Saleor vs Spree Commerce
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Saleor | Spree Commerce |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 97 · Excellent | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Python | Ruby |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, kubernetes, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 23,369 | ★ 15,718 |
| First released | 2016 | 2008 |
| Replaces | Shopify, commercetools | Shopify, BigCommerce |
What are Saleor and Spree Commerce?
Saleor
Saleor is a high-performance, GraphQL-first e-commerce platform built with Python and Django. It is designed for headless storefronts and offers a comprehensive dashboard, multichannel support, and a powerful API.
- GraphQL API throughout
- Multichannel commerce
- React-based dashboard
- Strong B2B and B2C support
Spree Commerce
Spree Commerce is a complete open-source e-commerce platform built with Ruby on Rails. It supports multi-vendor marketplaces, multi-store, and headless API-driven storefronts.
- Modular Rails engine architecture
- Multi-store and multi-vendor
- Headless storefront API
- Admin dashboard included
Saleor vs Spree Commerce: key differences
Saleor is written in Python, while Spree Commerce is built with Ruby. Spree Commerce is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Saleor. Spree Commerce is the more established project (first released 2008), while Saleor arrived in 2016.
Why pick each one
Choose Saleor if…
- Modern API-driven architecture
- Scalable for large catalogs
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Requires significant infrastructure
Choose Spree Commerce if…
- Mature and battle-tested
- Flexible Rails ecosystem
Watch out for
- Ruby expertise needed for customization
- Setup can be involved
Frequently asked questions
Is Saleor or Spree Commerce better?
Neither is universally better. Saleor has the larger community, while Spree Commerce is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Saleor and Spree Commerce free and open-source?
Yes. Saleor is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Spree Commerce under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Saleor and Spree Commerce with Docker?
Saleor: yes. Spree Commerce: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Saleor or Spree Commerce?
Spree Commerce has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Saleor. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.