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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.