Pros of Commerce

• More flexible e-commerce framework, supporting multiple providers (Shopify, BigCommerce, Swell, etc.)
• Extensive documentation and examples for various use cases
• Optimized for performance with Next.js and Vercel deployment

Cons of Commerce

• Steeper learning curve due to its flexibility and multiple integrations
• Less opinionated structure, which may require more setup and configuration
• Smaller community compared to Saleor ecosystem

Code Comparison

Commerce:

const { products } = await commerce.getAllProducts({
  variables: { first: 4 },
})

Storefront:

const { data } = await apolloClient.query({
  query: ProductListDocument,
  variables: { first: 4 },
})

Both repositories use GraphQL for data fetching, but Commerce offers a more abstracted API layer, while Storefront relies directly on Apollo Client for querying.

Commerce provides a unified interface for multiple e-commerce backends, making it more versatile for different projects. Storefront, being tailored specifically for Saleor, offers a more streamlined experience for developers working within the Saleor ecosystem.

Ultimately, the choice between these repositories depends on project requirements, existing infrastructure, and developer preferences.

Pros of Medusa

• More flexible and customizable backend architecture
• Better support for headless commerce setups
• Stronger focus on developer experience and extensibility

Cons of Medusa

• Smaller community and ecosystem compared to Saleor
• Less mature admin dashboard and frontend components
• Steeper learning curve for non-technical users

Code Comparison

Medusa (Node.js):

const product = await productService.create({
  title: "T-Shirt",
  variants: [
    { title: "Small", prices: [{ amount: 1000, currency_code: "usd" }] },
    { title: "Medium", prices: [{ amount: 1200, currency_code: "usd" }] }
  ]
});

Saleor (Python):

product = Product.objects.create(
    name="T-Shirt",
    product_type=product_type,
    category=category,
)
ProductVariant.objects.bulk_create([
    ProductVariant(product=product, name="Small", price_amount=10.00),
    ProductVariant(product=product, name="Medium", price_amount=12.00)
])

Both repositories offer robust e-commerce solutions, but Medusa focuses more on backend flexibility and headless commerce, while Saleor provides a more comprehensive full-stack solution with a polished storefront. Medusa's code tends to be more modular and event-driven, while Saleor's approach is more traditional and Django-centric.

Pros of Shopware

• More comprehensive e-commerce solution with built-in CMS and ERP features
• Larger community and ecosystem with extensive plugin marketplace
• Supports both B2C and B2B scenarios out of the box

Cons of Shopware

• Steeper learning curve due to its complexity and extensive feature set
• Heavier codebase, potentially impacting performance for smaller projects
• Less flexibility for custom frontend implementations compared to Storefront

Code Comparison

Storefront (React):

const ProductCard = ({ product }) => (
  <div className="product-card">
    <img src={product.image} alt={product.name} />
    <h3>{product.name}</h3>
    <p>{product.price}</p>
  </div>
);

Shopware (Twig):

{% block component_product_box %}
    <div class="product-box">
        {% block component_product_box_image %}
            {% sw_thumbnails 'product-image-thumbnails' with {
                media: product.cover.media
            } %}
        {% endblock %}
        <h3>{{ product.name }}</h3>
        <p>{{ product.calculatedPrice.unitPrice|currency }}</p>
    </div>
{% endblock %}

The code comparison shows that Storefront uses React for its frontend, allowing for more dynamic and interactive components. Shopware, on the other hand, uses Twig templating, which is more traditional and may be easier for developers familiar with PHP-based systems.

Pros of WooCommerce

• Larger community and ecosystem with extensive plugin support
• Seamless integration with WordPress, leveraging its content management capabilities
• More comprehensive out-of-the-box features for various e-commerce scenarios

Cons of WooCommerce

• Heavier codebase, potentially impacting performance for larger stores
• Less flexibility in terms of headless architecture and modern frontend technologies
• Steeper learning curve for developers not familiar with WordPress ecosystem

Code Comparison

WooCommerce (PHP):

add_action( 'woocommerce_before_main_content', 'woocommerce_output_content_wrapper', 10 );
add_action( 'woocommerce_after_main_content', 'woocommerce_output_content_wrapper_end', 10 );

Saleor Storefront (React):

import { ApolloProvider } from "@apollo/client";
import { BrowserRouter as Router, Route } from "react-router-dom";
import { ProductsList } from "./components/ProductsList";

Summary

WooCommerce offers a robust, WordPress-integrated solution with a vast ecosystem, while Saleor Storefront provides a modern, headless approach with React. WooCommerce excels in traditional setups, whereas Saleor Storefront is more suitable for developers seeking a flexible, API-first architecture. The choice depends on specific project requirements, existing infrastructure, and development team expertise.