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Medusa vs Revel

Medusa logo

Medusa

Software

Open source Shopify alternative

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Revel logo

Revel

Software

iPad-based point of sale system

From
$99/month
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; Revel mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
  • They diverge on capability: Medusa covers Open source, Revel covers iPad point of sale.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Medusa and Revel actually diverge.

Attributes where Medusa and Revel differ
AttributeMedusaRevel
Starting priceFree$99/month
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWebiPad, iOS, Web
Founded20202010

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 Revel

  • iPad point of sale
  • Inventory management
  • Customer profiles
  • Employee management
  • Sales analytics
  • Loyalty programs
  • Multi-location support
  • Payment processing

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

Revel

No use cases recorded yet. See the Revel review.

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

Revel

  • Mandatory use of Revel Advantage payment processing for new customers with no viable alternatives
  • Long-term 3-year contracts with high early termination fees
  • Hidden fees for API access and mobile inventory management app not included in base pricing
  • Frequent system crashes and connectivity issues that disrupt operations
  • Limited ability to retrieve historical data after extended use of the system

Pricing, plan by plan

Medusa

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

Revel

$99/month
  • Standard$99/month
    • POS
    • Inventory management
    • Employee management
  • Premium$649/month
    • All standard features
    • Advanced integrations
    • API access

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 Revel if

  • You need ipad point of sale.
  • You work on iPad, iOS, Web.
  • You also want inventory management.
Revel review

Questions people ask

Is Medusa or Revel better?
Neither clearly leads. Medusa starts at Free and Revel at $99/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Medusa or Revel?
Medusa has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Medusa and $99/month for Revel.
Does Medusa or Revel run on more platforms?
Medusa runs on Web. Revel runs on iPad, iOS, Web.
Can I use Medusa for free?
Yes. Medusa has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Revel starts at $99/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 Revel is typically brought in for.
What can Medusa do that Revel cannot?
Medusa covers Open source, Modular architecture, Multi-region support, Plugin system. Revel covers iPad point of sale, Inventory management, Customer profiles, Employee management.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Revel: Does Revel have a free trial?

Revel Systems does not offer a free trial for its standard POS plans. However, Revel+ premium subscriptions include a two-month free trial period.

Source
Revel: Can Revel work offline?

Yes. Revel uses hybrid architecture to run offline or on a local network, and Always On Mode enables credit card processing during internet outages. The only limitation is that you cannot verify if a credit card has declined until your connection is restored.

Source
Revel: Does Revel integrate with Shopify?

Yes. Revel integrates with Shopify to synchronize inventory levels, automatically transfer sales data, and manage both online and brick-and-mortar stores from a single dashboard.

Source
Revel: What are Revel's typical contract terms?

Revel typically requires 3-year contracts with high early termination fees (ETFs). Users report difficulty canceling and facing steep penalties if they exit before the contract period ends.

Source
Revel: Can I use my own payment processor with Revel?

New customers are almost always required to use Revel Advantage payment processing. Using an outside payment processor is typically not allowed or is heavily penalized.

Source
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