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E-Commerce · head to head

Medusa vs PrestaShop

Medusa logo

Medusa

E-Commerce

Open source Shopify alternative

From
$29/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PrestaShop logo

PrestaShop

E-Commerce

Open-source ecommerce platform for online merchants

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only PrestaShop has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Medusa the managed cloud meters four separate resources: edge requests, emails, compute hours and database storage; PrestaShop no specific pricing tiers or costs disclosed on homepage
  • They diverge on capability: Medusa covers Open source, PrestaShop covers Product catalog management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Medusa and PrestaShop actually diverge.

Attributes where Medusa and PrestaShop differ
AttributeMedusaPrestaShop
Starting price$29/monthFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
Founded20202007

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Medusa

  • Open source
  • Modular architecture
  • Multi-region support
  • Plugin system
  • Admin dashboard
  • Inventory tracking
  • Payment integrations

Only in PrestaShop

  • Product catalog management
  • Payment gateway integration
  • Shipping module
  • Customer management
  • SEO tools
  • Analytics
  • Mobile-responsive design

Both cover

  • Order management

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Medusa

  • Building a custom ecommerce backend on an open source headless platformnot PrestaShop
  • Running a self hosted or managed commerce API with a custom storefrontnot PrestaShop

PrestaShop

  • Fully customizable ecommerce platform for startups to enterprisesnot Medusa
  • Stores handling millions in annual revenuenot Medusa
  • Access to thousands of modules and themesnot Medusa
  • Payment solutions integration with Stripe, Alma, Klarnanot Medusa

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Medusa

  • The managed cloud meters four separate resources: edge requests, emails, compute hours and database storage
  • The Develop plan at $29 a month applies a hard limit of 1,000 emails, so it stops rather than bills
  • Compute hours are capped at 600 on Develop and 800 on Launch
  • Edge request overage is $0.3 per million and storage $0.5 per GB month above the plan allowance
  • Background workers and priority support require the Scale plan at $299 a month

PrestaShop

  • No specific pricing tiers or costs disclosed on homepage
  • Requires navigation to dedicated pricing pages for cost details

Pricing, plan by plan

Medusa

$29/month
  • Develop$29/month
    • Base cloud hosting
    • Commerce features included
    • No GMV-tax
  • Launch$99/month
    • Enhanced features
    • No GMV-tax
  • Scale$299/month
    • Advanced features
    • No GMV-tax
  • Enterprise$null/custom
    • Custom configuration

PrestaShop

Free
  • Classic$undefined/mo
    • Download source code and install from scratch
    • Self-hosted ecommerce platform
  • Hosted$undefined/mo
    • CivicPlus handles technical aspects
    • Ready-to-use store

Which should you pick?

Choose Medusa if

  • You need open source.
  • You also want modular architecture.
Medusa review

Choose PrestaShop if

  • You need product catalog management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want payment gateway integration.
PrestaShop review

Questions people ask

Is Medusa or PrestaShop better?
Neither clearly leads. Medusa starts at $29/month and PrestaShop at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Medusa or PrestaShop?
PrestaShop has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29/month for Medusa and Free for PrestaShop.
Does Medusa or PrestaShop run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use PrestaShop for free?
Yes. PrestaShop has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Medusa starts at $29/month.
What is Medusa best used for?
Medusa is most often used for building a custom ecommerce backend on an open source headless platform, running a self hosted or managed commerce api with a custom storefront. Of those, building a custom ecommerce backend on an open source headless platform and running a self hosted or managed commerce api with a custom storefront are not what PrestaShop is typically brought in for.
What can Medusa do that PrestaShop cannot?
Medusa covers Open source, Modular architecture, Multi-region support, Plugin system. PrestaShop covers Product catalog management, Payment gateway integration, Shipping module, Customer management. Both handle Order management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Medusa: What does Medusa charge for additional team members?

Additional seats on the Medusa Cloud development platform cost $30 per seat per month. Unlimited users can access the Medusa Admin Dashboard at no additional cost for commerce operations.

Source
PrestaShop: How much does PrestaShop cost?

PrestaShop offers two models: Classic (free download with self-installation) and Hosted (vendor-managed). Specific pricing figures are not displayed on the homepage. Visit the pricing pages or contact PrestaShop directly for cost details.

Source
Medusa: Are there usage-based charges beyond the base Medusa plan price?

Yes. Beyond base plan costs, Medusa charges for edge request overages at $0.30 per 1M requests, email overages at $0.70 per 1,000 emails, data transfer at $0.125 per GB, and database storage at $0.50 per GB-month.

Source
PrestaShop: Does PrestaShop have a free version?

Yes, the Classic plan is free and allows you to download the source code and install your store from scratch.

Source
Medusa: Can I cancel my Medusa subscription at any time?

Yes, users can cancel their Medusa subscription anytime. Plans are billed monthly in advance, with flex usage charges from the previous month added to the next invoice.

Source
PrestaShop: What payment methods does PrestaShop support?

PrestaShop integrates with payment solutions including Stripe, Alma, and Klarna.

Source
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