Magento 1 vs Magento 2: Key Differences You Need to Know

Key Takeaways

• Magento 1 has been unsupported since June 2020. No security patches, no updates, no PCI compliance path.
• Magento 2 delivers 50% faster page loads and handles 39% more orders per hour.
• 93% of Magento 1 websites carry a high or critical security risk rating.
• Migration takes 3 to 6 months for standard stores, 9 to 12 months for complex setups.
• 70% of merchants who migrated reported positive ROI within one year (compiled from Adobe partner case studies and Onyx8 survey data).

What is the Difference Between Magento 1 and Magento 2?

Magento 1 vs Magento 2 = Magento 1 is end-of-life software with zero security patches since June 2020. Magento 2 is a complete platform rebuild with modern architecture, stronger performance, and active support through 2028.

Perfect for: Store owners evaluating migration, IT teams planning infrastructure upgrades, ecommerce decision-makers comparing platforms.

Not ideal for: Merchants who already run Magento 2.4.x and need version-specific upgrade guidance.

Magento 2 is not an update to Magento 1. It is a ground-up rewrite. Adobe (which acquired Magento in 2018) rebuilt the entire codebase, replacing the monolithic architecture with a modular, service-oriented framework.

The differences span every layer: architecture, performance, security, admin interface, checkout, extensions, and hosting requirements. Magento 1 and Magento 2 share the name but run on different technology stacks.

Magento 1 vs Magento 2: Side-by-Side Comparison

Performance: How Much Faster is Magento 2?

Magento 2 outperforms Magento 1 across every benchmark. Adobe published official performance data comparing both platforms (Adobe Commerce Performance Whitepaper, originally 2016, confirmed by partner case studies through 2025/26):

• Homepage load time: 50% faster
• Add-to-cart response: 66% faster (under 500ms server response)
• Checkout completion: 51% faster for guest checkout, 36% faster for registered customers
• Orders per hour: 39% more throughput
• Catalog capacity: Magento 2 handles up to 10 million products without performance degradation

These gains come from architectural improvements: full-page caching with Varnish, database query optimization, and async processing for indexing.

In real-world managed Magento hosting environments on AWS, the difference is often larger. Modern PHP 8.4 combined with the Hyvä theme or PWA Studio pushes response times well below the original benchmarks. Magento 2 stores with proper Varnish and Redis configuration deliver sub-second TTFB on cached pages. Magento 1 stores on the same hardware cannot match this, even with heavy optimization.

Security: Why Magento 1 is a Critical Risk in 2026

Magento 1 stopped receiving security patches on June 1, 2020. Every vulnerability discovered since then remains unpatched.

The details:

• Zero PCI DSS 4.0 compliance is possible on Magento 1. PCI DSS 4.0.1 requires active security patches and current software versions. Magento 1 fails both requirements.
• SHA-256 password hashing is Magento 2 standard. Magento 1 used MD5, which has been considered broken for over a decade.
• Two-factor authentication for admin access is built into Magento 2.4.x. Magento 1 requires third-party extensions with no guarantee of maintenance.

Running a Magento 1 store that processes credit card transactions violates PCI DSS requirements. If your store handles payment data, migrating to Magento 2 is not optional. See our complete PCI compliance checklist for Magento for the full requirements under PCI DSS 4.0.1.

Hosting Requirements: What Changes with Magento 2

The server stack for Magento 2 is different from Magento 1. This is one of the most overlooked differences between Magento 1 and Magento 2.

Magento 1 Stack (Minimal)

• PHP 5.6 or 7.0
• MySQL 5.6
• Apache or Nginx
• Optional: Memcached or Redis

Magento 2.4.8 Stack (Current)

• PHP 8.3 or 8.4
• MySQL 8.4 LTS or MariaDB 11.4
• Nginx (recommended) or Apache
• Elasticsearch 8.x or OpenSearch 2.x (required, not optional)
• Redis for session and cache storage
• Varnish for full-page caching
• Composer for dependency management
• RabbitMQ for message queuing (recommended)

Magento 2 demands more from the hosting environment. Elasticsearch alone adds a service that Magento 1 never required. Redis, Varnish, and RabbitMQ are not optional for production stores that need performance and reliability.

This is where managed Magento hosting simplifies the migration. A managed provider handles the entire Magento 2 stack, including Elasticsearch, Redis, Varnish configuration, and automated security patches. Store owners focus on the business, not the infrastructure.

Extensions and the Magento Marketplace

Magento 2 offers over 5,000 extensions through the Adobe Commerce Marketplace. The ecosystem is active, with extensions maintained for current Magento 2 versions.

Magento 1 extensions are a different story:

• Most Magento 1 extensions are abandoned.
• No security updates are published.
• About 80% of Magento 1 extensions require a rewrite or replacement during migration to Magento 2.
• Extension conflicts were a common source of instability on Magento 1.

Magento 2 improved extension architecture with dependency injection, service contracts, and a clear module structure. Extensions that follow Adobe's coding standards integrate without the conflicts that plagued Magento 1.

Migration: What to Expect in 2026

Who Still Runs Magento 1?

Under 15% of active Magento-based ecommerce stores remain on Magento 1 (estimates based on StoreLeads and BuiltWith data through early 2026). This is down from nearly 50% in early 2022. The remaining stores face compounding risks every month.

Common reasons merchants delay migration:

• Cost concerns. Migration budgets range from $10,000 for simple stores to $250,000+ for complex, custom implementations.
• Heavy customization. Stores with deep custom code face longer migration timelines.
• Lack of internal IT resources. Small merchants without dev teams often lack the capacity to plan and execute migration.
• Third-party patch providers. Some merchants use unofficial services like Mage-One for security patches, which provides temporary cover but no path to PCI compliance or platform improvements.

Migration Timeline

Migration Results

Merchants who have migrated from Magento 1 to Magento 2 report strong results (based on Adobe partner case studies and Onyx8 survey data):

• 70% saw positive ROI within the first year
• 75% reported better customer retention
• 51% faster checkout led to lower cart abandonment rates

Magento 2 in 2026: Current Version Landscape

The latest version of Magento 2 is 2.4.8, released April 8, 2025. It is supported until April 2028.

Magento 2.4.9 is scheduled for May 2026 and is in alpha/beta phase as of March 2026. It brings PHP 8.4+ optimizations and further GraphQL improvements for headless commerce.

Starting in 2026, Adobe has shifted to a new release cadence: one major annual release (May) plus monthly security-only patches. This makes the upgrade cycle more predictable and reduces the maintenance burden for store operators.

If you are evaluating Adobe Commerce Cloud, the platform includes automatic version upgrades and infrastructure management as part of the service.

Who Should Migrate to Magento 2?

If you are still on Magento 1 in 2026, migration is no longer a question of "if" but "when." Here is how to prioritize:

Migrate now:

• Stores processing credit card payments (PCI DSS 4.0 compliance required)
• Stores experiencing performance issues with growing catalogs
• Merchants losing customers to slow checkout or poor mobile experience
• Any store handling EU customer data (GDPR compliance depends on current software)

Plan migration within 6 months:

• Stores using unofficial patch services (temporary solution with no future)
• Merchants evaluating a platform switch. Consider Magento 2 alongside other editions before deciding.

For merchants new to the Magento ecosystem, our beginner's guide to Magento covers the platform fundamentals, editions, and use cases.

FAQ

Is Magento 1 still safe to use in 2026?

No. Magento 1 has not received security patches since June 2020. 93% of Magento 1 stores carry a high or critical security risk rating (BuiltWith/Onyx8 analysis, 2026). Running an ecommerce store on Magento 1 without security updates exposes customer data and payment information.

What are the key differences between Magento 1 and Magento 2?

Magento 2 uses a modern modular architecture, supports PHP 8.3/8.4, includes native Elasticsearch, offers a 2-step checkout (vs 6 steps), and provides built-in B2B features. Magento 1 runs on deprecated technology with no vendor support.

How much does it cost to migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2?

Migration costs range from $10,000 for simple stores to $250,000+ for complex implementations. The main cost drivers are custom code rewrites, extension replacements, data migration, and testing.

How long does Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration take?

Standard migrations take 3 to 6 months. Complex stores with heavy customization and multiple integrations need 9 to 12 months.

Is Magento 3 coming?

There is no Magento 3 on the roadmap. Adobe continues to develop Magento 2 under the Adobe Commerce brand. The latest version is 2.4.8, with 2.4.9 planned for May 2026.

Can I still get security patches for Magento 1?

Not from Adobe. Some third-party services provide unofficial patches, but these do not satisfy PCI DSS requirements and carry no guarantee of completeness.

What PHP version does Magento 2 require?

Magento 2.4.8 requires PHP 8.3 or 8.4. Magento 1 was last compatible with PHP 5.6 and 7.0, both of which are end-of-life.

Do Magento 1 extensions work on Magento 2?

No. Magento 1 extensions are not compatible with Magento 2. About 80% of extensions require a complete rewrite or replacement with a Magento 2 equivalent.

Is Magento 2 faster than Magento 1?

Yes. Magento 2 is 50% faster on homepage loads, 66% faster on add-to-cart actions, and processes 39% more orders per hour (Adobe Performance Whitepaper). With proper caching on managed hosting, Magento 2 stores achieve sub-second response times.

Should I migrate to Magento 2 or switch to another platform?

If your business needs are served by the Magento ecosystem (large catalogs, B2B features, custom workflows), Magento 2 is the natural migration path. If you run a simple store with a small catalog, evaluate whether a lighter platform fits better. For platform comparisons, review the specific features your store requires.

Conclusion

The difference between Magento 1 and Magento 2 is not incremental. It is a platform generation gap. Magento 1 runs on deprecated software with known vulnerabilities and zero vendor support. Magento 2 offers modern architecture, strong performance, active development, and a clear roadmap through 2028.

For the remaining Magento 1 stores, every month of delay increases security risk and technical debt. Start your migration planning with a proper managed hosting environment that handles the Magento 2 infrastructure stack from day one.