Swell vs Vendure: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Swell and Vendure side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Swell
Headless e-commerce for developers
Best for you if:
- • You want headless e-commerce platform
Vendure
TypeScript-first headless commerce for custom storefronts
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Swell requires payment)
| At a Glance | Swell | Vendure |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $29/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free 100% free |
Category | Headless Commerce E-commerce | Headless Commerce E-commerce Platforms |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 372 reviews | 4.9/5 G2 4.9 10 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | Overage fees (2% to 0.4%) on sales | n/a |
Choose Swell or Vendure?
Choose Swell if
- You want headless e-commerce platform
- You want API-first architecture
Choose Vendure if
- You want a fully free tool (Swell requires payment)
- You want modern headless commerce
- You want TypeScript/Node.js
In-Depth Analysis
Swell
Headless e-commerce for developers
Swell's pricing is fair for businesses with predictable sales volumes, but the overage fees can make it expensive for rapid growth.
Watch out
Overage fees (2% to 0.4%) on sales
Strengths
- Pro: Headless e-commerce platform
- Pro: API-first architecture
- Pro: Developer-friendly customization
- Pro: Modern commerce features
- Pro: Flexible frontend options
Weaknesses
- Con: Developer expertise required
- Con: Pricing based on usage
- Con: Smaller ecosystem than Shopify
- Con: Implementation complexity
- Con: Limited out-of-box themes
Key features
Vendure
TypeScript-first headless commerce for custom storefronts
Vendure's pricing is exceptionally generous as it is entirely free and open source.
Strengths
- Pro: Modern headless commerce
- Pro: TypeScript/Node.js
- Pro: Good plugin system
- Pro: GraphQL API
- Pro: Open source
Weaknesses
- Con: Requires development
- Con: Smaller ecosystem
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Not turnkey
- Con: Less known
Key features
Plans and prices: Swell vs Vendure
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Swell |
| swell.is/pricing read Oct 31, 2026 |
| Vendure |
| vendure.io/pricing read Oct 29, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Swell pricing and Vendure pricing.
Key Takeaways
Swell
- Choose if you want headless e-commerce for developers
Vendure
- Choose if you want TypeScript-first headless commerce for custom storefronts
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 372 reviews for Swell, 4.9/5 from 10 reviews for Vendure; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Swell starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; Vendure has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Swell and Vendure compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.5/5 from 372 reviews for Swell, 4.9/5 from 10 reviews for Vendure; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Swell starts at $29/mo, billed monthly; Vendure has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are Swell and Vendure used for?
Swell: Headless e-commerce for developers. Vendure: TypeScript-first headless commerce for custom storefronts.
What does Swell cost vs Vendure?
Swell's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $29/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Vendure is free. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 31, 2026.
What's the main difference between Swell and Vendure?
Swell's main strength: headless e-commerce platform. Vendure's main strength: modern headless commerce.