unsubbed.co
Comparisons / ecommerce

Saleor vs Medusa

Saleor vs Medusa — which one should you pick?

TL;DR Verdict

Medusa for Node.js/TypeScript teams wanting a simpler plugin ecosystem. Saleor for Python/Django teams needing strong multi-channel and multi-currency support out of the box.

Overview

Saleor is one of the leading SaaS solutions in the ecommerce space. Medusa is an open-source alternative that you can self-host for full control and significant cost savings. Here’s how they compare.

Feature Comparison

Feature Saleor Medusa
Pricing $79-299/mo Free (unlimited products)
Open Source No Yes (MIT)
Data Ownership Saleor servers Your servers
User Limit Per-seat pricing Unlimited
Self-Hosted No Yes (Docker)
Managed Option Yes (primary) Yes (upready.dev)

When to Choose Saleor

  • Your team uses Python/Django
  • You need strong multi-channel support
  • You want a GraphQL-first API
  • You need the React-based admin dashboard

When to Choose Medusa

  • Your team uses Node.js/TypeScript
  • You want a simpler plugin architecture
  • You prefer a REST-first API with good docs
  • You need Shopify migration tooling

Migration Path

Yes. Medusa has a Shopify import plugin that migrates products, variants, collections, and images. Customer and order history requires custom migration scripts.

For assisted migration, upready.dev offers a turnkey Saleor → Medusa migration service.

Final Verdict

Medusa for Node.js/TypeScript teams wanting a simpler plugin ecosystem. Saleor for Python/Django teams needing strong multi-channel and multi-currency support out of the box.

Best for: Medusa is best for teams who want ecommerce tools without vendor lock-in