Saleor vs Shopify

Saleor

Strengths

• +Composable, API-first architecture for flexible storefront management
• +High performance and scalability for enterprise ecommerce
• +Open-source nature enabling deep customization and control
• +Strong feature set including advanced filters, reusable content blocks, and inventory tracking
• +Automation capabilities via APIs and webhooks
• +Straightforward pricing with no hidden costs
• +Responsive customer support and onboarding assistance

Limitations

• −Steeper learning curve and less intuitive UI for non-technical users
• −Complex onboarding for advanced implementations
• −Limited out-of-the-box features requiring additional development effort

Shopify

Strengths

• +Extensive app ecosystem for added functionality
• +Reliable uptime and performance
• +User-friendly interface for beginners
• +Strong multi-channel selling tools

Limitations

• −Transaction fees if not using Shopify Payments
• −Limited customization without coding
• −Costs can escalate with apps and add-ons
• −No native support for all data export formats

Saleor

• Sandboxes Free ForeverFor prototyping and development · No cost
• Select $1,599 per monthFor new projects and smaller companies · Up to $200,000 GMV monthly · 0.8% fee on orders exceeding GMV
• Volume $3,999 per monthFor businesses with high transaction volumes · Up to $1,000,000 GMV monthly · 0.4% fee on orders exceeding GMV
• Enterprise On request CustomTailored for large-scale businesses · Rates as low as 0.2% · Custom pricing

Optional add-ons: Accelerator Plan ($6,000 one-time, credited back as $500/month) and Forward Deployed Engineering ($12,000 one-time, credited back as $1,000/month).

Shopify

• Starter $5 MonthlyBasic online store features · Billed monthly
• Basic $29 AnnuallyOnline store · 2 staff accounts · Billed annually
• Grow $79 AnnuallyOnline store · 5 staff accounts · Billed annually
• Advanced $299 AnnuallyOnline store · 15 staff accounts · Billed annually
• Plus On request Custom termEnterprise-grade features · Custom pricing · Term commitment

Prices vary by region and billing cycle. Euro prices are displayed on Shopify’s pricing page but not tied to the USD annual figures above.

Saleor

Product and Catalog Management

Detailed product modeling with custom attributes and variants, Hierarchical categories and flexible collections for merchandising, Product availability per sales channel, Tax classes with country and channel-specific rules

Multi-Channel and Multi-Region Commerce

Multiple sales channels with independent currencies and pricing, Warehouse assignment to channels for fulfillment control, Address validation for global shipping compliance

Order and Checkout Management

Advanced order filtering and editable order notes, Refund and return management, Streamlined fulfillment cancellation, Customizable checkout APIs

Extensibility and Customization

Plugin architecture and app store for extensions, Custom storefronts using React and GraphQL, API-first design for flexible integrations

Marketplace Support

Flexible product and vendor modeling for commodity and boutique marketplaces

Shopify

Storefront and design

Online store builder, Themes and customization tools, Hosting and SSL, Headless commerce support

Products and operations

Product catalog management, Inventory and order management, Abandoned checkout recovery, Up to 200 inventory locations on Plus

Payments and in-person sales

Checkout, Shopify Payments, Shopify POS for in-person selling

B2B capabilities

B2B catalogs (up to 3 on standard plans, unlimited on Plus)

Marketing and analytics

Customer segments, Email campaigns, Customer chat, Marketing automations