Medusa vs Vendure: which to choose

Medusa vs Vendure: when each platform fits

Choose Medusa when your team wants an MIT-licensed core with a REST and modules model and is ready to run PostgreSQL, Redis and a separate worker instance alongside the API. Choose Vendure when your team prefers a NestJS and GraphQL plugin model, can work with its GPLv3 default or a commercial license, and needs a wider database choice, since Vendure supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB and SQLite. Both are TypeScript and Node.js, so the decision usually turns on licensing, paid features and the amount of admin work you plan, not on language.

Start with license obligations for your distribution model. Medusa's core is MIT, but its Enterprise Edition features based on role-based access control require a commercial agreement with MedusaJS, Inc. Vendure is dual-licensed under GPLv3 and the Vendure Commercial License, and without a commercial agreement the GPLv3 applies by default. Its plugin exception allows Vendure plugins to be distributed under a different license, so have counsel review whether your custom plugins and any modifications to core code trigger source-sharing duties before you pick a path. Confirm the exact terms in each project's LICENSE file and with each vendor.

Next, list which access controls and B2B features you must have on day one. Medusa's RBAC capabilities sit behind a commercial agreement, so budget for that if permissions are a requirement. Vendure's paid Starter, Growth, Scale and Enterprise plans add company accounts, quotes, contract pricing, approvals, single sign-on and audit logs. Ask each vendor which of these you would need, at what tier, and whether they are bundled or priced separately. Last, estimate how much custom admin work you expect. Vendure's React and TanStack admin can be extended with custom pages, which favors teams building bespoke back-office screens. If your plan leans on the standard admin and the Medusa modules model, weigh that instead, and run a proof of concept on your own data model before committing.

Which platform fits which scenario

This table matches common buyer scenarios to the platform that fits better and the condition that decides it. Read each row against your own requirements, and check the paid-plan or commercial-agreement notes before you assume a feature is free.

Scenario	Better fit	Condition that makes it so and where a paid plan or agreement applies
B2B wholesale store with company accounts, quotes and contract pricing	Vendure	Vendure's paid Starter, Growth, Scale and Enterprise plans list company accounts, quotes, contract pricing and approvals. Confirm these are in the tier you need before you build on them. Medusa's B2B store support is a core framework capability, but RBAC-based controls sit in Enterprise Edition under a commercial agreement.
Multi-vendor marketplace	Either, after a scoping check	Vendure's README positions one backend for D2C, B2B, marketplace and omnichannel sales. Medusa's framework lists marketplaces among supported store types. Confirm the vendor-onboarding, payout and permission model you need against each platform's current docs and any plugins you would depend on.
Point-of-sale heavy retailer	Medusa	Medusa's supported store types include point of sale. Choose Medusa if POS is a launch requirement, and confirm the POS integration path with the vendor. Vendure's supported scenarios are described as D2C, B2B, marketplace and omnichannel, so confirm POS coverage before relying on it.
Team that already runs PostgreSQL and Redis	Medusa	A self-hosted Medusa deployment needs PostgreSQL and Redis, plus separate server and worker instances. Existing operators can reuse that stack. Vendure also runs on PostgreSQL, but it does not need Redis in the stated requirements, so the extra services add no value if they are not already in place.
Team standardized on MySQL or MariaDB	Vendure	Vendure supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB and SQLite. Medusa is built on PostgreSQL. A MySQL or MariaDB standard favors Vendure unless you are prepared to run PostgreSQL alongside your existing estate.
Team that will ship proprietary plugins to clients	Vendure	Vendure's GPLv3 default applies without a commercial agreement, but its license includes a plugin exception that lets Vendure plugins be distributed under a different license. Medusa's core is MIT, but RBAC-based Enterprise features need a commercial agreement with MedusaJS, Inc. Have counsel confirm how the exception applies to your plugins.
Team that wants a managed cloud option	Either, check current availability	Medusa is available as Medusa Cloud managed hosting or self-hosted. Vendure Cloud is described as a managed runtime in design-partner preview with general availability planned for Q1 2027. Confirm the current status and plan terms with each vendor before committing.
Team that needs audit logs and single sign-on as paid features	Vendure	Vendure's paid plans list single sign-on and audit logs. For Medusa, confirm which identity and audit capabilities sit in Enterprise Edition and under which agreement, since the supplied facts tie RBAC features to a commercial agreement.

How Medusa and Vendure are built and deployed

Both platforms are TypeScript commerce frameworks that run on Node.js, so the same team skills and runtime upgrades apply to each. The differences show up in how the code is organized, which API your storefront calls, which databases you can run, and how much of the stack you operate yourself. The cards below cover those points and the items to confirm before you commit.

Runtime and service structure

Medusa is built with Node.js and TypeScript around a set of commerce modules for carts, orders, product catalogs, pricing and inventory. Vendure is built with TypeScript on Node.js and NestJS, so its services are NestJS providers that you extend through the framework's own patterns. For day-to-day operations, Medusa's module boundaries shape how you split work across the team, while Vendure's NestJS structure suits teams already fluent in that framework. Confirm how each project's current module or service layout affects your own customizations before you commit.

API surface for storefronts

Medusa exposes REST endpoints for its store and admin functions, which your storefront and integrations call directly. Vendure exposes GraphQL Shop and Admin APIs through one backend, which suits D2C, B2B, marketplace and omnichannel setups that share one schema. REST is simpler to cache and monitor with common tooling, while GraphQL lets front ends request exactly the fields they need. Check which API style your front end and partner integrations already use, since changing it later means rewriting client code.

Supported databases

Medusa is built on PostgreSQL. Vendure supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB and SQLite. If your organization standardizes on MySQL or MariaDB for other systems, Vendure gives you that option while Medusa does not, and the choice affects backup tooling, managed hosting options and DBA skills. Confirm the exact database versions each project supports for your target release, because supported versions change between releases.

Admin dashboard and customization

Medusa ships an admin dashboard that your staff use for catalog, orders and settings. Vendure's admin dashboard is built with React and TanStack and can be extended with custom pages, so merchandising or operations teams can add screens that match their workflow. Evaluate whether the default dashboard covers your back-office needs and how much custom admin UI you expect to maintain through upgrades. Ask each vendor how dashboard extensions behave across major versions.

Plugins that extend or override services

Vendure plugins can extend or override any service, entity or strategy without forking the core, which keeps custom logic separate from the framework code you upgrade. Medusa customizes through its modules and workflows, so the extension point you use depends on the module involved. For upgrade effort, the question is how many of your changes sit inside supported extension points. Review the plugin and module documentation for the version you plan to run, and list each custom change against it during evaluation.

Node.js version requirements

Vendure requires Node.js 20.19 or later, or 22.12 or later. Medusa's self-hosted deployment runs two instances of the same application, one in server mode and one in worker mode, so both must run on the Node.js version your platform team supports. Node.js release lines reach end of life on their own schedule, which forces framework upgrades on a cadence you do not control. Confirm the Node.js versions each project supports for the release you plan to deploy and align your runtime policy before go-live.

Medusa vs Vendure feature comparison by capability

This table compares Medusa and Vendure across licensing, paid tiers, access control, APIs, extension points, databases, runtime and managed hosting. Read each row against your own requirements, and confirm any cell that asks you to check with the vendor before you shortlist either platform. Medusa's core is MIT licensed and its RBAC sits behind a commercial agreement, while Vendure's paid plans bundle B2B features, single sign-on and audit logs.

Capability	Medusa	Vendure
Core framework license	MIT for the core commerce framework	GPLv3 or Vendure Commercial License. GPLv3 applies without a commercial agreement
Paid tier contents	Enterprise Edition features based on RBAC need a commercial agreement with MedusaJS, Inc. Confirm other tier contents with the vendor.	Starter, Growth, Scale and Enterprise plans with B2B features, single sign-on, audit logs and a commercial license
B2B features	Supports B2B stores in the core. Confirm which B2B workflows, such as company accounts or contract pricing, sit in paid tiers.	Company accounts, quotes, contract pricing and approvals in paid plans
Role-based access control	Commercial Enterprise Edition feature. Confirm its scope with MedusaJS, Inc.	Confirm the role and permission model with Vendure before assuming parity with Medusa
Single sign-on and audit logs	Confirm availability and the required tier with MedusaJS, Inc.	Listed among paid plan features from Starter through Enterprise
API style	REST API plus modules for carts, orders, product catalogs, pricing and inventory	GraphQL Shop and Admin APIs on NestJS
Extension model and admin dashboard	Modules and workflows. Confirm admin dashboard extension options in current docs.	Plugins can extend or override any service, entity or strategy; React admin dashboard supports custom pages
Database and Node.js requirements	PostgreSQL with Redis for production. Confirm supported Node.js versions with Medusa.	PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB or SQLite; Node.js 20.19 or later, or 22.12 or later
Managed cloud and latest release	Medusa Cloud managed hosting; Medusa v2.21.2 released September 28, 2026	Vendure Cloud in design-partner preview, general availability planned for Q1 2027; v3.8.0 released October 12, 2026

What the Medusa and Vendure licenses allow and what costs money

Medusa is open core. The commerce framework itself is MIT licensed, so a team can run, modify and build on the core without a license fee for the framework. The paid layer is Enterprise Edition features based on role-based access control, which require a commercial agreement with MedusaJS, Inc. Medusa is also offered as Medusa Cloud managed hosting, so the real choice is between operating the stack yourself and paying for a hosted alternative.

MIT core: The framework code outside the enterprise features can be used, modified and redistributed under MIT terms.
RBAC features: Role-based access control capabilities in Enterprise Edition need a separate commercial agreement with MedusaJS, Inc.
Medusa Cloud: A managed hosting option that replaces the infrastructure you would otherwise run yourself.
Self-hosting cost: The license is free for the core, but you pay for PostgreSQL, Redis, S3 storage, compute and the people who run them.
Quote scope: Ask MedusaJS, Inc. exactly which modules and features fall under Enterprise Edition before you assume RBAC is included.

Confirm which specific features in your requirements fall inside the enterprise boundary, and whether that agreement covers your hosting model.

What implementing each platform involves and where projects run long

A self-hosted Medusa stack is more than one application. The minimum setup is a PostgreSQL database, a Redis database, and two Medusa instances: one in server mode for the API and admin dashboard, and one in worker mode for background tasks. Production replaces the development modules with Redis-based caching, event bus, workflow engine and locking, and points file storage at S3. Each server and worker instance needs its own database credentials plus COOKIE_SECRET and JWT_SECRET values, and the predeploy script runs database migrations before each startup, so your deployment pipeline must handle migration ordering and rollback. Confirm the health check through the /health endpoint on both instances before you call an environment ready. Vendure's core runs on Node.js with PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB or SQLite, and it needs a Node.js version of 20.19 or later, or 22.12 or later. Its setup is a single backend with GraphQL Shop and Admin APIs and a React admin dashboard, so there is no separate worker tier to design, but your team should still confirm how background jobs, search and file storage will be hosted in its own environment.

Projects usually run long in the same places on either platform. Custom modules (Medusa) or custom plugins (Vendure) that change pricing, carts or order logic need the most design time and the most testing. Admin dashboard extensions are a separate workstream on both sides, and B2B approval workflows, which Vendure's paid plans describe as company accounts, quotes, contract pricing and approvals, can be a product decision as much as a build task. Payment and tax integrations depend on providers and jurisdictions that the platform does not choose for you, so scope which provider, which tax rules and which test accounts are in the work. Identity integration with your existing provider, including single sign-on for staff and customer login flows, often takes longer than expected because it touches the admin dashboard, the storefront and your directory at once. Data migration from an existing store is usually the largest unknown. Before work starts, put these items in a written scope: the modules or plugins to build, the admin pages to extend, the approval rules, the payment and tax providers, the identity source, the migration volume and cutover plan, and who operates the worker and background jobs after go-live.

What drives the running cost of each platform

Both platforms are free to self-host at the framework level, so the running cost comes from what surrounds the software: data services, staff, support, upgrades and the paid features a team actually needs. The cards below separate those components so a written quote can be compared line by line.

Software license cost

The Medusa core is MIT licensed, and self-hosted Vendure is free under GPLv3, so the license line is zero for the framework itself. Costs appear when you need Medusa Enterprise features based on role-based access control, or a Vendure paid plan (Starter, Growth, Scale or Enterprise) for B2B features, single sign-on and audit logs. Both are recurring or contract-based. Ask each vendor for the current price, the plan that includes your required features, and whether the fee scales with usage or seats.

Data and cache infrastructure

A self-hosted Medusa deployment needs PostgreSQL and Redis, and production replaces development modules with Redis-based caching, event bus, workflow engine and locking, plus S3 for file storage. Vendure supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB and SQLite, so the database choice may match your existing estate. Most of this spend recurs as managed service or hosting fees, and it rises with traffic, backups and replicas. Ask for the managed database and cache sizing assumptions in your quote.

Second instance and compute

Medusa expects two running instances: one in server mode for the API and admin dashboard, and one in worker mode for background tasks. Both need database credentials, COOKIE_SECRET and JWT_SECRET values, and a health check through the /health endpoint. That doubles the compute line compared with a single application process. Vendure runs as a single NestJS backend with GraphQL APIs, so its compute footprint is simpler to size. Request a per-instance compute estimate for both the server and worker tiers.

Skilled staff for TypeScript

Both frameworks are built on TypeScript and Node.js, so the team mostly pays for engineers who can extend services, modules, plugins and the admin dashboard. Vendure's extension model centers on NestJS services and GraphQL, while Medusa's centers on modules and workflows. Staff cost is largely recurring, and it grows with custom storefront, integration and B2B logic. Ask the implementation partner to split effort between initial build, ongoing development and on-call operations.

Upgrade effort and release cadence

Upgrades are a recurring cost tied to release cadence. Medusa v2.21.2 was released on September 28, 2026, and Vendure v3.8.0 was published on October 12, 2026, after v3.7.4 on October 5, 2026. Medusa runs database migrations through a predeploy script before each startup, so each upgrade needs a tested migration path. Plan a regular upgrade window and ask any partner whether upgrades, regression testing and extension rework are included in the quote or billed separately.

Support and paid-plan scope

Vendure's paid plans include direct support, and vendor support for Medusa depends on your agreement, so confirm the response commitments in writing before you compare prices. Support is recurring and is often bundled with a commercial license. A third-party implementation partner's support retainer is a separate line item, and it covers operations and fixes rather than vendor product support. Ask each vendor which support tier applies to your plan, what response times are committed and what is excluded.

Switching from Vendure to Medusa or back, and what transfers

This sequence shows which parts of a headless commerce backend move as data, which parts must be rebuilt in the other framework, and where to stop and decide whether to continue.

Inventory every customization before choosing a target
List each Vendure plugin, custom service, entity, strategy, custom admin page, GraphQL query the storefront depends on, and each external integration such as payments, tax, search, ERP and fulfillment. Mark which items are standard framework behavior and which were written for your business. Assign the work to the engineering lead who owns the storefront and the backend developer who owns the plugins, since they know the hidden dependencies. The step is done when the list is signed off by both and every item has an owner and a category: keep, rebuild or retire. Use that list to decide whether the switch is worth the rebuild before any data moves.
Map the commerce data model between the two frameworks
Compare how each framework models products and variants, prices and price lists, customers and customer groups, orders, fulfillments, payments, promotions, inventory locations and channels. Vendure and Medusa both run on relational databases, but their entities, relationships and module boundaries differ, so a direct table copy is rarely correct. Write a field-by-field mapping document with a column for each unmapped or lossy field. The step is done when the mapping is reviewed by the commerce owner and every field is marked as transfers, transforms, or has no equivalent. Confirm with each vendor's current documentation and your own schema, since model details change between releases.
Export and transform the transferable data
Extract products, customers, orders, pricing and inventory through each platform's export or API, according to what the export allows. Historical orders, customer records and product catalogs usually move as data, while payment tokens, stored credentials and password hashes often do not and must be handled through the payment provider or a customer reset flow. Transform the extract to match the target mapping and load it into a staging database. The step is done when record counts and sample checksums match between source and staging for each entity type, and any gaps are written down with a decision on each.
Rebuild the extension and integration layer
Rebuild the items marked for rebuild in step one. A Vendure plugin that overrides services or strategies must be re-expressed as a Medusa module, workflow step or subscriber, and a GraphQL storefront must be moved to Medusa's REST-based Store and Admin APIs. Admin pages built with Vendure's React admin extensions need a parallel implementation in Medusa's admin. This is usually the largest cost of switching, because it is paid in engineering time for logic that already works. Your developers and, if engaged, a fixed-scope implementation partner do this work. The step is done when every retained integration has a passing test against staging and the storefront runs on the new API.
Checkpoint: decide whether to continue
Before running parallel systems, review the mapping gaps, the rebuild list and the staging results with the business owner. Stop if the number of custom extensions is high, if key data cannot be exported with enough fidelity, or if the B2B features you rely on are only available on a paid plan you have not budgeted for. Vendure's paid plans add company accounts, quotes, contract pricing and approvals, and Medusa's Enterprise Edition covers role-based access control features under a commercial agreement, so confirm which of these you need before committing. The step is done when the decision is recorded as continue, pause or stop, with the reasons.
Run parallel testing against real order flows
Operate the new backend in a staging environment that mirrors production configuration, including separate server and worker processes for Medusa or the equivalent Vendure worker setup, and run representative flows end to end: catalog browsing, cart and checkout, payment capture, tax, shipping, refunds, returns, inventory adjustments and admin edits. Compare outputs with the current system for the same inputs. Include the health and migration steps the target platform requires. The step is done when every critical flow passes, discrepancies are logged and resolved, and the on-call team has rehearsed rollback.
Cut over and keep the old system readable
Schedule the cutover with the business owner, freeze catalog and pricing changes during the final data sync, run the last incremental export and load, switch storefront and payment webhooks to the new backend, and monitor orders and errors closely. Keep the old system in read-only mode with its database and exports retained for the period your records and finance team require. The step is done when the first full business cycle completes on the new platform with reconciled orders and payments, and the old instance is archived with a documented retention plan.

Questions buyers ask before choosing between Medusa and Vendure

How much does it cost to self-host Medusa or Vendure?

The core license is free for both: Medusa's core framework is MIT licensed, and self-hosting Vendure is free under its GPLv3 default. The recurring costs sit elsewhere. You pay for cloud or data center infrastructure, a PostgreSQL database and a Redis instance for Medusa, staff time to operate and upgrade the stack, and any paid Enterprise or Vendure commercial terms you need. Costs rise with traffic, the number of environments and how much custom B2B work you build. For a quote, ask a provider to price the written scope, including infrastructure sizing, environments, hardening, backups, upgrades and ongoing support as a separate retainer.

How long does a typical Medusa or Vendure implementation take?

No single duration applies to both platforms, and any number you see should be checked against your own scope. The main drivers are the number of sales channels, B2B requirements such as company accounts and approval flows, custom modules or plugins, payment and tax integrations, data migration from an existing store, and the state of your identity and hosting environment. Vendure's B2B features are in its paid plans, which affects scope if you plan to use them. Ask for a written plan with phases, acceptance criteria and dependencies before committing to a date.

What skills does our team need to run Medusa or Vendure?

Both platforms need strong TypeScript and Node.js skills, because you will extend the code and operate the runtime. Medusa adds operational work on PostgreSQL and Redis, plus two Medusa instances: one in server mode for the API and admin dashboard and one in worker mode for background tasks. Vendure is built on NestJS and exposes GraphQL Shop and Admin APIs, so developers need NestJS and GraphQL experience. Vendure's README lists Node.js 20.19 or later or 22.12 or later as supported versions. Check which database, cache and queue services your chosen setup needs, and make sure someone on the team owns each one.

Can our team deploy Medusa or Vendure without an outside partner?

Yes, for a small scope such as a single storefront with standard catalog, cart and order flows, a capable TypeScript team can often deploy the framework itself. The Medusa deployment documentation gives a concrete checklist: provision PostgreSQL and Redis, configure database credentials plus COOKIE_SECRET and JWT_SECRET for the server and worker, run the predeploy migration script before each startup, and confirm the deployment through the /health endpoint. Work is harder when you need multi-channel selling, B2B approvals, production hardening, backups and upgrade testing. In those cases a fixed-scope engagement with written deliverables can cover the gap.

Does the GPLv3 license force us to publish our store code?

Not automatically, but the answer depends on how you use and distribute the software, so confirm it with your legal counsel. GPLv3 is a copyleft license, and it generally requires you to share source code when you distribute a modified version of Vendure to others. Running a private store on your own infrastructure is a different situation from shipping software to customers. Vendure's license includes a plugin exception that allows Vendure plugins to be distributed under a different license, which is relevant if you build reusable extensions. Medusa's core is MIT licensed, and its Enterprise Edition features require a commercial agreement with MedusaJS, Inc.

Can Medusa or Vendure run on MySQL or MariaDB?

Vendure supports MySQL and MariaDB, along with PostgreSQL and SQLite, according to its README. Medusa is built on PostgreSQL, and its self-hosted deployment documentation describes a PostgreSQL database, so MySQL or MariaDB should not be assumed for Medusa. Confirm the current database support in the Medusa documentation and the Medusa repository before you commit. If your organization standardizes on MySQL or MariaDB, that requirement alone may decide the shortlist. Also plan for the database migration path, since changing databases after launch means a data migration project with its own testing and rollback steps.

Should we choose Medusa Cloud or Vendure Cloud, or self-host?

Choose a managed cloud when you want the vendor to run the hosting layer and you accept its terms, and self-host when data location, network controls or existing infrastructure rules matter more. Medusa Cloud is offered as managed hosting alongside the self-hosted option. The Vendure README describes Vendure Cloud as a managed runtime in design-partner preview, with general availability planned for Q1 2027, so plan production timing around that status. For either option, ask about data location, upgrade responsibility, backups, support levels, usage limits and how you would move off the platform later.

How DeployOpen helps choose, implement or migrate between Medusa and Vendure

DeployOpen is a Chainscore Labs company that plans, implements, customizes, integrates, hardens, backs up, upgrades, documents and supports self-hosted open-source platforms inside your own cloud accounts, data centers or air-gapped networks. For Medusa vs Vendure, we start from your licensing position, hosting stack and team skills, then turn the choice into a written scope with deliverables and timelines agreed before work begins.

How we scope

Written scope covers which framework fits your sales model, B2B needs and licensing position.
We map the self-hosted footprint, including PostgreSQL, Redis, S3 and separate server and worker instances for Medusa.
Engagements are fixed-scope, with ongoing support available as a retainer once you go live.

How we build

We implement storefront, admin and integration work on the chosen framework inside your environment.
Extensions use each framework's own extension model, so plugins and modules stay upgradeable.
Security testing and hardening of secrets, health checks and database migrations are part of the build.

How we hand over

Deliverables include architecture notes, deployment runbooks and configuration documentation for your team.
We document upgrade steps, migration runs and backup and restore procedures for your operators.
Handover covers the license terms and which enterprise features you have contracted, so your records match.

How we support

Retainers cover upgrades, continuous testing and ongoing operational support after handover.
Support includes reviewing framework release notes and planning upgrades on your schedule.
If you later move between Medusa and Vendure, we scope that migration in writing before any work starts.

Medusa vs Vendure