Medusa vs commercetools vs Saleor - headless B2B in 2026
For mid-market B2B with ERP integration, MedusaJS v2 offers the lowest cost entry with modular Node.js architecture; commercetools fits global enterprise with 150k+ USD/year license budgets; Saleor wins on D2C catalog with PIM but B2B needs more custom code.
Three headless models in 2026
The 2026 headless market splits into three camps: open-source with code ownership (MedusaJS v2, Saleor), enterprise SaaS with annual licenses (commercetools) and vendor-hosted hybrids. For B2B the logo on a slide matters less than whether the engine supports contract pricing, credit limits, marketplace split checkout and ERP sync without waiting on a product roadmap.
commercetools is built over years in global programmes with dedicated SI partners. Saleor attracts GraphQL teams with strong product catalogues. MedusaJS v2 pairs modular Node.js architecture with the React/Next.js ecosystem - a natural stack when you already run JavaScript and want one API for web, mobile apps and integrations.
GMI Software delivers all three classes, but most often recommends Medusa when a mid-market client needs B2B with ERP and does not want GMV fees or enterprise license rent without a clear ROI.
Medusa vs Saleor vs commercetools - decision table
MedusaJS v2: open-source (MIT), no transaction take-rate, B2B modules (price lists, approval flows), fast MVP with a Next.js storefront. Requires a dev team or agency. Typical B2B plus ERP delivery budget: EUR 55,000 - 120,000 with a platform-experienced partner.
Saleor: open-source GraphQL, strong catalogue and PIM-friendly data model, good for D2C with many product variants. B2B (credit limits, approval workflows) needs custom modules - like Medusa, but a GraphQL/Python stack may be unfamiliar to a React team.
commercetools: enterprise SaaS, multi-region, mature partner and certification ecosystem. Annual license often 150k+ USD plus SI implementation cost. Fits global rollouts, many channels and budgets that absorb 2-3 years of discovery before full go-live.
Decision signal: if ERP integration and custom B2B checkout are core and license budget stays under roughly 100k USD/year - Medusa or Saleor win on economics. If you run 15 markets, a dedicated commercetools team and enterprise budget - commercetools stays on the table.
B2B: what the commerce engine must handle
B2B commerce is not “a shop with login”. It is per-customer and per-group price lists, MOQs, credit limits synced with ERP, sales-rep order approval and split checkout when a buyer fills a cart from many marketplace vendors.
MedusaJS v2 ships price list modules and an extensible order lifecycle - GMI adds NestJS integrations for credit balance sync, Redis caching and warehouse webhooks. Saleor needs similar custom work in GraphQL. commercetools offers B2B patterns out of the box, but every custom rule flows through expensive SI change requests.
When migrating from a monolith (Magento, legacy ERP portal), historical data matters too: orders, contract prices, company accounts. Open-source gives full control over migration scripts; enterprise SaaS often needs partner tooling priced separately.
TCO and license economics over 3 years
Headless B2B TCO covers license (or none), storefront and module development, ERP/PIM integrations, run-team cost and regulatory change work (Omnibus, VAT OSS). commercetools over 3 years often exceeds 500k USD in licenses and partner fees alone on a mid-size programme. Medusa and Saleor charge no GMV take-rate - cost is cloud infrastructure and people.
GMI practice: a Medusa v2 plus Next.js MVP lands at EUR 25,000 - 45,000; full B2B with ERP EUR 55,000 - 120,000. Annual run cost (hosting, monitoring, small iterations) is typically 15-25% of initial build - still below an enterprise license with zero custom code.
Saleor and Medusa are comparable on open-source TCO; the gap is team stack and onboarding time. A React team picks Medusa faster; a Python/GraphQL team may prefer Saleor. commercetools wins when license budget is already approved and an SI partner sits on retainer.
When GMI recommends which engine
MedusaJS v2: mid-market B2B, ERP integration, omnichannel (web plus React Native), marketplace with split checkout, JavaScript/TypeScript team. Our default commerce choice since 2024.
Saleor: D2C with rich catalogues, GraphQL team, less emphasis on custom B2B workflows. We collaborate when the client already committed to Saleor.
commercetools: global enterprise, many regions, 150k+ USD/year license budget and a dedicated SI partner. GMI does not compete on the license here - we advise on mobile integrations and custom modules when ct is already in the stack.
Sources and references
MedusaJS v2 documentation: https://docs.medusajs.com
commercetools (enterprise platform): https://commercetools.com
Saleor (headless GraphQL): https://saleor.io
GMI MedusaJS service: https://gmi.software/services/medusajs-development
Frequently asked questions
- Is Medusa suitable for B2B marketplaces?
- Yes - with custom split-payment modules, vendor onboarding and gateway integration (Stripe Connect, Adyen). GMI has delivered B2B marketplaces on Medusa v2 with NestJS - see our advanced commerce hub.
- What does commercetools vs Medusa cost per year?
- commercetools: license often 150k+ USD/year plus SI implementation. Medusa: no license, cost is development (EUR 55k-120k B2B) and infrastructure run (typically EUR 8k-20k/year at mid-market).
- Can you migrate from Saleor to Medusa?
- Yes, but it is a data and API migration project, not a flip switch. We map catalogues, B2B accounts and historical orders; typical timeline 3-6 months depending on data quality. Quote after a DDT audit.
- Who implements Medusa B2B in Poland for international clients?
- GMI Software from Gdansk - MedusaJS v2 agency with English delivery for EU, UK and US clients. Initial estimate in 48h, fixed price after DDT. See gmi.software/services/medusajs-development.
Content updated: July 2, 2026