Why Choose Shopnex?
Shopnex is a modern eCommerce starter built on Payload CMS, designed for flexibility, developer control, and fast iteration. Here’s how it compares to other leading open-source platforms:
| Feature / Platform | Shopnex (Payload-based) | Medusa | Saleor | WooCommerce | Vendure |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headless by Default | ✅ Yes – built on Payload CMS for true headless flexibility | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Partially – needs plugins or customization | ✅ Yes |
| Built-in CMS | ✅ Full CMS with blocks, media, access control, and custom admin UI | ❌ No – needs external CMS integration | ⚠️ Basic admin, complex for non-devs | ✅ WordPress-powered CMS | ❌ Requires CMS integration (e.g. Sanity, Strapi) |
| Developer Experience | ✅ Modern stack (Next.js / Vite), TypeScript, modular architecture | ⚠️ JS/TS with CLI setup | ❌ Django/GraphQL setup, higher barrier | ⚠️ PHP plugin ecosystem | ✅ TypeScript-first, GraphQL powered |
| Design & Flexibility | ✅ Builder.io or custom UI – editable, not locked-in | ⚠️ No built-in visual builder | ❌ Rigid design, complex overrides | ⚠️ Outdated theme model | ✅ Headless frontend freedom |
| Plugin System | ✅ Extend via Payload plugins or Shopnex blocks | ✅ Medusa plugins support | ⚠️ App system, less flexible | ✅ Many plugins, but often fragile | ✅ Plugin-based architecture |
| Self-host or SaaS | ✅ Both – deploy yourself or use Shopnex SaaS | ✅ Self-hosted only | ✅ Self-hosted only | ✅ Self-hosted | ✅ Self-hosted |
| Multi-store/Tenant | ✅ Multi-tenant ready via Payload architecture | ⚠️ Manual config needed | ✅ Multichannel support | ⚠️ Requires third-party plugins | ✅ Multi-vendor and multi-channel support |
| API-first | ✅ REST + GraphQL with full control | ✅ REST | ✅ GraphQL only | ⚠️ REST only, often messy | ✅ GraphQL-first, strongly typed |
| Cost | ✅ Free & open-source with optional SaaS | ✅ Free & open-source | ✅ Free (requires infra) | ✅ Free core, paid plugins | ✅ Free & open-source |
| Custom Checkout | ✅ Fully customizable (Payload + Next.js) | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Requires deeper customization | ⚠️ Plugin or manual setup required | ✅ Flexible with GraphQL + frontend |
🎯 Why Shopnex Stands Out
- 🔌 Pluggable by default: Payments, shipping, SEO, and more via modular plugins.
- 🧱 Block-driven UI: Create reusable, customizable UI sections with real content.
- 🛠 Full control: Own your stack – deploy it anywhere, tweak everything.
- ⚡️ Fast dev cycle: Modern tooling, built-in CMS, and support for visual editing.
✅ Ideal For
- Founders
- Agencies building custom storefronts
- Developers who want total control
- Teams scaling with minimal ops overhead
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