Saleor vs Magento: Choose your E-commerce Platform in 2025
Struggling to choose between two powerful e-commerce platforms? Saleor vs Magento represents two platforms with different architectures and technological specs.
In this article, we will compare the features and cost implications of Magento 2 and Saleor.
Key Takeaways
- Magento migration involves transitioning from a PHP-based system.
- Saleor offers a headless commerce architecture for flexibility.
- Companies use Magento for its extensive plugin ecosystem and customization.
- Magento architecture ensures faster, more scalable solutions.
- Key differences between platforms help the tools to choose the better option.
What is the Magento 2 Ecommerce Platform?
Magento 2 is a powerful open-source eCommerce platform. It is built using PHP and modern web technologies like HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript. Released in 2015, it serves as the successor to Magento 1. Magento 2 operates on a PHP7 architecture.
It makes it more optimizable and customizable than its predecessor. The platform supports multiple websites under a single installation. Each website is capable of having various stores and store views.
The platform offers specialized eCommerce capabilities, including:
- Advanced product management with image support
- Category organization tools
- Detailed inventory tracking
- Built-in analytics and reporting tools
What is Saleor Ecommerce Platform?
Saleor is an open source headless e-commerce platform. It is built using Python, Django, and GraphQL. It is designed for businesses ranging from small enterprises to global multinationals.
The platform excels in providing:
- Advanced product management
- Multi-warehouse inventory control
- Extensive order management
- Flexible payment integrations
- Automated lead generation
Magento vs Saleor: Structural & Architectural Differences
1. Magento 2
- Magento follows a more traditional Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA). It has four distinct layers:
- Presentation: handles all user interface elements and customer interactions.
- Service: It processes all incoming requests from the presentation layer
- Domain: It represents the core business logic and data models of Magento
- Persistence: It represents the core business logic and data models of Magento
- The platform is built on PHP and utilizes the MVVM (Model View ViewModel) pattern. This pattern separates the user interface logic from the business logic. The separation ensures cleaner code organization and easier maintenance.
- The platform's technical foundation relies on the LEMP stack. It uses PHP, MySQL, and Nginx as its primary technologies. This architecture allows for modular development through its extensive module system. It enables developers to modify or enhance functionality without affecting the core system.
2. Saleor
- Saleor uses a modern, headless architecture built on a Python and Django foundation. The platform is structured around three primary components:
- Saleor Core
- Admin Dashboard
- Storefront
- Saleor utilizes a GraphQL-first approach for all API interactions. The platform's core architecture is designed with a clear separation of concerns. It is where the backend and front end are entirely decoupled.
Saleor vs Magento 2: Comparison of Headless Commerce Features
| Feature | Saleor | Magento |
|---|---|---|
| API Type | GraphQL-native | GraphQL, REST, and SOAP APIs |
| Frontend Freedom | Complete decoupling with an API-first approach | Partial decoupling with traditional integration options |
| Architecture Design | Built as a headless-first platform | Adapted from monolithic to support headless |
| Performance | Optimized for headless with lighter resource usage | Requires additional optimization for headless usage |
| Integration Approach | Two-directional API consumption | API modifications and module-based |
| Development Complexity | Lower, with the modern tech stack | Higher requires specialized expertise |
| Frontend Technologies | Any modern framework (React, Vue, Angular) | Supports multiple frameworks but with more configuration |
| Customization Level | Complete frontend flexibility | Limited by existing architecture |
| Multi-Channel Support | Native support for omnichannel | Requires additional setup |
| Speed Optimization | Built-in PWA capabilities | Requires separate PWA implementation |
Magento vs Saleor: Scalability & Performance Comparison
1. Magento 2
- The platform incorporates multiple performance optimization techniques. Built-in caching mechanisms store frequently accessed data for quick retrieval. The system implements optimized indexing to speed up catalog searches. Database queries are enhanced for faster data retrieval and processing.
- Multiple master databases handle different types of operations. Checkout processes use dedicated database resources. Product data operates on separate database instances. This separation ensures optimal performance for each operation type.
- Magento 2 demonstrates impressive order processing capabilities. The system can handle increased order volumes without hardware upgrades. Server response times remain consistently fast during catalog browsing. The platform maintains performance even during high-traffic periods. Magento also allows you to migrate smoothly from one platform to another.
- Magento offers both vertical and horizontal scaling options. Vertical scaling allows for hardware resource increases. Horizontal scaling enables distribution across multiple servers. The platform supports cloud deployment for flexible resource allocation.
2. Saleor
- Saleor builds upon a cloud-native architecture designed for modern commerce needs. The platform leverages contemporary technologies and practices. Every component is optimized for cloud deployment.
- Queries retrieve only necessary data, reducing network load. Response times improve significantly through optimized data fetching.
- The architecture supports multiple worker instances. Database operations remain centralized for consistency. Worker nodes can multiply based on demand.
- The platform efficiently manages system resources. Processing power is distributed across available workers. Memory usage remains optimized through efficient data handling. System resources scale according to actual needs.
Saleor vs Magento 2: Comparison of Key Security Features
| Security Feature | Saleor | Magento |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | Saleor offers JWT tokens signed with RS256, OAuth, and OpenID Connect support. | Magento offers two-factor authentication, session validation, and login throttling. |
| Data Encryption | JWT-based encryption is used for sensitive data. | AES-256 encryption is used for sensitive data, and SHA-256 hashing is for passwords |
| Access Control | The granular permissions system is for Saleor users and applications | Role-based access control is used for backend and user permissions |
| API Security | Saleor has an API-first design with built-in security measures | Magento has a mixed architecture with security layers like WAP and caching. |
| Compliance | No specific compliance certifications are provided. | Magento 2 has PCI DSS compliance for payment security |
| Firewall Protection | Saleor relies on external firewall configurations | Magento has a built-in web application firewall |
| Security Updates | The platform receives regular updates without a specific patching schedule | It receives regular security patches and updates from Adobe |
| Integration Security | The API-first approach ensures secure third-party integration | Vetted extensions with potential third-party risks |
| Session Management | OAuth-based secure session handling | Advanced session validation and protection |
| Login Protection | Built-in protection against brute force attacks | Login throttling with exponential delays |
Magento 2 vs Saleor: Website Customization Options
1. Magento
- The platform provides visual page builders with drag-and-drop interfaces. It allows for complex layout creation without extensive coding requirements.
- The system uses modification capabilities through the LESS/SASS preprocessor. These are for CSS management and modular JavaScript architecture for feature-specific modifications. Magento's XML layout update capabilities enable structural modifications without altering core files.
- Magento 2 users can customize practical features like:
- Checkout page modification
- Shipping method adjustments
- Order number customization
- These can also be done using free/paid Magento plugins from the Adobe marketplace. The platform allows for extensive personalization of the ordering experience. It enables businesses to add custom fields based on store views and customer groups.
2. Saleor
- Saleor uses an API-first approach to modifications that provides complete flexibility. The GraphQL-native architecture enables developers to build custom frontends.
- It allows the creation of various product attributes. These include text, dates, references, files, numbers, and boolean values. These attributes can be shared across product types.
- Saleor's architecture enables businesses to build:
- Custom mobile apps
- Specialized storefronts
- Externalize tasks.
- The platform's PWA capabilities allow for offline shopping experiences. Its architecture enables integration with any payment method.
Cost Implications of Magento 2 and Saleor Commerce
1. Magento 2 Pricing Structure
-
Magento Open Source
- License: Free
- Additional costs for hosting ($10-$50/month)
- Magento Commerce: Starts at $22,000/year
- Magento Commerce Cloud: Starts at $40,000/year
2. Saleor Pricing Structure
- Developer Version: Free (for testing purposes only)
- Saleor Pro Version: $1500 per month +$0.15 per order
- Enterprise Edition: Custom Pricing
FAQs
1. What are the pros of Magento compared to Saleor?
Magento offers extensive modifications. It makes it a great choice for businesses that require tailored solutions. It's an excessively used platform that benefits from a community and has a lot of extensions. It allows for better functionality through various extensions. Magento provides both vertical and horizontal scaling options. It ensures that it can grow alongside your business needs.
2. What are the cons of Saleor that businesses should consider?
Saleor is easier to implement with its modern Python and GraphQL stack. It may lack the extensive range of extensions available in Magento. As a newer platform, Saleor's community and support might not be as extensive. It could make troubleshooting and modifications more cumbersome for some users.
3. What should be considered when migrating from Saleor to Magento?
Migrating from Magento to Saleor involves transitioning from a PHP-based system architecture. This migration from Magento requires careful planning. It is to ensure data integrity and functionality are maintained. Companies use Saleor for its specialized migration tools. It can help optimize the process. Businesses should be prepared for adjustments in their front-end and management systems.
4. How does Saleor’s streamlined approach to headless commerce benefit businesses?
Saleor’s streamlined approach to headless commerce can easily create customized front-end experiences. Saleor enables the use of modern frameworks like React and TypeScript. It enhances the user experience. It also allows for greater flexibility in design and functionality. This architecture also ensures better cost efficiency by optimizing resource usage and scalability.
5. Which platform is more cost-effective, Adobe Commerce or Saleor?
Magento offers a cost-effective e-commerce solution. The Magento Open Source version is available for free. It is along with a variety of affordable hosting options and a strong privacy policy. However, for advanced features, Magento Commerce starts at $22,000/year. On the other hand, Saleor provides a Pro Version at $1,500 per month plus a per-order fee. It might be more cost-efficient for businesses with scalable order volumes.
Summary
Saleor vs Magento is a comparison of 2 ecommerce platforms with built-in functionalities and scaling abilities. In this article, we explain the differences in features and prices of the platforms. Here is a quick recap:
- Saleor offers rigid headless commerce solutions compared to Magento.
- Magento provides extensive customization options but is complex.
- Pros of Saleor include lower development complexity and flexibility.
- Magento migration requires adapting from PHP to modern frameworks.
- A comparison of Magento and Saleor highlights key architectural differences.
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