Commerce Layer vs Crystallize
Commerce Layer
commercelayer.ioCrystallize
crystallize.comSide by side
| Figure | Commerce Layer | Crystallize |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $949/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Ecommerce platforms | 9.0 (#20) | 9.0 (#27) |
| Spec score · Headless Ecommerce Platforms | 9.0 (#4) | 9.2 (#2) |
| Authentication | API authorization uses OAuth 2.0 with sales-channel, integration and webapp credential types. | Login is passwordless through magic links or OAuth social connections managed with AWS Cognito. |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Hosting model | hosted | hosted |
| Integrations | Documented payment integrations include Adyen, Axerve, Braintree, Checkout.com, Klarna, PayPal and Stripe, with external gateways available for custom providers. | Official integration documentation lists payment gateways including Stripe, Klarna, Vipps, Dintero, Adyen, Mollie, Montonio, Quickpay, Two, and Razorpay. |
| Sales channels | omnichannel | omnichannel |
| Support | The homepage advertises 24/7 support; the Developer plan includes community support and Enterprise includes dedicated support. | Particle includes community support and online docs, Atom adds a Pro SLA, and Crystal includes a dedicated engineering Slack channel, Enterprise SLA, professional services, advisory access, and roadmap access. |
Plans
In their own words
Commerce Layer
Commerce Layer is a hosted transactional commerce API for brands making digital experiences shoppable across online and in-store channels. Its checkout supports multiple markets and currencies and can connect with payment gateways and tax calculators. A distributed order management system provides a unified inventory view across locations and automates order steps from reservation through shipping. Teams can configure market-specific promotions with a visual editor or JSON-based DSL. Its point-of-sale system uses the same API as online channels and supports store inventory, endless aisle, and shareable selling links. Commerce Layer lists 400+ API endpoints and real-time webhooks with 100+ trigger events. The homepage states an average API response time below 90 ms and guaranteed uptime of 99.99%. Listed security credentials include SOC 2 Type 2, PCI DSS Level 1 Provider, and ISO 27001 certifications; OAuth 2.0 and resource-level permissions govern API access. Third-party integrations include a documented Zapier app. The Developer plan provides 100 free live orders per month and unlimited test orders; Enterprise orders are custom quoted. There is no trial period, and on-premise deployment is not offered.
Crystallize
Crystallize is a hosted, composable commerce platform that brings product data, content, media, and commerce into a shared model, admin, and API. Its commerce engine covers product and pricing models, subscriptions, customer hierarchies, fulfillment pipelines, and checkout analytics. APIs and webhooks connect external ERP, CRM, payment, and logistics systems. GraphQL and MCP interfaces let AI agents read catalogs, draft quotes, configure subscriptions, and fill carts. The headless platform supports frontends for web, mobile, kiosks, and other platforms; listed platforms also include API, macOS, and Windows. Crystallize lists integrations with payment gateways including Stripe, Klarna, Vipps, Dintero, Adyen, Mollie, Montonio, Quickpay, Two, and Razorpay. It offers a free plan and paid plans from $949/mo; the Atom plan is $949 a month, billed plus metering. Particle and Atom have one tenant per project, while Crystal includes three. Crystallize says it complies with GDPR and CCPA.