SmugMug vs Adobe Commerce(ex Magento): guide for 2024

Final verdict

SmugMug and Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) both offer specialized platforms, but they cater to different audiences and needs.

SmugMug (Overall Grade: 6.3/10)

is tailored for photographers and creatives who want to showcase and sell their work online. It offers a range of customizable templates optimized for high-quality images, robust photo protection features, and basic ecommerce capabilities. SmugMug is ideal for users seeking an easy-to-use platform with a focus on visual presentation and photo sales.
Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) (Overall Grade: 6.9/10)

is a versatile commerce platform suitable for both B2B and B2C businesses. It provides extensive customization options, AI-driven personalization, and a comprehensive set of tools for managing online stores. Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) is perfect for businesses looking for a scalable, flexible solution with advanced ecommerce features and integration capabilities.

	Overall grade: 6.3	Overall grade: 6.9
Design functionalities & templates	7.1	6.7
Ease of use	7.8	5.4
Ecommerce	7.3	9.4
Website editors	7.3	7.8
Product testing options	7.4	3.9
Price	7.8	5.8
Hosting quality	5.0	8.1
Website speed optimization	5.5	6.6
Plugins/extensions and integrations	6.2	9.1
Marketing features	3.8	8.1
Customer support	7.9	8.3
Website security	6.0	8.4
AI capabilities	0	7.7
User management	7.2	8.0

Best for ecommerce

7.3

9.4

Verdict

: SmugMug is ideal for photographers and creatives, while Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) excels in comprehensive ecommerce solutions for various business types.

SmugMug

: Designed specifically for photographers, SmugMug offers a unique platform for showcasing and selling visual content. It provides essential ecommerce features like digital downloads, product pricing, and multiple currency support. However, when comparing SmugMug vs Adobe Commerce(ex Magento), SmugMug’s ecommerce capabilities are more limited and tailored to a niche market.
Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

: A versatile and robust ecommerce platform, Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) supports both B2B and B2C businesses with extensive customization options, advanced marketing tools, and seamless payment processing. It is well-suited for businesses looking for scalability and comprehensive ecommerce functionalities.

Best for informational & business websites

7.5

7.4

Verdict

: SmugMug and Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) both offer unique strengths for informational and business websites, but SmugMug slightly edges out Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) due to its user-friendly interface and specialized features for photographers and creatives.

SmugMug

: Scoring 7.5, SmugMug is tailored for photographers and creatives, offering customizable templates optimized for high-quality image display. Its user-friendly interface makes it easy to create visually appealing websites without coding knowledge. SmugMug also includes robust photo protection features and e-commerce capabilities for selling prints and digital downloads, making it a strong choice for visual artists looking to showcase and monetize their work.
Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

: With a score of 7.4, Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) is a versatile platform suitable for both B2B and B2C businesses. It offers extensive customization options, AI-driven personalization, and a range of tools for marketing, SEO, and inventory management. While it provides powerful features and scalability, its complexity can pose challenges for beginners, making it more suitable for users with technical expertise or larger businesses looking for a comprehensive e-commerce solution.

Detailed comparison

7.1

6.7

Winner: SmugMug.

If you’re a photographer or a creative looking for a platform that offers a range of customizable, easy-to-use templates optimized for displaying high-quality images, SmugMug is the preferred choice.

SmugMug offers a variety of templates and designs, catering to the diverse needs of photographers and visual artists. Users can choose from an extensive collection of customizable templates, ensuring their website or portfolio reflects their unique style and brand.

SmugMug Themes

On the other hand, Adobe Commerce, formerly Magento, prioritizes flexibility over pre-built templates. While it offers a limited selection of base themes, users can access third-party themes for customization. Theme options are highly adaptable, allowing changes to layouts, colors, fonts, and the creation of custom page layouts.

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) Themes

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7.8

5.4

🏆 Winner: SmugMug

. Scoring a 7.8, SmugMug offers a user-friendly interface that caters to both beginners and professionals, making it easy to create and customize photo galleries. Adobe Commerce(ex Magento), with a score of 5.4, offers high customization capabilities and scalability but its complexity can pose challenges for beginners without technical expertise, necessitating a steeper learning curve. If ease of use is a priority, SmugMug is the clear winner in this category.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) goes a step further with its comprehensive array of learning resources, including videos, tutorials, and instructor-led courses through Adobe Digital Learning Services, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.

Learn SmugMug

Learn Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

7.3

9.4

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) is a robust ecommerce platform suitable for both B2B and B2C businesses, offering a comprehensive set of tools for managing successful online stores. On the other hand, SmugMug is a premium website builder specifically designed for photographers and creatives, offering a unique platform for selling their work online.


Ecommerce themes and templates	8.0	7.5
Product page customization	6.5	9.0
Payment processing and commissions	6.0	7.8
POS capabilities	0.0	7.0
Payment gateways	5.0	8.5
Product numbers	9.0	7.5
Additional ecommerce features	6.5	8.0

SmugMug ecommerce features:

Digital Downloads
Product Pricing
Tax handling
Discounts and Coupons
Multiple Currencies support

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) ecommerce features:

Product and Inventory Management
Order Management
Customer Management
Marketing and Promotions
Payment Processing
Multi-Channel Commerce

Ecommerce themes & templates

Almost all of the templates of SmugMug are designed with ecommerce in mind, providing built-in shopping cart functionality. Adobe Commerce, powered by Magento, offers a comprehensive ecosystem for ecommerce themes and templates, enabling businesses to customize their online stores to meet specific branding and functionality requirements.

Product page customization

SmugMug prioritizes photography, offering a platform tailored for photographers to showcase and sell their work, despite having more limited product page customization compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms. Adobe Commerce, formerly known as Magento, offers extensive customization options for product pages, enabling businesses to enhance the user experience and tailor product displays to their specific needs.

Payment processing

SmugMug has a unique approach to payment processing, payment processing for your sales is managed through your account settings, where you must complete a Tax & Payment form to set up your payment preferences. Your earnings are calculated as 85% of the markup on print prices or download sales, with SmugMug retaining 15% to cover various costs. Payments are made via ACH direct deposit for U.S. users or PayPal for international users, processed on the first business day after the 7th of each month for profits accumulated through the end of the previous month. Adobe Commerce offers integrated payment solutions and commission management for seamless online transactions, alongside POS integration for omnichannel retail experiences. It supports a wide array of payment gateways, ensuring flexible and secure payment options for customers.

7.3

7.8

🏆

Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

. Adobe Commerce(ex Magento), with a score of 7.8, offers a robust ecommerce platform designed for flexibility and scalability, enabling businesses to create customized online stores with extensive features for product management, customer engagement, and analytics. It supports both B2B and B2C models and offers a range of tools for marketing, SEO, and inventory management, along with a vast ecosystem of extensions. Suitable for businesses of all sizes, Adobe Commerce provides options for cloud-hosting or self-hosting, catering to a wide array of ecommerce needs.

Smugmug website editor

SmugMug’s website builder editor, scoring 7.3, offers a user-friendly interface that allows for the creation of visually appealing, professional-grade photography websites without the need for coding knowledge. Users can customize their site by choosing from a variety of templates, adjusting layouts, and incorporating their own branding elements like logos and colors. The editor also supports easy uploading, organizing, and showcasing of high-quality images, with robust privacy and security settings to protect content. Additionally, SmugMug provides tools for selling prints and digital downloads directly from the website, making it a comprehensive platform for photographers looking to display and monetize their work online.

Mobile editor/app

7.5

🏆

Winner: SmugMug

. Both SmugMug and Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) have limitations when it comes to mobile editing. SmugMug offers a mobile editing app, but its functionality is limited to adding new photos and editing descriptions. Layout changes on the website are not possible through the app.

On the other hand, Adobe Commerce does not offer a mobile app for website editing at all. Therefore, despite its limited functionality, SmugMug is the clear winner in this category as it at least provides some mobile editing capabilities.

7.4

3.9

Overall Result

:

SmugMug Wins

. SmugMug scores 7.4 in product testing options, significantly higher than Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) which scores 3.9. SmugMug offers a 14-day free trial during which users can test premium features. Adobe Commerce(ex Magento), on the other hand, does not offer a free trial or a money back guarantee, but it is possible to test premium features by requesting a demo version for a trial period.


Free Plan	No	No
Trial Duration	14 days	No
Testing Premium Features	During the free trial	By requesting a demo version
Money Back Guarantee	No	No

7.8

5.8

SmugMug offers a range of plans suitable for different needs and budgets, while Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) is a more premium solution with prices starting from approximately $2,000.

	Offerings	Offerings
$10-$20	Power ($15.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants their entire photo catalog safe and shareable on their own terms. Unlimited storage, Seamless Lightroom integration. Value for price: 6.5	No offering at this amount.
$30-$40	Portfolio ($31.00/month): Best for the photographer who wants to start selling photos and keep their archive organized perfectly. All Power plan’s features, plus 21 premade templates, prints and digital downloads sales, Custom Watermarks, Payment integration for credit cards and PayPal, Integrated cart and checkout experience, Sales statistics. Value for price: 8.0	No offering at this amount.
$40-$50	Pro ($45.00/month): Adds to Portfolio with custom price lists and coupons, Platform access for assistant or second shooter, Full control over client downloads, Branded packaging and thank you notes for print sales, coupon creator. Value for price: 8.5	No offering at this amount.
$400-$500	Venture (Starts with $500/month): All Pro features, plus dedicated support contacts and account representative for all Smugmug needs, Design, workflow, and organization consultation and support.	No offering at this amount.
$2000+	No offering at this amount.	Adobe Commerce Pro and Managed Services ($2000/month): Adobe Commerce Pro and Managed Services are designed to deliver scalable, secure, and extensive eCommerce solutions tailored to a wide range of business demands. It offers a comprehensive set of ecommerce tools, including product and inventory management, efficient order processing, customer account management, targeted marketing capabilities, diverse payment processing options, robust security measures, and scalability to accommodate business growth. It also offers both self-hosted and cloud-hosted options, providing flexibility and optimized performance. While it does not have an AI website builder, it offers a powerful theme framework for comprehensive control, including frontend editing for basic adjustments. Experienced developers can employ custom code for unique designs and advanced functionalities.

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

5.0

8.1

🏆

Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) offers robust and scalable eCommerce solutions with both self-hosted and cloud-hosted options, providing flexibility and optimized performance. On the other hand, SmugMug does not provide detailed information about their hosting features, making it difficult to assess their hosting quality. Therefore, Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) is the clear winner in this category.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, but no detailed information on their hosting features	Yes, Adobe Commerce offers robust and scalable eCommerce solutions with both self-hosted and cloud-hosted options
Data Centers:	Smugmug does not provide any information about their data centers	Adobe Commerce on Cloud infrastructure Leverages Amazon Web Services (AWS), Specific data center details not publicly available
Type of hosting:	Smugmug does not provide any information about their hosting types	Self Hosting, Managed Hosting
Uptime:	Smugmug does not provide any information on their uptime statistics	Uptime Guarantee for Adobe Managed hosting is provided
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.9%	Uptime Guarantee for Adobe Managed hosting is provided

5.5

6.6

🏆 Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

Both SmugMug and Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) prioritize website performance and page speed, but Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) has a more comprehensive approach to speed optimization, giving it the edge.


Focus	Mobile Responsive design	CDN, Database optimization, Caching, Indexing
Performance Tools	Google Lighthouse, PageSpeed Insights	Google PageSpeed Insights Integration
Key Strategies	Mobile Responsive design	CDN, Database optimization, Caching, Indexing
Load Times	Varies widely, dependent on optimization	Varies widely, dependent on optimization
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies widely, dependent on optimization	Varies; influenced by plugins, images
Core Web Vitals Improvement	No information available	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) has a comprehensive approach to speed optimization, focusing on CDN, database optimization, caching, and indexing. It also places a strong emphasis on improving Core Web Vitals (CWV), specifically LCP, FID, and CLS. The load times and PageSpeed scores vary widely, depending on the optimization and the complexity of the website, including the use of plugins and images.

On the other hand, SmugMug’s approach to speed optimization is more focused on mobile responsive design. However, it does not provide any information on CWV improvements. Like Adobe Commerce(ex Magento), both the load times and PageSpeed scores of SmugMug websites vary widely, depending on the optimization and the complexity of the website.

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6.2

9.1

🏆 Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento).

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) scores a high 9.1, offering a vast array of extensions and plugins, estimated to be in the tens of thousands, covering aspects such as marketing, payment processing, shipping, content management, security, and optimization. This flexibility makes Adobe Commerce a powerful platform for creating tailored ecommerce experiences. On the other hand, SmugMug, with a score of 6.2, supports integrations with several photo-hosting services, enhancing its functionality for photographers. However, it falls short in comparison to the extensive offerings of Adobe Commerce.

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) Applications

Adobe Commerce marketplace

3.8

8.1

🏆

Overall Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

. Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) offers a comprehensive suite of marketing features, including SEO tools, email marketing, blogging, social media integration, analytics and reporting, and ads and promotions. SmugMug, on the other hand, lacks in several areas, such as email marketing, blogging, and ads and promotions.


SEO Tools	Basic SEO tools	Comprehensive SEO tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration
Analytics and Reporting	Basic analytics with Google Analytics integration	Advanced analytics and reporting
Ads and Promotions		Advanced tools for creating and managing promotions

7.9

8.3

🏆 Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

. Comparing SmugMug vs Adobe Commerce(ex Magento), Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) takes the lead with a higher customer support score of 8.3. Adobe Commerce offers 24/7 support through phone, email, and live chat, ensuring that users can get assistance at any time. Additionally, their comprehensive knowledge base, community forums, and extensive documentation provide valuable resources for troubleshooting and self-help.

SmugMug, with a customer support score of 7.9, provides support mainly through email and chat, available 364 days a year. While SmugMug offers rapid response times and immediate chat support, phone support is limited to higher-tier business subscriptions. Despite this, SmugMug’s specialized support for enterprise customers, including dedicated account representatives and tailored assistance, ensures a high level of service for professional photographers and businesses.

6.0

8.4

🏆

Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

. Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) takes a comprehensive approach to security, providing advanced encryption and access control measures for private data storage and protection. It also offers regular security updates and patches to address vulnerabilities, secure payment processing, and tools for monitoring suspicious activity on the website.

SmugMug, while it does take privacy and security seriously, does not disclose detailed information about its website security measures. It does offer privacy settings to protect website content with passwords and hide account owner information, but it lacks the comprehensive security measures provided by Adobe Commerce(ex Magento).

7.7


Personalized Design
SEO Optimization		AI-driven SEO optimization for better search engine visibility
Customer Behavior Analysis		AI-powered analysis of shopper behavior and trends
Sales Predictions		AI-aided inventory forecasting and price optimization
Inventory Management		AI tools for efficient inventory management
Content Generation		AI assistance in creating and optimizing product descriptions

🏆 Winner: Adobe Commerce (ex Magento)

. Adobe Commerce, with a score of 7.7, integrates AI across various aspects of its platform, enhancing customer service, security, and marketing. Its AI capabilities include personalized product recommendations, visual search capabilities, inventory management, price optimization, content creation and optimization, customer service, security, and marketing.

Adobe Commerce AI feature

SmugMug, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. This lack of AI features may limit the platform’s ability to provide personalized experiences and efficient operations, particularly for larger or more complex websites.

7.2

8.0

🏆 Winner: Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

. Both SmugMug and Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) offer robust user management features, but Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) edges out with a slightly higher score.

SmugMug allows the primary account holder full control over the account, with the ability to add additional users through “Shared Account Management” for Portfolio and Pro level accounts. These additional users can be given various roles with different permissions, enabling them to manage or edit the website without full access to billing or account settings.
Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) allows the number of users who can edit a website to be determined by user licenses and roles. User licenses, bought separately, determine the total number of users allowed, with additional licenses purchasable as needed. Roles and permissions, managed within the available licenses, control access and modifications, ensuring data security and efficient workflow.

SmugMug User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Owner	The primary account holder who has full control over the site.	Complete access to all features, settings, content management, and billing.
Admin	Users granted almost the same level of access as the owner, minus some critical billing or account settings.	Manage content, order prints, access to stats, and settings except for account and billing changes.
Contributor	Users who can upload and manage content in specific galleries.	Upload content to assigned galleries, edit captions, and keywords. Limited access to settings.

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento) User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Administrator	Has full permissions to all aspects of Adobe Commerce, including global settings and data.	Full access to all settings, data, and functionalities within Adobe Commerce. Can manage other users’ roles and permissions.
Store Administrator	Responsible for the day-to-day management of the store, including products, orders, and customer service.	Access to manage products, process orders, and handle customer inquiries, but may have restricted access to sensitive global settings or data.
Design Team Member	Focuses on the aesthetic and user experience aspects of the store, working on content design and layout.	Access to content design tools and functionalities, but restricted from accessing customer, order information, and other sensitive areas.
Default User (B2B)	Has view-only access to company profile and credit information, and full access to activities related to sales and quotes.	Full access to sales and quotes activities; view-only for company profile and credit information.
Senior Buyer (B2B)	Engaged in purchasing, with access to all Sales and Quotes resources, and view-only permissions to the Company Profile, User and Teams, Payment Information, and Company Credit.	Comprehensive access to Sales and Quotes, with limited viewing rights for company’s financial and profile data.
Assistant Buyer (B2B)	Assists in purchasing activities, with permissions to place orders using Checkout with Quote, and to view orders, quotes, and company profile information.	Permission to execute orders and access relevant purchasing data; view-only access to company profile information.

Additional Features


SSL Certificate
Custom Domain
Free Custom Domain Included
International Domains
Mobile Responsive
Page Speed
Website Builder Mobile App
Convert a Website To An App
Website Analytics
Multilingual Sites
Multiple Users

User Feedback

SmugMug

33 reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars

Adobe Commerce(ex Magento)

501 reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars

Users appreciate SmugMug for its reliability, ease of use, and the platform’s ability to securely host and share high-resolution photographs and videos. Highlights include seamless mobile device syncing, excellent gallery features for showcasing assets, and robust customization options minus JavaScript support. However, some users desire improvements in facial recognition technology for automatic album creation, expanded asset management capabilities beyond primarily photos, and more advanced search functionalities. Concerns about rising costs and the platform’s intuitiveness were also mentioned. Overall, SmugMug is valued for its central storage solution, privacy features for client photos, and its ability to simplify file sharing and photo sales.

Adobe Commerce (formerly Magento Commerce) receives high praise for its comprehensive ecommerce solutions, offering features like customer and order management, scalability, and customization options. Users appreciate its flexibility and ease of use, although some mention a learning curve due to its extensive features. Despite occasional drawbacks like slow speed or complexity, Adobe Commerce proves beneficial for businesses seeking robust ecommerce platforms, aiding in sales growth, customer management, and overall efficiency in managing online stores.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

Which platform is better for photographers, SmugMug or Adobe Commerce (ex Magento)?

SmugMug is specifically designed for photographers and creatives, offering customizable templates optimized for high-quality image display and robust photo protection features. It’s the preferred choice for individuals and small businesses in the creative industry looking to showcase and monetize their work online.

Can Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) be used for small businesses?

Yes, Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) caters to both B2B and B2C businesses with complex ecommerce needs, offering extensive customization, advanced marketing tools, and a wide range of integrations. However, its complexity and cost may pose challenges for smaller businesses without technical expertise or a larger budget.

How do SmugMug and Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) compare in terms of ease of use?

SmugMug offers a more user-friendly interface, making it easier for beginners and professionals alike to create and customize photo galleries. Adobe Commerce (ex Magento), while offering high customization capabilities and scalability, has a steeper learning curve due to its complexity.

Which platform offers better ecommerce features?

Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) is the superior choice for businesses seeking a powerful and scalable ecommerce solution, with a high score in ecommerce capabilities. SmugMug provides essential ecommerce features tailored to its niche audience, making it a great choice for creatives looking to monetize their photography.

Are there any significant differences in the pricing models of SmugMug and Adobe Commerce (ex Magento)?

SmugMug offers a range of plans suitable for different needs and budgets, making it a more affordable option for photographers and creatives. Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) is a premium solution with prices starting from approximately $2,000, targeting businesses that require a comprehensive set of ecommerce tools and features.

Which platform provides better customer support?

Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) offers 24/7 customer support through various channels and a comprehensive knowledge base, making it the winner in this category. SmugMug also provides excellent support, but Adobe Commerce’s resources are more extensive, especially for enterprise-level customers.

How do the platforms compare in terms of website speed optimization and hosting quality?

Adobe Commerce (ex Magento) has a more comprehensive approach to speed optimization and offers robust and scalable eCommerce solutions with both self-hosted and cloud-hosted options. SmugMug focuses more on mobile responsive design but does not provide detailed information about their hosting features or speed optimization strategies.