Aimeos
Hamburg open-source commerce components for Laravel, TYPO3 and Symfony with a headless API
Quick Overview
| Company | Aimeos GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Headless Commerce Platforms |
| Headquarters | Hamburg, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Wherever you host it |
| Open Source | LGPL-3.0 |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes, installed with Composer on your own PHP server |
| Main Features | PHP commerce components, JSON:API, GraphQL, Laravel package, TYPO3 extension, Symfony bundle, multi-vendor marketplaces, B2B price lists, Elasticsearch integration |
| Pricing | Software free (LGPL-3.0); support from €239 + VAT for 2 hours; extended long-term support from €79/month + VAT |
| Best For | PHP teams on Laravel or TYPO3 that want to embed a catalogue and checkout into their own application |
| Replaces | Kibo, Adobe Commerce |
Detailed Review
Aimeos is a set of e-commerce components rather than a single product. Developers add them to Laravel with Composer, install the TYPO3 extension, or run the headless backend template, and then talk to the shop through JSON:API or GraphQL from a Next.js, Nuxt, Vue or React front end.
The company is Aimeos GmbH, Rennbahnstr. 32, 22111 Hamburg, entered at the Hamburg district court as HRB 143090. Its general terms cover business customers only and name German as the contract language.
Components inside your own application
Because the components embed into an existing PHP framework, an agency can add a catalogue to a CMS site without introducing a second admin system. The vendor states that the same functionality is available on every supported platform, so a project can move between frameworks and keep its shop data.
Marketplace and B2B extensions
The product page lists multi-vendor marketplaces, multi-tenant SaaS shops, subscriptions, custom price lists, quote workflows and ERP or punchout integration. Performance figures on the site, such as sub-20-millisecond rendering with Elasticsearch, are vendor statements and were not tested for this review.
Support is sold by the hour
The software is free, and Aimeos GmbH sells help separately. A two-hour support package costs €239 plus VAT, with email, developer and remote support on business days in English and German. An extended long-term support subscription starts at €79 per month plus VAT, with a 12-month minimum term.
Limitations to Consider
Aimeos is PHP only, so teams on Node.js or Java gain little from it, and it ships as components, which means you build the storefront and admin experience around it. There is no vendor-run cloud on the pages checked, and the support terms are written for German business customers. Vendors such as Saleor and Crystallize offer a hosted option for teams that do not want to operate the stack.
Who Should Use Aimeos
Laravel and TYPO3 agencies that want an open-source commerce layer inside the application they already deliver, backed by a German company for paid support.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Free LGPL-3.0 software with JSON:API and GraphQL endpoints
- Packages for Laravel, TYPO3 and Symfony
- Marketplace, subscription and B2B extensions described by the vendor
- Hamburg GmbH with register number and public terms
- Support prices are listed openly
Cons
- PHP ecosystem only
- No vendor-run hosted platform on the pages checked
- Support is sold in paid blocks of hours
- Performance claims are the vendor's own
Alternatives to Aimeos
Other European headless commerce platforms worth comparing before you decide:
Vendure
Austria · GPLv3 TypeScript commerce framework with a GraphQL API and B2B plans
Saleor
Poland · BSD-licensed GraphQL commerce core from Wroclaw, also sold as a cloud
Crystallize
Norway · Oslo-built GraphQL backend joining product data, content and orders
Sylius
Poland · MIT-licensed Symfony commerce framework with a paid Plus edition
See all European headless commerce platforms or compare them directly against Kibo on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The core software is released under the LGPL-3.0, and you can install it with Composer at no licence cost. Paid support starts at €239 plus VAT for two hours.
Yes. The vendor describes JSON:API and GraphQL endpoints and provides a headless backend template, so a separate JavaScript front end can read the catalogue and place orders.
The vendor lists Laravel, TYPO3, Symfony, SlimPHP and Flow, with a Laravel package, a TYPO3 extension and a Symfony bundle offered for support subscriptions.