Categories   >   Headless Ecommerce Platforms
Last Reviewed: November 13th, 2024

Best Headless Ecommerce Platforms Of 2024

What are Headless Ecommerce Platforms?

Headless Ecommerce Platforms are designed to streamline online retail operations by separating the user interface (frontend) from the operations logic (backend). By utilizing an API-driven approach, these platforms provide greater flexibility for businesses to control how clients interact with their products, significantly improving customization options. They tackle the challenges posed by an ever-evolving digital landscape, simplifying upgrades, scaling business operations and providing seamless integration with third-party applications. Headless platforms also support omnichannel selling, ensuring a cohesive customer experience. While the nontraditional setup may initially pose difficulties for less tech-savvy teams, the benefits significantly outweigh the drawback. Advanced industries, especially tech and fashion, gain the most from this dynamic innovation, due to demands for personalized customer experiences. Headless Ecommerce Platforms align digital experiences with evolving customer expectations, paving the way for businesses to power unique digital interactions while simultaneously enhancing backend operations.

What Are The Key Benefits of Headless Ecommerce Platforms?

  • Greater customization flexibility
  • Boosts omnichannel selling
  • Enhances customer experiences
  • Simplifies system upgrades
  • Enables seamless integrations
  • Improves website performance
  • Scales with business growth
  • Decreases time to market
  • Increases site speed and reliability
  • Provides tech-stack independence
Read more

Overall

Based on the latest available data collected by SelectHub for 30 solutions, we determined the following solutions are the best Headless Ecommerce Platforms overall:

PayPal
PayPal
Start Price
$0.30
Per Transaction, 5.4% Flat Rate
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked PayPal

PayPal users generally give it a thumbs-up for its convenience and security. Setting up an account is a breeze, and the platform is widely accepted by online merchants, making it a go-to for quick and easy payments. The security features, like encryption and fraud protection, give users peace of mind when making transactions. However, some users find the fees, especially for international transactions and credit card payments, to be a bit of a bummer. Additionally, while PayPal is widely accepted, it's not universally accepted, so users may occasionally encounter situations where they need to whip out a different payment method. Compared to other digital payment platforms like Zelle, Venmo, and Cash App, PayPal stands out with its robust buyer and seller protection policies, making it a safer choice for larger transactions or purchases from unfamiliar sellers. But for splitting bills with friends or sending small amounts of money, the simplicity and social features of Venmo or Cash App might be more appealing.

So, who's PayPal's ideal user? It's perfect for folks who frequently shop online and value security and convenience. If you're someone who makes international payments or deals with large transactions, PayPal's buyer and seller protection features are a major plus. However, if you're mainly looking for a way to split the bill at dinner or send a few bucks to a friend, you might find other platforms more user-friendly and cost-effective.

Pros & Cons

  • Convenient and Widely Accepted: PayPal is a popular online payment method that is accepted by many online retailers, making it a convenient option for shoppers.
  • Enhanced Security: PayPal offers buyer and seller protection policies, which can help to protect users from fraud and scams. For instance, if a buyer does not receive an item they purchased, or if the item is significantly different from its description, they may be eligible for a refund under PayPal's Buyer Protection program.
  • Dispute Resolution: The platform provides a dispute resolution process to help resolve issues between buyers and sellers.
  • Limited Seller Protection: PayPal's seller protection policies can be difficult to navigate and may not cover all types of transactions or disputes, leaving sellers vulnerable to fraud or chargebacks.
  • Account Holds and Freezes: PayPal has been known to hold or freeze accounts without warning or clear explanation, which can disrupt business operations and cause frustration for users who rely on the platform for their livelihood.
  • Customer Service Challenges: Getting timely and effective support from PayPal's customer service can be difficult, with long wait times and inconsistent responses being common complaints among users.

Key Features

  • Accept Payments: Receive funds and streamline the checkout experience with the available tools: 
    • Invoices and Estimates: Generate free customizable invoices to simplify the payment process. Alternatively, create estimates with business logos and personalized details, and automatically convert them into invoices after customer acceptance. 
    • Checkout: Provide customers with a one-touch payment point to check out and make payments without leaving the business website. 
    • Recurring Payments: Improve customer retention by allowing repeat customers to skip the checkout process and set up subscription-based payments. 
    • Installment Payments: Get paid up-front while providing customers a pay-later option with “Pay in 4,” an interest-free installment solution, at no additional cost. 
    • Sell on Social: Quickly create product listings with photos and descriptions. Receive a shareable link to promote and push sales through social media, email, chat and more. Host listings on the vendor’s servers and let customers securely pay through a payment portal. 
    • Point of Sale: Accept in-person card payments with a selection of chip, tap and swipe readers and accessories compatible with mobile devices and desktops. 
    • QR Codes: Generate and print unique QR codes that customers can scan to make payments through mobile apps. 
  • Make Payments: Securely link bank accounts to transfer money to digital wallets and vice versa. 
    • Business Debit Mastercard: Withdraw or spend money as soon as it arrives in the digital wallet and earn rewards and cashback from participating retailers. Use at all locations accepting Mastercards. 
    • Send Money: Electronically pay vendors anywhere within the USA without incurring any additional costs and receive payment receipts instantly through the mobile app. Thorough monitoring helps prevent fraudulent transactions. 
    • Payouts: Send mass payouts to vendors and employees across the world, and auto-convert currencies. Supports more than 24 currencies and 180 markets across the globe. 
    • Crypto Payments: Make payments and checkout from participating online stores with cryptocurrency seamlessly. 
    • Payment Regulations: Leverage tools like transaction monitoring, recipient verification and compliance screening to manage compliance with regulations. Available with the enterprise solution. 
  • Risk Management: Uses intelligent two-sided networks, machine learning and analytics to protect businesses from existing and potential threats. Safeguard card details and transactional ledgers with a secure vault. Receive expert advice on maintaining compliance and security strategies. 
  • Growth Acceleration: Expedite business growth rate with critical funding, sales push and growth insights: 
    • PayPal Working Capital: A fixed-fee loan available without requiring a credit check, based on the account’s history. Repay it automatically with a percentage of each sale through the digital wallet. 
    • PayPal Business Loan: Finance operating expenses with a term loan based on the business’s history and growth since inception. Automate regular weekly payments from the bank. 
    • Cart Recovery: Reduce cart abandonment and drive return visits by sending notifications to shoppers who left midway. Offer incentives and discounts through a Store Cash campaign and boost customer loyalty. 
    • Insights: Get actionable insights and expert advice based on estimated audience size and potential ROI to optimize operations, improve marketing and push sales. 
  • Operation Management: Streamline daily operations and automate repetitive tasks with the following tools: 
    • Shipping Labels: Receive discounts on shipping through United Parcel Services (UPS) and United States Postal Service (USPS). Automatically receive tracking information. Select service type, package size and other details to auto-calculate costs. 
    • Dispute Management: Interact with buyers and customers through the “Resolution Center” to resolve disputes mutually. Clients can escalate claims for unresolved conflicts. Gain expert advice on building a case against a chargeback or a claim against the business. 
    • Funds Now: Receive money from completed sales instantly without any hold or delay at no extra cost to the business. 
Etsy
Etsy
Start Price
$0.20
Per Item, Usage-Based
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Etsy

Is Etsy really as easy as everyone says it is to buy and sell unique items? Etsy is an eCommerce platform known for its distinctive, handcrafted goods from independent sellers. Users rave about the platform's user-friendly design, which makes it simple to navigate and discover those one-of-a-kind treasures. Etsy's strength lies in fostering a community of passionate creators and buyers seeking unique, personalized items. This dedication to small businesses and artisans distinguishes Etsy from mass-produced goods found on platforms like Amazon. For instance, a buyer looking for a handmade ceramic mug with a specific design is more likely to find it on Etsy than on a more generalized platform. However, Etsy's dependence on individual sellers can lead to inconsistencies. Shipping delays, variable product quality, and customer service challenges arise from dealing with numerous independent entities. While Etsy has policies in place, enforcing them across a vast network poses a challenge. Potential buyers should prioritize individual seller ratings and reviews to ensure a smooth experience. Ultimately, Etsy is best suited for shoppers seeking unique, handcrafted items and willing to embrace the nuances of buying directly from independent creators.

Pros & Cons

  • Niche Marketplace: Etsy is known for its focus on unique and handmade goods, attracting buyers looking for distinctive items.
  • Creative Variety: The platform boasts a vast selection of products, offering a diverse range of options for shoppers seeking one-of-a-kind pieces.
  • Customer Service Issues: Etsy has received complaints regarding its customer service, potentially leading to unresolved issues for businesses.
  • Shipping Challenges: Shipping delays are a recurring concern on Etsy, potentially impacting customer satisfaction and business operations. Businesses may need to meticulously manage shipping profiles and expectations.
  • Price-Focused Competition: Etsy's platform can lead to intense price competition, potentially impacting businesses focused on product quality and unique offerings.

Key Features

  • Online Store: Create stores using customizable templates and promote products using featured listings. 
  • Analytics: Provides detailed statistics to track orders and revenue, identify products with the most page views and understand performance trends. 
  • SEO Tools: Customers can find listings with the proper headings and descriptions. Helps recognize the keywords that get more traffic to the store. 
  • Logistics: Auto calculates shipping costs based on weight, dimension, shipping method and delivery speed. Prints shipping labels and directly sends tracking details to customers. 
  • Mobile App: Manage orders, update items, check shop analytics, create listings and talk to customers from anywhere. 
  • Promotional Tools: Promote items and listings in internal search and on social media. 
  • Payment Management: Collect and manage payments through PayPal or credit card, based on customers’ convenience. Also manages currency conversions, making it globally accessible. 
Shopify
Shopify
Start Price
$29
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Shopify

Shopify is a robust platform for every type of eCommerce business. During testing, I loved its “Markets” feature that consolidates wholesale, retail, B2B and D2C operations into a single view. You can tailor experiences for each market without creating multiple stores and get a bird's eye view of it all from a unified screen.

Its analytics module is a strong suit. Unlike other platforms that typically involve a 24-hour waiting period to access current data, Shopify lets you stream your business’s data in real time. The drag-and-drop interface is intuitive, and pre-built reports provide a solid foundation. However, the platform truly shines in its ability to access and customize ShopifyQL code for advanced analytics.

Shopify's scalability is also impressive. The platform grows with your business. Starting with a basic store and transitioning to a complex, multi-channel operation is seamless. The headless architecture offers flexibility for customization, allowing you to create unique shopping experiences using its native Hydrogen visual editor or other third-party solutions.

The mobile app has offline image editing, AI image generation and website editing capabilities. Also, Shopify's native AI, Magic, automates routine tasks and provides data-driven recommendations.

Shopify’s AI-powered virtual assistant, Sidekick, trains itself on your store’s data, customers and transactions. You can ask anything, from using a feature to understanding your business data, and it always provides helpful, contextual answers. It lets you generate customer segments, design marketing campaigns and optimize your sales funnel. Sidekick also identifies customer segments and offers tips to boost conversion rates, like targeted emails, discount coupons and cart recovery strategies.

However, Shopify's cost structure can be prohibitive for some. As the business grows, so do the expenses. And reliance on third-party apps for essential functionalities can lead to increased costs and potential performance issues down the line.

While the platform offers a high degree of customization, mastering Shopify's Liquid coding language is necessary for complex changes, creating a barrier for non-technical users. Lastly, the short duration of the free trial might hinder the evaluation process for potential customers.

Overall, Shopify is one of the best eCommerce solutions that can adapt to evolving business needs. However, you should carefully consider the platform's limitations in terms of cost, technical complexity and app dependency before jumping into a contract.


Pros & Cons

  • Ease of Use: Many users praise Shopify for its user-friendly interface, especially for those with little to no coding or web design experience. It allows users to set up a store quickly and easily.
  • Extensive Customizability: Shopify offers various free and paid customizable themes. It also has a large app store with numerous plugins for additional functionality.
  • Enhanced Security: Users appreciate Shopify’s integrated CDN hosting, SSL certification and multi-factor authentication, ensuring high security for businesses.
  • Support and Community: 24/7 customer support is available, and a large community of users and developers offers advice and solutions.
  • Scalability: Scaling your business with Shopify simply involves shifting to a higher-tier plan to access enterprise features like headless architecture, built-in AI and support for multiple business models.
  • All-In-One Solution: It provides a comprehensive package for managing eCommerce businesses, including marketing, inventory management, order processing, shipping, payments and analytics.
  • Cost: Some users find Shopify expensive, especially since costs can escalate with paid apps and transaction fees.
  • Technical Expertise: In-depth customization requires accessing Shopify’s proprietary coding language, Liquid, which can be challenging for users with low technical expertise.
  • App Dependencies: The reliance on third-party apps for additional features can lead to slower website performance and increased costs.
  • Free Trial Duration: The free trial period is relatively short (3 days), which some users find insufficient for making a fully informed decision.

Key Features

  • Website Builder: Create professional online stores with over 70 customizable themes, mobile optimization and advanced HTML/CSS editing.
  • Checkout: You can offer customers a seamless shopping experience with features like one-page checkouts, multiple payment options and abandoned cart recovery.
Wix
Wix
Start Price
$16
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Wix

Wix offers intuitive drag-and-drop editors and a rich library of designer templates. Users have identified the drag-and-drop editor and intuitive UI as Wix’s standout features. It aids website design without complicated coding and allows users to maintain analytics and manage content with a few clicks from the dashboard.

However, reviews mention that users can’t access the source code, and website designers can only use predefined customizations where personalization isn’t possible.

Also, critical features like payment processing, WordPress plugins, personal email domain and others come as paid add-ons or plugins. It can be a less economical option for businesses with large inventories, comprehensive websites and rapid scaling plans. However, the templates are well-crafted and ideal for new businesses to design unique landing pages and boost their digital presence at a comparatively low cost.

Pros & Cons

  • Website Builder: Offers an intuitive and feature-rich drag-and-drop website editor, according to 93% of reviews on the site building process.
  • Templates: Wix provides a wide range of state-of-the-art website templates, according to 100% of users who reviewed the template library.
  • Easy to Launch Website: About 90% of users reviewing ease of use said they had no trouble launching websites without prior technical knowledge.
  • Cost: It’s a cheaper option than its competitors, according to 72% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Scalability: Inability to access the source code can hinder operational scalability, according to 94% of reviews on backend connectivity.
  • Add-Ons and Plugins: Most essential features are expensive and only available as add-ons, according to 100% of reviews on this element.
  • Mobile Optimization: Optimizing websites for mobile devices is complicated and requires professional assistance, according to 92% of reviews on this feature.

Key Features

  • Website: Use Wix ADI (Artificial Design Intelligence) to automatically create a website or choose from more than 500 templates and 100 fonts to design a custom website with drag-and-drop abilities. Make them mobile-friendly, and add animations, images, text, videos and scroll effects like parallax, fade-in, zoom-in and more. 
    • Online Store: Showcase and sell products, track and manage inventory, and handle online stores. 
    • Blog: Create and edit blog posts, view and manage comments, and add multiple writers. 
    • Music: Showcase albums, playlists and tracks on a customizable music player. Allow customers to directly share and buy music from the website and keep track of the most shared, played, downloaded and purchased songs. 
    • Photography: Display images and autoplay videos in more than 30 kinds of galleries, set image quality and sharpness, and protect content using passwords and watermarks. 
    • Video: Manage, create and customize video channels, add videos from computers or social media, and rent, sell or offer monthly subscriptions. 
    • Events: Customize, create and share email invites, track RSVPs, manage and edit guest details, and sell event tickets. 
    • Restaurants: Create a personalized menu with customized pricing and images. Accept orders and manage reservations online, and set an auto-confirmation email. 
  • Domain: Connect or create a custom domain name and get a personalized email ID. 
  • Analytics: Track site performance, statistics, visitors, sales and more. 
  • Contact Management: Manage and collect contact and subscriber information in a single space. 
  • Login and Chat: Allow customers or members to access password-protected pages. Communicate with site visitors via live chat. 
  • Social Media: Connect accounts with Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook and other social media platforms. Share blogs, pictures and videos at the same time. 
  • Security: Secure websites and boost SEO with SSL certification. 
  • Payments: Accept payments online via PayPal and credit cards, and offline without commission. 
  • Shipping and Tax: Determine and customize taxation and shipping rules based on location. Also, offer free shipping and dropshipping. 
SquareSpace
SquareSpace
Start Price
$16
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked SquareSpace

Squarespace helps businesses and individuals promote their brands digitally by launching professional websites and integrating every social account in a unified platform. According to reviews, the drag-and-drop website builder and intuitive user interface are the primary pros of the software.

But, users have noted that the drag-and-drop editor lacks intricate customizations like moving image blocks, using multiple fonts, changing website structures and more. If you’re looking to deploy the software, we advise having technical expertise in WordPress coding or CSS editing for in-depth personalization. In conclusion, Squarespace is ideal for creating fashionable landing pages for individuals and smaller businesses, especially those looking for a simple option. It’s less effective for larger organizations with big inventory and that need hyper-detailed websites.

Pros & Cons

  • Website Builder: It’s simple to create a professional website without any coding using the drag-and-drop editor, according to 70% of users mentioning this feature.
  • Ease of Use: The platform is intuitive and straightforward, according to 100% of users mentioning this aspect.
  • Domain: Squarespace helps transfer existing domains without any hassle, according to 90% of reviews mentioning domains.
  • Customer Support: Vendor’s support team offers quick and quality responses, as noted by 92% of reviews on customer support.
  • Rigidity: The drag-and-drop website editor lacks customization features, according to all users discussing personal customizations.
  • Cost: According to 92% of users reviewing the pricing structure, the solution is costlier than its competitors based on the features provided.
  • Performance Speed: 82% of users who mentioned this element said that the platform uses a lot of RAM while running and is prone to crashes.
  • Data Analytics: In-depth analytics is only available with the enterprise pricing plan, according to 67% of reviews discussing this aspect.

Key Features

  • Templates and Design Tools: Access customizable templates that support all major content types, like blogs, galleries, pages, calendars and more. Use the latest HTML, Javascript and CSS transcripts to edit templates. Use customized color palettes, video and background banners, images via Unsplash, Google and TypeKit fonts, a built-in photo editor and more. 
  • Layout and Pages: Use pre-designed structures to create websites and add blocks, menus, links, maps, forms, files, buttons, charts, custom codes and social media icons. Duplicate text pages, use CSS editor and create custom redirect pages. Design websites that automatically adapt to the device it is accessed on without changing the overall style of the website. 
  • Commenting System: Incorporate a commenting system that helps with community management, flagging spam messages, disabling comments, threading comments, counting individual likes and moderating content. 
  • Multiple Contributors and Access Levels: Restrict permission to access based on role and use a single login to handle multiple sites simultaneously. Provide access levels, including content editing, reporting, store managing, administrating, billing and more. 
  • Passwords and Page Lock: Lock websites with a password while editing it, use a password to create private sections and customize page displays for visitors when locked by a password. 
  • Built-In Mobile Websites: Design websites that automatically adapt to the device it is accessed on without changing the overall style of the website. 
  • App: Use an app available on Android and iOS to manage websites, add or edit pages, add images, write and edit blogs and review traffic analytics. Manage inventory, orders and customers as well as add products and issue returns while on the go. 
  • Extensions: Use third-party tools to manage sales transactions, handle inventory and accounting, file taxes, streamline bookkeeping, promote products, ship products and more. Connect with Google Analytics and Disqus. 
  • Blogging: Publish, draft, schedule and mark posts for review. Use markdown block to add text, change layouts as per the blog content and automate the process of reformatting content for email campaigns. Manage audio blocks, blog post options and podcast support for better visibility. Save excerpts and source URLs, use accelerated mobile pages to create lightweight web pages, add subscribe buttons, access built-in RSS feeds and link titles to external URLs. 
  • Portfolios: Drag and drop images, add videos and audio files to pages or blog posts, and set videos or images as backgrounds. Access a built-in image editor, create landing pages with links to sub-pages, use lightbox to highlight images, define focal points for images and auto-fill tags, tiles and descriptions when importing images. 
Weebly
Weebly
Start Price
$10
Monthly, Freemium
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked Weebly

Weebly, a website builder owned by Square, empowers entrepreneurs to establish and expand their online presence. Users consistently commend its user-friendly drag-and-drop interface, making website creation accessible even for those without coding expertise. The platform's affordability, with both free and paid plans, further enhances its appeal. Weebly's extensive template library and integrated marketing tools streamline the website building process, while its e-commerce features, including shopping cart functionality and payment processing, enable seamless online selling. However, some users note limitations in design flexibility and customization options compared to platforms like Wix or Squarespace.

Weebly's strength lies in its simplicity and affordability, making it ideal for small businesses and individuals seeking a straightforward solution to establish their online presence. Its e-commerce capabilities cater to those venturing into online selling, providing essential tools for product management and transactions. The platform's ease of use allows users to focus on their core business rather than grappling with technical complexities. "Weebly: Your website, without the wobbles" perfectly captures the essence of this platform, offering a stable and user-friendly experience for building and managing online stores.

Pros & Cons

  • Simple to Use: Weebly provides a drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to build and customize their online stores without needing coding knowledge. The platform offers a straightforward and intuitive experience, allowing users to quickly add products, manage inventory, and set up payment processing.
  • Affordable Pricing: Weebly offers a range of pricing plans to suit different business needs and budgets. The platform provides a free plan with basic features, as well as paid plans with more advanced functionality and scalability. This affordability makes Weebly an attractive option for small businesses and startups.
  • Mobile-Friendly Design: Weebly's themes are designed to be responsive and mobile-friendly, ensuring that online stores look great and function properly on all devices. This is crucial for providing a positive user experience and reaching customers who shop on their smartphones or tablets.
  • Integrated Marketing Tools: Weebly offers built-in marketing tools to help businesses promote their online stores. These tools include email marketing, SEO optimization, and social media integration, allowing users to reach a wider audience and drive traffic to their websites.
  • Limited Design Flexibility: Weebly's drag-and-drop interface, while user-friendly, can feel restrictive for users who desire more control over their website's appearance and functionality. The platform's templates and design options might not cater to all aesthetic preferences or accommodate complex layouts.
  • eCommerce Functionality: Weebly's eCommerce features, while suitable for smaller online stores, may not meet the needs of businesses with extensive product catalogs or complex shipping and inventory management requirements. Users seeking advanced eCommerce capabilities might find the platform's offerings somewhat limited.
  • SEO Limitations: Some users have expressed concerns about Weebly's SEO capabilities, noting that the platform's built-in tools might not provide the level of control and customization required for comprehensive search engine optimization strategies. This could potentially impact a website's visibility in search engine results.

Key Features

  • Professional Website: Build a professional website, online store or blog: 
    • Designing: Drag and drop widgets, use mobile-friendly templates, add photos and dynamic content, and easily edit text blocks to build websites. Leverage the built-in code editor for further customization. 
    • Domain Names: Search for suitable domain names, purchase a domain, manage CNAME, A records, WHOIS information and more from the dashboard. Alternatively, create a free subdomain in case of small-scale requirements. 
    • SEO: Leverage a site map, SEO-friendly HTML formatting, meta descriptions, alt tag placement and more to rank websites on top of Google search results. 
    • Hosting: Experience navigation speed and reliability with its free cloud-based website hosting infrastructure. Provide visitors with a seamless online experience. 
    • Forms: Create custom contact forms, RSVP lists and surveys. Integrate these into the website to create unique engagement and data gathering opportunities. 
    • Blogs: Customize the structure, layout, category, tab and sidebar of posts, and manage comments to build a personalized blog. Enable easy distribution through RSS and social sharing built into every blog. 
    • Dynamic Content: Upload and edit photos and create slideshows. Embed videos from Youtube, Vimeo and other video sharing platforms, or upload and host videos on the website. Adjust spacing, presentation and more to deliver high-quality content to visitors. 
  • E-Commerce: Build a complete e-commerce solution. 
    • Payment Processing: Leverage partnership with Square to accept all major credit cards and streamline the checkout process. Use its POS system to unify payment processing across digital and non-digital storefronts. Other payment gateway integrations include PayPal, Stripe and more. 
    • Inventory Management: Track inventory, manage supply, categorize products and create urgency by displaying the number of items remaining in stock. Easily import and export products to external marketplaces like Etsy and Amazon and collect data in a CSV format. 
    • Email Marketing: Customize messages, use templates, showcase new products and advertise upcoming sales with branded and personalized emails. 
    • Discounts: Provide free shipping or create custom coupon programs by setting discount percentage, expiration date and the number of coupons available. Additionally, design and generate custom gift cards to increase engagement and build brand awareness. 
    • Shopping Cart: Provide customers with a fully integrated shopping cart and a secure checkout experience. They can safely navigate and shop with a 128-bit encrypted connection and an SSL certificate. 
    • Cart Recovery: Recapture tentative shoppers that abandoned their carts or dropped out of the checkout process via timely automated reminders and personalized messages. 
    • Site Search: Maximize inventory exposure and create more buying opportunities by providing customers with filtered product searches to expedite the selection process. 
  • Mobile Application: Customize the website, receive real-time site analytics, edit offline and save and sync work across all devices with with apps for Android and iOS. 
  • Analytics: Track store performance, online traffic, technical SEO metrics and engagement. Fine-tune email campaigns, identify top products and streamline promotions from a unified dashboard to support growth ambitions. 
  • App Center: Choose from various apps to build a complete solution for website management. Available apps can improve search ranking and set up sales channels, CRM, auditing, packaging and shipping, and more. 
WooCommerce
WooCommerce
Start Price
$25
Monthly
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Request Pricing Request Demo

Why We Picked WooCommerce

WooCommerce facilitates eCommerce on any WordPress website. It’s a popular solution among users for its flexibility and ease of implementation. The plugin is easy to install and use without complicated coding. The basic plugin is free but only provides essential eCommerce features. Advanced modules like data analytics, email marketing, CRM and more are available as paid extensions.

Reviews noted that heavier websites with many extensions tend to work slow. So for users without WordPress and coding experience, it’s tough to maintain the website. In conclusion, WooCommerce is a robust solution that businesses of any type can mold based on their needs and scale with adequate technical expertise.

Pros & Cons

  • Flexibility and Customization: It’s a flexible platform that offers various customizations through plugins and add-ons, according to 94% of users mentioning this element.
  • Ideal for WordPress: Users can add essential eCommerce features to any website on WordPress, as noted by 97% of reviews on this aspect.
  • Implementation: According to 96% of reviews on implementation, it’s easy to implement the software without in-depth technical expertise.
  • Training: A vast amount of tutorials are available from vendors and external user bases, according to 100% of reviews on training.
  • Costs: It’s a cheaper option than its competitors, as noted by 85% of users mentioning pricing.
  • Advanced Features: Most of the advanced eCommerce features are only available as paid plugins, according to all the reviews on this aspect.
  • Website Performance: More plugins can affect the website’s speed and performance, as mentioned by 90% of reviews on website functioning.

Key Features

  • Online Store: Setup an online store and personalize its design and layout through “Storefront.” Or integrate into a WordPress website for a nestable grid system, enhanced SEO performance and innovative design templates. 
  • Content Creation: Display products and content in a modular way, adding different categories like bestsellers, top-rated, on-sale and more, and post them anywhere on the site. Leverage the Wooslider integration to create interactive slideshows and transitions to boost engagement. 
  • Payment Processing: Streamline the checkout process, monitor charges, accept multiple currencies, handle disputes and track deposits from a unified dashboard. Customers can save their credit card details and set up recurring payments for subscriptions or memberships. 
  • Order Management System: Update products, fulfill orders and track shipment from the dashboard. Track orders throughout the fulfillment process using status bars. 
  • Shipping: Execute fulfillment from the dashboard with a built-in shipping module. Print labels and drop off packages without waiting in a queue at the post office. Leverage DHL and USPS integrations to display prices and charge customers directly during checkout. 
  • Product Information Management: Sell physical products, catalog appointments or offer members-only digital content. Let customers choose from product variations, subscription options, single items or bundle variations. 
  • Integrations: Enhance the online store with plugins and extensions from the WooCommerce Marketplace to add design, marketing, point of sale, accounting, tax management capabilities and more. 
  • Marketing: Increase brand visibility and boost engagement: 
    • Listings: Manage product listings on all major marketplaces, including Facebook Ads, Google Listings, Amazon and more. 
    • Email Marketing: Generate customized emails to recover abandoned carts and automate campaigns. 
    • Discounts: Drive repeat sales and increase customer loyalty with customizable coupons, redeemable points and rewards, and gifts upon direct purchase. 
  • Global Audience: Cater to customers from across the globe with multilingual content and easy currency exchange. Supports 24 major languages and all major currencies. 
  • REST API: Gain complete control of the online store with a flexible and scalable API solution conforming to the constraints of the REST architecture. 
  • Mobile App: Use the app for Android and IOS to create, edit and publish products, receive real-time notifications and alerts, manage orders from purchase to fulfillment, track statistics and switch between sites in case of multiple stores. 
  • Jetpack: Secure the site with automated malware screening, authenticated customer logins and brute force attack prevention. Maintain a backup of sales data and monitor insights on orders, trends and traffic. 
BigCommerce
BigCommerce
Start Price
$29.95
Monthly
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Why We Picked BigCommerce

During testing, I noticed right off the bat that BigCommerce is a feature-rich platform that needs a lot of customization to fit my exact needs. Plus, there aren’t guided onboarding experiences, making implementation time-consuming. You must manually explore the interface to learn how to create or connect a domain, add products, set up fulfillment workflows, connect sales channels and design a storefront.

Secondly, what caught my eye was the platform's speed and operability. BigCommerce boasts a 99% website uptime, and I could see why. It automatically optimizes images, minimizes HTTP requests and uses browser cache to identify customers. Also, a global content delivery network allows visitors worldwide to view your site from the nearest server.

I loved how intuitive it is to connect and manage sales channels using BigCommerce. You can set up differentiated experiences for each channel using dynamic pricing, multiple product views, product swatches and bulk pricing tools. A robust customer segmentation module automatically groups similar customer personas based on your rules and helps design personalized experiences.

The storefront editor uniquely lets you design a carousel for the website header. However, I didn’t like anything else about the storefront editor. It has limited free themes, and paid ones are comparatively more expensive than what competitors offer. That said, the platform's headless architecture helps compensate by enabling custom storefront development.

My only point of contention was its unique pricing model. It charges a base subscription fee and puts a cap on your business's annual sales. If you exceed this cap, BigCommerce takes a percentage of your revenue based on your subscription plan.

Also, if you connect the platform to a POS, every POS sale is considered an eCommerce sale, leading to a higher sales volume and cost. This leads to complex TCO calculations for enterprises with large sales volumes and international customers.

Overall, BigCommerce is one of the best options for growing mid-sized businesses that can offset the platform cost with their sales revenue. It's flexible and can adapt to multiple business models, including B2B, D2C and dropshipping, with separate storefronts for each.

However, the platform can be overkill for small businesses and may require significant investments to unlock its full potential. That's because all the good features like multi-storefront, personalization, customer segmentation and headless architecture are available in higher-tier plans. Also, lower-tier plans are comparatively more expensive than those of competitors like Shopify.

Pros & Cons

  • Customer Service and Support: Many reviews highlight excellent customer service, with helpful and responsive support teams that are available via phone and chat.
  • Functionality and Customization: BigCommerce offers a robust set of features, including SEO tools, custom URLs and 301 redirects. It also has strong B2B capabilities, multi-store functionality and a variety of apps for integration.
  • Stability and Reliability: Users praise the platform for its reliability and lack of downtime.
  • Scalability: The platform is scalable, making it suitable for businesses of different sizes, including those looking to grow.
  • Cost and Hidden Fees: BigCommerce has tiered pricing based on sales volume. Many users feel this pricing model can be restrictive and costly, especially for businesses with significant brick-and-mortar sales.
  • Limited App Selection: Reviews mention a relatively limited selection of apps compared to competitors like Shopify. Users may need to rely on external developers for custom integrations.
  • Limited Free Website Themes: Some reviews have complained about the lack of free storefront themes and templates. Users have to pay for good templates on top of the subscription fee.

Key Features

  • Page Builder: You can create and edit web pages without coding. Or you can jump into built-in HTML, CSS and JavaScript for advanced customization. Plus, you can ensure your pages look great on mobile devices and use Stencil CLI for in-depth development.
  • PunchOut: BigCommerce makes it easy to create a unique checkout experience for customers. You can either use their server-to-server checkout API or the PunchOut2GO solution.
Magento
Magento
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Key Features

  • Page Builder: Enhance customers’ shopping experience with an intuitive professional web page. Save time with in-line editing, reusable dynamic blocks and templates for design and content. Engage shoppers with rich and up-to-date content. Customize pages to match the business brand with flexible layouts and a drag-and-drop content management interface. 
  • Live Search: Leverage Adobe Sensei AI and real-time data to provide shoppers with highly personalized search results. Modify search queries based on KPIs, reduce manual inputs with AI-supported workflows, and offer accurate results to shoppers with suggestions on each keystroke and flexible synonyms. Open API and GraphQL coverage allow for headless content delivery. 
  • Order Management: Create seamless cross-channel experiences amongst multiple brands, sites, stores and warehouses. Track inventory across various channels, manage refunds, cancellations and back-orders, and provide customers with flexible options such as Buy-Online-and-Pick Up-in-Store (BOPIS). 
  • Progressive Web Application (PWA) Studio: Increase engagement, boost conversion rates and diversify revenue streams with a web application runnable on mobile and desktop. Design and launch the PWA seamlessly, leverage the Adobe Experience Manager or custom-build the front-end experience, and save money on hosting costs. 
  • Product Recommendation: Automatically analyze customers’ shopping behavior with AI-fueled algorithms and offer personalized recommendations. Eliminate page tagging and manual analysis. Exclusive to merchants signed up with Adobe Commerce. 
  • Amazon Sales Channel: Sync inventory, product catalogs and pricing to the Amazon marketplace, and seamlessly sell and distribute products from the dashboard. Self-deliver products or use Fulfillment By Amazon (FBA) to get orders into customers’ hands. Automate intelligent repricing of Amazon listings to win the buy-box position and offer tiered pricing to other businesses. 
  • Shipping:  Integrate storefronts with ShopRunner, an e-commerce platform and a FedEx subsidiary, to better manage shipping and logistics. Offer customers two-day shipping, easy product return processes backed by FedEx, and storage for multiple forms of billing and shipping information. 
  • Financing: Leverage partnership with Wayflyer, a funding platform, to generate revenue-based financing as needed. Receive offers based on performance and obtain the money within one to two business days. Receive analytics-driven investment recommendations to improve sales and scale business. 
  • Magento Marketplace: Discover thousands of free and premium extensions to streamline business processes. Install extensions to help with customer support, payment and security, marketing, accounting, reporting, site optimization and more. 
Big Cartel
Big Cartel
Start Price
$12
Monthly, Freemium
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Why We Picked Big Cartel

Big Cartel has been making waves in the eCommerce world, but like any platform, it has its fans and its critics. Users who dig Big Cartel often point to its user-friendliness and affordability as major pluses. It's a great starting point for small businesses and artists who want to get their online stores up and running without breaking the bank or getting bogged down in technical complexities. However, some users find Big Cartel's features a bit too basic, especially compared to more robust platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce. If you're looking for advanced marketing tools, extensive customization options, or top-tier customer support, Big Cartel might leave you wanting more. Ultimately, Big Cartel is a solid choice for those who prioritize simplicity and affordability, but if you need a platform that can scale with your business, you might want to explore other options.

"Big Cartel: the perfect platform for your big dreams." Whether you're an artist selling handmade crafts or a musician hawking merch, Big Cartel provides a straightforward way to turn your passion into profit. Just remember, as your business grows, you might need to upgrade to a platform with more bells and whistles.

Pros & Cons

  • Simple Store Setup: Big Cartel is known for its straightforward and user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to set up their online stores quickly, even with limited technical expertise.
  • Free Plan Availability: The platform offers a free plan that allows users to sell up to five products, making it an attractive option for individuals or small businesses starting with a limited budget or inventory.
  • Affordable Paid Plans: Big Cartel's paid plans are generally considered affordable compared to other eCommerce platforms, providing scalability for growing businesses without breaking the bank.
  • Focus on Artists and Makers: Big Cartel caters specifically to artists, crafters, and independent creators, offering features and tools tailored to their needs, such as customizable themes and the ability to sell digital products.
  • Limited Design Flexibility: The platform's design options can feel restrictive for users seeking extensive customization, especially when compared to other platforms that offer a wider range of themes and more advanced design tools.
  • Feature Limitations: Big Cartel may not be the best fit for businesses with complex needs, as it lacks certain features commonly found in other eCommerce platforms, such as abandoned cart recovery, detailed analytics, and extensive marketing tools.
  • Scalability Challenges: While suitable for smaller stores or those just starting out, Big Cartel may not be the best choice for rapidly growing businesses due to limitations in product variations, inventory management, and order processing capabilities.

Key Features

  • Professional Website: Build and design a niche standalone website to create product USPs. Personalize web pages and add business branding through design templates or editing source code with the HTML and CSS editor. Websites are compatible with both mobile and PC. Host sites on the vendor’s domain or use a custom domain, available with paid plans. 
  • Inventory Management: Keep track of sold units, add new products, supply products with descriptions and photos, and receive notifications when a product is about to go out of stock. Available with paid plans. 
  • Order Management: Send confirmation emails after purchases. Arrange shipping, print shipping labels, track orders and bulk export order history to a CSV file from a unified dashboard. 
  • Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Provide targeted product descriptions, collect inbound links and receive expert advice on optimizing search engine results. 
  • Discounts: Provide discounts on the checkout page to boost customer retention and improve loyalty. 
  • Analytics: Track monthly sales, visitor statistics, conversion rates and more from the analytics dashboard. Leverage integrations with third-party applications for in-depth analysis, available with paid plans.  
  • Mobile App: Access free mobile apps to streamline workflows and increase efficiency. Available apps assist in custom printing, social media marketing, site analytics, customer support, shipping management and more.  
  • Payment Processing: Choose between PayPal and Stripe to provide customers with a one-touch checkout and payment point on the website. Additionally, utilize the mobile application and a card swiper to accept in-person payments, without incurring additional processing fees. 
  • Integrations: Leverage partnership with Zapier to facilitate connections with over 1,000 third-party solutions like Google Analytics, Facebook Store, Instagram, Pulley, Mailchimp and more, available at a cost. 

COMPARE THE BEST Headless Ecommerce Platforms

Select up to 2 Products from the list below to compare

 
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SelectHub’s Analyst Rating is based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Headless Ecommerce Platforms, user reviews, and our own crowd-sourced data from our free software selection platform. Scores are periodically updated via ongoing selection projects and user activity within our platform.
Start Price
Free Trial
Company Size
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Logo
PayPal
$0.30
Per Transaction, 5.4% Flat Rate
Yes
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Cloud On-Premise
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
PayPal
Etsy
$0.20
Per Item, Usage-Based
Yes
Small Medium Large
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Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Etsy
Shopify
$29
Monthly
Yes
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Shopify
Wix
$16
Monthly
Yes
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Wix
SquareSpace
$16
Monthly
Yes
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SquareSpace
Weebly
$10
Monthly, Freemium
Yes
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Weebly
WooCommerce
$25
Monthly
Yes
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WooCommerce
BigCommerce
$29.95
Monthly
Yes
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BigCommerce
Magento
Still gathering data
No
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Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
Magento
Big Cartel
$12
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No
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Big Cartel

All Headless Ecommerce Platforms (30 found)

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1ShoppingCart

by Web.com Inc
1ShoppingCart
1ShoppingCart is an eCommerce platform tailored for small to medium-sized businesses seeking an easy-to-use solution. It empowers businesses to create online stores, manage inventory, process payments, and fulfill orders efficiently. Its user-friendly interface and customizable templates make it accessible to merchants with varying levels of technical expertise. Key benefits include the ability to showcase products with detailed descriptions, offer multiple payment gateways for customer convenience, and access real-time sales data for informed decision-making. Additionally, 1ShoppingCart seamlessly integrates with popular marketing and shipping services, allowing businesses to streamline their operations and reach a wider audience. Pricing starts at $59 per month for basic features and scales up based on the number of products, storage space, and additional functionalities required. This flexible pricing structure ensures that businesses can choose a plan that aligns with their specific needs and budget.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: good
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Veeqo

by Veeqo
Veeqo
Veeqo is an omnichannel retail platform focused on optimizing and streamlining the fulfillment process. It allows you to analyze your fulfillment practices to identify weak points and automate tedious shipping processes to increase overall accuracy and customer satisfaction. Users can ensure that proper stock is available to keep up with fluctuating demand with real-time reports and automatic inventory syncs. You can also cut pick and pack times with a powerful set of fulfillment and shipping tools that scale as you grow.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
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Verenia

by Verenia
Verenia
Verenia is a cloud-based module native to NetSuite that helps businesses increase sales by creating quick and accurate quotes. Designed to cater to manufacturing's specific needs, it enables users to configure complex products by providing a well-rounded, 3D view. It offers real-time updates on industry trends with the latest information to ensure guided selling and ordering.Users can opt for built-in or external CRM and ecommerce integrations, tweak the customizable interface to fit organization requirements and leverage the built-in forecasting and follow-up inclusions to drive sales.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 - $100
Company Size
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Deployment
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Nexway

by Nexway
Nexway
Nexway is a unique platform that ranks 126 among all eCommerce Platforms according to our research analysts and 8 crowd-sourced reviews from 2 sources. Starting from $1, Nexway is priced at a bargain and is most applicable for larger sized companies. Nexway can be deployed online. Similar alternatives to Nexway include Moduurn, Knorish and Aimeos.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$10 or less
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Pinnacle Cart

by Pinnacle Cart, Inc
Pinnacle Cart
PinnacleCart is a shopping platform that helps businesses increase sales, create mobile-friendly websites and cater to a global audience. It includes inventory tracking, over 25 payment gateways, Quickbook integration, credit card storage, shipping management and real-time tax calculations. Users can leverage customer and order management, SEO and marketing modules, reporting, PCI and PA-DSS compliance, password encryption, and fraud detection.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
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Oracle Commerce

by Oracle America
Oracle Commerce
Oracle Commerce offers a comprehensive suite of tools for complex B2B buying processes, such as multi-step approvals, contract pricing and bulk ordering. One of its key strengths is the ability to handle complex product catalogs and pricing structures. It can manage various products, variants and configurations, ensuring accurate product information and pricing across all sales channels.Additionally, the platform has robust order management tools, including complex order types, subscriptions and returns. This feature is invaluable for B2B businesses as they often deal with large and customized orders that require precision handling.Businesses can set up self-service portals for clients and use account management tools to deliver personalized shopping experiences that mimic the intuitiveness of B2C customer journeys. They can create tailored product recommendations, offer personalized pricing and provide dedicated support channels for different customer segments.Oracle Commerce is built on a scalable and flexible architecture to adapt to changing market conditions and customer demands. It offers a range of deployment options, including on-premise, cloud-based and hybrid, helping meet specific IT infrastructure requirements.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Shipedge

by Shipedge
Shipedge
Shipedge is a cloud-based fulfillment and distribution software platform that provides users with a comprehensive suite of solutions for warehouse and order management, shipping and more. It offers various modular, scalable and flexible inclusions to serve unique business needs. Users can manage workflows with real-time visibility into all after-sales activities. It integrates warehouses, suppliers, inventory sources, selling channels and accounting ERP systems into a single fulfillment command center. It is designed to help small and large-scale enterprises handle B2C and B2B e-commerce operations.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
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Znode

by Znode
Znode
Znode is a promising solution that ranks 28 among all Headless Ecommerce Platforms according to our research analysts and 6 crowd-sourced reviews from 2 sources. Starting from $5000, Znode is priced on the costly side and is most fitting for companies of all sizes. Znode can be deployed in the cloud and is accessible from a limited set of platforms including Windows devices. Similar alternatives to Znode include Oracle Commerce, Vin eRetail and Spree.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: excellent
Cost Breakdown
$1,000 or more
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Spree

by Spree Commerce
Spree
Spree is an up-and-coming software product that ranks 29 among all Headless Ecommerce Platforms according to our research analysts and 3 crowd-sourced reviews from 1 source. Starting from $243.93, Spree is priced fairly, has offered a free trial in the past and is most fitting for any company. Similar alternatives to Spree include Vin eRetail, Znode and Shipedge.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: good
Cost Breakdown
$100 - $500
Company Size
Small Medium Large
Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
Platform
Mac Windows Linux Chromebook Android
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Vin eRetail

by Vinculum Solutions
Vin eRetail
Vin eRetail is a SaaS-based platform built for omnichannel marketing and generating revenue. It provides multichannel collaboration making it easier for sellers, brands, retailers, 3PLs, etailers, CPG companies and marketplaces to manage sales across multiple channels. It provides over 150 integrations and third-party logistics for businesses to grow globally. It offers multichannel retailing and is scalable and cost-effective.
User Sentiment User satisfaction level icon: great
Cost Breakdown
$500 - $1,000
Company Size
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Deployment
Cloud On-Premise
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Buyer's Guide

Headless Ecommerce Platform Is All About Decoupling the Storefront From Backend Processes 

By Riddhiman Roy, Market Analyst at SelectHub

Headless Ecommerce Platform BG Intro

Imagine this: Your business is thriving, and you decide to expand into mobile commerce. But unfortunately, your monolithic eCommerce platform doesn’t offer mobile-optimized frontends or app-building kits. Instead of using different software to design mobile apps and compromise the consistency of your brand experience, you should consider headless eCommerce platforms.

However, choosing a solution is a major step in a brand’s journey, and you need to carefully assess internal requirements. In this guide, we’ll explore the most popular platforms in the market, features and pricing strategies to help you choose what’s best for your business. But before starting your journey, let’s understand the basics first.

Executive Summary

  • Headless eCommerce platforms are a comprehensive set of backend tools bundled as microservices, communicating via API and without native frontend designing kits.
  • It allows you to use external PWA studios, content management systems (CMS) and digital experience managers to design responsive storefronts for desktops, mobile apps, IoT devices and more.
  • You can store product information, order routing rules, payment processors and other backend tools in a centralized repository and publish them across multiple storefronts.
  • The main benefits include omnichannel marketing, unparalleled scalability, improved site performance, personalized customer experiences and faster time to market.
What This Guide Covers

What Is a Headless Ecommerce Platform?

Headless eCommerce platforms are independent website backend tools using API to communicate and transfer data. They follow a modular architecture that lets you plug multiple backend systems like shopping carts, PIM software, ERP and order management tools to create a centralized fulfillment platform.

They have the name headless because these platforms don’t have a bespoke storefront or frontend and don’t restrict you to a software vendor’s template. They offer the flexibility of plug-and-play backend functionalities that connect with multiple customer-facing websites and apps, enabling you to start selling. The key advantages of going headless are:

Related Categories
  • Flexibility: Don’t restrict your brand’s creativity to a few website templates and overused fonts. Use any tool you prefer to design multiple storefronts for different IoT devices like mobile, laptops, kiosks and gaming consoles and connect them to a centralized backend.
  • Scalability: Experiment and optimize your technology stack, sales funnels and customer journeys without disrupting the eCommerce ecosystem. Make changes to the backend without interrupting customer journeys on the frontend.
  • Future-Proofing Your Business: A modular architecture helps you stay nimble in an ever-changing digital landscape. You can change and adapt your storefront and backend based on season, trend and economic conditions.

Traditional vs. Headless Ecommerce

Traditional eCommerce platforms are closely knit software packages with a predefined connection between the front and backend. They come with an experience laid out entirely for both customers and your administrative staff.

On the other hand, headless eCommerce breaks these chains and allows you to design custom experiences on both ends. It frees up companies previously bound by the constraints of traditional eCommerce templates and vendor limitations.

Here are the key differences between the two:

Traditional Ecommerce Headless Ecommerce
Architecture Has a rigid architecture. Small changes that aren’t predefined require source-code editing. Has a flexible architecture that offers developers the freedom to design custom experiences.
Flexibility Provides a well-defined administrator experience. Adding or removing features requires coding and a bit of luck in finding the right developer documentation. The modular architecture lets you plug in new features as microservices via API. You can customize and edit administrator experiences without any hassle.
Connectivity It offers limited integrations due to architectural limitations or a lack of vendor-partnership programs. It can connect with any external software that uses API for data transfers.
Cost Easier to calculate TCO as it only involves paying a monthly or yearly subscription fee. Has a more complicated TCO with hidden costs for developers, hosting, domain registration and external integrations.
Time To Market It’s faster and easier to launch a store as the vendor has laid out a tried-and-tested path to run an eCommerce website. Involves a learning curve to design custom frontends and backends before launching the website.

Types of Headless Platforms

You can distinguish between headless platforms based on their underlying architecture and how they were created. The two types are:

  • Retrofitted: Due to the growing popularity of headless solutions, some of the best traditional eCommerce platforms now offer special plans to decouple storefronts from the backend. But they lack the flexibility of native headless solutions. The vendor still manages the source code, but in-depth customizations may need in-house development teams.
  • Native: These platforms were meant to be headless from the start and follow a MACH architecture that allows you to simply plug-in external software that uses the same API. You can add and edit features easily whenever you want on both ends.

How Does It Work?

Here’s a brief rundown of the various functions of a headless eCommerce system:

Backend
  • You can store product information, create catalogs and sync inventory across warehouses and fulfillment centers.
  • It helps you design shopping carts, set up checkout pages and define order routing processes.
  • The platform connects with your preferred payment gateway, giving customers flexible payment options.
  • You can define rules to store customer data and request feedback.

What Is Headless eCommerce

Frontend
  • Use website builders, digital experience managers and PWA studio to design custom storefronts for different devices.
  • Headless content management systems can help you store descriptions, pictures, videos and other multimedia centrally before publishing them on storefronts.
  • Connect storefronts to the headless eCommerce solution to create a connected and consistent brand experience across physical and online stores.
Optimization
  • Flexible API allows the platform to connect with external software like chatbots, CRM, AI, business intelligence and ERP, helping you keep up with market trends.
  • Make changes to the backend without interrupting or damaging the frontend experience.
  • Conduct A/B testing of specific website elements without affecting the functioning of the rest.

Who Needs It?

Not every eCommerce store needs a headless solution, and many small businesses can benefit from a traditional eCommerce model. That’s because the cost of designing, maintaining and running a headless architecture can be steep. And coupling that with the subscription fee of other software like CMS, CRM and PWA can put a major dent in your wallet.

That said, even if they might not be a good fit for all business sizes, headless eCommerce platforms do offer a solution to previously unsolvable challenges. You should consider headless eCommerce solutions if:

  • You have a content-driven brand with rich product information, blog posts and testimonials, and you don’t want to compromise on quality when customers use mobile devices to visit your store.
  • You want to personalize customer experiences with AI and augmented reality.
  • Your audience uses various devices to visit your store, and you want to create seamless experiences across every device.
  • You require multiple storefronts because you manage more than one brand or sell to international customers who need translated storefronts.
  • You’re selling online (via marketplaces like Amazon) and have a website for content, and now you’re looking to merge the two.
  • You already have a website and want to convert it to a store by adding commerce features.

Most Popular Headless Ecommerce Platforms

Now that you know the basics of headless eCommerce software, let’s look at some of the most popular options in the market. You can use them as a reference to see how headless systems can fit your operations.

Shopify

Shopify supports headless eCommerce with its “Shopify Plus” plan. It’s a retrofitted headless CMS that gives you complete creative control over touch points across apps, websites and devices. You can optimize your site performance with the native PWA studio that reacts like a mobile app and connects with external tools such as ERP, PIM, CRM, CMS, chatbots and AI.

It has a customizable GraphQL Storefront API, and the backend can connect with popular marketing channels like Amazon, Etsy, eBay and more. However, it doesn’t offer multi-branding tools, and the backend isn’t easily configurable compared to other headless platforms. Some of its other offerings are:

  • B2B commerce
  • Flash sales and other campaigns
  • Shipping management
  • Payment processor
  • Multi-language site translations
  • Inventory management
  • Workflow automation
  • POS integrations

Shopify

Create visualizations and custom dashboards to track your site’s performance from anywhere. Source

BigCommerce

BigCommerce is another well-known retrofitted headless player in the eCommerce market. It uses next.js REACT framework API, giving you unparalleled flexibility to design both front and backends per unique requirements. You can use the gatsby.js PWA static site generator to design single webpages, mobile apps, POS screens and billboards. It connects with popular CMS and digital experience managers like WordPress, Contentstack, Uniform, Bloomreach and Shogun Frontend.

But customer reviews frequently mention that the checkout page uses the BigCommerce domain, leading to security and authentication issues and lags. It doesn’t have fixed pricing and tailors unique subscription fees based on your needs. Some of its additional features are:

  • Multi-storefront
  • Physical store integrations
  • B2B commerce
  • Omnichannel marketing
  • Customer experience managers
  • Data profiling and personalization
  • WordPress integration
  • Payment processing

BigCommerce

Use customizable templates to design appealing storefronts. Source

Adobe Commerce

Adobe Commerce, previously known as Magento, is a native headless platform that helps businesses digitize every commerce process involved in the customer journey. It offers two plans — free, open-source version for on-premise deployment and paid SaaS version, a ready-to-use headless solution for large enterprises.

It has a decoupled architecture with separate modules added as microservices through API, allowing you to experiment with the frontend without disrupting other modules. It supports A/B testing and offers the native Adobe Sensei AI to personalize customer suggestions, analyze business data and unearth valuable insights for business growth.

The only drawback is that the paid version is costlier than its competitors, and the free version requires in-depth technical know-how to mold the software per your requirements. That said, some of its additional features are:

  • Native AI
  • PWA studio
  • Content staging
  • B2B commerce
  • Inventory management
  • Data warehousing
  • Business intelligence
  • Customer experience personalization

Adobe Commerce

Define attributes to create rich catalogs and assign multiple multimedia elements to product pages. Source

 

 

Primary Benefits

Primary Benefits of Headless Ecommerce Platform

Reach Customers on the Right Channels

Omnichannel marketing is a customer-centric marketing strategy that aims to deliver the right message to the right person at the right time on the right device/channel. It includes personalized advertising based on customer behavior across traditional and digital channels, SMS, and emails.

Headless eCommerce systems allow you to go omnichannel with your content and marketing campaigns. You can deliver a seamless experience throughout a customer’s buying journey — while receiving a triggered marketing SMS, checking out your product on their mobile phone or using desktops to compare products with your competitors.

Improve Scalability

Want to keep up with trends and add exciting new features to your store? An API-focused headless eCommerce platform allows you to do just that. It’s a future-proof solution that’s easily configurable to integrate with third-party modules.

You can add external chatbots, voice assistants, concierge services, AI product recommendations and more while scaling without re-designing the entire website from scratch.

Minimize Downtime

Updates are essential to any eCommerce site, whether you’re changing the pricing or updating website security. But if your website suffers downtime during every update, you’ve got a major problem in your hand. Even a minute of site downtime can lead to a revenue loss of $10k for the largest eCommerce retailers, according to Gremlin.

You can minimize site downtimes using a modular architecture where each module is plugged in as a microservice via API and is separate from other modules. Any backend updates and changes don’t affect the frontend and cause zero downtime.

Personalize Customer Experiences

Headless eCommerce platforms can aid you in achieving the desired level of personalization by connecting with customer-centric software like CRM, CXM and BI that collect customer data and help you analyze preferences, trends and patterns. Advanced solutions support A/B testing, allowing you to test two versions of a feature, design or product with a live audience to determine the best one.

Achieve Faster Time to Market

Designing an omnichannel retail store with a traditional eCommerce platform is time-consuming, and your time to market is painfully slow. Not to mention that scaling and adding functionalities to the website through custom coding is tricky.

On the other hand, headless eCommerce systems let you use external modules to design frontend experiences quickly. You can store products and content centrally and publish it on any front using configurable APIs. It ensures you don’t spend long hours launching a new site, adopting contemporary channels or configuring your site for the latest touchpoints.

Key Features & Functionality

Headless Ecommerce Platform Key Features

API-First Approach

This approach starts by developing the application interface first and not by writing the program code as seen in traditional eCommerce platforms. You can design experiences for end users as well as administrators by adding new features as independent services accessible through the API.
Omnichannel Marketing

The platform connects with every marketing and sales channel you use and creates a central repository of all your marketing data. It should connect with your preferred PWA studio and distribute your content on single and multi-page web apps, mobile apps, IoT devices, and VR and AR.

Advanced platforms also offer multi-branding tools that help you design and manage multiple storefronts in multiple languages for various brands and customer segments.
Inventory Management

Most platforms can track your stock and maintain an accurate availability list across every store and warehouse. Enterprise solutions also offer product information management (PIM) modules and onboard procurement and sourcing workflows that let you define algorithms to automate procurement based on proximity and priority.
Order Management

Connect with multiple shipping carriers and define rules to automate order routing based on customer locations. You can also maintain a unified inventory across stores and fulfillment centers to offer customers unique options like curbside pickups, BOPIS and more.
Data Handling

Store your entire dataset on the vendor’s cloud infrastructure and import supplementary data from CSV files and spreadsheet uploads.

Most platforms offer customizable report templates, while enterprise solutions allow you to create visualizations and track business-specific KPIs like average order value, customer lifetime and retention rates.
Customer Experience Management

The depth and features of this module vary from platform to platform. A few solutions can track customer activities, create guest cards and retrieve abandoned shopping carts. Some advanced solutions have native AI that offers smart suggestions and recommendations based on the customer’s navigation history and browser cookies.

Software Comparison Strategy

The global eCommerce market is expected to reach $3.64 trillion in 2023 and grow at an 11.16% CAGR from 2023 to 2027. This growth has filled the market with various options, and we don’t recommend jumping into a headless solution without proper consideration.

Transitioning from a monolithic platform to a headless solution should not be done in a single overhaul, and you should aim at dividing the migration into phases. Instead of the traditional “rip and replace” approach while deploying new software, integrate a headless eCommerce API and replace specific modules piece by piece. The headless API enables you to connect new modules to your existing software infrastructure without disrupting the customer experience.

Due to the technical complexity of this task, you need a headless eCommerce vendor that can handle your business and offer agile customer support and quality training materials.

Start by preparing an eCommerce requirements checklist that outlines every feature your business needs from a headless platform. Consider the following factors when devising the checklist:

  • Integrations: Make a note of every platform your business uses and might use in the near future. Look for software with an API-first approach that can comfortably integrate with external solutions.
  • Content Management: Ensure the software offers content modeling tools to design attractive product pages and can connect to external digital experience managers to personalize customer journeys.
  • Payments: The platform should integrate with your preferred payment gateway. To promote cross-border commerce, it must connect with popular processors from foreign nations.
  • Customer Support: You’re potentially losing money every second your store is offline. Check reviews to find vendors with a history of stellar support programs that can offer adequate help based on your IT expertise and personnel.
  • Security: Create a safe commercial environment with platforms that offer SSL certification, PCI compliance and encrypted data transfers. Brownie points if it has fraud detection tools and two-factor profile authentications.

Follow that up by preparing a realistic budget for software, additional features, onboarding and premium support. You should also research reviews and customer success stories to see how the vendor operates.

Cost & Pricing Considerations

Most vendors don’t have a predetermined subscription fee and offer a one-time quote specifically designed for your business based on the number of products, total revenue and target markets. But the deployment model takes the forefront in determining the cost and pricing.

You can opt for on-premise deployment by paying the licensing fees, acquiring the software code and deploying it on native servers. You can also consider free open-source headless solutions like WooCommerce, Magento and PrestaShop that allow you to download the software for free and deploy it on proprietary servers.

But on-premise deployments have a few hidden costs that add to the TCO like:

  • Website Designing: You can either use website builders or hire developers to design your site from scratch. The cost can range from $1000 to more than $20,000, depending on the site’s robustness.
  • Hosting and Domain Registration: If you don’t have IT infrastructure, you can consider hiring hosting providers like SiteGround, GoDaddy and Bluehost that host the software architecture and website content on the cloud. Most hosting providers also offer free domain subscriptions; if not, it can cost you around $15-$50 per year.
  • Add-Ons and Extensions: Most third-party software, extensions and add-ons require you to pay a licensing fee to use their platform. The total cost of additional features and third-party extensions depends on your business requirements and the vendors you choose.

Alternatively, the SaaS deployment model requires you to pay a periodic subscription fee, or the vendor charges a percentage of your total revenue generated over a month or year. The day-to-day software handling cost is lower as the vendor takes charge of storing, running and maintaining the system. You don’t need a specialized in-house team and hardware infrastructure to use the platform. But the only drawback is that you have limited control, and your operations depend heavily on the vendor’s efficiency. A server crash can lead to search engines and customers negatively ranking your website.

A few vendors may also charge extra for:

  • Migration
  • Onboarding and implementation
  • Priority Support
  • Custom developments
  • Analytics and reporting
  • Data residency
  • API readjustments

Realistically assess your infrastructure and requirements to prepare a budget that can get you all the necessary features without burning through your revenue.

Questions To Ask

When grasping a new concept, asking plenty of questions is the way to go. To get you on the right track, we’ve listed a few pertinent questions you should ask internally to your team members to identify and prioritize your requirements:

  • Do you have an existing website or need a new one?
  • Which channels does your audience use most to visit your website?
  • What are your fulfillment strategies?
  • What’s your business’s level of IT expertise, and which deployment model suits you best?
  • Which other frontend software do you use and intend to use in the future?

Headless Ecommerce Platform Key Questions To Ask

Use these questions to start conversations with vendors and understand their operations better:

  • Are the software’s API and developer docs easily accessible?
  • How do they safeguard customer data?
  • What are the support options, and do they provide training?
  • Do they offer migration and onboarding support?
  • How robust is the platform’s backend?

Implementation Best Practices

Assessing your business needs and goals

  • Understand your specific eCommerce requirements and objectives.
  • Analyze the scalability and growth potential of your business.
  • Identify your target audience and the devices/channels they use for shopping.

Choosing the right headless platform for your business

  • Research and compare the top headless solutions available.
  • Consider factors like flexibility, API capabilities and ease of integration.
  • Opt for a platform that aligns with your development team’s expertise and preferences.

Fostering Collaboration between development and marketing teams

  • Set up clear communication paths to improve interdepartmental collaborations.
  • Create role-based accounts that keep track of activities and promote accountability.
  • Discuss marketing strategies early in the development process to align the platform with future campaigns.

Utilizing third-party integrations

  • Maintain a record of developer documentation to easily access and edit source code whenever needed.
  • Prioritize crucial integrations like your business’s preferred payment and shipping mode, followed by sales channels and third-party software integrations.
  • Look for third-party vendors that regularly update their platforms and help you keep up with current trends.

Ensuring website security and data privacy

  • Implement SSL certificates and PCI compliance to protect customer data.
  • Encrypt sensitive information during data transfer.
  • Comply with local and federal data protection regulations to build customer trust.

Monitoring and optimizing performance

  • Regularly monitor website speed and user experience metrics.
  • Optimize images and content to improve load times and reduce bounce rates.
  • Conduct A/B testing to identify and implement performance improvements.

Success Stories

Leading brands across the globe are adopting headless technologies and architecture. Here are a few great examples of headless commerce:

Headless Ecommerce Software Success Stories

Customize every corner of your website to reflect your brand’s personality.

  • Nike optimized visuals and calls to action to suit smaller screens and used React SPA combined with Node.js for the backend. The results? They captured more market share than their biggest competitor, Adidas, turning them into market leaders.
  • Burrow wanted to eliminate template-oriented designs and unleash unlimited creativity. After shifting to a headless platform, they saw a 30% increase in conversion rates and a 50% increase in site speed.
  • Koala’s shift to the headless architecture improved their site’s response time and tailored experiences via a different UI for mobile, desktops and other devices.
  • Target realized that 80% of their customer journeys started on one device and finished on another. They shifted to headless architecture to bridge the gap between devices and unify customer journeys across different platforms.
  • Feel Unique wanted to improve the site performance by shifting to a microservice infrastructure that allows each feature to load separately on the customer’s device. They used React PWA studio to streamline vital customer journey stages and improve customer satisfaction.

FAQs

What is a headless CMS?

A headless content management system (CMS) is a backend content management module that separates the content repository, or the “body,” from the presentation layer, commonly referred to as the “head.”

Traditionally, CMS stored content like texts, images, videos, HTML and CSS in a web framework. It publishes the content as webpage code, making it impossible to fit the same content in other frameworks and touchpoints. On the contrary, headless CMS supports omnichannel strategies by creating a central repository for all the content, allowing you to deploy it across any frontend of your choice.

A headless eCommerce platform and CMS make a great combination to build a webpage and reassemble it to create iterations personalized for a distinct audience, reorganized for a specific campaign or trimmed down for a mobile experience.

What is composable commerce?

Composable commerce is a software architectural concept that draws from the headless commerce idea and takes it up a notch. Headless commerce is known for decoupling a site’s frontend from its backend, enabling them to operate independently. Composable commerce aims to decouple every individual module to allow them to function independently.

The idea is to compose a custom solution with specific modules to fit a business’s exact needs. It gives you the flexibility to change a single cog without interrupting the entire system's performance.

Are there any drawbacks to headless eCommerce?

There are always two sides to the same coin, and headless eCommerce platforms also have certain disadvantages. Before selecting a headless architecture, you must consider its downsides.

  • High Costs: Unlike all-in-one traditional platforms, you need to pay extra for designing templates, user interfaces and bespoke experiences for each device and touchpoint. This increases costs beyond the initial build and can rise even more when you factor in the subscription fee for third-party frontend modules.
  • Marketer Isolation: With a headless architecture, your marketing team heavily depends on IT teams to create simple landing pages and content. You can no longer use intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and WYSIWYG editors to ideate, create and publish content. It’s not a marketer-friendly environment, and each small update would need IT department consultation.

What are the potential challenges of implementing a headless platform?

The biggest pitfall for businesses while implementing a new headless platform or migrating from a traditional one to a headless setup is doing it blindly without a development goal, vision or plan. Here are some of the other common challenges you should keep an eye out for during implementation:

  • The learning curve for developers unfamiliar with a headless architecture.
  • Potential higher development costs and time required due to decoupled systems.
  • Integration complexities between frontend and backend systems.
  • Limited availability of skilled professionals experienced in headless technologies.
  • Difficulty in managing content across multiple channels and devices.
  • Compatibility issues with certain third-party plugins or extensions.

Next Steps

The internet is evolving day by day, and the eCommerce market is following it closely. With ever-emerging technologies and touchpoints, businesses need to adopt a marketing model rich in content, blended with tactical CTAs, based on user experiences and fluid enough to maximize visibility across devices.

Headless eCommerce platforms can be a powerful resource to boost flexibility, personalize experiences and integrate trending technologies. If you’re looking for an omnichannel brand experience and have the development resources, then decoupled and modular architecture is the way forward.

Use our free comparison report to analyze the top solutions in the market based on custom criteria, and start your transformation journey today! After all, change is the only constant, and the future of eCommerce is headless and decoupled.

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Additional Resources

About The Contributors

The following expert team members are responsible for creating, reviewing, and fact checking the accuracy of this content.

Riddhiman
By Riddhiman Roy
Technical Content Writer
As a Senior Technical Content Writer at SelectHub, Riddhiman Roy delivers content about eCommerce, legal, employee scheduling, procurement, hotel management and property management software. He holds a Master's in multimedia journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. When he is not fighting huge-article-ogres and evil Grammarly suggestions, you can find him in his natural habitat grooving to music and banging his drumkit.
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Vidhi
Technical Research By Vidhi Kanodia
Senior Analyst
Vidhi Kanodia joined SelectHub after graduating from Osmania University in Hyderabad. Building on the hands-on experience she gained there, she expertly reviews peer research work in categories like procurement, PLM, eCommerce, insurance, hotel management, risk management and legal software.
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Shashank
Technical Review By Shashank K K
Principal Analyst
After graduating with a Masters in Finance from Trinity College Dublin, K K Shashank's research and detail-oriented skills led them to SelectHub. He has diverse knowledge across various software categories like Accounting, Financial Planning and Analysis, Ecommerce, Risk Management, PLM, Insurance and more since 2020.
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Pooja
Edited By Pooja Verma
Content Editor
Pooja Verma is a Content Editor and Senior Market Analyst at SelectHub, who writes and edits content for endpoint security, legal, CRM, fundraising software, eCommerce, and mental health software. She earned a literature degree from Miranda House, DU and also holds Master’s in Journalism from Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication in India. In her free time, you can spot her reading a book or binge-watching the latest web series and movies.
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