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Open source alternatives to Shopify

Shopify is a hosted store plus an app ecosystem. Open-source replacements are usually a headless commerce API with your own storefront.

Saleor is GraphQL-first. Medusa is a Node commerce engine with starters. Vendure is TypeScript and modular. None of them is a pixel-perfect Shopify admin. This directory currently lists 9 mapped tools, led by Medusa (32.6k GitHub stars).

Quick comparison

Open-source alternatives to Shopify, ranked by GitHub stars
#ToolStarsLanguageLicense
1Medusa

The world's most flexible commerce platform, designed to build a custom, scalable, and modular commerce experience.

32.6kTypeScriptMIT License
2Saleor

Saleor Core: the high performance, composable, headless commerce API designed for modern e-commerce solutions.

22.8kPythonBSD 3-Clause "New" or "Revised" License
3Commerce

Next.js Commerce is a customizable, full-stack e-commerce framework built on top of Next.js, enabling fast and easy setup of modern online stores.

14.0kTypeScriptMIT License
4Evershop

A modern, TypeScript-based e-commerce platform designed for developers and businesses seeking a customizable and high-performance shopping experience.

10.0kTypeScriptGNU General Public License v3.0
5Polar

An open source engine designed to quickly enable selling SaaS and digital products, facilitating rapid deployment for your digital offerings.

9.6kPythonApache License 2.0
6Gumroad

A platform to sell products and evaluate performance, helping creators understand market demand.

8.9kRubyMIT License
7Vendure

Vendure is a flexible, headless e-commerce platform designed with customization in its DNA, allowing developers to build tailor-made commerce solutions.

6.9kTypeScriptOther
8Nextjs-starter-medusa

A performant frontend ecommerce starter template utilizing Next.js 15 and Medusa V2, designed for dynamic and scalable e-commerce applications.

2.7kTypeScriptMIT License
9Vercel Commerce

A powerful integration combining Next.js and Medusa to create a dynamic headless commerce solution.

267TypeScriptMIT License

How these Shopify alternatives differ

Star rank is useful for adoption, not for picking a job. Use the diffs below to match the slice of Shopify you actually need.

  1. Composable GraphQL commerce

    Saleor

    High-performance headless API. Pick Saleor when the storefront is a separate app.

  2. Node commerce engine

    Medusa

    Medusa ships modules and Next.js starters. Closer to a custom Shopify backend you own.

  3. TypeScript commerce

    Vendure

    Plugin-shaped headless shop. Use it when you want a typed core and your own admin extensions.

All open-source alternatives to Shopify

Frequently asked questions

What is the best open source alternative to Shopify?

Saleor for a GraphQL commerce API. Medusa for a Node engine with starters. Vendure for a TypeScript core you extend with plugins.

Can I self-host an alternative to Shopify?

Yes. Saleor, Medusa, Vendure, and EverShop are self-hostable. You still bring payments, search, and a storefront.

Are these Shopify alternatives free?

The cores listed here are open source. Hosting, payment fees, and optional cloud plans are separate.

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