Magento Open Source Pros and Cons

Customisable in every regard.

Core functionality kept in easy to use chunks.

Very good EAV model - confusing when first use

Lots of plugins/open source tools

Development cycle is pretty decent. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Complex layout/config XML

Can be slow without cache..

Can be complex for intergration into back office systems Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Because Magento doesn't pretend to be anything other than an ecommerce solution, it's relatively easy and quick to deploy a well-functioning ecommerce solution that can deliver and maintain an up-to-date customer experience if developed correctly. Integration toolkits for a wide range of back-office applications are available, whilst direct integration can be achieved if you need hand-off some of Magento's functionality to other applications.

In more recent times, Magento have improved what used to be a rather long-winded and incomplete update/upgrade process and iterations are now more frequent and focused. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The pricing differential between the Community and Enterprise Editions encourages many clients to choose Community and end up seriously compromising their capabilities and resilience. Probably the biggest issue is the quality variance in the developer base, where even Magento's attempts at training and validation are no guarantee of real understanding or good development practice, so you need to do your homework.

A good ongoing relationship with a specialist developer is necessary, as Magento does have plenty of hidden interdependencies. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Content and product updates can be made with little to no knowledge of html and css Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The merchandising and promotions features are not very robust and leave much to be desired as one's business grows larger. We will be moving to Magento Enterprise in the next few months, which will solve many of these issues for us. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Magento is the most capable, scalable, and functional ecommerce platform of this generation. Magento continues to evolve as the market evolves. Customers looking to create a diverse, powerful, and functional website should consider using Magento above all else. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Cost is somewhat prohibitive, but all things worth buying are expensive. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The finished product of our client's stores built with Magento are always awesome. With a good developer, you can get an exceptional finished product. The customized sites that we have done through Magento are used by some of the most recognizable and well established brands in the world. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I would not recommend this platform for novices. It is a great platform for seasoned developers that will yield incredible results, but can be difficult to someone not already familiar. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

There are a ton of developers that understand the platform and are easy to find. It's a strong ecommerce platform for a very low cost. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Cost are based off of server licenses. If you have more servers to manage traffic, it will increase the cost signficantly..losing it's value over elite ecommerce platforms like Demandware & ATG. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The open-source capabilities that are available with the platform make design very easy. Great for retailers to get an edge over their competition. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Magento competitors are beginning to get the upper hand. Also, the price increase is making it hard to maintain the site. Consultant prices will continue to rise as well. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.