Medusa vs Shopify
Medusa vs Shopify — which, and how we help you move
Shopify is the default for D2C commerce; Medusa is the open-source headless alternative for brands that have outgrown Shopify's limits. The honest 2026 comparison is on the long-form guide — this page is the service offer for the brands that have decided Medusa is the move and want help with the build or the migration, or for the brands still on the fence.
Side by side
| Dimension | Medusa | Shopify |
|---|---|---|
| Per-month platform fee | None (MIT) | ₹15K–4L / month on Shopify |
| Transaction fee (Shopify Payments alternative) | None — you choose the payment gateway | Shopify Payments: 0.5–2% on top of gateway |
| Source code ownership | Yours, on your infrastructure | Shopify, on Shopify's cloud |
| Custom storefront | Next.js or custom, your repo, your brand | Liquid themes, hosted by Shopify |
| B2B pricing, contract pricing, quote-to-order | Native, configurable | Shopify Plus only, separate B2B app |
| Implementation cost (D2C Indian brand) | ₹12–22 lakh | ₹1–5 lakh (theme + light customisation) |
The detailed feature comparison — every dimension we evaluated and the verdict per row — is on the long-form Medusa vs Shopify guide.
The case for moving
If you are a D2C or B2B brand in India on Shopify and asking the question, the most useful reframe is: Shopify is a hosted, polished, opinionated platform; Medusa is an open-source headless backend you own. The Shopify transaction fee and the per-month platform fee compound into a 3-year cost that often exceeds the one-time Medusa build. The trade-off is operational: Shopify handles hosting, security, PCI scope, and app integrations out of the box; with Medusa you take on some of that yourself (or via a managed-services engagement with us). If you have outgrown Shopify's limits — custom checkout, B2B pricing, multi-region, deep ERP integration — the move to Medusa pays back.
How we help
We deliver Shopify → Medusa migrations and fresh Medusa builds for D2C and B2B brands in India. The migration covers products, customers, orders, and the storefront. Custom Shopify functions and apps are rebuilt in Medusa's extension model. Most engagements are 10–16 weeks from kickoff to go-live, depending on the catalog size and the customisation depth.
Engagement shape — Fixed-scope with à la carte extensions, or T&M. Indicative cost band for a D2C or B2B Medusa build with a custom storefront: ₹12–22 lakh implementation. The detailed comparison is on the Medusa vs Shopify guide.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Shopify → Medusa migration take?
Most engagements are 10–16 weeks from kickoff to go-live, depending on the catalog size and the customisation depth. Products, customers, and orders migrate cleanly; custom Shopify functions and apps are rebuilt in Medusa's extension model.
What does a Medusa build cost in India?
A D2C or B2B Medusa build with a custom storefront typically runs ₹12–22 lakh for a fixed core build with à la carte extensions. Multi-region, multi-store programmes run higher; the range is on our pricing hub.
Can we run Shopify and Medusa side by side?
Yes — common as a phased migration, with Medusa taking the new product line or the B2B channel and Shopify continuing for the D2C legacy. We have done this transition; it works as a stepping stone.
Should we stay on Shopify instead?
Possibly, if your catalog is small, your team values Shopify's hosted convenience, and you do not anticipate the need for custom checkout, B2B pricing, or deep ERP integration. The decision is not about Medusa being better; it is about whether the TCO difference and the operational flexibility are worth the change.
Not sure where to start?
Know your budget? Plan your Medusa stack.
Three minutes, no signup wall. We ask about your sector, team size, compliance, urgency — and your budget — and recommend a full open-source stack across ERP, commerce, CRM and marketing, with a cost band and a go-live timeline you can download as a PDF proposal. If you already know your number, share it and we will pick the highest-value task that fits.
No email required. The PDF is yours to keep.