Shopizer vs Shopware
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted e-commerce platforms options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Shopware
Flexible open-source commerce for growing brands
| Feature | Shopizer | Shopware |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 20 · At risk | 88 · Excellent |
| Category | E-commerce Platforms | E-commerce Platforms |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | Java | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 3,941 | ★ 3,430 |
| First released | 2010 | 2010 |
| Replaces | Magento, Broadleaf Commerce | Shopify, Magento |
What are Shopizer and Shopware?
Shopizer
Shopizer is an open-source e-commerce platform written in Java that provides a REST API for catalogs, orders, payments, and shipping. It can power both headless storefronts and a bundled reference shop.
- REST-first architecture
- Multi-store support
- Pluggable payment modules
- Headless or bundled UI
Shopware
Shopware is an open-source e-commerce platform from Germany built with Symfony and Vue.js. The community edition offers a modern admin, headless API, and a rich extension ecosystem.
- Modern Vue.js admin
- Headless API capabilities
- Rule-based merchandising
- Strong extension store
Shopizer vs Shopware: key differences
Shopizer is written in Java, while Shopware is built with PHP. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Shopizer versus MIT for Shopware. Shopizer is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Shopware.
Why pick each one
Choose Shopizer if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.9k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Choose Shopware if…
- Polished merchant experience
- Powerful B2B suite available
Watch out for
- Heavy resource needs
- Complex for small shops
Frequently asked questions
Is Shopizer or Shopware better?
Shopizer is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Shopware if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Shopizer and Shopware free and open-source?
Yes. Shopizer is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Shopware under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Shopizer and Shopware with Docker?
Shopizer: yes. Shopware: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Shopizer or Shopware?
Shopizer has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Shopware. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.