Medusa vs Shopify
Compare Medusa and Shopify on features, pricing, and buyer fit using the same researched criteria.
Medusa
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
VS
Our verdict
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
Shopify
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
Feature comparison
Grouped feature support from verified product research for Medusa and Shopify.
Platform
| Feature | Medusa | Shopify | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI assistance | Strong | Strong | Tie |
Additional capabilities
| Feature | Medusa | Shopify | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online storefront | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Product catalog | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Checkout & payments | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Order management | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Inventory management | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Shipping & fulfillment | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| POS & omnichannel | Moderate | Strong | Shopify |
| Marketplace & sales channels | Moderate | Strong | Shopify |
| B2B / wholesale | Moderate | Moderate | Tie |
| Marketing automation | Moderate | Strong | Shopify |
| Analytics & reporting | Strong | Strong | Tie |
| Dropshipping sourcing | Moderate | Moderate | Tie |
| App / extension ecosystem | Strong | Strong | Tie |
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