Monolithic vs. microservice: Which architecture is the best for e-commerce development?

Nowadays, there is a paradigm shift in software application development and high demand for scalable applications. Over the past few years, software development companies have adopted various software architectures. It helps reduce code complexity, improve fault isolation, lessen time-to-market, etc.

Businesses are increasingly looking to build robust, scalable, and efficient e-commerce platforms. Choosing the right architecture for your e-commerce platform can feel like a big decision—and it is. The foundation you select today will shape the performance, scalability, and long-term success of your online store. With digital commerce becoming increasingly competitive, businesses need to ensure their technology infrastructure can keep up with the demands of both customers and the market.

Two popular architectural approaches often debated are monolithic and microservice architectures. While both can power your e-commerce platform, they have key differences that can impact the development process, maintenance, and scalability of your app.

So, how do you decide which architecture is right for your business? Let’s break it down by looking at the pros, cons, and use cases for each.

Understanding monolithic architecture

A monolithic architecture is a more traditional route. In a monolithic system, all components of your application are tightly integrated, operating as one cohesive unit. From the user interface to the business logic and the database—everything is bundled together in one codebase. Here are some of the basics of monolithic architecture:

• One codebase: All components live together in a single application.
• Unified deployment: Any update or change requires deploying the whole app at once.
• Centralized management: Because it’s all connected, management and debugging are relatively straightforward.

Why choose monolithic architecture for your e-commerce platform development?

Monolithic architecture is often favoured by businesses building simpler, smaller applications. It’s particularly attractive when you're trying to get something off the ground quickly and with a limited budget.

• Ease of development: Since everything is in one place, development teams find it easier to work with a single codebase, reducing complexities in the early stages.
• Fast setup: You can launch your product faster because all the components are integrated from the start.
• Better performance for small apps: When the app is small, tightly integrated components can sometimes perform better than their microservice counterparts.
• Less overhead: You won’t need to manage complex infrastructure or communication between services.

The rise of microservice architecture for e-commerce development

Microservices, on the other hand, offer a more modern approach. Instead of bundling everything together, microservices break down your application into smaller and independent services for ease of development. Every service is responsible for a specific function, such as handling payments, managing the product catalogue, or user authentication. Some of the key aspects of microservices architecture are:

• Decoupled services: Each service has its own codebase and can operate independently.
• Independent deployment: You can update one service without having to redeploy the entire system.
• API communication: Services communicate with each other via APIs, ensuring they remain loosely coupled.

Why are businesses choosing microservices for e-commerce development?

Microservices have gained popularity among e-commerce businesses, especially those expecting rapid growth or dealing with complex operations. Here’s why:

• Scalability: One of the biggest benefits of microservices is their ability to scale specific components. If your checkout service needs more resources during peak hours, you can scale it independently without affecting the rest of your platform.
• Faster time to market: Since services are independent, development teams can work on different parts of the app simultaneously, resulting in faster rollouts of new features or updates.
• Better fault tolerance: If one service fails, the others continue to function, minimizing the risk of full system downtime.
• Technology flexibility: Microservices let developers use different technologies for each service, allowing them to pick the best tool for the job.
• Continuous delivery: You can update individual services as needed without interrupting other parts of your app, which leads to fewer disruptions for your customers.

The challenges of microservices for e-commerce platform development

Microservices aren’t without their challenges, though. If you’re thinking of taking this route, it’s important to consider:

• More complex infrastructure: You’ll need to manage communication between services, load balancing, and more, which requires a sophisticated DevOps team.
• Higher initial costs: Microservices take longer to develop and set up, meaning they might be more expensive in the short term.
• Communication latency: Since microservices communicate via APIs, there can be delays or failures in communication, impacting the overall performance.
• DevOps complexity: You’ll need robust tools for monitoring, orchestration, and containerization to manage all the moving parts efficiently.

Monolithic vs. microservices: Which is better for e-commerce development?

Now that we’ve covered the basics let’s dig deeper into the core differences between monolithic and microservice architectures, specifically in the context of e-commerce app development.

? Scalability

• Monolithic: Scaling is done by increasing the capacity of the whole application, which can be inefficient.
• Microservice: Services scale independently, making it easier to manage high-traffic periods or services that require more resources.

? Flexibility

• Monolithic: Adding new features can be time-consuming and may introduce bugs in other parts of the app.
• Microservice: Because services are independent, updates and new features can be rolled out without affecting other components, offering much more flexibility.

? Performance

• Monolithic: Tightly integrated systems can sometimes perform better in smaller environments because there’s no need for communication between services.
• Microservice: While microservices may introduce some latency due to API calls, they often outperform monolithic systems at scale.

? Maintenance and updates

• Monolithic: Every update requires testing and redeploying the whole system, which can slow down the development process.
• Microservice: You can update services independently, making maintenance faster and more efficient.

? Cost efficiency

• Monolithic: For small applications or businesses just starting, monolithic apps may be more cost-effective in the short term.
• Microservice: While the initial development cost is higher, microservices can save money in the long term by improving scalability, flexibility, and uptime.

At the end of the day, the decision between monolithic and microservice architecture depends largely on your business size, goals, and the complexity of your platform.

When should you choose monolithic architecture for e-commerce app development?

If your platform is relatively straightforward and you don’t anticipate the need for large-scale growth, a monolithic architecture may be simple to develop and maintain. Monolithic apps typically cost less to build upfront, making them a good option for businesses looking to minimize initial development expenses. If you’re aiming for a fast go-to-market, the simplicity of monolithic architecture can help you launch your app quicker. Some factors to help you choose the right fit for your business are:

• Decide whether you need a small or simple application
• What is your budget for the development?
• Targeted time to market: do you want it to go quickly?

When should you choose microservice architecture for your e-commerce business?

For businesses that experience fluctuating traffic—like those that run seasonal promotions or flash sales—microservices make it easier to scale individual parts of your platform to meet demand. If your business operates a large or rapidly growing e-commerce platform, microservices are better equipped to handle traffic spikes and ongoing updates. If your business relies on frequent updates, new features, or agile development cycles, microservices offer the flexibility you need. Some factors to help you choose the right fit for your business are:

• What type of platform do you need, complex or large-scale?
• How frequently do you want to update features and apps?
• Do you need the app to scale along with your business?

Choosing the right architecture for your e-commerce platform is about balancing your current needs with future growth. Monolithic architecture works best for smaller, simpler projects where time and budget are critical. Microservice architecture is ideal for larger, more complex platforms that demand scalability, flexibility, and resilience.

At Evoqins, we understand the unique needs of e-commerce businesses. Our team has extensive experience building both monolithic and microservice-based platforms, ensuring you get the best solution tailored to your business goals. Ready to build or scale your e-commerce platform? Let’s chat about how we can help you choose the right architecture for success.