--- title: "Medusa vs Saleor" description: "Medusa vs Saleor: TypeScript and REST vs Python and GraphQL, modules and workflows vs apps, licenses, Cloud pricing, and when to pick each one." url: https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/medusa-vs-saleor last_updated: 2026-10-29T06:55:50Z topic: "migrations-and-platforms" type: "concept" applies_to: "Medusa v2.x" related: - "https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/open-source-ecommerce-platforms.md" - "https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/medusa-vs-vendure.md" - "https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/composable-commerce.md" - "https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/woocommerce-migration.md" - "https://medusajs.com/kb/build-vs-buy/what-is-headless-commerce.md" sources: - "https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/introduction/architecture" - "https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/modules" - "https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/workflows" - "https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/api-routes" - "https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/admin" - "https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/deployment" - "https://medusajs.com/pricing.md" - "https://github.com/medusajs/medusa/blob/develop/ENTERPRISE-LICENSE.md" - "https://github.com/medusajs/medusa" - "https://github.com/medusajs/b2b-starter" - "https://github.com/saleor/saleor" - "https://github.com/saleor/saleor-dashboard" - "https://docs.saleor.io/overview/architecture" - "https://docs.saleor.io/developer/extending/apps/overview" - "https://saleor.io/pricing" --- # Medusa vs Saleor > Medusa and Saleor are both open-source headless commerce platforms on PostgreSQL. Medusa is TypeScript with REST APIs, and you extend it with modules and workflows inside the application. Saleor is Python and Django with a GraphQL-only API, extended through apps that run as separate services. Choose Saleor for GraphQL-first teams, Medusa for TypeScript teams. ## How Medusa and Saleor differ at a glance Medusa and Saleor are both open-source, headless commerce platforms backed by PostgreSQL. They differ in language, API style and how you extend them. Saleor facts below come from Saleor's own docs, repository and pricing page; GitHub stars are as of October 28, 2026. | Area | Medusa | Saleor | | --- | --- | --- | | Language | TypeScript on Node.js | Python on Django | | API style | REST: Store API, Admin API and your own API routes | GraphQL only | | Extension model | Modules, workflows, subscribers and API routes running inside the application, packaged as plugins | Apps: separate services that use webhooks and the GraphQL API, written in any language | | Admin | Medusa Admin, extended with widgets and UI routes | Saleor Dashboard (separate repository), extended by apps rendered inside it | | License | MIT (RBAC and SSO are Enterprise Edition) | BSD-3-Clause | | Managed hosting | Medusa Cloud: $29, $99 or $299 per month, 0% GMV fee | Saleor Cloud: free Sandboxes, paid plans from $1,599 per month with a GMV allowance | | GitHub stars | 36,981 | 23,486 | ## Architecture: in-process framework versus API-only service Medusa is a TypeScript application framework. Requests go from API routes to workflows to modules to PostgreSQL, and your custom code runs in the same process as the commerce modules, as described in [Medusa's architecture docs](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/introduction/architecture). You add a custom [module](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/modules) with its own data models, link it to core modules, and orchestrate changes with [workflows](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/workflows) that support rollback across steps. Saleor describes itself as "GraphQL native, API-only". Its [README](https://github.com/saleor/saleor) says APIs are the only way to interact with, configure or extend the backend. Custom logic lives in [apps](https://docs.saleor.io/developer/extending/apps/overview) that you deploy separately, which Saleor calls out as reducing downtime and simplifying upgrades. Saleor also states the trade-off: for a single developer on a small store, this service-oriented approach can feel more complex than a framework you extend in place. ## API style: REST versus GraphQL Medusa exposes REST endpoints for storefronts and admin tools, and you add REST [API routes](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/api-routes) for custom features. Medusa's Query tool retrieves linked data across modules inside your code. Saleor exposes a single GraphQL API for storefront, admin and app use. If your frontend team wants one typed GraphQL schema and client-driven field selection, Saleor matches that preference directly. ## Hosting and cost: Medusa Cloud versus Saleor Cloud Both platforms are free to self-host. [Medusa Cloud](https://medusajs.com/pricing.md) lists Develop at $29, Launch at $99 and Scale at $299 per month, with a 0% GMV fee on every plan; it hosts the server, Medusa Admin, storefront, PostgreSQL and S3 storage, with Redis included from the Launch plan. [Saleor Cloud](https://saleor.io/pricing) lists free Sandboxes for prototyping, Select at $1,599 per month (up to $200,000 monthly GMV, then 0.8% above that) and Volume at $3,999 per month (up to $1,000,000 monthly GMV, then 0.4%). Enterprise pricing is custom. Saleor Cloud plans include support, onboarding and a delivery team. ## Choose Saleor if - Your team wants a GraphQL-only API as its single contract. - You want extensions to run as separate services, written in any language. - Your backend team works in Python and Django. - You value the BSD-3-Clause license and a single open-source edition, which Saleor describes as having no feature fragmentation or commercial limitations. ## Choose Medusa if - Your team works in TypeScript and wants custom data models and business logic inside the commerce backend. - You want REST APIs rather than GraphQL. - You want managed hosting with a flat monthly price and no GMV fee. - You need B2B features like companies, quotes and approvals as a starting point: Medusa's open-source [B2B starter](https://github.com/medusajs/b2b-starter) includes modules for each. ## When Medusa is not the right choice Medusa is not the right fit if your organization has standardized on GraphQL across services, or if your platform team writes Python and does not want to add a Node.js service. It is also a weaker fit when you want every extension isolated as its own deployable service: Medusa supports external integrations, but its main extension model runs code inside the application. ## Common questions ### Does Medusa have a GraphQL API like Saleor? No. Medusa's Store API, Admin API and custom API routes are REST. Teams that need GraphQL as their main API contract should look at Saleor or Vendure. ### Is Saleor Cloud more expensive than Medusa Cloud? On listed prices, yes. Saleor's pricing page lists paid Cloud plans from $1,599 per month with a GMV allowance and a percentage above it, while Medusa Cloud lists $29, $99 and $299 per month with a 0% GMV fee. Both platforms are free to self-host. ### Can I write Saleor extensions in TypeScript? Yes. Saleor apps are technology-agnostic services that communicate through webhooks and the API, so you can write them in TypeScript or any other language. Saleor's core itself is Python. ### Which has more GitHub stars, Medusa or Saleor? As of October 28, 2026, Medusa's repository has 36,981 GitHub stars and Saleor's has 23,486. ## Documentation - [Medusa's architecture](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/introduction/architecture) - [Modules](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/modules) - [Workflows](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/workflows) - [API routes](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/api-routes) - [Admin development](https://docs.medusajs.com/learn/fundamentals/admin) ## Related - [Best open-source ecommerce platforms (2026), compared](https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/open-source-ecommerce-platforms.md) - [Medusa vs Vendure](https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/medusa-vs-vendure.md) - [Composable commerce platforms for mid-market brands](https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/composable-commerce.md) - [Switching from WooCommerce to a JavaScript stack](https://medusajs.com/kb/migrations-and-platforms/woocommerce-migration.md) - [What does headless commerce actually mean?](https://medusajs.com/kb/build-vs-buy/what-is-headless-commerce.md)