Saleor: Modern Open-Source E-Commerce Platform for Multi-Channel Retail

What is Saleor?

Saleor is a sophisticated, open-source e-commerce framework designed for businesses that need flexible, scalable online sales solutions without vendor lock-in. Built on GraphQL, Python, and React, Saleor provides a headless commerce architecture that powers online stores ranging from small shops to enterprise retail operations.

Unlike traditional monolithic e-commerce platforms, Saleor’s modular architecture separates the storefront presentation layer from the backend commerce engine. This means you can build custom shopping experiences while leveraging a powerful, proven e-commerce backend.

Saleor is particularly suited for retailers who need multi-channel selling, subscription management, and integration with third-party systems. The GraphQL API enables seamless integration with any frontend technology—React, Vue, mobile apps, or custom PWAs.

Key Features

• GraphQL API: Modern, efficient GraphQL API enables precise data fetching, real-time updates, and simplified frontend development.
• Headless Commerce Architecture: Separate frontend and backend allows unlimited customization of shopping experiences.
• Multi-Channel Selling: Manage products, inventory, and orders across multiple sales channels from one dashboard.
• Subscription and Recurring Billing: Built-in support for subscription products with automated billing cycles and renewal management.
• Marketplace Integration: Support for multi-vendor scenarios with commission management and vendor dashboards.
• Advanced Inventory Management: Real-time inventory tracking, multi-warehouse support, and intelligent stock allocation.
• Payment Gateway Integration: Stripe, PayPal, Adyen, and dozens of payment processors supported out of the box.
• Dynamic Pricing: Rule-based pricing with discounts, promotions, and tiered pricing strategies.
• Tax Management: Automatic tax calculation for multiple jurisdictions with plugin architecture for local requirements.
• Customer Management: Comprehensive customer profiles, segmentation, and CRM-like functionality.
• Mobile-Ready: Fully responsive design works flawlessly on phones, tablets, and desktops.
• Performance Optimization: Built for speed with caching, CDN integration, and optimized database queries.

System Requirements

Server Requirements

• Operating System: Linux, macOS, or Windows
• Python: Python 3.8 or higher
• Database: PostgreSQL 11+ recommended (also supports MySQL)
• Node.js: Node.js 14+ for dashboard and storefronts
• RAM: Minimum 2GB, Recommended 4GB+ for production
• Storage: 10GB+ depending on product catalog size
• Redis: Required for caching and background jobs
• Elasticsearch: Optional, for advanced product search features

Development Requirements

• Git for version control
• Docker and Docker Compose for local development
• IDE or text editor

Installation Methods

Docker Installation (Recommended)

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/saleor/saleor.git
cd saleor

# Start with Docker Compose
docker-compose up -d

# Access dashboard at http://localhost:3000
# Access API at http://localhost:8000/graphql/

Manual Installation

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Configure database
export DATABASE_URL="postgresql://user:password@localhost/saleor"
python manage.py migrate

# Create superuser
python manage.py createsuperuser

# Start server
python manage.py runserver

Production Deployment

# Use Gunicorn for production
pip install gunicorn

# Run with Gunicorn
gunicorn saleor.wsgi --bind 0.0.0.0:8000 --workers 4

# Use Nginx as reverse proxy
# Configure static files and media
python manage.py collectstatic

Use Cases

B2B Online Stores

B2B retailers use Saleor’s advanced features for bulk ordering, custom pricing, and account management with wholesale buyers.

Multi-Vendor Marketplaces

Create marketplaces where multiple sellers list products with commission-based revenue sharing automatically calculated and tracked.

Subscription Box Services

Subscription businesses leverage Saleor’s built-in subscription management for recurring orders, billing cycles, and customer retention.

Digital Product Sales

Sell digital products with automatic delivery, license key management, and instant download capabilities.

International E-Commerce

Global retailers manage multiple currencies, languages, tax rates, and shipping rules for worldwide operations.

Advantages

• No Licensing Fees: Open-source means zero ongoing licensing costs. Lower total cost of ownership versus commercial platforms.
• Complete Customization: Full source code access allows unlimited modifications to match your exact business processes.
• Modern Technology Stack: Built on GraphQL, Python, and React—current industry-leading technologies ensure longevity.
• Headless Architecture: Decouple frontend from backend for maximum flexibility in customer experience design.
• Developer-Friendly: Well-documented API and SDK make integration with other systems straightforward.
• Scalability: Designed to handle growing catalogs and traffic without architectural limitations.
• No Vendor Lock-in: Open-source means you own your code and data. Never forced to upgrade or migrate.
• Community Support: Active community contributes plugins, integrations, and solutions.

Limitations

• Requires Technical Setup: Initial installation and configuration need developer or DevOps expertise.
• Ongoing Maintenance: Self-hosted means you’re responsible for updates, security patches, and infrastructure.
• Smaller Ecosystem: Fewer pre-built integrations compared to major platforms like Shopify.
• Learning Curve: GraphQL and headless architecture require development team familiarity.

Pricing

Software Cost: Free and open-source (BSD 3-Clause License)

Implementation: Costs for hosting, customization, and support services

Commercial Hosting: Managed hosting available from Saleor partners