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When choosing between SaaS vs open source for your e-commerce business, the decision can significantly impact your operations, budget, and growth potential. How can you know which one is better for you?

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<p>SaaS e-commerce platforms operate on a subscription-based model, where businesses pay monthly or annual fees for usage. These platforms come with built-in hosting and security privileges, eliminating the need for individual setup. </p><p>On the contrary, open source software is freely available for anyone to use, modify, and distribute. It allows you to work independently and use a variety of tools or templates.</p><p>In this article, we'll examine both options to help you determine which solution best fits your business needs. We'll compare their features, analyze cost implications, and provide clarity on whether a SaaS e-commerce platform or an open source solution is right for you.</p>

<h2>Understanding Open Source E-Commerce Platforms</h2>

<p>Open source e-commerce platforms, such as <a href="https://saleor.io/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Saleor</a>, give businesses full access to the source code. That translates to tailored functionality, easy integration with third-party tools, and huge community support.</p>

<h3>Key Characteristics of Open Source E-Commerce Platforms:</h3>

<ul><li><strong>Full control:</strong> unlimited customization and integration options.</li><li><strong>One-time license cost</strong> (often free) but requires hosting, development, and ongoing maintenance</li><li><strong>High flexibility:</strong> ideal for businesses with unique workflows or advanced product catalogs.</li><li><strong>Ownership of data:</strong> no dependency on a vendor’s infrastructure.</li></ul>

<p><strong style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">Best for: </strong><span style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">companies with strong in-house technical resources or those requiring tailored e-commerce solutions.</span></p>

<h2>Understanding SaaS E-Commerce Platforms<span class="ql-cursor">﻿</span></h2>

<p>SaaS (Software as a Service) e-commerce platforms, such as Shopify, BigCommerce, or Wix, are designed for businesses that want a ready-to-use solution.</p>

<h3>Key Characteristics of SaaS E-Commerce Platforms:</h3>

<ul><li><strong>Subscription-based pricing:</strong> predictable monthly or annual fees.</li><li><strong>Built-in infrastructure:</strong> hosting, maintenance, and security updates are handled by the vendor.</li><li><strong>Ease of use:</strong> non-technical teams can quickly launch and manage stores.</li><li><strong>Scalability:</strong> easy to add features or upgrade plans as traffic grows.</li></ul>

<p><strong style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">Best for: </strong><span style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">companies that want to minimize technical overhead and prioritize speed to market.</span></p>

<h2>Comparing Open Source and SaaS E-Commerce</h2>

<p>Here’s a quick overview of how both models compare on critical factors:</p>

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table comparing open source and saas ecommerce

<h2>Pros and Cons of Open Source and SaaS E-Commerce</h2>

<h3>Advantages of Open Source E-Commerce</h3>

<ul><li>Maximum flexibility and control</li><li>Strong community support and plugins</li><li>No reliance on a single vendor</li><li>Potentially lower long-term costs (if managed well)</li></ul>

<h3>Drawbacks of Open Source E-Commerce</h3>

<ul><li>Higher upfront investment in development</li><li>Requires dedicated IT resources</li><li>Security and compliance are on you</li></ul>

<ul><li>Faster entry - you can launch within days</li><li>Vendor-managed security and hosting</li><li>24/7 customer support</li><li>Scalable plans to match business growth</li></ul>

<ul><li>Limited customization and control</li><li>Potential risk of dependence on one provider</li><li>Monthly costs add up over time</li></ul>

<h2>How to Decide Which Is Right for Your Business?</h2>

<p>The decision comes down to resources, priorities, and growth plans.</p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">If you’re an early-stage e-commerce business that values speed, simplicity, and predictable costs, a SaaS e-commerce platform may be the right choice.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">If your business has complex requirements, strong development capabilities, or a need for complete control, an open source e-commerce platform will be more future-proof.</span></p><p><strong>Many growing companies even adopt a hybrid approach:</strong> they start with SaaS for quick entry, then migrate to open source as customization needs to expand.</p>

<p>Choosing between open source vs SaaS e-commerce isn’t about which model is “better” in absolute terms. It’s about which aligns with your budget, technical capacity, and long-term vision.</p><p><strong>SaaS</strong> offers speed, simplicity, and vendor-managed convenience.</p><p><strong>Open source</strong> offers control, flexibility, and ownership.</p><p>Evaluate where your business stands today, and where you want it to be in long term. That perspective will guide you toward the e-commerce platform that best supports your goals.</p>

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Open Source vs Saas in E-Commerce: Which One Should You Choose?

Recently, we hosted a webinar with Breitling, Saleor, Algolia, and Contentful about how brands can scale globally without losing their essence. The discussion revolved around Breitling’s replatforming journey, which began with a clear need for change.

<p>Breitling decided to replatform because their legacy system was a costly, rigid monolith that limited scalability. Instead of patching it, they rebuilt from scratch with dedicated teams and partners to lay the foundation for a future-proof platform. If you’d like to dive deeper into the reasons and approach, check out our <a href="https://mirumee.com/case-study/breitling" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">case study on replatforming</a>.</p><p>We already shared the <a href="https://mirumee.com/blog/webinar-from-bottleneck-to-breakthrough-how-breitling-went-mach" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">webinar announcement on our blog</a>, and now we’d like to highlight some of the most interesting points raised during the Q&amp;A part of the discussion.</p>

<h3>What does the process of creating an online store look like?</h3>

<p>It doesn’t start with code – it starts with a <a href="https://mirumee.com/blog/why-do-you-need-the-discovery-phase-in-e-commerce-project" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">discovery phase</a>. As Michał Ociepka from Mirumee explained, we always start with understanding the business itself. Without that, even the most advanced stack won’t fit the real use cases.</p>

<p><span style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">Collecting requirements through various techniques, such as persona mapping and visual prototypes, helps define not just what should be built, but why.</span>&nbsp;</p><p>Often, clients don’t know exactly what they want at the outset – so <a href="https://mirumee.com/how-we-work" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">our process</a> is about shaping the idea together before writing a single line of code.</p>

<h3>How do physical stores evolve when digital experiences are so advanced?</h3>

<p>For luxury, the physical experience is irreplaceable. As Alexandre Viola from Breitling put it:</p>

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It’s important to be able to see, test, and touch the product, and have a contact you can speak with directly in the shop. Virtual try-on or 3D projection will never replace that feeling. At the same time, we already bind channels together – you can start on the web, add products to your wishlist, call the boutique where they guide you through it, place the order, and get it delivered to the closest store.

<p><span style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">The lines are blurring: a customer can choose items online, finalize the order over the phone, and pick it up in a boutique. Digital and physical aren’t separate worlds – they’re touchpoints in the same journey.</span></p>

<h3>Which aspect of AI in commerce is most exciting for the future?</h3>

<p>For Solene Mieville from Algolia, it’s about semantic and vector search combined with LLMs to guide discovery in a more natural, conversational way.</p><p>For Mirek Mencel from Saleor, the real opportunity lies in strategy:</p>

Brands don't need more noise – they need better strategies. And AI isn’t about creating noise, but about enabling better decisions through real-time data. Without a robust data foundation, AI is just another feature.

<p>Looking ahead, “agent commerce” could transform digital journeys. Shopping agents may become brand-guided companions that help customers navigate products online with the same intimacy they would get in-store.</p>

<h3>How do you balance upfront integration costs with long-term agility?</h3>

<p>For Alexandre, the answer is people. The autonomy gained after replatforming frees teams to work on meaningful projects instead of repetitive bottleneck tasks. That time saved translates into brand value, even if it’s hard to put numbers on it.</p><p>From Mirumee’s perspective, integration also means tapping into the expertise of best-in-class partners. As Michał noted: </p>

The real value of composable is not just flexibility. It's also gaining from providers who have already solved problems you haven’t faced yet and from direct collaboration with partners who help you avoid reinventing solutions they’ve already built.

<h2>Final Thoughts: Building Beyond the Stack</h2>

<p>What Breitling’s journey shows is that commerce today is no longer about choosing between online and offline. It’s about building ecosystems where business, technology, and human experience align.</p>

<h3>Key takeaways from the Q&amp;A session</h3>

<ul><li>Understand the business context before shaping any solution.</li><li>Blend digital with physical in seamless journeys.</li><li>Treat AI as an industry-wide opportunity rather than a project deliverable.</li><li>See integration costs as investments in autonomy and future agility.</li></ul>

<p><span style="background-color: rgb(240, 193, 112);">At Mirumee, this is what excites us most: not just building stacks, but helping brands build platforms that reflect their essence – and scale with their ambitions.</span></p>

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Author

Hanna Sobolewska

Articles

Open Source vs Saas in E-Commerce: Which One Should You Choose?

Lessons in Modern Commerce: Q&A From the Webinar

Author

Articles

Hanna Sobolewska

Open Source vs Saas in E-Commerce: Which One Should You Choose?

Lessons in Modern Commerce: Q&A From the Webinar

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