Shopware vs Medusa
Both Shopware and Medusa are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the e-commerce space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
Shopware
EU- Headquarters
- Schoeppingen, DE
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- No
Medusa
EU- Headquarters
- Copenhagen, DK
- Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
- Yes
Key Differences
- Shopware offers a free tier, while medusa offers a free tier. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- Medusa is open source, giving you full code transparency and the option to self-host. Shopware is proprietary — typically offering a more streamlined setup and managed support, but without the ability to inspect or modify the source code.
- Data residency differs: Shopware hosts data in Germany, EU, while Medusa hosts in EU. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Shopware holds ISO 27001 certification, providing third-party assurance of its security practices. Medusa does not currently hold these certifications, which may matter if your organisation requires them for vendor approval.
- Shopware was founded in 2000, giving it a 21-year head start over Medusa (founded 2021). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: Shopware offers Visual Shopping Experiences editor and Rule-based pricing engine, while Medusa provides Headless commerce engine and Multi-region. Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Shopware | Medusa |
|---|---|---|
| Name | Shopware | Medusa |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Schoeppingen, DE | Copenhagen, DK |
| Data Centers | DE, EU | EU |
| Visual Shopping Experiences editor | ||
| Rule-based pricing engine | ||
| Product management with variants | ||
| Flow Builder automation | ||
| B2B and B2C support | ||
| Multi-language and multi-currency | ||
| SEO tools | ||
| 1,500+ extensions marketplace | ||
| Headless commerce API | ||
| Self-hosting option | ||
| Headless commerce engine | ||
| Multi-region | ||
| Multi-currency | ||
| Custom workflows | ||
| Plugin system | ||
| Admin dashboard | ||
| REST and JS SDK | ||
| Tax-inclusive pricing |
Pricing Comparison
Shopware
Freefree community / commercial
Medusa
Freefree (open source) / cloud
Compliance Comparison
Shopware
GDPRISO 27001DPA
Medusa
GDPRDPA
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Categories
How to Choose
You need code transparency or self-hosting
Choose Medusa
You want a fully managed, turnkey solution
Choose Shopware
Your procurement requires ISO 27001 certification
Choose Shopware
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Shopware
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose Medusa
Shopware vs Medusa — FAQ
What is the main difference between Shopware and Medusa?
Both Shopware and Medusa are European e-commerce solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: Medusa is open source while Shopware is proprietary, and Shopware uses free community / commercial pricing while Medusa uses free (open source) / cloud. Shopware is headquartered in Schoeppingen, Germany, while Medusa is based in Copenhagen, Denmark. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, Shopware or Medusa?
Both Shopware and Medusa offer free tiers, so you can try either without cost. Pricing models differ (free community / commercial vs. free (open source) / cloud), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both Shopware and Medusa GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both Shopware and Medusa are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. Additionally, Shopware holds ISO 27001 certification. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.