---
title: "Akeneo alternative for Shopware 6: PIM directly in the admin instead of a connector"
description: "Akeneo alternative for Shopware 6: when a PIM directly in the Shopware admin is enough, what Akeneo costs with a connector and what the end of support for the Community Edition means."
url: https://pim-shopware.de/en/shopware-akeneo-alternative.html
language: en
---
# Akeneo alternative for Shopware 6: PIM directly in the admin instead of a connector
Akeneo is a fixture in many Shopware projects. Since official support for Community Edition 7 ended on 30 September 2026, many merchants are looking for an alternative. This page shows when a PIM directly in the Shopware admin is enough and when Akeneo remains the better choice.
5 min read For Shopware 6.6 and 6.7
- Akeneo is a system of its own: the data lives in Akeneo and reaches Shopware via a third-party connector.
- Community Edition: official support for version 7 ended on 30 Sept 2026. According to third parties, the hosted editions start at around $25,000 per year.
- PIM for Shopware: a plugin in the Shopware admin, without a connector and without sync, from €110.49 per month with yearly billing.
- Both work together: Akeneo delivers master data, you refine texts in the admin, and the external system protection keeps them.
- The data is already in Shopware
- The dashboard shows gaps
- Protect texts, then switch off the connector

## Akeneo and a PIM in the Shopware admin compared
| Criterion | Akeneo with connector | PIM for Shopware |
| Operation | Own application, self-hosted or in the cloud | Plugin in your Shopware installation |
| Connection to Shopware | Third-party connector, data sync | No connector, works directly with the Shopware data |
| Implementation | Data model, families, attributes and migration | Install, existing products are in the PIM right away |
| Cost | Community Edition without licence, but with hosting and connector. Hosted from approx. $25,000/year according to third parties | €129.99/month, yearly €110.49/month |
| Many channels outside Shopware | Akeneo's strength | Via feeds (CSV, XML, JSON) and CSV export |
Prices net, as of October 2026, third-party prices without guarantee. More figures: PIM systems compared.

## What fits when

### Akeneo remains right if...
- many channels outside Shopware are fed from one source
- a team runs data model and operation
- print, marketplaces and several shops are equally important

### The PIM in the admin fits if...
- Shopware is your main channel
- Community Edition support has ended and no project is planned
- you want to get rid of connector and sync
- bulk editing, variants and AI texts directly in the admin are enough

## How the switch works
- The data is already in Shopware: the connector wrote it there, and the PIM works with it directly.
- Find gaps: the dashboard shows products without image, description or meta data.
- Switch off the connector once all maintenance runs in the admin. Until then the external system protection keeps your texts safe from the next sync.

## Frequently asked questions

**Is PIM for Shopware a complete replacement for Akeneo?**
Not in every case. If Shopware is your main channel, the PIM in the admin is usually enough. For many channels from one central source, Akeneo remains strong.

**What happens to my data from Akeneo?**
It is already in Shopware via the connector. The PIM works directly with this data, no export from Akeneo is needed.

**Can I use Akeneo and the PIM in parallel?**
Yes. Akeneo keeps delivering master data, and you refine texts in the PIM. The external system protection stops the connector from overwriting them.

**What does PIM for Shopware cost?**
€129.99 per month or €110.49 per month with yearly billing, net.

## Further reading
- PIM systems compared: costs of Akeneo, Pimcore, Plytix and more
- Pimcore and Shopware: external PIM or PIM in the admin
- Shopware PIM comparison: standard, plugin or external PIM
- Protect texts from external systems: sync without data loss
Akeneo, Pimcore and Shopware are trademarks of their respective owners. They are mentioned for descriptive purposes only. Stone & Water is not affiliated with the trademark owners.