Shopware Pricing 2025: Costs, Editions & Hidden Champions (AI)

Executive Summary: Shopware Pricing 2025 at a Glance

Before diving deep into the specifics, here's the quick answer for decision-makers. Shopware 6 has fully committed to a subscription model in 2025. The era of one-time "Professional Edition" purchase licenses is definitively over.

• Shopware Community Edition: Free (Open Source), but as of March 2025 capped at €1 million GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume)
• Shopware Rise: Starting at €600/month. The standard for professional B2C shops.
• Shopware Evolve: Starting at approximately €2,400/month. The standard for B2B (includes B2B Suite, budgets, rights & roles).
• Shopware Beyond: Starting at approximately €6,500/month. For enterprise requirements with 24/7 support and multi-inventory capabilities.

Understanding this distinction is crucial when evaluating platforms. For a comprehensive overview of what each tier offers, check out our detailed Shopware editions comparison that breaks down features across Rise, Evolve, and Beyond.

Official Shopware 6 Costs: Monthly Plans Explained

Since the pricing model transition, there are three clear tiers. These are "Software-as-a-Service" (SaaS) oriented but can (and mostly are) operated "Self-Hosted" on your own servers. According to Qualimero and Webwirkung, the current pricing structure reflects Shopware's commitment to sustainable growth partnerships.

Shopware Rise: The Professional Entry Point

Price: Starting at €600 per month. Target audience: Ambitious B2C merchants and smaller B2B scenarios.

The Rise Edition is the successor to the classic "Professional Edition." It provides everything needed for a serious brand presence in the digital marketplace.

• Flow Builder & Rule Builder: Automation of business processes (e.g., "If customer is VIP, then send Email X")
• Shopware AI Copilot: AI features for the backend (more on this distinction later)
• Social Shopping: Native integrations for selling on social media platforms
• Support: Response time within 8 hours (Monday-Friday)

Our assessment: For 90% of all B2C merchants, Rise is absolutely sufficient. The jump to the next tier is significant in price, so it's worthwhile to start here and supplement missing functions through plugins if necessary. Learn more about the Shopware AI features included in each edition.

Shopware Evolve: The B2B Powerhouse

Price: Starting at approximately €2,400 per month (prices may vary based on GMV). Target audience: B2B companies, wholesalers, and rapidly scaling B2C shops.

This is where B2B commerce gets serious. Evolve unlocks the B2B Components. Anyone who needs to map complex company structures can hardly get around Evolve.

• B2B Suite: Management of budgets, approval processes, and company accounts (field sales representatives log in for customers)
• Enterprise Search: Essential for large catalogs with thousands of products
• CMS Rules: Dynamic content based on customer groups
• Support: Response time within 4 hours

For businesses considering the B2B route, our comprehensive Shopware B2B pricing guide provides detailed cost breakdowns and ROI calculations specific to wholesale and manufacturing scenarios.

Shopware Beyond: Maximum Enterprise Performance

Price: Starting at approximately €6,500 per month. Target audience: Market leaders, corporations, and companies with extreme requirements for reliability and uptime.

• Multi-Inventory: Management of multiple warehouse locations (e.g., branches vs. central warehouse)
• 24/7 Support: Around the clock, with 1-hour response time
• Customer Success Manager: A dedicated contact person at Shopware

Edition Comparison Table

Shopware Community Edition: Really Free? (2025 Update)

For a long time, the Community Edition (CE) was considered the insider tip: use the full code without paying license fees. However, as of March 24, 2025, the rules change drastically through the new Fair Usage Policy.

According to reports from Hexamain, Codeblick, and Splendid Internet, this represents a significant shift in Shopware's licensing strategy.

The One Million Euro Threshold

Shopware is introducing a revenue cap for the free version:

• Under €1M GMV: The Community Edition remains free to use
• Over €1M GMV: Merchants must switch to a paid plan (Rise, Evolve, or Beyond)

Bottom line on CE: It remains a perfect entry point for startups. But for established companies, it's no longer a long-term cost-avoidance strategy. Plan the €600 for the Rise Edition firmly into your budget once you reach a certain growth level. If you're comparing platform options, our Shopware vs WooCommerce analysis helps clarify which solution fits your business model.

One-Time Costs & Setup: Agency & Technology Investment

The license is rented, but the shop must be built. This is where the largest initial investments occur. Prices for Shopware agencies have stabilized in 2025 but remain at a high level, driven by the skilled labor shortage and the complexity of the technology.

Agency Hourly Rates 2025

For reputable, certified Shopware agencies in Germany, expect hourly rates between €125 and €160. According to Shopwareagentur.info and Response GmbH, these rates reflect the specialized expertise required for Shopware implementations.

• Freelancers: Often cheaper (€80 - €120), but with risk of unavailability or scaling limitations
• Top-Tier Agencies: Can charge €180+ but offer strategic consulting in addition to implementation

For businesses seeking comprehensive support, working with a Shopware full-service agency can streamline the entire implementation process.

Project Budgets: Setup Costs Breakdown

What does "building" the shop actually cost? Here's a realistic breakdown:

MVP / Basic Shop (Shopware Rise): €15,000 – €30,000

• Use of a standard theme with adaptations to corporate design
• Standard installation, connection of payment (PayPal/Mollie) and shipping
• No complex interfaces or custom development

Individual Professional Shop (Rise/Evolve): €40,000 – €80,000

• Individual screen design (UX/UI) crafted by experienced designers
• Development of a custom theme matching brand identity
• Connection to ERP (e.g., SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Weclapp) via interface
• Data migration from legacy systems (Shopware 5, Magento, or other platforms)

Enterprise B2B Project (Evolve/Beyond): €100,000+

• Deep integration into the IT landscape (PIM, CRM, ERP)
• Complex B2B logic (individual price lists, configurators)
• Headless approach or PWA (Progressive Web App)

For B2B-specific implementations, our complete Shopware B2B guide covers the strategic considerations that justify these higher investments.

The Hidden Operating Costs: What Most Forget

A car doesn't run without fuel and insurance. The same applies to Shopware. These monthly fixed costs are often forgotten in budgeting but can significantly impact your total investment.

Hosting: Performance Equals Revenue

Shopware 6 is resource-hungry. A €5 shared hosting plan won't cut it. According to hosting specialists like Timme Hosting, Webfellows, and Hosono, Shopware-optimized hosting requires specific configurations.

• Specialized Hosters: Providers like Timme Hosting, Maxcluster, or Profihost are optimized for Shopware
• Costs: Expect €150 to €500 per month for a performant shop. During high-traffic events (Black Friday), these costs scale temporarily upward

Maintenance Contracts: Your Insurance Policy

Software ages quickly. Security gaps must be closed, updates must be applied. An agency typically charges a retainer for maintenance (updates, monitoring, bug fixes).

Costs: Typically €500 to €1,500 per month, depending on the response time (SLA) agreed upon. When issues arise, knowing how to navigate Shopware technical support becomes essential.

Plugin Subscriptions: The App Store Trap

Many functions (SEO tools, cookie banners, special sliders) are solved through plugins. Here too, the model has shifted to "rent instead of buy."

• An average shop uses 10-20 plugins
• Costs: Quickly €100 to €300 per month on top of the Shopware license

The ROI Comparison: Where You Really Save (AI Special)

This is where we separate the wheat from the chaff. Most "Shopware pricing" articles end at the costs. But as an entrepreneur, you're interested in the Return on Investment (ROI).

Shopware heavily promotes the "AI Copilot." But it's crucial to understand: this is a backend efficiency AI. It helps you write product descriptions or generate images. This saves time (costs), but it doesn't necessarily generate new revenue.

The Problem: The Consultation Gap

Imagine you run a B2B shop for technical components or a B2C shop for premium bicycles.

A customer arrives on your site. They have a question: "Does this replacement part fit my 2018 machine?" or "Which e-bike is good for back problems?"

• Standard Shopware: The customer must click through filters. If they find nothing, they leave. Revenue: €0.
• Human Support: The customer calls. An employee (cost: approx. €50,000/year) advises them for 20 minutes. Revenue: €500. Margin: Consumed by personnel costs.

This consultation gap represents one of the largest hidden costs in e-commerce—money you never see because the customer simply leaves. Understanding AI product consultation can transform this cost center into a profit driver.

The Solution: Frontend Product Consultation (AI)

Here lies your biggest lever to recoup the Shopware costs. Instead of only investing in the license, invest in an AI solution for front-end consultation.

Comparison: Cost vs. Investment

The unique angle: Define AI not as a tool that does your work (writing texts), but as a tool that does the job of your best salespeople (consulting customers). A Shopware license costs money. Missing consultation costs customers.

For practical implementation, our Shopware chatbot guide walks through the technical setup and integration strategies.

TCO Table: The True Calculation for 2025

Let's calculate the Total Cost of Ownership for the first year. We'll use the example of a mid-sized merchant (B2B/B2C mix) who wants to start professionally.

Scenario: Shopware Rise, professional agency setup, hosting, and an AI sales solution.

Prices for AI solutions vary; here as an estimate for professional SaaS solutions.

TCO Analysis Insights

1. The license costs (€7,200) make up only about 10% of total first-year costs
2. Those who skimp on the license (staying with Community Edition despite needing support) save in the wrong place
3. The investment in Sales AI (€8,000) is almost as high as the Shopware license. BUT: If this AI improves conversion rate by just 0.5% or reduces return rate (through better consultation) by 10%, the entire shop often pays for itself

When comparing total costs across platforms, our analysis of Shopware vs Shopify reveals important differences in long-term ownership costs.

Backend AI vs. Frontend AI: Understanding the Difference

To clarify this distinction, let's visualize the different AI types in your Shopware project and their respective business impact.

Shopware Native AI (The Copilot)

• Focus: Efficiency & Administration
• User: The shop manager / editor
• Functions: Generate product descriptions, summarize customer reviews, crop images, assign properties
• Goal: Reduce costs (less time expenditure in the backend)

External Sales AI (The Salesperson)

• Focus: Revenue & Customer Experience
• User: The end customer / visitor
• Functions: Needs analysis in chat ("What do you need the product for?"), technical compatibility checks, cross-selling ("You'll also need Cable X"), objection handling
• Goal: Increase revenue (higher conversion, larger shopping carts)

For merchants evaluating different platform ecosystems, understanding how AI integrates differently is crucial. Our comparison of Shopware vs OXID examines these AI capabilities in depth.

Checklist: The Hidden Cost Detector for 2025

Before you release your budget, check these often-forgotten positions. They can unexpectedly drive up the "Shopware pricing" during ongoing operations.

1. Transaction Fees: Don't forget the fees from PayPal, Klarna, or Mollie (often 1.5% - 3% of revenue). At €1 million revenue, that's €30,000—more than any Shopware license!
2. Legal Texts: Subscriptions to Händlerbund or IT-Recht Kanzlei (approx. €10-30/month) are mandatory for terms & conditions, legal notice, and privacy policy
3. Cookie Consent Tool: Professional tools like Usercentrics often cost extra (from €15-50/month)
4. The Consultation Gap: Have you budgeted for how much revenue you lose because customers bounce from the product detail page? This isn't a direct invoice but an "opportunity cost"
5. Migration from Shopware 5: If you're still on SW5: support has expired. A migration is not an "update" but a relaunch. Budget this as a new project

Conclusion: How to Calculate Correctly for 2025

The question "What does Shopware cost?" can no longer be answered with a simple number in 2025. The license models Rise, Evolve, and Beyond provide the framework, but success is determined in the periphery.

Our Strategic Recommendations

1. Accept the subscription models: The days of one-time purchases are over. Plan with OPEX (ongoing costs) instead of CAPEX (investment costs)
2. Be careful with the Community Edition: If you have growth goals above €1 million, plan directly with Shopware Rise. The forced later switch costs nerves and time
3. Think in terms of "Cost vs. Invest":* The Shopware license is the rent for your store (necessary costs)* Hosting is the electricity (necessary costs)* A Frontend AI is your best salesperson (investment with ROI)

Don't save on the basics (hosting & maintenance), but invest aggressively where the customer is touched. Because in the end, the most expensive shop is the one that costs little but sells nothing.

For SEO-focused merchants looking to maximize their Shopware investment, our comprehensive Shopware SEO guide ensures your traffic investment pays off.

FAQ: Common Questions About Shopware Pricing