Softwr

Software · head to head

Medusa vs Retail Pro

Medusa logo

Medusa

Software

Open source Shopify alternative

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Retail Pro logo

Retail Pro

Software

Comprehensive retail management software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Medusa 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; Retail Pro pricing details not disclosed; requires sales consultation
  • They diverge on capability: Medusa covers Open source, Retail Pro covers Point of sale.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Medusa and Retail Pro actually diverge.

Attributes where Medusa and Retail Pro differ
AttributeMedusaRetail Pro
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebiOS, Android, Windows
Founded20201988

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Order management
  • Inventory tracking
  • Payment integrations

Only in Retail Pro

  • Point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Customer database
  • Employee management
  • Sales analytics
  • Promotion management
  • Multi-store support
  • Reporting tools

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 Retail Pro
  • Running a self hosted or managed commerce API with a custom storefrontnot Retail Pro

Retail Pro

  • Multi-location retail POS operations (1 to 250+ stores)not Medusa
  • Inventory management with serialized product trackingnot Medusa
  • Customer loyalty programs via AppCard integrationnot 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

Retail Pro

  • Pricing details not disclosed; requires sales consultation
  • No published technical requirements or system specifications
  • International deployment requires fiscal/tax compliance consultation per region

Pricing, plan by plan

Medusa

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full source code
    • Self-hosted
    • Community support
  • Cloud$50/month
    • Managed hosting
    • Automatic updates
    • Priority support

Retail Pro

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Retail Pro review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Medusa if

  • You need open source.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want modular architecture.
Medusa review

Choose Retail Pro if

  • You need point of sale.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows.
  • You also want inventory management.
Retail Pro review

Questions people ask

Is Medusa or Retail Pro better?
Neither clearly leads. Medusa starts at Free and Retail Pro at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Medusa or Retail Pro?
Medusa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Medusa and On request for Retail Pro.
Does Medusa or Retail Pro run on more platforms?
Medusa runs on Web. Retail Pro runs on iOS, Android, Windows.
Can I use Medusa for free?
Yes. Medusa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Retail Pro starts at On request.
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 Retail Pro is typically brought in for.
What can Medusa do that Retail Pro cannot?
Medusa covers Open source, Modular architecture, Multi-region support, Plugin system. Retail Pro covers Point of sale, Inventory management, Customer database, Employee management.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Medusa

More on Retail Pro

Keep looking

Other head to heads