The ever-changing eCommerce market creates many challenges for online businesses and impacts many aspects of daily operations. To face these challenges, choosing the proper hosting method for the eCommerce website is vital. To give a broader picture of the possibilities of establishing your eCommerce website, we prepared a brief comparison between Shopware Cloud and an On-premise solution to explore the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches.
Let’s start with some general information.
Shopware is available in two main hosting options: Cloud and On-premise. Apart from that, there are four different versions of this software available for customers:
- Shopware Community Edition (On-premise)
- Shopware Professional (Cloud infrastructure or On-premise)
- Shopware Enterprise (Cloud infrastructure or On-premise)
- Shopware Beyond (Cloud infrastructure or On-premise)
Quick Jump
- Shopware Cloud
- Shopware On-premise
- On-premise vs Cloud – old story, new twists
- Key differences
- When to choose Shopware Cloud?
- When to choose Shopware On-premise?
Shopware Cloud
Shopware Cloud is available as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) and Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). The SaaS version is best suited for standard businesses that want to focus on the business core, while Shopware takes care of maintenance by conducting automatic software updates and other technical aspects. Also, the SaaS version allows for automatic scaling of the store without any technical expertise required.
The PaaS version, in turn, is a more advanced solution for online businesses that require customization and full control over the eCommerce store. However, this option involves operating with developers on board as applying changes requires familiarity with coding and used technologies.
By opting for Shopware Cloud, you can choose between Rise, Evolve, and Beyond editions, depending on your needs.
Shopware On-premise
Shopware On-premise is a locally hosted solution – it means that the software is installed within the customer’s infrastructure, such as the local servers. Due to that, you have complete control of the software, so in contrast to Shopware Cloud, you are responsible for the platform’s maintenance, configuration, performance, scaling, security, etc. This approach gives complete freedom over the platform but, on the other hand, requires security measures and, most likely, increased costs related to IT staff salaries, physical infrastructure maintenance, and keeping up with security updates.
On-premise vs Cloud – old story, new twists
You are probably familiar with the story between cloud-based systems and On-premise ones. The most common statements regarding them are:
- Cloud-based systems offer less flexibility in terms of online store development, but at the same time, they don’t require having a dedicated IT team.
- The On-premise environment gives the merchant complete freedom about store development but also the responsibility of taking care of hosting, security and updates.
To shed more light on these statements and analyze the pros and cons of each approach, feel invited to read our other blogs related to that topic.
Coming back to the Shopware Cloud and On-premise topic – which type of platform should you select? Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this as every case is individual, and there are several factors to consider, such as business needs, technical capabilities of the team running the project, and the pace of the company’s growth.
Shopware Cloud and Shopware On-premise – key differences
Price
The Shopware Cloud cost depends on the chosen version and is usually estimated after consultation with a Shopware representative and presenting the idea of the website.
In the case of On-premise, the Community edition platform is free, while other options are discussed with a Shopware representative. Nonetheless, the costs related to maintenance and scaling are difficult to estimate. In addition, a technician team will be most likely necessary to be responsible for security, development, updates, etc.
Tech support
Technical support in Shopware Cloud depends on the chosen version. For example, Rise Edition provides basic technical support from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a service reaction time of 8 hours, while Beyond Edition support is available 24/7, service reaction time is 1 hour, and other support features are available, such as personal account manager or written developer support. The full comparison of available editions can be found on Shopware’s website.
On-premise solution, in turn, requires having a dedicated IT team or external agency (in other words – you need more experience to be able to fix bugs). To find a solution to your problem, you can use open source platforms such as Slack, Gitter, or IssueTracker to contact with the community and present your problem.
Implementation – When will it be ready to go?
The cloud-based solution lets you create a shop within a few clicks of the mouse. Additionally, it doesn’t require implementation costs to start with. Most of the implementation will be done automatically or by a drag-and-drop editor. As mentioned before, It’s a better solution for non-technical people.
In the case of an On-premise solution, it requires businesses to implement the software by themselves. Businesses are responsible for covering the costs of implementation and the smooth start of your website. It is worth noting that this option often leads to a longer implementation time and the need to find a developer or Shopware agency.
Control and customization
Shopware Cloud (Professional Edition) offers limited possibilities for customization. You can install plugins for the shop or upload them in .zip files, but there is a lack of the option of remote access through SSH (Secure Shell) to install and test plugins on your own; only the Enterprise edition allows you to do it through the workflow system. In addition, you cannot check immediately why some features are not working or what plugin causes malfunction e.g. payment gateway is installed but isn’t displayed on the website. In that case, you need to wait for tech support intervention.
On-Premise – this solution offers full control of the website. You have access to any installation method of plugins, for instance, remotely, so you do not have to upload .zips, etc. However, you have no tech support apart from the internal or external technical team. Also, you are in charge of scaling and maintenance of your website. It allows you to localize bugs and fix them immediately without waiting for an answer from tech support. On-premise enables you to be more flexible, especially when you have a technical team.
In both Shopware Cloud and On-Premise solutions, code remains the same.
Development
The first main difference is in installing plugins and tools, whether you do it manually in the case of Shopware Cloud Professional Edition by uploading zip. files, or having this process automated by Shopware Cloud Enterprise Edition or your On-premise software.
The second difference worth mentioning here is taking care of your uploaded plugins’ updates in order to avoid incompatibility with your website in case of an On-premise solution. Moreover, you need to remember to regularly check and service your eCommerce website.
Security
hopware Cloud provides regular security updates to protect your and your customer’s data. The responsibility for safety lies on the vendor’s side, therefore online businesses don’t have to worry about a security breach.
Nonetheless, in the case of On-premise, businesses are responsible for the security of your data i.e. information about your customers, communication channels, data storage, etc. If you cannot do it by yourself, the easiest way is to hire a cybersecurity technician who can do it for you. Worth mentioning here is taking care of your uploaded plugins’ updates in order to avoid incompatibility with your website.
When to choose Shopware Cloud?
Shopware Cloud is a way to go for those who want little involvement in the management of the software and want an out-of-the-box solution to be set up quickly. The vendor handles all aspects of the software provision, from the application and data usability to automatic updates. It’s a safe option – especially for businesses that don’t have the resources to devote to installing software and updates – but it also impose some limitations.
Shopware Cloud Pros
- Security provided by the vendor
- Automatic updates (instance update)
- Easy to set up
- A monthly fee is known in advance
Shopware Cloud Cons
- Limited control and customization options
- Dependency on provider support
- No remote access via SSH
- No servicing of the instance as a developer
- Waiting for support/response to technical requests
When to choose Shopware On-premise?
An On-premise (or self-managed) solution has certain benefits. A merchant can use the system without the need for a disruptive overhaul; the retail organization has the option to control its own hardware, software, and customer data.
Of course, the need to manage all aspects of infrastructure and software will require a lot of internal know-how, and even finding employees with the right level of technical expertise can be a headache. Traditionally, with On-premise solutions, challenges arise when it comes to scaling the infrastructure.
It is a good solution for those who want to scale their business in the future and want to have complete control over their software and freedom in implementing it.
Shopware On-premise pros
- Ownership of the infrastructure
- Full control over eCommerce
- Fully customizable
- Any plugin installation and integrations available
- The ability to locate errors by yourself and fix them (technical team)
Shopware On-premise cons
- You have to service the instance by yourself and take care of security and updates
- Not fully predictable development/scaling costs
So, which one is superior? The answer is, “it depends”. When choosing an optimal solution, you have to decide what you need or expect from a service.
Additionally, it depends on the experience and financial capabilities, whether businesses want to avoid unexpected costs or they are ready for it. For a regular customer, Shopware Cloud in a basic setup is a lot easier and more trouble-free solution. However, when they already have experience and IT specialists and want the website to be just as you want with full access and no limitations, On-premise is your way to go.
Looking for the best Shopware-based solution for your business?