Shopware vs Shopify: Which system for my online store?

If you want to run an online store, you can use a so-called store system. Creating an online store using store systems such as Shopware or Shopify makes it easier for you to set it up. In this article, we would like to compare the two store systems with each other. This way, you can find out which of the two options is best suited to you and your project.

Reading time 10 min

1. We'll explain what a store system actually is
2. Then we briefly introduce you to the companies Shopware and Shopify
3. In the main part of our article, we make a big comparison of the two store systems
4. Afterwards, we will roughly summarize all the advantages and disadvantages for you
5. and give you information about the Shopware 6.4.10.0 update
6. In addition, we give you an update as of July 2022
7. Last but not least, we present you with our conclusion
8. FAQ: What do the store systems do?
   1. What does Shopify cost?
   2. What is Shopware?
   3. What does Shopify do?
   4. What does Shopware cost?

We hope you enjoy this article and that by the end of it you will know which store system is best for you.

What is a store system?

A store system is software that a company can use to operate an online store and sell its products and services. The system is managed, maintained and usually also operated by the company itself. It must be clearly distinguished from platforms such as Ebay and Amazon. These are so-called marketplaces that companies and retailers can also use to sell their products. However, these platforms are operated by Ebay and Amazon themselves and can only be customized to a limited extent.

There are many different store systems that can be used with or without programming knowledge. Shopware and Shopify, for example, are such store systems. They are both characterized by the fact that they have drag & drop functions that can be used by anyone, with or without programming experience. We will show you exactly how the functionality of Shopware and Shopify manifests itself and what is and isn't possible later on.

The Shopware 6 store system

The Shopware store system was developed in Germany in 2004. It is a store system that consists of various modules that can be combined to create an online store. The latest version of the store system, Shopware 6, has been available since May 2019. The current update is 6.4.10.0, which was released at the beginning of April 2022. We will also look at this version later in our comparison.

Shopware 6 is available in different editions at different prices: These are the Community Edition, the Rise, Evolve and Beyond Editions. Shopware is available as open source software and as a commercial version. The individual versions can be purchased in a subscription model at a monthly rate or with a one-off payment.

The Shopify store system

Shopify was also founded in 2004 as a Canadian company by the German developer Tobias Lütke. The first real version of the store system was released in 2006. The first webshop to go online with Shopify was the company's own store. Snowboards were offered in the online store. Over the years, the system gained in popularity and customers and even went public in 2015.

With Shopify, small and medium-sized companies can operate their online store. In a newer version, it is even possible for large corporations to create their online store. The cheapest basic version is available from USD 29.

With the help of a modular system, an online store can be created and designed very easily and without any technical knowledge. For additional functions and designs, there is an app store that offers over 1000 extensions free of charge or for a fee.

Shopware 6 vs. Shopify - the comparison

Advantages and disadvantages of the store systems at a glance

Now that we have compared the two store systems, we would like to give you a brief overview of the most important advantages and disadvantages of Shopware 6 and Shopify. This will give you a better idea of which store system is best suited to which situation.

Shopware 6

Shopify

Update 26.04.2022: Shopware 6.4.10.0

Another advantage of Shopware 6 is that the store system is constantly being further developed and new functions are released. This means you can always keep your online store up to date with the latest technology with Shopware 6, but also adapt to the legal situation in Germany. The latest version is Shopware 6.4.10.0, which has been available since the beginning of April 2022. With this release, for example, improvements have been made that affect the admin and his area of responsibility. Changes have also been made to help meet legal requirements.

For example, a new Price Indication Directive has been introduced in the EU. Products must now include information about the lowest price in the last 30 days. This should benefit the user and prevent retailers from advertising "false" low offers, even though the product was previously cheaper. The Shopware developers have adapted the store system directly with the latest release. Two new price fields now allow you to enter the lowest gross and net price in the product details. As you can see, the use of Shopware is very practical in order to always take all legal requirements into account. You only have to maintain the details and don't have to deal with the programming implementation in your online store. This is a major advantage of Shopware 6.

The cookie banner has also been adapted in Shopware. Due to the Telecommunications Telemedia Data Protection Act, the buttons in the cookie banners must now all be the same color and size. Previously, store operators had highlighted their preferred choice of cookies to be stored. Anyone who continues to do this risks a warning. So that you as a store operator do not receive a warning, this has been adjusted accordingly by the Shopware programmers.

Update 13.07.2022: Shopware version 6.4.10.1 to 6.4.13.0

To bring you up to date in this article, we would like to introduce you to the Shopware update 6.4.13.0 from July 4 and the new features it contains, as well as all the important improvements that have been added since version 6.4.10.0. With every Shopware update, the store system is improved and the wishes of the users are gradually implemented. This means that the community also has an influence on how Shopware changes. For example, if you have an urgent request for a function, you can open a ticket with Shopware to express this. Your request may be implemented in the next or subsequent updates.

Version 6.4.10.0

6.4.10.1 is a security update from Shopware. This was released on 20.04.2022. It closed a number of security vulnerabilities that were of a "medium" to "low" threat level. All older versions have been improved and protected against attacks on the store system or your online store.

Update 6.4.11.0

The next update was released by Shopware on 04.5.2022. This is version 6.4.11.0, which brings some new features with it. The new features include a confirmation email that goes out to users who send you a contact request via your store. They will then receive an email stating that their message has been sent to your online store and has been received by you. In the new update, the Shopware developers have also added salutations to the emails that are sent when the user's password is reset in your store. Another improvement has been made to the address input. The state field only appears if the previously selected country also has individual states. This was not the case before.

Shopware version 6.4.11.1

Version 6.4.11.1 was released immediately after the 6.4.11.0 update. Another change was released here: Now only categories that are active are displayed in the navigation. Up to this point, it could happen that categories were visible that were actually set to inactive.

Major update 6.4.12.0

In June 2022, there was another major update: Shopware 6.4.12.0, which included a number of improvements, especially for the administrators of your online store. One new function is the improvement of the Tag Manager. With the Tag Manager, you have the option of assigning tags to products, orders, shipping methods and more. These tags help you to categorize data and evaluate it better. Of course, you can also use the tags to create new rules in the Rule Builder. With the 6.4.12.0 update, you can now better manage the tags you have set. There is a clear module for this: Delete, edit or merge tags. You can also display everything that is assigned to a specific tag.

There have also been improvements to the dynamic product groups. Two additional filter conditions can now be selected: GTIN/EAN and delivery time. The GTIN or EAN selection option allows you to select products with a specific identification number. With the delivery time option, you can only display products that have a specific, e.g. very short, delivery time. This is useful, for example, when buying gifts shortly before Christmas or a similar event.

Another point is the improved search for admins. With the improvements, administrators can work more efficiently and find what they are looking for. The Shopware developers have significantly improved the performance of the search and adjusted the ranking of the search results.

In addition,the Flow Builder has also been optimized with 6.4.12.0 (maybe link the Flow Builder article here?). The sorting and grouping of the individual actions that you can select has been improved. If you want to select an action from the drop-down menu, you will now find it well sorted in suitable top categories. In addition, you will now be asked whether you want to save your changes before exiting the Flow Builder.

You can find out more about the 6.4.12.0 updates on the website of the store system itself

Version 6.4.13.0

The latest Shopware release was published on 04.07.2022. With this update, the store system receives a few small improvements, such as the correction of some minor bugs and the addition of smaller features that make working in the store system easier. For example, texts can now be inserted into the text editor using the CTRL + Shift + V combination. In addition, the quantity selection field changes to an input field if the number of options exceeds 100. The loading times for the inflow field sets have also been optimized.

You are now up to date with the latest functionalities and news about the Shopware store system. We will continue to provide information on updates in the future so that you can always refer back to this article if you want to find out about the latest Shopware versions.

Our conclusion: Shopware 6 or Shopify?

Both store systems have their advantages and disadvantages, but when it comes to customizing an online store, Shopware 6 is our clear favourite. Unfortunately, Shopify only offers limited options. You have to use the functions and designs that are already available and cannot simply implement new ideas yourself. This is different with Shopware 6. If you have a good team of programmers to help you develop individual functions, you can customize your online store. There are practically no limits! Of course, you can also use Shopware 6 without any programming knowledge. There are plenty of modules that you can put together using drag & drop. There are also many extensions available in the Shopware Shop.

If you want a Shopware store tailored to your needs but don't have a team of Shopware programmers, you've come to the right place. Our EXWE team specializes in making online store dreams come true and is happy to support you from planning to online store creation. You can find more information on our online store creation service overview.