Blog · Updated for 2026
Our 2019 comparison of open-source Magento 2 and the Miva platform, with a 2026 update on what has changed since.
Magento 2 gives flexibility but needs steady upkeep.
Miva still bundles hosting and support with its platform.
The 2026 update comes first; the 2019 article follows.
Tell us about your store and what you need from a platform, and we’ll get back to you. Or call 954-539-5678.
2026 update · October 2026
The trade-off in the 2019 article still holds. Magento gives you more control and a bigger extension community, but you take on hosting, security and upgrades. Miva runs more of that for you. A few things have moved on since.
Adobe ended support for Magento 1 on June 30, 2020, so it gets no security patches. A store still on it should move to a supported platform.
The free edition is Magento Open Source and the paid edition is Adobe Commerce. Adobe sets end-of-support dates for each 2.4.x release and still issues critical security patches, so upgrades are ongoing work.
Miva, Inc. is still independent and selling its platform as of 2026. It offers hosted and managed stores, its own MivaPay payments, and B2B and B2C selling from one admin.
Since June 2025 Adobe also sells Adobe Commerce as a Cloud Service, a SaaS version that Adobe keeps updated. It is aimed at larger businesses.
We build stores on Magento, Shopify, Shopify Plus, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Ecwid and OpenCart, and a new website takes 6 to 10 weeks. See our e-commerce development service.
Original article · 2019
Published in 2019 and kept as written. It was written before Magento 1 reached end of life and before Magento’s paid edition became Adobe Commerce; see the update above.
When comparing E-commerce platforms, it’s always important to identify the kind of experience that you’re hoping to have as merchants. Each software has its respective strengths and weaknesses, but your specific use case and goals will lead you in the right direction when comparing E-commerce software options. In the case of Miva and Magento 2, there are some critical differences.
Magento 2 is the latest version of Magento, an open-source E-commerce system. With Magento, you have lots of flexibility, but take on more maintenance and risk. This includes Magento PCI compliance, hosting, security, extensions and customizations, software updates, bug fixes, and patches. Magento merchants need to be prepared to work with a larger number of vendors and to upkeep their Magento instance.
At JLB, we help many merchants to build and maintain Magento websites, but we also run into those who are not prepared to properly budget for and invest in proper upkeep, or who do not want to have as much responsibility for security and other technological upkeep.
Miva is a more stable platform. Where Magento still has a couple thousand that they’re tackling, Miva excels at providing a more polished platform. Unlike Magento’s Community and Enterprise versions, Miva provides a Service Level Agreement (SLA), hosting, security and PCI compliance, automatic software updates and patches, feature and functionality customization services, as well as many more advanced support services. Even though you may have an outside design and marketing team like JLB, if you ever need help with your Miva site you’re still able to reach out for direct, specialized support from Miva.
In essence, Magento has more extensions and a bigger community today, but Miva offers more consistent high quality customization and helps merchants to focus more on sales, marketing, and success while their team maintains a best-in-class website for you. You still retain more access than a standard SaaS platform and can leverage a team like JLB to help with your custom theme and other needs, but you have more predictability in terms of your costs and other requirements.
If you’re on Magento 1.x and are extremely happy with your experience, Magento 2 may be a great opportunity for you. If, however, you’re trying to compare platforms, Miva will stack up as a stronger candidate for a large portion of mid-market and Enterprise businesses. In some cases, it will also make sense to look at other shopping cart softwares, like BigCommerce, Zoey, or Shopify, especially if you’re a small business selling retail products with standard E-commerce features and functionalities. Bear in mind that Magento 1.x is approaching an end of life.
If you’re still unsure which platform is best for you, our team can consult in order to help assess your needs and identify the best path for your business. Regardless of your E-commerce platform, our team can help with everything, including not just your branding needs, but Search Engine Optimization, Google AdWords, Pay Per Click marketing, social sedia marketing, email marketing, and various other services to help your business grow.
To schedule a consultation, please call us at 954-539-5678 or contact us online to request an appointment.
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