Ecommerce Platforms

Headless commerce (you bring the frontend)

• ★ Medusa 2 — TypeScript / Node, modular, MIT, self-hostable. The default OSS pick for new TS commerce projects in 2026; modules for inventory, pricing, promotions, taxes, fulfillment.
• ★ Saleor — Python core + GraphQL API; mature; SaaS Cloud or self-host; Python-flavored but the API is JS-friendly.
• Vendure — TypeScript / NestJS / GraphQL; mature; great for B2B with complex catalogs.
• Swell — headless commerce SaaS with generous free tier; great DX; pairs with Next.js.
• commercetools — enterprise headless; expensive; powerful.
• Elastic Path — enterprise B2B-focused.
• Crystallize — PIM + commerce + GraphQL; SaaS.

Hosted commerce platforms with API access

• ★ Shopify Hydrogen / Storefront API — best-in-class API; build a custom storefront on top of Shopify's backend. Free for headless; you still pay Shopify monthly + transaction fees.
• BigCommerce — has a full Storefront API; comparable to Shopify on the headless front.
• Squarespace Commerce / Wix Commerce — APIs exist but you usually use their builders.
• Webflow Ecommerce — for marketing-heavy stores.
• Square Online — Square-flavored; free tier.
• Solidus / Spree (Ruby) — long-running OSS Rails ecosystems.
• PrestaShop, WooCommerce (WordPress), Magento / Adobe Commerce — incumbent PHP ecosystems; still huge install bases.

Storefronts (fronts to plug into a backend)

• ★ Shopify Hydrogen — Shopify's React Router 7 storefront framework.
• ★ Vercel Commerce (Next.js) — open-source reference storefront; works with Shopify, BigCommerce, Medusa, Swell.
• Vue Storefront — multi-backend storefront in Nuxt.
• Medusa Next.js Starter — official.
• Saleor Storefront / React Storefront — official.

Marketplaces (multi-vendor)

• ★ Sharetribe — flex marketplace platform; SaaS + Flex (developer) plans; popular for two-sided / rental marketplaces.
• Mirakl — enterprise marketplace platform.
• Marketplacer — competitor.
• Spree + multi-vendor add-ons.
• Roll your own with Stripe Connect + Medusa / Vendure if you have specific needs.

Subscription commerce specifically

• See Subscriptions & Billing — Stripe Billing, Lago, Orb, plus commerce-platform-native (Shopify Subscriptions API, Recharge, Ordergroove).

Product information / PIM

• Crystallize — PIM + commerce.
• Akeneo — PIM heavy hitter; OSS Community Edition.
• Pimcore — PHP PIM.

Search / merchandising for commerce

• See Search. Commerce-specific options:
  • Algolia — gold standard for instant search; commerce defaults.
  • Klevu — AI-driven product search; paid.
  • Searchspring — paid; commerce-focused.
  • Constructor.io — paid; AI personalization.

Payments / checkout

• See Payments for processors. Commerce platforms typically embed Stripe / Adyen / Braintree / PayPal natively.

Tax, shipping, fulfillment, returns

• Tax & Compliance
• Shipping & Fulfillment

When headless vs. when not

• Headless wins: brand-distinct UX, multi-storefront from one backend, complex catalogs, B2B, integrate commerce into a content site.
• Hosted with builder wins: non-technical team owns the store, no engineering capacity to maintain a headless setup, low/medium catalog complexity.
• WooCommerce wins: you're already on WordPress and the team knows it; many SMBs run on this happily.

Pick this if…

• Default OSS, TS-first: Medusa 2.
• Want a storefront API on a managed backend, paying is fine: Shopify Hydrogen.
• Need a B2B catalog with complex pricing: Vendure or commercetools.
• Two-sided marketplace: Sharetribe.
• Subscription-first: Stripe Billing + Medusa, or Recharge on Shopify.
• Don't even need headless: Shopify or Squarespace; ship in a day.