GrandNode vs Thelia
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | GrandNode | Thelia |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 70 · Good | 82 · Excellent |
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | GPL-3.0 | LGPL-3.0 |
| Language | C# | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,329 | ★ 879 |
| First released | 2017 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Shopify, Magento | Shopify, PrestaShop |
What are GrandNode and Thelia?
GrandNode
GrandNode is an open-source, multi-store e-commerce platform built with ASP.NET Core and MongoDB. It supports B2B and B2C scenarios with a flexible catalog, multi-language and multi-currency, and a plugin architecture.
- ASP.NET Core based
- MongoDB storage
- Multi-store support
- Plugin architecture
Thelia
Thelia is a free, open-source e-commerce and content management solution built on Symfony components. It is popular in France and offers a template-based theming system and module marketplace.
- Symfony-based core
- Smarty template engine
- Module marketplace
- Multi-domain support
GrandNode vs Thelia: key differences
GrandNode is written in C#, while Thelia is built with PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for GrandNode versus LGPL-3.0 for Thelia. Thelia is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for GrandNode. Thelia is the more established project (first released 2013), while GrandNode arrived in 2017. GrandNode lists first-class Docker deployment; Thelia does not.
Why pick each one
Choose GrandNode if…
- Scalable architecture
- B2B and B2C ready
Watch out for
- .NET hosting knowledge needed
- Heavier resource footprint
Choose Thelia if…
- Good documentation in French
- Flexible theming
Watch out for
- Limited adoption outside France
- Smaller community
Frequently asked questions
Is GrandNode or Thelia better?
Neither is universally better. GrandNode has the larger community, while Thelia is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are GrandNode and Thelia free and open-source?
Yes. GrandNode is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Thelia under LGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run GrandNode and Thelia with Docker?
GrandNode: yes. Thelia: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, GrandNode or Thelia?
Thelia has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for GrandNode. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.