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Shopify vs Saleor
Shopify vs Saleor
A side-by-side look at Shopify (the paid SaaS) and Saleor (the open source alternative). Use this page to decide if the switch fits your team and workflow.
| Shopify | Saleor | |
|---|---|---|
| Tagline | Hosted e-commerce platform for online stores. | GraphQL-first headless commerce. |
| License | Proprietary SaaS | BSD-3-Clause |
| Pricing | Basic from $29/month plus transaction fees. | Free to self-host · optional paid hosted plan |
| Self-host option | No | Yes — difficulty 4/5 |
| Hosted cloud available | Yes (only option) | Yes |
| Desktop apps | Varies by product | Web only |
| Mobile apps | Official apps typically available | None official |
Ad slot — between tables
Best for
GraphQL-native teams building custom commerce experiences.
Saleor strengths
- Headless architecture — any frontend stack.
- GraphQL API first.
- Multi-channel and multi-warehouse built in.
Saleor weaknesses
- Complex self-host (Postgres + Redis + search + worker).
- Python + JavaScript teams needed to extend.
- Steep learning curve.
What's the catch with Shopify?
- App ecosystem pushes costs higher than advertised.
- Transaction fees if you skip Shopify Payments.
- Checkout customization is limited on lower plans.
Still unsure?
Check the full list of alternatives to Shopify: see Shopify alternatives, or learn more about Saleor on its project page.
Recommended reading
When self-hosting goes wrong: seven failure modes and how to avoid them
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Will the open source project you depend on still exist in three years?
Bus factor, maintainer burnout, funding models, and the signals that separate OSS projects that survive from those that quietly decay.
From SaaS to self-hosted: a 30-day migration playbook
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