Magento software has long been a trusted platform for retailers who need a flexible, scalable solution for their online stores. Adobe’s continued support for Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce is driving both practical and technical evolution of the platform. These developments are expected to influence how merchants build, run, and maintain their ecommerce sites over the next few years.
Here’s what to expect from Magento software soon—and what it means for your store, team, and future growth.
Magento Open Source vs Adobe Commerce: The Road Ahead
Magento software is currently split into two key offerings: Magento Open Source and Adobe Commerce. Both share a common base, but Adobe Commerce includes more advanced features, support, and cloud hosting options.
There’s ongoing discussion about Magento Open Source’s future. Adobe will continue support, but most new features are prioritized in Adobe Commerce. For store owners, Magento Open Source is still viable but may need extra custom work or extensions to match Adobe Commerce features.
Progressive Web Apps (PWA) and Frontend Flexibility
Magento’s traditional frontend, based on Knockout.js and the Luma theme, has become outdated compared to modern development standards. Adobe is gradually shifting focus to solutions like PWA Studio and encouraging merchants to explore frontend frameworks that can reduce page load times and support mobile performance.
At the same time, many developers and merchants have opted for the Hyvä theme, which offers a simpler, faster alternative to PWA Studio. Hyvä strips back unnecessary code, making it easier to maintain while still delivering a high-performance user experience.
In the future, Magento software is likely to offer even more flexibility around headless commerce and decoupled frontends. This allows teams to choose the frontend technology that best fits their goals—whether it’s React, Vue, Hyvä, or something else.
AI Features and Personalisation Tools
Adobe is actively incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning into Adobe Commerce. Features like Live Search, Product Recommendations, and Sensei-powered analytics are already integrated into the Commerce version.
These tools help automate product discovery, personalise customer experiences, and improve merchandising decisions. Expect Adobe to continue expanding these features, with improved targeting, smarter search results, and easier setup.
Magento Open Source users don’t have direct access to these tools without extensions or custom work, but AI-based plugins from third-party developers are becoming more common and easier to integrate.
Better Admin and Developer Experiences
Magento’s backend admin panel is functional but has traditionally been considered less intuitive than those of other platforms. Improvements are on the roadmap, with Adobe aiming to streamline common tasks and simplify day-to-day operations for store managers.
From the developer side, enhancements in the deployment process, environment management, and testing tools are expected. Adobe Commerce Cloud already includes robust CI/CD tools, and future updates may bring more of these workflows to local development environments too.
The goal is to reduce friction for developers working with complex builds, while making the admin easier to use for non-technical teams.
Cloud Infrastructure Improvements
Magento Commerce hosted on Adobe’s cloud infrastructure includes features like Fastly CDN, ElasticSearch, and integrated monitoring tools. These help stores perform better under pressure, especially during promotions or high-traffic events.
As cloud technology continues to mature, Magento software is expected to offer more automation for scaling, better backup management, and faster recovery processes. These changes reduce the burden on internal teams and increase overall platform stability.
Some third-party hosting providers are also building managed Magento cloud environments that compete directly with Adobe’s solution. Merchants have more choices now, and that trend is likely to continue.
Community Contributions and Open Source Momentum
The Magento open-source community has played a major role in the platform’s growth. Thousands of developers worldwide contribute bug fixes, security patches, and even full features via GitHub and Magento’s Open Source Community Alliance (MOSCA).
This level of community support is expected to grow, especially as concerns about Adobe’s focus shift more heavily toward its commercial offerings. Independent developers, agencies, and extension providers are collaborating to keep Magento Open Source viable for a broad range of businesses.
Expect more tools, documentation, and GitHub contributions aimed at keeping the platform leaner, faster, and easier to maintain—even without a full Adobe license.
Compliance, Accessibility, and Ethical Selling
As global privacy laws change, Magento software will need to keep pace with tools that support compliance with GDPR, CCPA, and similar regulations. Features like cookie consent, customer data access, and opt-out settings are likely to become more standardised across all editions.
Accessibility is also gaining importance. Stores must meet WCAG standards to ensure they can be used by all customers. While Magento offers some basic accessibility support, future releases are expected to improve compliance and reduce the need for extensive frontend adjustments.
Additionally, more retailers are becoming conscious of ethical selling practices. Extensions and themes that support transparency, sustainable messaging, and inclusive design are likely to see higher demand.
Magento and B2B
Magento has long supported B2B capabilities, including custom pricing, company accounts, and quote management. Adobe Commerce is enhancing these features, making it easier for wholesalers and manufacturers to operate online.
In the near future, expect more refined account management tools, improved bulk ordering, and deeper integration with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. These features help reduce manual work and improve accuracy for large catalogue stores or distributors.
For B2B-focused merchants, Magento’s robust architecture remains a strong fit—and these updates will make it more competitive with platforms designed specifically for business clients.
Headless and API-First Commerce
API-first development is becoming more common, and Magento is moving in that direction as well. REST and GraphQL APIs are actively maintained, and future improvements are expected to increase their speed and flexibility.
This shift gives teams the ability to integrate with mobile apps, third-party marketplaces, and custom frontends more easily. As more companies move toward headless commerce, Magento’s API capabilities will be a deciding factor in platform choice.
Adobe’s strategy is likely to include continued investment in GraphQL performance and support for webhook-style events that improve integration with external services.
Final Thoughts
Magento software is evolving across multiple areas—from frontend development and AI to hosting infrastructure and compliance tools. Adobe Commerce is leading many of these changes, but Magento Open Source continues to benefit from a strong developer community and extension ecosystem.
As ecommerce demands increase, Magento is adjusting its approach to meet the needs of both merchants and developers. Choosing the right version, tools, and development partners will be essential to getting the most from Magento in the years ahead.