In short
Magento 2 is not a newer version of Magento 1. It is a different platform with a new architecture, a new checkout, a new admin, built-in full page caching and modern APIs. That is why a move from Magento 1 is a rebuild with a data migration, not an upgrade. Plan it in two halves: what you prepare before the switch, and what you check in the weeks after.
Magento 1 reached end of life on June 30, 2020. Stores that still run on it have had no official security patches for more than six years. If you are planning the move now, this article explains the differences between Magento 1 and Magento 2, what you gain, what a new Magento store should be able to do in 2026, and the checklist we use before and after a migration.
For the technical steps of moving data with Adobe’s Data Migration Tool, see our step-by-step guide to migrating Magento 1 to Magento 2.
What changed from Magento 1 to Magento 2
Almost every layer of the platform changed. The table shows the differences that matter most in a project.
| Area | Magento 1 | Magento 2 (2.4.x) |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Ended June 30, 2020 | Active; 2.4.9 has standard support until May 31, 2029 |
| Code structure | Class rewrites, code pools (core, community, local) | Composer packages, dependency injection, plugins and service contracts |
| Extensions | Two extensions rewriting the same class often conflicted | Plugins let several modules change the same method without a rewrite |
| Database changes | Install and upgrade scripts | Declarative schema (db_schema.xml) |
| Full page cache | Only in the paid Enterprise edition | Built in, with Varnish support, in every edition |
| Search | MySQL search, Solr in Enterprise | OpenSearch (or Elasticsearch) is required |
| Checkout | Six-step accordion checkout | Two steps: shipping, then review and payment |
| Admin | Fixed grids | Grids with chosen columns, filters, saved views and inline editing; Page Builder |
| APIs | SOAP and a limited REST API | REST and GraphQL, so headless and PWA frontends are possible |
| Inventory | One stock per product | Multi-Source Inventory: several warehouses and sources |
| Admin security | Password only | Two-factor authentication required since 2.4.0 |
| Deployment | Copy files to the server | Developer and production modes, static content deployment, Composer-based updates |
The architecture
Magento 1 changed core behaviour by rewriting classes. Only one module could rewrite a given class, so stores with many extensions often had hidden conflicts. Magento 2 uses dependency injection and plugins (interceptors). Several modules can change the same method, and custom code talks to the core through service contracts. Upgrades are more predictable as a result.
The frontend
Magento 2’s default theme, Luma, uses RequireJS and Knockout.js. It works, but it loads a lot of JavaScript, which hurts mobile speed. Most new builds today use Hyvä, a lighter frontend built on Alpine.js and Tailwind CSS. The Hyvä Theme is now free and open source.
Performance
Full page caching is part of every Magento 2 edition, and Varnish is the recommended cache. Customer-specific content (cart, name, wishlist) loads separately, so cached pages stay fast for logged-in customers too. Indexers can run on a schedule through cron, so a large catalog update no longer slows down the storefront.
The advantages of Magento 2 for your business
- Security and compliance. Monthly isolated security fixes and a published support schedule. Admin two-factor authentication and a Content Security Policy that helps with PCI DSS 4.0 requirements on payment pages.
- A shorter checkout. Two steps instead of six, guest checkout by default, and account creation after the order.
- Faster pages. Built-in full page caching, and a modern frontend option with Hyvä.
- Easier daily work in the admin. Flexible product grids, bulk actions, and Page Builder for content pages without a developer.
- Integrations. REST and GraphQL APIs for ERP, PIM, marketplaces, mobile apps and headless frontends.
- Growth. Several websites, stores and languages from one installation, and several warehouses with Multi-Source Inventory.
- Hiring and hosting. Developers, extensions and hosting are built for Magento 2 today. Magento 1 skills and compatible PHP versions are getting harder to find.
What a new Magento store should be able to do in 2026
Since you rebuild anyway, use the migration to raise the standard. These are the features we expect from a new Magento 2 store today.
- Good Core Web Vitals on mobile. Fast loading and a stable layout, usually with Hyvä and Varnish.
- A supported version. Magento Open Source or Adobe Commerce 2.4.9, or the Mage-OS distribution, on the PHP and database versions it supports.
- OpenSearch-based search with synonyms, filters (layered navigation) and good results for typos.
- A short, mobile-friendly checkout with the payment methods your markets expect, such as cards, PayPal, Klarna or iDEAL.
- Clean SEO basics. Readable URLs, canonical tags, XML sitemaps, structured data, and hreflang for every language.
- Security by default. Admin 2FA, a non-standard admin URL, a Content Security Policy, and a monthly patch routine.
- Connected systems. ERP, PIM (for example UnoPim), shipping and accounting through APIs instead of manual exports.
- Measurement. GA4 and server-side events, with consent handled correctly for EU visitors.
Before the migration: checklist
- Decide the target. Magento Open Source, Adobe Commerce or Mage-OS, and the exact version. This also decides the Data Migration Tool version.
- Audit your extensions. List every Magento 1 module. Mark each one keep, replace or drop. Many old extensions cover features Magento 2 now has in core.
- Clean up the data. Remove old quotes, logs, test orders, unused attributes and inactive customer groups before you migrate them.
- Take an SEO baseline. Crawl the old store, export your top pages from Search Console and analytics, and save titles, meta descriptions and canonicals.
- Build the redirect map. One 301 redirect for every old URL that changes. Never send everything to the home page.
- Choose the frontend. Luma-based or Hyvä. Decide early, because it changes the extension choice and the budget.
- Prepare hosting. PHP, MySQL or MariaDB, OpenSearch, Redis or Valkey and Varnish in the versions your Magento release supports. Set up a separate staging server.
- List the integrations. Payments, shipping, ERP, PIM, email marketing and feeds. Confirm each one has a Magento 2 connector.
- Plan customers and payments. Customer password hashes can be migrated and are re-hashed at login, but test it. Ask your payment provider how saved cards or tokens move.
- Agree the cutover. A content freeze date, a final delta run, the DNS switch, and who checks what on launch day.
After the migration: checklist
- Check the system. Cron running, all indexers valid, caches enabled, production mode on, email sending working.
- Test real orders. Every payment and shipping method, with taxes, discounts, invoices and order emails.
- Test the redirects. Run the old URL list against the new store. Every URL should return 200 or a single 301.
- Tell Google. Submit the new XML sitemap in Search Console and check robots.txt and noindex settings on the live site.
- Watch for 404s. Check Search Console and server logs daily for the first two weeks and add missing redirects.
- Measure. Confirm GA4, conversions and ad tracking, and compare traffic and revenue with the baseline.
- Check speed. Measure Core Web Vitals on key templates: home, category, product, cart and checkout.
- Secure the store. Enable admin 2FA, remove unused admin accounts, and start a monthly patch routine.
- Track rankings for 4 to 8 weeks. Some movement after a migration is normal. Large drops on specific pages usually point to a missing redirect or changed content.
- Shut down Magento 1 safely. Keep a full backup offline, then take the old store and its database off the public internet.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upgrade Magento 1 to Magento 2 directly?
No. There is no in-place upgrade. You install Magento 2, move the data with the Data Migration Tool, and rebuild the theme, extensions and custom code.
What is the main difference between Magento 1 and Magento 2?
The architecture. Magento 2 uses Composer, dependency injection, plugins and modern APIs. On top of that it has a shorter checkout, a new admin, built-in full page caching and active security support.
Will my Magento 1 theme and extensions work on Magento 2?
No. Both have to be replaced or rebuilt. Your products, customers, orders and settings can be migrated.
How long does a Magento 1 to Magento 2 migration take?
It depends on the number of extensions, custom features and integrations. The extension audit before the project gives the most reliable estimate.
Planning the move?
We migrate Magento 1 stores to Magento 2, including the extension audit, data migration, Hyvä frontend and the SEO redirect plan. See our Magento migration service, or leave your details and your store address below for a free analysis. We contact you within one business day.
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