Changes in Shopware licensing – will they affect your business?

Shopware and licensing changes – a natural step in the platform’s evolution

In recent days, Shopware’s decision to change the terms of use for Shopware Account and Shopware Store for Community Edition users has stirred up quite a few emotions. Starting March 24, 2025, stores generating more than 1 million euros in monthly revenue and still using the free version will be required to switch to one of the paid plans (Rise, Evolve, or Beyond).

This move has received mixed reactions. Some see it as a threat to the platform’s openness; others – as a natural consequence of the evolution of open-source software. In this article, we take a broader look at this change and ask whether it is truly as controversial as some suggest.

Shopware’s commitment to quality comes first

One of Shopware’s key strengths is the quality of its plugin ecosystem and solutions available in the Shopware Store. Unlike competing platforms, Shopware applies very strict guidelines regarding code quality, testing, and compliance with best practices. Every plugin undergoes manual review before it reaches users.

This can be compared to the difference between the Apple and Google ecosystems. Where Apple emphasizes strict quality control, Android offers more freedom – but at the cost of a certain level of instability and risk for users. Similarly, Shopware consistently prioritizes quality, and that requires financial investment.

Impact on large stores – is the change really a problem?

It’s important to highlight that the changes apply only to companies generating over 1 million euros in monthly revenue. This means small and medium-sized shops can continue using the Community Edition without any additional costs.

Moreover, stores operating at that scale usually have dedicated features developed for their needs by experienced agencies. In such cases, access to the Shopware Store is not critical, as most necessary solutions are already tailored to specific business requirements. If a store is still using the Community Edition at this stage, it has likely long outgrown standard needs and is operating on a custom infrastructure.

Payment integrations and the real needs of users

Many e-commerce users rely on plugins provided by third-party vendors, especially in the payment area. Currently, popular payment systems like tPay or PayNow offer their integrations directly via their own websites, making it unnecessary to download them from the Shopware Store.

This means that the changes to Shopware Store access will likely be insignificant for most businesses – key integrations can be easily obtained from other sources.

What are e-commerce agencies afraid of?

The licensing changes have sparked numerous discussions among e-commerce agencies. But is the dissatisfaction really due to the changes’ impact on clients, or rather the need to adapt to new business realities? Some agencies may fear losing their competitive advantage in a model that promotes more transparent and efficient solutions for e-commerce.

In publications on this topic, some suggest that the Shopware changes could be a reason to migrate to another platform. Some publications on this topic suggest that, in light of the recent changes in Shopware, businesses should consider migrating to another platform. If you’re facing a similar dilemma, take a look at our technical analysis of leading open-source platforms and see which one best fits your business needs. In summary: if your agency struggles to optimize your store within the evolving Shopware ecosystem, it might be time to look for a partner who truly understands the platform and can deliver effective solutions.

If you’re facing a similar dilemma, it’s worth critically evaluating the motivations and looking for a partner who truly understands the Shopware ecosystem and can propose effective solutions.

Support and development – why it has to come at a cost

Every e-commerce platform, especially open-source ones, needs to balance accessibility with a stable business model. Shopware has delivered high-quality solutions within its free version for years while continuing to invest in platform development, updates, and community support.

Introducing fees for the largest users does not mean abandoning the open-source philosophy. On the contrary – it enables further growth of the ecosystem in a way that benefits all users, regardless of business size.

Moreover, Shopware has expressed willingness to take a flexible approach to companies affected by the new rules. The ability to negotiate license terms and tailor offers to individual cases shows that the company aims not for rigid restrictions, but for a fair cost-sharing model.

Is Shopware losing its appeal?

Some voices in the industry suggest that these changes could cause Shopware to lose customers to platforms like Magento. However, it’s worth remembering that Magento also comes with high costs – both in implementation and maintenance.

With Shopware, you get a solution that’s easier to use, modern, and highly scalable, while still remaining accessible to small and mid-sized businesses. The shift to a paid plan for the biggest players is more of an attempt to fairly distribute development costs than a move to limit platform access.

Conclusion

Shopware’s new licensing model may spark controversy, but it’s a natural step toward the platform’s continued growth. It’s worth looking at it from a broader perspective – this is a move toward a sustainable ecosystem, where smaller businesses can still benefit from the free version, and larger enterprises contribute to the maintenance and development of the tool that helps them generate millions in revenue.

In the long term, this approach may benefit the entire Shopware community by ensuring stability and high platform quality for years to come.