Headless commerce: your store platform as the engine, your frontend without limits

Headless commerce is a store architecture in which the frontend is separated from the store platform. The backend manages products, prices and orders and makes them available via APIs, and a custom frontend displays them to customers. This lets you shape design, load time and channels independently of the store platform.

Headless commerce takes more effort than a theme-based store because the frontend is developed individually. Projects therefore usually fall under the Professional package from €8,000, and we price platforms with multiple countries, brands or apps individually as Enterprise. The exact quote follows after the free initial consultation; we list ongoing costs for the store plan, CMS and hosting separately.

If you need a design or features that a theme cannot deliver, or you serve multiple channels, yes. Checkout stays with Shopify, and Next.js handles the presentation. For a store with standard requirements, however, a well-optimized Shopify theme is often more economical – we will tell you that openly in the initial consultation.

Shopify scores with low operating effort and a well-maintained checkout, Shopware with deep customizability, B2B features and the option to self-host. The decision depends on your assortment, pricing logic, countries and your team. We compare both against your requirements.

A headless frontend takes shape in several iterations, over a few weeks to months depending on scope. Existing product data and order processes remain in the store platform, which speeds up the start. We give you a binding timeline after the headless check.

Not all of them. Apps that work only in the theme, for example for reviews or product recommendations, have to be connected in the frontend through their API or replaced. Apps in the backend, for example for shipping or accounting, usually keep running unchanged.