Showing 5 results
Medusa
Headless open-source commerce platform — modular, API-first, built for developers.
MIT-licensed alternative to Shopify. TypeScript commerce modules for products, carts, orders, and fulfillment — self-host or use Medusa Cloud with any storefront.
Saleor
GraphQL-first headless commerce API — composable, multichannel, built in Python.
BSD-3-Clause alternative to Shopify. High-performance Django backend with PIM, OMS, and Next.js storefront — self-host via saleor-platform or Saleor Cloud.
Alokai
Composable commerce frontend — Nuxt/Next storefronts connected to any backend API.
MIT-licensed Frontend-as-a-Service (formerly Vue Storefront). Unified Data Layer, Storefront UI, and middleware for Magento, Shopify, Shopware, and more.
Vendure
Plugin-first headless commerce in TypeScript — NestJS, GraphQL, enterprise-ready.
GPL-3.0 alternative to Shopify. Catalog, orders, promotions, and multi-channel APIs with extensible plugins — self-host or Vendure Cloud.
Your Next Store
AI-native Next.js storefront — Stripe-powered, no database required.
MIT-licensed commerce template with typed Commerce Kit SDK. Next.js 16, Shadcn UI, and AGENTS.md for Claude/Cursor — deploy to Vercel or self-host in minutes.
Headless commerce platforms provide the backend/API for ecommerce without a bundled storefront, so you build a fully custom frontend — a different approach from traditional platforms like WooCommerce or Shopware, covered in the eCommerce category instead.
Medusa and Saleor are the most established options — Medusa is TypeScript/Node, Saleor is Python/GraphQL. Vendure is a strong pick if you're already in the NestJS ecosystem. Alokai and Your Next Store are frontend-focused, meant to connect to any commerce backend rather than being one themselves.
FAQ
What's the best open-source alternative to Shopify?
Medusa or Saleor for a headless setup. See alternatives to Shopify for the full comparison including traditional platforms.
What's the best open-source alternative to BigCommerce?
Same headless picks apply — see alternatives to BigCommerce for B2B and multi-store specific guidance.
What's the difference between Medusa and Saleor?
Medusa is built in TypeScript/Node.js; Saleor is Python-based with a GraphQL-first API. Both are modular, API-first commerce backends — the choice mostly comes down to which stack your team already works in.
What are the top open-source headless commerce platforms?
Browse alternatives to Shopify and alternatives to BigCommerce above, or see the eCommerce category for traditional platforms.