Magento vs. The Competition – The Benefits of Migrating to Magento 2

Szymon Włodarski - Senior Full Stack Developer
4 minutes read

The following text has been reviewed and updated as of July 2025 for factual accuracy, reflecting the current state of Magento versions and best practices for upgrading the eCommerce platform.


Ever since the launch of Magento 2 on November 18th, 2015, many online merchants have been struggling with the idea of moving away from Magento 1. Some merchants who recognized the future benefits of moving to the latest platform migrated their data without a second thought. Others jumped ship and moved to other eCommerce platforms like Shopify and WooCommerce.


Even several years later, some merchants are still struggling with the idea of migrating to Magento 2. Unfortunately for those who remain undecided, the time to make a choice is fast approaching.


Magento 1 reached its End of Life in June 2020, meaning it will no longer receive the latest updates. This can leave your store dangerously vulnerable to hackers and other online threats. If you’re hesitant about migrating to the latest iteration of Magento, know that there’s nothing to fear. This article will help to set aside your worries and reveal why migrating to Magento 2 is the best choice for your business.

Why Some Merchants Still Hesitate to Migrate

Widespread hesitation regarding migration from Magento 1 to version 2 boils down primarily to one thing: many people don’t see a massive difference between the two. They see it as being akin to switching to a new diet, but with the same results.

This is a false assumption. The newest version of Magento is superior in nearly every way and provides a host of immediate and long-term benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the most crucial benefits of migrating to Magento 2.

Why Magento 2 Is Worth the Migration

1. Streamlined Checkout Process

Where Magento 1 typically requires six steps to complete the checkout process, Magento 2 only requires two. The latest version of Magento comes equipped with the new and improved Instant Purchase feature, which allows merchants to provide returning customers with a more streamlined and efficient checkout experience by allowing them to use previously-stored shipping and payment information to skip right to the payment confirmation page.

The less hassle online consumers have to go through to make a purchase, the more likely they’ll come back as a repeat customer.

💡Learn more about how Magento 2.4.8 streamlines the checkout experience in this upgrade-focused article.

2. Advanced Reporting with Real-Time Insights

Advanced reporting is a vital part of any eCommerce business. Magento 2 gives you the ability to create more than 20 types of reports that touch on the crucial insights vital to your online storefront.

The most important of these insights include:

  • Products – the number of product orders and top sellers.

  • Orders – the taxes and shipping fees collected from each purchase, the number of orders you have, and the AOV.

  • Customers – the number of registered accounts.

Magento 2’s Advanced Reporting feature is real-time and dynamic, allowing you to obtain the metrics you need at any given moment to run your store smoothly.

3. Enhanced Security Features

Magento 2 provides enhanced security features across the board to meet the various cyber threats that plague today’s online landscape. For instance, you can rest easy knowing that the checkout process and the personal information of your customers are well-protected by advanced encryption.

Here are a few of the latest security features offered by Magento 2:

  • 2-Factor Authentication – By offering 2-factor authentication, the Magento 2 platform provides an extra layer of protection for your customers.

  • Advanced password encryption – Magento 2 now provides stronger encryption for your passwords by using SHA-256 hashing algorithms.

  • Unique Admin URL – Yet another protective layer that protects your business from potential threats posed by hackers.

  • Dynamic Backup – Magento 2 protects your files by creating off-site backups through hosting providers or third-party tools, helping ensure data recovery with minimal downtime. Even if your store goes down for one reason or another (a cyber-attack, for instance), you can quickly turn to your backup to get your site back up and running with minimal downtime.

Thinking About Migrating but Unsure Where to Begin?

Get expert insights and a personalized migration roadmap—reach out to our team today.

4. Flexible Architecture and Customization Options

Magento 2 is powered by a new and improved next-generation architecture, giving the platform unparalleled flexibility. Magento’s popularity has always been closely tied to the sheer amount of flexibility built into the platform, allowing users to implement their vision with a greater range of options.

Part of Magento 2’s flexibility is its capacity to be implemented without any external services needed. Whether you’re using a system from warehouse management, marketing, or supply management, Magento 2 can be used to improve the processes you already have in place.

What Makes Magento 2 Migration Challenging?

The benefits of migrating to the newest version of Magento are numerous. That said, the process of transferring data from one platform to another is no easy endeavor.

Moving from Magento 1 to Magento 2 will involve a full transfer of your orders, customers, theme/design, and catalog. Most migrations can take anywhere from 3 to 7 months, depending on the size of your store and the volume and complexity of your data.

As such, you need to have a plan in place to make the migration process as seamless as possible. You wouldn’t want to start migrating your data during peak holiday season, for instance.

Create a plan by asking yourself questions such as:

  • What information is being migrated?

  • Will your favorite third-party integrations work on Magento 2?

  • What questions should you ask your developer before the migration begins?

While challenging, taking the time to plan out the transfer of data from one platform to the next will greatly expedite the process and help you to get your store back up and running that much faster.

💡See this deep-dive into reasons why migrating from M1 to M2 is no longer optional.

Still on Magento 1 in 2025? It’s Time to Catch Up

Magento 1 has been officially unsupported since June 2020, that’s over 5 years without critical security updates, patches, or performance improvements. If you’re still running your store on M1, you’re operating on borrowed time and increasing risk.

Yes, migration may seem complex. But with a proper plan and an experienced team, moving to Magento 2 can be a smooth and strategic upgrade.

⚠️ Reminder: Unsupported systems are more prone to hacking, performance issues, and poor compatibility with modern tools like payment gateways, mobile UX, and analytics.

Need Help with Magento 2 Migration?

At Polcode, our team of migration experts stands at the ready to help you make the switch as painlessly as possible. By relying on our expertise, you can rest easy knowing your migration delivery will go smoothly. Don’t hesitate.

Contact us today for more information.

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Make Your Magento 2 Migration Simple and Strategic

1.

Assess Your Store’s Readiness

Identify what needs to be migrated and what should be updated or retired—it’s the first step to a smooth transition.

2.

Talk to Certified Magento Experts

We’ll help evaluate your integrations, timeline, and risks to build a plan tailored to your goals and store complexity.

3.

Start a Worry-Free Migration

With the right partner and clear milestones, you can migrate with confidence—without unnecessary downtime or surprises.