Did you know that despite its End of Life in 2020, Magento 1 is still leading the e-commerce scene in countries like Brazil, Romania, China, and Russia, as well as 22 other nations?
This surprising fact highlights a significant divide in the e-commerce world, where many businesses have yet to make the leap to Magento 2.
If you’re still on the fence about migrating, this blog post will break down the key differences between Magento 1 and Magento 2, explaining why upgrading is not just beneficial, but crucial for the future success of your online store.
Magento 1 End of Life
Magento 1, once a popular platform for building online stores, reached its End of Life on June 30, 2020. This means Adobe stopped providing official support, updates, and fixes for it.
The decision to phase out Magento 1 was driven by the need to keep up with advancing technology and evolving customer expectations.
The discontinuation has significant implications for businesses still using Magento 1. Without regular updates, these websites are more vulnerable to security threats and performance issues.
Plus, they may struggle with compatibility as new technologies and extensions emerge.
Adobe’s move was also aimed at pushing users towards Magento 2, which boasts better performance, enhanced scalability, and stronger security features.
For businesses still on Magento 1, the end of support means it’s high time to consider migrating to Magento 2 to ensure their online stores remain secure and efficient.
Magento 1 vs Magento 2: 10 Key Differences
Transitioning from Magento 1 to Magento 2 isn’t just about upgrading to a newer version. It’s a leap forward in performance, security, and usability.
In this section, we’ll explore the critical differences between Magento 1 and Magento 2, highlighting how these enhancements can benefit your online store.
1. Website Performance
Magento 2 significantly enhances website performance, creating a much better user experience compared to Magento 1. One of the standout improvements is the faster page load speed.
This is thanks to default full-page caching, an optimized codebase, and a more efficient database structure, all working together to deliver quicker responses.
In terms of scalability, Magento 2 excels in handling larger product catalogs and higher order volumes. The improved database management, indexing, and caching systems ensure that as your store grows, its performance remains robust and reliable.
JavaScript bundling is another area where Magento 2 shines. By reducing server queries, it speeds up page loading times, providing a smoother, more responsive browsing experience.
These advancements make Magento 2 a superior choice for businesses aiming to offer a fast, scalable, and efficient online shopping experience.
2. Support
Since Magento 1’s official support ended, Adobe has ceased providing patches, bug fixes, and security updates. While some third-party vendors and developers may still offer limited support for Magento 1, the availability and extent of this support can vary widely.
In contrast, Magento 2 enjoys ongoing official support from Adobe. Regular updates, security patches, and bug fixes are provided to ensure the platform remains stable, secure, and compatible with the latest technologies.
Magento 2.4.x versions also introduced the concept of Long-term Support Release (LSR). This means extended support and security updates are available beyond the regular support period, allowing businesses to receive updates for a longer duration without needing immediate major upgrades.
These differences in support make Magento 2 a more secure and reliable option for businesses looking to maintain a robust online presence.
3. Security
Magento 1 no longer receives security updates from Adobe. This means websites still using Magento 1 are increasingly vulnerable to potential security threats.
Additionally, while Magento 1 relied heavily on third-party extensions for added functionality, the security of these extensions varied, depending on the developers’ reputability.
In contrast, Magento 2 benefits from ongoing security updates and patches from Adobe. This active support ensures that known vulnerabilities are promptly addressed, significantly reducing the risk of exploitation.
Magento 2 also introduces several enhanced security features, such as two-factor authentication, secure payment integrations, and improved password hashing algorithms, all designed to bolster the platform’s security.
4. Admin Interface
Magento 1’s admin interface features a more traditional design, with multiple tabs and sections that can make navigation feel cumbersome.
Users often need to click and scroll extensively to access various settings and functionalities, which can make the experience seem complex and overwhelming, especially for new users.
In contrast, Magento 2 offers a modern, visually appealing admin interface. It focuses on enhancing accessibility and user experience with a cleaner design and streamlined navigation.
The responsive sidebar menu provides easy access to key sections, reducing the need for excessive scrolling and multiple clicks. This modern layout makes the platform more intuitive and easier to use.
Magento 2 also emphasizes usability by organizing settings and configurations more efficiently, allowing administrators to manage their stores more effectively.
5. Extensions
Magento 1 boasts a vast marketplace with a wide range of extensions. However, the compatibility of these extensions can vary, depending on both the Magento version and the specific extension.
Additionally, since extensions were developed by various third-party providers, the level of support and frequency of updates often differ.
Magento 2, on the other hand, features an official extension marketplace known as the Magento Marketplace. This platform offers a large selection of extensions designed to enhance the functionality of your Magento 2 store.
Magento 2 sets higher compatibility standards for extensions, ensuring they work seamlessly across different versions.
Extensions available on the Magento Marketplace undergo a review process to ensure quality and compatibility. Providers are also expected to offer ongoing support and updates to address any issues and maintain compatibility with new Magento 2 releases.
6. SEO
Magento 1 provides essential SEO features like customizable URLs, meta tags, and sitemaps. It also has a broad range of SEO extensions available in its marketplace, offering advanced features such as enhanced metadata management, canonical tags, and rich snippets.
Additionally, Magento 1 allows for code-level customization, giving users the flexibility to implement specific SEO techniques or integrate third-party SEO tools.
Magento 2, however, takes SEO a step further with several improvements. Its design emphasizes performance optimization, which indirectly boosts SEO by enhancing site speed and overall user experience.
The enhanced admin interface offers better metadata management, allowing for more advanced control over page titles, meta descriptions, and other SEO elements. Magento 2 also includes a built-in XML sitemap feature, simplifying the process of generating and submitting sitemaps to search engines.
Furthermore, its mobile-friendly design aligns with search engines’ preferences for mobile-optimized websites, aiding in better search engine rankings.
7. Architecture
Magento 1 uses a monolithic architecture, meaning its core functionality and modules are tightly coupled within a single codebase. This setup can complicate modifications and customizations since changes to one part of the system might affect the entire application.
The code structure is complex and less modular, making it challenging to navigate, maintain, and upgrade. Additionally, this monolithic architecture can lead to performance issues, especially under high traffic and extensive product catalogs, resulting in slower page load times and limited scalability.
In contrast, Magento 2 adopts a service-oriented architecture (SOA), which decouples core functionalities into separate modules and services. This modular approach simplifies customization, maintenance, and scalability.
The improved code structure is more organized and easier to understand, making it simpler for developers to extend the platform’s functionality.
Magento 2’s architecture enhances extensibility and scalability, allowing for more flexibility in adding or modifying features without impacting the entire system. This design makes upgrading and maintaining the platform more efficient over time.
8. Checkout Process
In Magento 1, the default checkout process is a one-page layout that consolidates all steps into a single page. While this might sound convenient, it can often be lengthy and overwhelming for users, especially when many fields and sections need to be completed.
Customizing this process is challenging, requiring extensive development work or third-party extensions to make significant changes. However, Magento 1 does offer a guest checkout option, allowing customers to complete their purchase without creating an account, which can speed up the process for new users.
Magento 2, on the other hand, offers a more streamlined and intuitive checkout experience. It simplifies the process into two main steps: Shipping and Review & Payments.
This reduction in steps helps make the process faster and less daunting for customers. Magento 2 also enhances customization options with a drag-and-drop layout editor, enabling merchants to easily modify checkout steps, fields, and appearance without needing extensive coding skills.
Additionally, Magento 2 improves the guest checkout experience by minimizing required fields and simplifying the registration process. Guests are given the option to create an account after completing their purchase, which helps in customer retention and engagement.
9. File Structure
The file structure of Magento 1 vs Magento 2 differs significantly due to architectural changes introduced in Magento 2. Here is an overview of the file structure in both versions:
Magento 1:
- app: The “app” directory contains the core code and configuration files for Magento 1.
- code: The “code” directory houses the modules and extensions, organized by their respective namespaces.
- design: The “design” directory contains theme-specific files, including templates, layout XML files, and skin assets.
- etc: The “etc” directory stores configuration files, such as module configuration, system configuration, and XML-based layouts.
- locale: The “locale” directory includes language-specific translation files.
- skin: The “skin” directory consists of CSS, JavaScript, and image assets associated with the frontend theme.
- var: The “var” directory contains various cache files, logs, and session data generated by Magento.
Magento 2:
- app: The “app” directory in Magento 2 holds the core code and configuration files.
- code: The “code” directory contains the modules and extensions, organized by their respective namespaces.
- design: The “design” directory stores theme-specific files, including templates, layout XML files, and frontend assets.
- etc: The “etc” directory holds configuration files, similar to Magento 1, including module configuration, system configuration, and XML-based layouts.
- i18n: The “i18n” directory includes language-specific translation files.
- pub: The “pub” directory contains publicly accessible files, such as static assets (CSS, JavaScript, images) and generated content.
- var: The “var” directory houses various cache files, logs, and session data, similar to Magento 1.
10. Frontend Design
Magento 1 relies on the Prototype JavaScript framework, along with jQuery and script.aculo.us libraries, for frontend interactions and effects. Custom themes can modify the look and feel of the front end using template files (phtml), CSS files, and images.
However, Magento 1 lacks built-in responsive design capabilities, requiring additional efforts and customizations, such as using third-party extensions or implementing custom coding, to create a responsive website.
Magento 2, on the other hand, adopts modern frontend technologies like RequireJS, jQuery, and KnockoutJS, enhancing performance and modularity.
It introduces a more organized and intuitive theme structure with separate directories for templates (phtml), CSS, JavaScript, and images. This modular approach simplifies theme customization and allows for better separation of concerns.
One of the standout features of Magento 2 is the built-in visual design editor called Page Builder. This tool enables merchants to create and customize pages using a drag-and-drop interface, simplifying the process of building and modifying page layouts without requiring extensive coding knowledge.
Why Everyone Should Migrate to Magento 2
Migrating to Magento 2 is essential for businesses aiming to stay competitive in the e-commerce landscape. Magento 2 offers superior performance, enhanced security, improved scalability, and a more user-friendly admin interface compared to Magento 1.
The modern architecture and streamlined checkout process further boost the overall user experience, leading to higher customer satisfaction and conversion rates.
Moreover, Magento 2’s advanced SEO capabilities, flexible file structure, and robust extension marketplace ensure that your online store remains optimized and adaptable to future needs.
When it comes to making the migration, choosing the right service provider is critical. Tigren stands out among Magento 2 migration services.
With over 500 successful projects and six years of solid experience since 2015, we ensure a seamless transition. Our expertise guarantees 100% secure data migration with zero SEO ranking drops post-migration.
Trusting Tigren with your migration project means your success is undeniable.
FAQ
What are the main differences between Magento 1 and Magento 2?
Magento 1 and Magento 2 differ significantly in several key areas. Magento 2 offers improved performance, features a more modern, modular architecture, enhanced security with regular updates, and better mobile responsiveness. The admin interface in Magento 2 is more user-friendly, and the checkout process is streamlined, reducing cart abandonment.
Is Magento 1 still available?
Magento 1 is no longer officially supported or updated by Adobe, having reached its end-of-life in June 2020. While some websites still run on Magento 1, it is not recommended due to security risks and lack of new features. The platform remains functional but without official patches, updates, or technical support.
How do I know if I have Magento 1 or 2?
To determine if you have Magento 1 or Magento 2, check the admin panel’s interface: Magento 2 features a more modern, user-friendly design compared to Magento 1’s older, more complex layout. Alternatively, inspect the source code for the presence of the “pub/static” directory, which is unique to Magento 2.
