Commerce Layer vs Fourthwall
Commerce Layer
commercelayer.ioFourthwall
fourthwall.comSide by side
| Figure | Commerce Layer | Fourthwall |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $15/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 3 |
| Spec score · Ecommerce platforms | 9.0 (#20) | 9.2 (#12) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Documented payment integrations include Adyen, Axerve, Braintree, Checkout.com, Klarna, PayPal and Stripe, with external gateways available for custom providers. | Official integrations include YouTube Shopping, TikTok Shop, Twitch Gifting, Instagram/Facebook Shopping, StreamElements, Streamlabs, Klaviyo, beehiiv, Laylo, ShipStation, Mailchimp, Zapier, Kit and Spotify. |
| Licence | The official JavaScript SDK and CLI repositories are released under the MIT licence. | The terms grant only a limited, revocable, nonexclusive right to use the hosted service and provide no open-source licence. |
| Security | The security page states SOC 2 Type 2, PCI DSS Level 1 Provider, and ISO 27001 certifications. | Fourthwall’s Trust Center lists a SOC 2 Type I engagement letter plus encryption, vulnerability monitoring, background checks and tested disaster-recovery controls. |
| Self-hosting | Dashboard applications can be forked, customized and run locally or self-hosted, but the pricing FAQ says Commerce Layer does not offer an on-premise version of its core service. | The documentation describes hosted APIs and checkout services and provides no self-hosting option. |
| What it does | Commerce Layer is a unified, API-first commerce and order-management platform for making websites, apps, chatbots, IoT devices and other channels transact globally. | Fourthwall is a hosted creator-commerce platform for branded storefronts, merchandise, digital products, memberships and donations. |
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.
Fourthwall
Fourthwall provides tools for designing and selling catalog products, running a customizable shop, offering memberships and using social selling integrations. Its Free plan includes those functions, and listed storefront connections include YouTube Product Shelf (Merch Shelf), TikTok Shop, Twitch Product Gifting, Facebook Shopping and Instagram Shopping. Fulfillment coverage is global, with white-label shipping and custom branding available. The service also lists design and mockup tools and API access. The Pro plan costs $15 a month and includes 100 GB of digital product storage. The listed platform is API. That platform detail may matter to sellers considering how the service connects with their store or workflow. Customer personalization is not included in the listed offering. The plan details distinguish the free shop and selling functions from Pro's stated digital product storage allowance, while both plans sit within a service that also lists social connections and global fulfillment.