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
Screenshots
Verified product UI captures from research — never stock imagery.
Medusa
Shopify
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