Salesforce Commerce Cloud alternative – should you switch?

The requirements for commerce platforms are evolving: tech stacks are becoming more modular, project timelines are getting shorter, and expectations for scalability are rising. At the same time, businesses want more control – over their data, infrastructure, and development cycles.

If you’re currently using Salesforce Commerce Cloud, you’re working with a system deeply embedded in the Salesforce ecosystem. That may still work well for your setup – or it may no longer be the right fit. The real question is: Does your platform today support the architecture you’ll need tomorrow?

Salesforce Commerce Cloud: An overview

Salesforce Commerce Cloud (SFCC) was founded in 2004 as Demandware and acquired by Salesforce in 2016. Today, the platform is a core part of the Salesforce portfolio and is primarily used in the upper tier of the retail market.

Tight integration with the Salesforce ecosystem

SFCC is closely connected to other Salesforce solutions, particularly in the areas of CRM, marketing automation, and analytics. This provides users with a consistent data foundation, though it can also impact flexibility when choosing other systems.

For external systems such as ERP (e.g., SAP, Microsoft Dynamics) or payment service providers, APIs are available. The depth of integration depends on the specific setup and the implementation partner involved.

Licensing model and operating costs

The cost structure follows a revenue-based model:

• License fees range from 1% to 2% of annual gross merchandise value (according to Salesforce).

• Additional project-related costs apply for implementation, customization, and ongoing operations.

The actual investment varies depending on the scope of the project. Publicly documented cases range from around €200,000 to several million euros in total costs.

Features and analytics tools

SFCC offers standardized features for both B2C and B2B commerce – from product management and promotions to checkout.

In analytics, the platform provides an integrated reporting solution called “Bundled Intelligence,” which includes preconfigured dashboards for KPIs such as conversion rates, cart abandonment, and revenue trends.

What makes a good Salesforce Commerce Cloud alternative?

If you’re exploring alternatives to Salesforce Commerce Cloud, you’re not just looking for another vendor – you need a platform that meets your specific requirements without adding unnecessary complexity.

API accessibility and technological openness

A modern commerce platform should be fully API-driven. This allows integration with third-party systems (ERP, PIM, CRM, or external marketplaces) without being limited by proprietary interfaces or closed ecosystems.

An API-first architecture lays the foundation for headless commerce and supports different frontend technologies, whether React, Vue, or other frameworks. This enables flexible shopping experiences that can be orchestrated across multiple touchpoints.

Controllable hosting and data sovereignty

For many businesses, having the freedom to choose their hosting environment is critical – for example, to comply with data protection requirements such as GDPR or to maintain existing cloud strategies. A platform that supports both public cloud hosting via hyperscalers and dedicated hosting provides the necessary flexibility while ensuring control over infrastructure.

Scalability without licensing barriers

As businesses grow, traffic, order volumes, and catalog size can increase rapidly. A scalable alternative should be able to:

• Reliably process several thousand orders per minute

• Efficiently handle product catalogs with well over 100,000 SKUs

• Do so without restrictive licensing models

A pricing model based on actual gross merchandise value ensures predictable costs – especially when there are no extra fees for API calls, multi-tenancy, or user licenses.

Feature set with a real-time focus

An alternative should come with out-of-the-box functionality tailored to commerce processes, including:

• Rule-based pricing, content, and campaign management without coding

• Analytics dashboards with real-time metrics, updated regularly

• Support for technologies such as 3D product visualization or AR integration

This enables teams to respond quickly – both in day-to-day operations and when rolling out new strategies.

Built-in legal compliance

Platforms designed from the ground up to meet European data protection standards offer clear advantages: shorter approval cycles with data protection officers, reduced effort in processing agreements, and transparent processes for data storage, deletion, and access control.

In short – what should you look for?

• Support for both B2C and B2B processes

• API access to all core functionalities

• Multi-tenancy and multilingual capabilities

• Flexible product and variant logic

• User management with role- and rights-based permissions

• Rule-based control of pricing, content, and workflows

• High performance for large assortments and high order volumes

• Compatibility with existing ERP, PIM, and CRM systems

• Hosting options in compliance with GDPR

• Extensible architecture via apps and plugins

• Standardized analytics and monitoring tools

8 Salesforce Commerce Cloud alternatives at a glance

1) Shopware

• Origin and concept: Shopware is a Germany-based open-source ecommerce platform known for its flexibility and scalability.

• Technology: It is built on a modular architecture and can be customized in many areas. Thanks to its API-first approach, it scales well. Shopware offers both self-hosted solutions and cloud options.

• Target audience: Primarily used by large and internationally operating businesses. Shopware supports multiple languages, different currencies, and country-specific tax rates.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025)

Shopware offers different plans to meet various needs:

• Community Edition: Free open-source version with core features

• Rise: Starting at €600 per month

• Evolve: Starting at €2,400 per month

• Beyond: Starting at €6,500 per month

In addition to the monthly fees, further costs may apply, for example:

• Hosting: For the self-hosted version, costs for servers and infrastructure apply.

• Extensions: Costs for plugins and themes from the Shopware Store.

2) Shopify

Origin and concept: Shopify is a Canada-based cloud service (“Software as a Service”).

Technology: Hosting is included with Shopify, and extensions can be obtained through its own app store. Custom hosting options or full data control are not available.

Target audience: According to the company, Shopify is used worldwide by a wide range of businesses, from small to larger online stores.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: Shopify)

Shopify offers three pricing plans (prices for monthly billing):

• Basic: €36 per month; suitable for new ecommerce businesses with basic needs.

• Shopify: €105 per month; includes additional features such as professional reports and advanced staff accounts.

• Advanced Shopify: €384 per month; includes advanced reporting features and lower transaction fees.

In addition to the monthly fees, extra costs may apply, such as:

• Transaction fees: According to the provider, using external payment gateways incurs transaction fees of 2%, 1%, or 0.5% per transaction.

• Costs for apps and themes: Extensions and design templates may require additional payment.

Shopify offers a 25% discount on annual subscriptions for the Basic, Shopify, and Advanced plans.

3) Adobe Commerce

Origin and concept: Adobe Commerce evolved from Magento and is now part of Adobe.

Technology: According to the provider, it includes extensive built-in features for both B2C and B2B. It offers both on-premise and cloud hosting options, giving businesses flexibility in data control. It has a modular architecture with a comprehensive API and a large marketplace for extensions.

Target audience: The vendor states that the platform is used by both mid-sized and large enterprises.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: Adobe)

Adobe Commerce is generally available in two packages: Adobe Commerce Pro and an additional Managed Services option, which Adobe says helps minimize risk and disruptions.

Pricing is based on annual gross merchandise value (GMV) and average order value (AOV). A request must be submitted to receive a specific quote.

In addition to licensing fees, further expenses may apply, such as:

• Extensions: Fees for additional modules and plugins.

• Support and maintenance: Ongoing costs for updates and technical support.

4) WooCommerce

Origin and concept: WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that adds online store functionality.

Technology: A self-hosted solution that can be extended with themes and plugins.

Target audience: Primarily used by stores that already operate on WordPress or want to combine content and ecommerce features.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: WooCommerce)

While WooCommerce as a plugin is free, the following additional costs may apply:

• Premium themes: One-time cost of around €50.

• Plugins and extensions: Additional fees may apply depending on functionality.

5) BigCommerce

Origin and concept: BigCommerce is a US-based Software-as-a-Service platform with hosting provided by the vendor.

Technology: As a SaaS platform, BigCommerce handles hosting; custom hosting options are not available. SEO and marketing features are preconfigured and can be used depending on the plan. The platform offers an open API and numerous integrations. Customization is possible but within the platform’s boundaries.

Target audience: The system provides interfaces for integrating inventory management and CRM tools.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: BigCommerce)

BigCommerce offers several pricing plans (monthly billing):

• Standard: $39/month; suitable for small businesses with basic needs. Up to $50,000 in online sales.

• Plus: $105/month; includes advanced marketing tools and customer segmentation. Up to $180,000 in online sales.

• Pro: $399/month; for businesses with higher sales volumes and advanced features. Up to $400,000 in online sales.

• Enterprise: Custom pricing; tailored solutions for large businesses with specific requirements.

6) Wix

Origin and concept: Wix is a website builder provider that also offers ecommerce functionality.

Technology: The company provides drag-and-drop features and design templates on its platform. As a hosted solution, Wix handles the hosting for the websites created.

Target audience: Designed for individuals and businesses that want to quickly create and customize a website with a store.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: Wix)

Wix offers several packages for online stores:

• Light: From €13.09/month; suitable for individuals and first steps in website building. No ecommerce features.

• Core: From €26.18/month; suitable for small stores with basic features.

• Business: From €40.46/month; offers extended ecommerce features and better support.

• Business Elite: From €177.31/month; provides an advanced developer platform.

Additional costs may apply, such as:

• Domain: From the second year, usually €14.95/year. “.shop” or “.store” domains are more expensive.

• Email accounts: Wix connects your domain to G Suite for €72/year.

7) Spryker

Origin and concept: Spryker is a commerce solution developed in Germany.

Technology: Spryker is built on a modular, headless, and API-first architecture. It offers flexible hosting options, including on-premise and cloud.

Target audience: According to the company, Spryker is used by businesses with extensive customization requirements, particularly in the B2B sector.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: Spryker)

Like other providers, Spryker offers flexible pricing. The company currently provides four packages – B2B Commerce, Enterprise Marketplace, Unified Commerce, and more recently, B2C Commerce.

Spryker does not publish example pricing for these packages on its website.

8) Commercetools

Origin and concept: Commercetools is a German company that offers a cloud-based commerce platform.

Technology: As a cloud platform, Commercetools is provided as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Custom hosting options or choosing your own hosting provider are not available. Commercetools follows a microservices, API-first, and headless approach.

Target audience: According to the company, it is aimed at businesses seeking scalable and highly customizable commerce solutions.

Plans & pricing (as of August 2025, source: Commercetools)

Commercetools does not publish pricing or package details on its website.

How to find your Salesforce Commerce Cloud alternative

Objective comparison criteria provide a solid foundation for decision-making – but they’re often not enough on their own. Ideally, a commerce platform should support your business for several years. That’s why it’s worth looking beyond pure functionality and factoring in your strategic requirements as well. Keep the following points in mind:

Additional tips:

Before deciding on a platform, it’s worth answering a few key questions:

• How quickly do you want to grow, and in which markets?

• What budget do you have available – not only for the initial launch but also for maintenance and ongoing development?

• How important is design and functional freedom to you?

The clearer you define your goals – whether it’s rapid market entry, technical independence, or international scaling – the easier it will be to choose the right solution.

Another important point: Check how well support is organized in your region. An active community or a network of experienced partners can make a big difference in day-to-day operations, especially if you plan to work with your own developers or agency resources.

If you have long-term demands for high performance, adaptability, and growth, focus on systems built specifically for that. Short-term compromises can become costly later on – strategic clarity always pays off.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud alternative – frequently asked questions