Your Second Market Just Broke Shopify. Here's Your Exit.
Why leave Shopify?
- Shopify Markets stops at currency display -- per-market pricing demands app workarounds
- Multi-warehouse routing breaks when you need region-specific fulfillment rules
- Transaction fees drain 0.5–2% margin on every order, compounding as you scale
- Self-hosting is impossible -- you never own the source or control infrastructure
- International tax compliance gets bolted on through fragile third-party integrations
- Advanced inventory logic requires custom dev fighting Shopify's closed architecture
What you gain
- Native multi-currency with per-market pricing rules -- no app layer, no workarounds
- Multi-warehouse inventory routing by region -- your fulfillment logic, not Shopify's limits
- Zero transaction fees -- keep 0.5–2% margin that Shopify was taking per sale
- Full source code ownership -- self-host, modify core logic, control your infrastructure
- Built-in international tax engine -- compliance-ready across VAT, GST, sales tax zones
- GraphQL API cuts data fetching overhead by 40–60% compared to REST polling
Saleor: commerce built for international brands
Saleor is an open-source, GraphQL-first commerce platform built for international brands. Multi-currency pricing, multi-warehouse inventory, multi-language content, and regional tax calculation are not bolted on -- they are core architecture. For brands selling across borders, Saleor solves problems that Shopify Markets only partially addresses.
Why international Shopify merchants migrate
Shopify Markets works for basic international selling. But when you need per-market pricing strategies, regional warehouse routing, market-specific product catalogues, and complex tax compliance across dozens of jurisdictions, Shopify''s limitations become expensive workarounds. Saleor handles this natively.
The migration process
I export your Shopify product catalogue, customer data, and order history via the Admin API, restructure it for Saleor''s multi-market data model, and import it into your Saleor instance. The storefront is rebuilt in Next.js using Saleor''s GraphQL API. Market-specific pricing, inventory, and content are configured per region. DNS switches with zero downtime.
The migration process
Discovery & Audit
We map every page, post, media file, redirect, and plugin. Nothing gets missed.
Architecture Plan
New stack designed for your content structure, SEO requirements, and performance targets.
Staged Migration
Content migrated in batches. Each batch verified before the next begins.
SEO Preservation
301 redirects, canonical tags, sitemap, robots.txt — every ranking signal carried over.
Launch & Monitor
DNS cutover with zero downtime. 30-day monitoring period included.
Shopify vs Saleor
| Metric | Shopify | Saleor |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-currency | Shopify Markets (basic) | Native per-channel pricing |
| Multi-warehouse | Limited | Native with routing rules |
| Multi-language | App-dependent | Built-in |
| API | REST + GraphQL | GraphQL-first |
| Source code | Closed | Open-source |
| Transaction fees | 0.5–2% | 0% |
Common questions
What is Saleor?
Saleor is an open-source, GraphQL-first commerce platform. It handles products, orders, payments, shipping, and fulfilment with native multi-currency, multi-warehouse, and multi-language support. It is designed for international commerce at scale.
Why Saleor instead of MedusaJS?
Saleor is the better choice for complex international operations — multi-warehouse inventory routing, per-market pricing, and advanced tax compliance across many jurisdictions. MedusaJS is excellent for simpler multi-region setups. I evaluate both based on your specific requirements.
Is Saleor production-ready?
Yes. Saleor is used by enterprise brands processing millions in GMV. It offers both a cloud-hosted option (Saleor Cloud) and self-hosted deployment. The platform is mature, well-documented, and actively developed.
How does Saleor handle multi-currency?
Saleor supports per-channel pricing — you set specific prices for each market/currency rather than relying on automatic conversion. This gives you control over pricing strategy per region, including market-specific discounts and promotions.
What about my Shopify apps?
Shopify apps do not carry over. Saleor has its own app and plugin ecosystem. Core commerce functionality is built into the platform. Integrations for reviews, email, analytics, and loyalty are available or built custom.
How long does a Shopify to Saleor migration take?
A single-market store takes 6-8 weeks. A multi-market store with 3-5 regions takes 8-12 weeks. Complex international operations with per-market pricing and warehouse routing take 10-16 weeks.
Does SaleHoo integrate with Shopify?
Yes, SaleHoo integrates with Shopify. SaleHoo provides a directory of verified suppliers and a research tool to help online retailers find profitable products to sell. By integrating with Shopify, users can efficiently import products from SaleHoo’s suppliers directly to their Shopify store, streamlining inventory management and product listings. This integration allows Shopify users to enhance their product offerings and streamline their dropshipping operations.
Can you migrate from Shopify?
Yes, you can migrate from Shopify to Saleor. The migration process involves exporting your data from Shopify, such as products, customers, and orders, and then importing it into Saleor. It's crucial to ensure data mapping aligns with Saleor's schema. For a smooth transition, consider using migration tools or hiring a professional service that specializes in e-commerce platform migrations. This helps avoid potential data discrepancies and ensures that your online store remains operational during the transition.
Ready to migrate?
Free assessment. We'll audit your current site and give you a clear migration plan — no commitment.
Let's build
something together.
Whether it's a migration, a new build, or an SEO challenge — the Social Animal team would love to hear from you.