SoftwareGlimpse

Medusa vs Shopify

Medusa fits js teams building headless storefronts; Shopify fits merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure.

Independently recommendedLast updated Aug 18, 20264 evidence sources9 screenshotsHow we compare
Compare another
Medusa logo

Medusa

6.9/10

Headless JS commerce — MIT OSS free; Cloud Develop $29, Launch $99 highlighted, Scale $299, Enterprise custom. No GMV tax.

Best for

  • • JS teams building headless storefronts
  • • SMBs to mid-market brands that will self-host or buy Cloud Launch
  • • Buyers comparing Saleor’s higher Cloud floors

Starting from $0.00/user/mo

Free plan available

Visit Medusa
Read review

VS

Our verdict

Our verdict

No universal winner

There is no universal winner between Medusa and Shopify. Choose Medusa when JS teams building headless storefronts. Choose Shopify when Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.

Choose Medusa if: JS teams building headless storefronts

Choose Shopify if: Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure

See detailed comparison ↓
Shopify logo

Shopify

9.2/10

Hosted SaaS ecommerce platform with themes, checkout, channels, and POS — Basic from $39/mo ($29 annual), Grow $105 ($79 annual), Advanced $399 ($299 annual), Plus from $2,300/mo.

Best for

  • • Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
  • • Brands scaling across online + retail channels
  • • Teams that value app ecosystem over building custom stacks

Starting from $39.00/user/mo

No free plan

Visit Shopify
Read review

Quick verdict

Start here — then dig into the evidence below.

Choose Medusa if…

  • JS teams building headless storefronts
  • SMBs to mid-market brands that will self-host or buy Cloud Launch
  • Buyers comparing Saleor’s higher Cloud floors

Choose Shopify if…

  • Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
  • Brands scaling across online + retail channels
  • Teams that value app ecosystem over building custom stacks

Overall recommendation

There is no universal winner between Medusa and Shopify. Choose Medusa when JS teams building headless storefronts. Choose Shopify when Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.

Key trade-off

Neither product dominates every criterion — prioritize the jobs that matter most.

Side-by-side feature matrix

Normalized availability from product research — empty rows are not shown.

Platform

FeatureMedusaShopify
AI assistanceStrongStrong

Additional capabilities

FeatureMedusaShopify
Online storefrontStrongStrong
Product catalogStrongStrong
Checkout & paymentsStrongStrong
Order managementStrongStrong
Inventory managementStrongStrong
Shipping & fulfillmentStrongStrong
POS & omnichannelModerateStrong
Marketplace & sales channelsModerateStrong
B2B / wholesaleModerateModerate
Marketing automationModerateStrong
Analytics & reportingStrongStrong
Dropshipping sourcingModerateModerate
App / extension ecosystemStrongStrong

Pricing comparison

Pricing evidence last checked Sep 10, 2026.

Medusa logo

Medusa

From $0.00/user/mo

Free plan availableNo free trial evidenced
  • Open Source (self-host)$0.00/user/mo
  • Cloud Develop$29.00/mo
  • Cloud Launch$99.00/mo
  • Cloud Scale$299.00/mo
  • Cloud EnterpriseCustom
Shopify logo

Shopify

From $39.00/user/mo

No free planFree trial available
  • Basic$29.00/mo
  • Grow$79.00/mo
  • Advanced$299.00/mo
  • PlusCustom

Seat-count estimates

Labeled estimates from verified starting per-seat pricing — not invoices.

SeatsMedusaShopify
5—~$195.00/mo (5 × starting seat)
10—~$390.00/mo (10 × starting seat)
25—~$975.00/mo (25 × starting seat)
50—~$1,950.00/mo (50 × starting seat)

Estimate from verified starting per-seat pricing — actual total depends on plan, annual discounts, and add-ons.

Medusa researched starting price from $0/mo; a free plan is researched. Shopify researched starting price from $39/mo. Affiliate economics excluded.

Open cost calculator →

Who should not choose each product

Decision quality improves when we say who should walk away.

Don't choose Medusa if…

  • Your primary fit looks closer to: Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
  • Your primary fit looks closer to: Brands scaling across online + retail channels

Don't choose Shopify if…

  • Your primary fit looks closer to: JS teams building headless storefronts
  • Your primary fit looks closer to: SMBs to mid-market brands that will self-host or buy Cloud Launch

Alternatives worth considering

When neither product is the right fit.

  • Saleor logoSaleor

    Headless GraphQL commerce — OSS self-host free; Cloud Select $1599/mo, Volume $3999/mo, Enterprise quote. Forever Free is non-commercial only.

  • WooCommerce logoWooCommerce

    Open-source WordPress commerce plugin — free core; paid extensions, hosting, and WooPayments processing are separate TCO lines.

  • BigCommerce logoBigCommerce

    Open-SaaS ecommerce platform — Core $39/mo ($29 annual), Growth $105 ($79), Scale $399 ($299); GMV thresholds and open payment provider fees apply on 2026 plans.

  • Square Online logoSquare Online

    Square ecosystem online store — Free $0/mo (higher online processing), Plus $49/location, Premium $149/location; 30-day trials on paid tiers.

Final verdict

Scenario-level close — not a repeat of the intro.

Medusa wins when…

JS teams building headless storefronts

Shopify wins when…

Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure

Which one should you choose?

Choose Medusa if:

  • JS teams building headless storefronts
  • SMBs to mid-market brands that will self-host or buy Cloud Launch
  • Buyers comparing Saleor’s higher Cloud floors

Choose Shopify if:

  • Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
  • Brands scaling across online + retail channels
  • Teams that value app ecosystem over building custom stacks

Product screenshots

Real product UI from our media library — no placeholders.

Medusa

  • Official Medusa homepage Open Graph product visual.
  • Medusa admin / commerce UI from the official medusajs.com homepage.
  • Medusa Cloud infrastructure frame from medusajs.com.
  • Official Medusa YouTube frame — Medusa Cloud self-serve announcement.

Shopify

  • Product UI frame from the official Shopify homepage.
  • Storefront marketing UI from shopify.com.
  • Commerce platform product frame from the official Shopify homepage.
  • Dashboard product frame marketed on shopify.com.

FAQ

Is Medusa better than Shopify?
There is no universal winner between Medusa and Shopify. Choose Medusa when JS teams building headless storefronts. Choose Shopify when Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure. Criterion scores come from approved SoftwareGlimpse editorial assessments and first-party research — not hands-on lab testing.
Which Ecommerce fits which team?
Medusa: JS teams building headless storefronts Shopify: Merchants wanting a hosted store without managing infrastructure
Does Medusa or Shopify have a free plan?
Medusa: Free plan available. Shopify: No free plan.
How does Medusa vs Shopify pricing compare?
Medusa starts from $0.00/user/mo. Shopify starts from $39.00/user/mo. Confirm live vendor pricing before purchasing.
How did SoftwareGlimpse compare these products?
We map both products to the same category criteria, then evaluate trade-offs using verified product, pricing and feature evidence. Affiliate relationships never change outcomes.

Still deciding between Medusa and Shopify?

Use Find My CRM for a shortlist matched to your priorities, or build another side-by-side comparison.

Find My CRMCompare another
  • Independent criterion outcomes
  • No invented scores or prices
  • Affiliate links never change winners

Some visit links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Comparison outcomes are never based on commission.

Affiliate disclosure: some links may be affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Rankings and scores are never based on commission. Full disclosure

Methodology disclosure: scores and recommendations follow SoftwareGlimpse evaluation criteria (version 1.0.0). Affiliate relationships do not determine rankings.

How we recommend: product claims are tied to recorded research where available.

Part of Software comparisons · Ecommerce Software hub

Try a decision tool

Interactive helpers use recommendation criteria — affiliate status never changes outcomes.