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E-Commerce

Open-source e-commerce platforms for building online stores without transaction fees or monthly SaaS subscriptions.

Published: March 1, 2026

Why Self-Host Your E-Commerce Tools?

Open-source e-commerce platforms for building online stores without transaction fees or monthly SaaS subscriptions. Self-hosting gives you:

  • Full data ownership — Your data stays on your servers
  • No per-seat costs — Add unlimited team members
  • Customization — Modify the tool to fit your workflow
  • Privacy compliance — Easier GDPR/CCPA compliance

Open-Source E-Commerce Tools

Medusa

Open-source headless commerce engine built for developers who need full control over their storefront.

Read full review →

Saleor

High-performance open-source headless commerce platform built with Python, GraphQL, and React.

Read full review →

WooCommerce

The most popular open-source e-commerce platform, powering 36% of all online stores via WordPress.

Read full review →

Cost Comparison: SaaS vs Self-Hosted

The typical e-commerce SaaS tool costs $20-200/user/month. Self-hosted alternatives run on a $5-20/month VPS with unlimited users.

SaaS AlternativeTypical CostSelf-HostedTypical Cost
Shopify$50/moSelf-hosted$5-20/mo
BigCommerce$100/moSelf-hosted$5-20/mo
Squarespace$200/moSelf-hosted$5-20/mo

Choosing the Right Tool

Consider self-hosting if you:

  • Have 5+ team members (per-seat pricing adds up)
  • Want full control over your data
  • Need customization beyond what SaaS offers
  • Have basic technical skills for Docker deployment