Medusa
Shopify
| Feature | Medusa | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free only | From $39/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Best For | developer-teams, custom-commerce, headless-commerce, multi-region-stores | ecommerce, dtc-brands, dropshippers, small-businesses |
| Founded | 2021 | 2006 |
| Headless Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Region | ✓ | ✗ |
| Plugins | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin Dashboard | ✓ | ✗ |
| Payment Providers | ✓ | ✗ |
| Fulfillment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Tax Engine | ✓ | ✗ |
| Online Store | ✗ | ✓ |
| Payments | ✗ | ✓ |
| Shipping | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pos | ✗ | ✓ |
| Marketing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Medusa Pros
- Fully open-source and developer-friendly
- Headless architecture for any frontend framework
- Built-in multi-region and multi-currency support
- Modular design allows replacing any component
✗ Medusa Cons
- Requires development resources to set up
- Newer platform with smaller ecosystem
- No visual store builder for non-developers
✓ Shopify Pros
- Easy to set up
- Huge app store
- Great themes
- POS included
✗ Shopify Cons
- Transaction fees
- Limited without apps
- Theme customization limits
The Verdict
Medusa is built for developer teams and custom commerce, with a focus on headless-api and multi-region. Shopify targets ecommerce and dtc brands and leads with online-store and payments.
Medusa uses custom enterprise pricing, while Shopify starts at $39/mo — a tangible advantage for teams with a fixed budget.
Medusa has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Shopify requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Medusa offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Shopify takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.