Smartstore
Smartstore is a modular, open-source eCommerce platform built on ASP.NET Core 10, offering multi-store, multi-language, and multi-currency capabilities with built-in AI features for text and image generation. It runs cross-platform (Windows, Linux, macOS) and includes CMS, CRM, payment, and shipping integrations out of the box.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | smartstore/Smartstore |
| Owner | smartstore |
| Primary language | C# |
| License | AGPL-3.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 1.5k |
| Forks | 564 |
| Open issues | 510 |
| Latest release | 6.4.0 (2026-05-29) |
| Last updated | 2026-07-08 |
| Source | https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore |
What Smartstore is
Built on ASP.NET Core 10, Entity Framework Core 10, Vue.js, and Bootstrap, Smartstore employs domain-driven design with modular architecture supporting Docker deployment, Redis caching, full-page caching, and web farm scalability. It integrates provider-agnostic AI abstraction layers (OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, DeepSeek, Ollama) and supports SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.
Get the Smartstore source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/smartstore/Smartstore.gitcd Smartstore# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- AGPL-3.0 licensing requires review by legal counsel; source disclosure obligations apply to network-facing modifications. Proprietary extensions may require commercial licensing agreement with Smartstore AG.
- ASP.NET Core 10 + Entity Framework Core 10 dependency mandates .NET 10 runtime; ensure deployment infrastructure (Windows, Linux, macOS, Docker, Azure) aligns with organizational DevOps practices.
- Database choice (SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite) impacts licensing, scaling, and hosting costs; use SQL Server for enterprise compliance, PostgreSQL for open-source parity.
- AI provider integration (OpenAI, Gemini, Claude, DeepSeek, Ollama) incurs external API costs or self-hosting overhead; abstraction layer permits provider switching but requires credential and quota management.
- Multi-store, multi-language, and multi-currency features require schema and localization planning upfront; existing data migrations from Smartstore.NET 4.2 are supported, but earlier versions require intermediate upgrade.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Strict Commercial Closed-Source Requirement — Smartstore is licensed under AGPL-3.0, which requires source code disclosure for network-facing modifications. Organizations strictly requiring proprietary, non-disclosure deployments must seek commercial licensing or alternatives.
- Minimal .NET Core Expertise in-House — Significant customization or troubleshooting requires C# and ASP.NET Core competency. Teams with only PHP, Node.js, or frontend backgrounds may face steep learning curves for backend modifications and deployment on Linux/Docker.
- Headless-Only or Composable Commerce Priority — While Smartstore exposes RESTful APIs, it is fundamentally a monolithic all-in-one platform. If the requirement is strict microservices, independent storefront decoupling, or pluggable commerce components, headless-native platforms may be better suited.
- Non-EU GDPR & Data Residency Constraints — Built with Trusted Shops certification and German law compliance. Organizations with strict non-EU data residency, HIPAA, or industry-specific compliance outside EU scope should verify regulatory alignment before adoption.
License & commercial use
Licensed under AGPL-3.0 (GNU Affero General Public License v3.0), a copyleft license requiring source code disclosure for any network-facing modifications. Derivative works and significant customizations must be made available under the same license. This is not a permissive OSI license in the context of proprietary closed-source software.
Commercial use of the unmodified Smartstore platform is permitted under AGPL-3.0. However, any non-trivial customization, module development, or integration deployed on a network triggers source disclosure obligations. Organizations requiring proprietary extensions or closed-source modifications must obtain a separate commercial license from Smartstore AG or structure deployments to comply with AGPL-3.0 (e.g., source escrow, GPL-licensed extensions). Requires legal review.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Clear |
| Deployment complexity | Moderate |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
No explicit security audit, vulnerability disclosure policy, or security advisories provided in the data. AGPL-3.0 transparency aids community review. Trusted Shops pre-certification and EU GDPR compliance mentioned, but specific security controls (encryption, authentication, rate limiting, OWASP compliance) are not described. Organizations should: (1) conduct security code review before production deployment, (2) verify current patch status, (3) establish secure credential management for AI providers and payment gateways, (4) configure firewall/WAF for public-facing deployments, (5) monitor GitHub security alerts.
Alternatives to consider
Magento (Adobe Commerce)
Enterprise eCommerce with PHP/Laminas stack; proprietary commercial editions with closed-source options, extensive addon marketplace, and SaaS support. Better for large-scale deployments not constrained by open-source licensing.
WooCommerce (WordPress + plugins)
PHP-based, lower barrier to entry, massive plugin ecosystem, and simpler deployment. Ideal for SMBs and content-first merchants; however, less scalable and modular than Smartstore for enterprise multi-store operations.
Saleor (GraphQL Headless Commerce)
Open-source (BSD) headless/composable commerce platform with Python/Django backend and GraphQL API. Better for organizations prioritizing API-first architecture and frontend decoupling; less all-in-one than Smartstore.
Build on Smartstore with DEV.co software developers
Smartstore combines modular architecture with all-in-one eCommerce capabilities, AI content generation, and cross-platform deployment. Review AGPL-3.0 licensing implications, .NET expertise requirements, and multi-store scalability fit before committing. Consult our engineers to align Smartstore with your technical and compliance roadmap.
Talk to DEV.coRelated open-source tools
Surfaced by semantic similarity across the DEV.co open-source index.
Related on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
Smartstore FAQ
Can I use Smartstore for a commercial store without open-sourcing my customizations?
Is Smartstore production-ready?
What's the learning curve for a team unfamiliar with ASP.NET Core?
Does Smartstore handle multi-tenant SaaS?
Software development & web development with DEV.co
Need help beyond evaluating Smartstore? DEV.co is a software development agency offering software development services and web development for teams of every size. Our software developers and web developers build custom software, web applications, APIs, and open-source cms integrations — and maintain them long-term.
Evaluate Smartstore for Your eCommerce Roadmap
Smartstore combines modular architecture with all-in-one eCommerce capabilities, AI content generation, and cross-platform deployment. Review AGPL-3.0 licensing implications, .NET expertise requirements, and multi-store scalability fit before committing. Consult our engineers to align Smartstore with your technical and compliance roadmap.