The Zum vs Salla: which platform fits you?

Salla is a large Saudi platform with a deep toolset; The Zum is lighter and simpler. An honest, numbers-first comparison.

Quick summary

Choose The Zum if you want a store that is free forever, with no subscription and no commission, and the essentials available from day one.
Choose Salla if you need a wide app store, point of sale (Salla Point), discounted shipping labels, or advanced marketing and analytics.

Prices and plans (2026)

Plan	The Zum	Salla
Free plan	0 SAR forever	Salla Basic: 0 SAR
First paid plan	No paid plans	Salla Plus: 99 SAR/month — 990 SAR/year
Top plan	—	Salla Pro: 299 SAR/month — 2,990 SAR/year
Enterprise plan	—	Salla Special: quoted on request

The difference is not that Salla is paid and The Zum is free — Salla also has a free plan. The difference is that The Zum does not sell you an upgrade: there are no paid plans at all, and the essentials are not gated behind a subscription. Prices are from the official sources below and may change with seasonal offers.

Commission and payment fees

On the free plan, neither platform takes a direct percentage of your sales: Salla describes Basic as free with unlimited products and sales and no commission, and The Zum takes no percentage.

Payment gateway fees still apply in both cases: the gateway you choose charges per transaction depending on card type, and those are the provider's fees, not the platform's.

With The Zum, you connect your gateway to your account, and the money goes to you directly without passing through The Zum.

Where Salla is stronger

A wide app and theme store covering marketing, accounting, and analytics.
Salla Point for in-store point of sale.
Discounted shipping labels and direct connections with several carriers.
Advanced marketing tools: campaigns, coupons, abandoned carts, and ad-channel connections.
An architecture suited to larger stores, teams, and multiple branches.

Where The Zum is stronger

0 SAR forever — no paid plans and no forced upgrade.
0% commission on sales.
No card and no documents to sign up.
Launch in minutes with a simple dashboard for orders and shipping.
Full ownership of the store and data encryption.

When to pick each

Pick The Zum if your priority is launching fast at zero cost, selling the essentials, and keeping every riyal.

Pick Salla if your growth depends on apps, point of sale, discounted shipping labels, or advanced marketing tools.

You can start on The Zum and move to a larger platform as you grow — or the other way around.

FAQ

Is Salla free?

Yes. The Salla Basic plan is free with unlimited products and sales and no commission, and there are paid plans such as Plus and Pro for extra features.

Is The Zum a free Salla alternative?

Yes, if you need a simple store for the essentials. If you need the app store, point of sale, or shipping labels, Salla is a better fit.

Is there a sales commission on The Zum or Salla?

There is no commission on sales in Salla's free plan, and none on The Zum. Your payment gateway may charge a per-transaction fee.

Can I move my store from Salla to The Zum?

Yes. Create your store on The Zum and add your products. How you move data depends on your volume; you can start with your best sellers.

Are Salla's prices fixed?

No. They can change and seasonal offers appear. Check Salla's official pages and help center before subscribing.

Sources

Last checked: October 2026. Prices and features change; the official sources are the reference.