 months. The gap is €380,000 plus 3 months. With €670,000 of monthly online sales and an expected 6 % conversion uplift on the new platform, those 3 months are worth about €120,000 in extra sales. Because 30 % of revenue is wholesale with tiered pricing, Jonas still runs a two week proof of concept on both platforms before deciding.
FAQ
Can Shopify Plus handle Kauf auf Rechnung?
Yes, through payment providers that offer invoice payment in Germany. Check fees per provider, often 2 to 4 % per transaction for invoice methods.
How much does an Adobe Commerce licence cost?
It is based on your revenue and negotiated with Adobe. As a 2026 estimate, expect several tens of thousands of euros a year for a brand at €8 million online.
How long does migrating 6,000 SKUs take?
Plan 4 to 6 months on Shopify Plus and 6 to 9 months on Adobe Commerce, including customers and order history.
What is the most common budgeting mistake?
Underestimating maintenance, which often makes up 20 to 30 % of three year cost. Ask for a separate annual figure in every quote.
Does GDPR affect the platform choice?
Both can be run compliantly, but you need a data processing agreement and clear data residency answers. German works councils may also review tools that track staff activity.
Let's scope your project. Send us your online revenue, catalogue size and target countries, and we will price integration, maintenance and three year cost for each platform. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.