The global headless commerce market is projected to hit $1.74 billion in 2025 grow at a compound annual growth rate of 23.7%, reflecting a clear industry shift toward more flexible and scalable ecommerce solutions. This rapid growth underscores the increasing demand among ecommerce brands for architectures that enable greater customization, faster innovation, and seamless integration across multiple channels.
Headless commerce platforms, with their decoupled frontend and backend design, offer a powerful headless ecommerce platform experience that empowers businesses to deliver personalized customer journeys while efficiently managing content and commerce components independently.
As modern commerce continues to evolve, adopting headless commerce architecture becomes essential for enterprises aiming to stay competitive and agile in the dynamic digital marketplace.
This article explores the top headless commerce platforms available today, highlighting their unique features, scalability, and integration capabilities. It covers leading solutions that empower businesses to build flexible, customizable ecommerce experiences through an API-first architecture. Whether you are seeking platforms optimized for enterprise ecommerce, composable commerce, or enhanced omnichannel reach, this guide provides insights to help you choose the best headless platform for your ecommerce business growth and modern commerce needs.
What is Headless Commerce?
Headless commerce refers to the separation of the frontend and backend of an ecommerce platform, allowing you greater control and customization over your online store’s user experience. The global headless commerce market reached $1.7 billion in 2023, with projections to grow at a CAGR of 22.5% through 2035, highlighting the increasing adoption of this flexible architecture.
This approach empowers you to create unique and personalized customer experiences across multiple channels, including websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms. By decoupling the frontend presentation layer from the backend commerce engine, headless commerce platforms enable you to manage commerce functionality and content components independently.
By adopting a headless commerce approach, you gain benefits such as improved scalability, enhanced security measures, and increased efficiency in content management. This flexibility helps you stay competitive in today’s fast-evolving digital marketplace.
What are the Best headless commerce platforms?
1. Salesforce Agent Force (Formerly) Commerce Cloud
Salesforce Agentforce is a leading headless commerce platform known for its enterprise-grade capabilities and extensive customization options. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to support complex ecommerce operations, including AI-driven personalization, advanced analytics, and robust security measures. This platform is ideal for businesses looking to deliver highly personalized customer experiences across multiple channels.
The platform’s API-first architecture facilitates seamless integration with various third-party services and legacy systems, enabling businesses to build a flexible and scalable ecommerce tech stack. Salesforce Commerce Cloud supports omnichannel selling, allowing companies to maintain consistent branding and customer engagement across websites, mobile apps, social media platforms, and physical stores.
Moreover, Salesforce Commerce Cloud provides strong developer tools and a user-friendly interface for marketing teams, empowering both technical and non-technical users to collaborate effectively. Its modular architecture enables independent scaling of commerce components, ensuring performance remains optimal as your business grows.
2. Adobe Commerce
Adobe Commerce, powered by Magento, is renowned for its extensive customization capabilities and robust headless commerce features. It caters to mid-sized to large enterprises that require a flexible ecommerce platform capable of handling complex product catalogs, multiple storefronts, and diverse customer segments. Adobe Commerce offers a powerful content management system that integrates smoothly with commerce functionality. Furthermore, it integrates natively with Adobe products like Adobe Experience Manager, providing a seamless ecosystem for managing content and commerce.
With its API-first design, Adobe Commerce enables developers to create custom storefronts using modern frontend frameworks, providing complete control over the user experience. The platform supports advanced features such as customer-specific pricing, multi-currency support, and comprehensive inventory management, making it well-suited for global ecommerce operations.
Additionally, Adobe Commerce emphasizes security and scalability, with built-in internationalization enhancements and extensive plugin ecosystems. This ensures businesses can adapt quickly to market changes and integrate emerging technologies without disrupting existing workflows.
3. Strapi
Strapi is a leading open-source ecommerce headless CMS solution that offers remarkable flexibility and customization for ecommerce businesses. Its fully API-first architecture enables seamless integration with various headless commerce platforms, making it an ideal choice for enterprises seeking complete control over their content infrastructure.
Strapi 5 introduces significant enhancements including a transition to a fully TypeScript codebase, improved content history and draft management, built-in internationalization features, and enhanced security measures. These enterprise features, combined with a broader plugin ecosystem, empower development teams to build scalable and secure ecommerce applications.
Strapi’s modular architecture supports independent scaling of content and commerce components, aligning perfectly with modern headless commerce architecture. Its compatibility with popular frontend frameworks like React and Vue.js allows developers to create custom storefronts that deliver personalized customer experiences.
Moreover, Strapi’s open-source nature ensures no vendor lock-in, providing businesses the freedom to tailor their ecommerce tech stack according to evolving needs. With robust developer tools and an active community, Strapi facilitates efficient site management, faster deployment cycles, and seamless integration with third-party services such as payment gateways and inventory management systems.
Overall, Strapi stands out as a powerful headless CMS solution for ecommerce brands aiming to combine flexibility, scalability, and enterprise-grade capabilities in their headless setup.
4. Commercetools
Commercetools is a cloud-native, API-first headless commerce platform designed for mid-sized to large enterprises requiring high scalability and flexibility. It boasts over 300 API endpoints, enabling deep customization and integration with a wide range of business tools, including ERP and CRM systems.
This platform excels in handling complex product catalogs and high transaction volumes. Additionally, Commercetools is known for its API-first microservices architecture and flexibility, making it a top choice for businesses seeking a robust and adaptable ecommerce solution. Its Merchant Center is also user-friendly for non-technical staff, making it accessible for a broader range of team members.
The microservices-based architecture allows independent scaling of commerce components, ensuring resilience and optimal performance during peak traffic periods. Commercetools supports composable commerce strategies, enabling businesses to assemble best-of-breed solutions tailored to their unique needs.
Additionally, Commercetools offers extensive developer tools and documentation, facilitating rapid development and innovation. Its focus on modularity and flexibility makes it an excellent choice for enterprises aiming to future-proof their ecommerce infrastructure.
5. Shopify Plus Headless
Shopify Plus Headless provides an enterprise-grade ecommerce platform with advanced headless capabilities tailored for high-volume businesses. It features a React-based framework called Hydrogen for building custom storefronts and Oxygen for global edge hosting, ensuring fast and reliable site performance. Shopify Plus also integrates a robust, user-friendly back end for managing products, orders, and customer data while supporting a custom front end, making it a comprehensive solution for businesses aiming to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences. Shopify has become particularly significant in headless commerce for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, offering tailored solutions for this growing market segment.
The platform supports extensive automation tools, customizable checkout experiences, and robust API access, making it suitable for businesses requiring sophisticated ecommerce workflows. Shopify Plus also integrates seamlessly with numerous third-party services and legacy systems, supporting a comprehensive ecommerce tech stack.
Moreover, Shopify Plus offers strong security measures and scalable infrastructure, enabling businesses to handle large transaction volumes while maintaining compliance and data protection standards. Its user-friendly admin interface balances power with ease of use for both developers and marketing teams.
6. Elastic Path
Elastic Path is a composable commerce platform focusing on delivering highly customizable ecommerce solutions for enterprises with complex catalog management needs. Its API-first approach allows businesses to integrate commerce functionality into any frontend or digital channel with ease.
The platform’s modular architecture supports independent scaling of commerce components, enabling businesses to adapt quickly to changing market demands. Elastic Path is well-suited for organizations that require flexible pricing models, subscription management, and advanced customer segmentation.
Elastic Path also provides extensive developer tools and supports integration with various content management systems and third-party services. This flexibility empowers businesses to build unique, personalized shopping experiences that drive customer engagement and loyalty.
7. Storyblok
Storyblok is a headless CMS platform that integrates seamlessly with headless commerce solutions, offering a visual editor and flexible content modeling capabilities. It enables marketing teams to manage rich content independently from commerce logic, facilitating efficient content reuse across multiple channels.
The platform supports native integrations with popular ecommerce engines, allowing businesses to maintain synchronized content and product data without complex middleware. Storyblok’s API-first design and collaboration features make it ideal for teams seeking to streamline content workflows and accelerate time-to-market.
With its user-friendly interface and robust developer tools, Storyblok empowers both technical and non-technical users to create engaging, personalized customer experiences. Its scalability and flexibility make it a valuable companion to any headless commerce platform.
8. Sanity
Sanity is a real-time collaborative headless CMS known for its powerful content modeling and flexible APIs. It supports complex content relationships and integrates smoothly with various headless commerce platforms to deliver dynamic, content-rich shopping experiences.
The platform’s GROQ query language offers developers fine-grained control over content retrieval, essential for managing large product catalogs and multi-variant commerce scenarios. Sanity’s architecture enables efficient content reuse and real-time updates across multiple digital channels.
Sanity also provides an intuitive interface for marketing teams and robust developer tools, fostering collaboration and rapid iteration. Its scalability and performance make it suitable for enterprises aiming to deliver personalized, omnichannel ecommerce experiences.
9. Payload CMS
Payload CMS is a TypeScript-native headless CMS designed for developers seeking code-first configuration and deep customization. It can be deployed within existing applications, eliminating the need for separate CMS infrastructure and simplifying development workflows.
The platform supports advanced content modeling and integrates seamlessly with headless commerce engines, enabling businesses to build tailored ecommerce experiences with minimal overhead. Payload CMS is ideal for organizations requiring full control over their content infrastructure and frontend presentation.
With its developer-centric approach, Payload CMS offers extensive APIs, hooks, and plugin systems, facilitating rapid development and integration. Its flexibility and performance make it a strong choice for enterprises focused on building custom, scalable ecommerce solutions.
10. DatoCMS
DatoCMS is a SaaS-based headless CMS that emphasizes enterprise simplicity and powerful API-first architecture. It supports flexible content modeling and provides GraphQL APIs that align well with modern headless commerce platforms.
The platform has proven its capabilities in demanding ecommerce environments, enabling businesses to manage complex B2B and B2C requirements such as customer-specific pricing and multi-currency operations. DatoCMS facilitates efficient content management and delivery across multiple channels.
With its user-friendly interface and robust developer tools, DatoCMS empowers marketing teams to create and update content quickly while providing developers with the flexibility needed for custom integrations. Its scalability and reliability make it a valuable component of any headless ecommerce tech stack.
11. BigCommerce Enterprise
BigCommerce is an open SaaS headless commerce platform that combines ease of use with powerful enterprise capabilities. It offers a flexible API-driven architecture that supports seamless integration with various content management systems, payment gateways, and marketing tools.
BigCommerce is particularly favored by businesses seeking a scalable solution that can grow alongside their ecommerce operations. Notably, BigCommerce enables seamless multi-channel selling without transaction fees on its enterprise plans, making it an attractive option for cost-conscious businesses. Leading headless commerce platforms, including BigCommerce, Commercetools, Adobe Commerce (Magento), and Shopify Plus, provide robust solutions for businesses of all sizes.
The platform enables the creation of custom storefronts using popular frontend frameworks like React and Vue.js, allowing developers to deliver unique and responsive shopping experiences. BigCommerce also supports multi-channel selling, helping businesses reach customers through websites, mobile apps, social media, and other digital touchpoints.
Furthermore, BigCommerce provides robust security features and multi-storefront capabilities, making it suitable for businesses operating across different regions or markets. Its user-friendly interface and comprehensive developer tools facilitate efficient site management and rapid deployment of new features.
Benefits of Headless Commerce
When you choose headless commerce, you unlock increased flexibility to design your ecommerce store exactly how you envision it. You can build custom storefronts tailored to your brand and customer needs, integrating seamlessly with third-party services such as inventory management systems and payment gateways.
This architecture supports integration with modern frontend frameworks like React, Vue.js, or Angular, allowing your development teams to build fast, efficient, and highly responsive ecommerce applications. You’ll also benefit from managing your content and commerce components independently, reducing the complexity and limitations often found in traditional ecommerce platforms.
Ultimately, headless commerce solutions empower you to deliver enhanced customer experiences, faster site performance, and easier content updates all critical factors that can boost conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
1. Enhanced Flexibility and Customization
Headless commerce architecture enables you to create highly customized storefronts without being constrained by the backend system.
This flexibility allows your development teams to use modern frontend frameworks and tools to build unique user interfaces tailored to your brand identity and customer preferences. As a result, you can rapidly adapt your ecommerce site to changing market trends and customer demands.
2. Improved Scalability and Performance
One of the key benefits of headless commerce is the ability to scale content and commerce components independently. This architecture enables your ecommerce platform to handle increased traffic and transaction volumes efficiently without compromising performance.
Faster load times and responsive user interfaces contribute to better customer experiences and higher conversion rates. Businesses using headless architecture rate their scalability capabilities as strong, with 79% affirming this advantage.
3. Seamless Integration with Third-Party Services
Headless commerce platforms provide robust APIs that facilitate seamless integration with essential third-party services such as inventory management, payment gateways, CRM systems, and marketing tools. This integration capability streamlines your ecommerce operations and allows you to build a comprehensive tech stack that supports your business growth.
4. Simplified Omnichannel Selling
With headless commerce, you can deliver consistent and personalized shopping experiences across multiple channels — including websites, mobile apps, social media, and IoT devices — from a single backend. This omnichannel capability helps you reach customers wherever they shop while maintaining unified content and commerce management.
5. Faster Time-to-Market and Reduced Technical Debt
By decoupling the frontend from the backend, development and marketing teams can work in parallel without interfering with each other’s workflows. This separation accelerates development cycles, enabling quicker launches of new features, campaigns, or storefronts. Additionally, it reduces technical debt by minimizing dependencies between system components.
6. Future-Proof Infrastructure Supporting Emerging Technologies
Headless commerce’s modular and API-first architecture provides the agility to adopt emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and voice commerce.
This future-ready setup allows you to innovate continuously and maintain a competitive edge in the evolving ecommerce landscape.
7. Enhanced Content Management and Marketing Agility
Pairing headless commerce with a headless CMS allows marketing teams to manage rich content independently of commerce logic.
This capability supports flexible content modeling, efficient content reuse, and real-time updates across multiple channels, empowering marketers to create engaging, personalized customer experiences without backend disruptions. In fact, 82% of respondents in a recent study indicated that headless systems simplify delivering a consistent content experience.
Headless Ecommerce Platforms
What You Should Know About Headless Ecommerce Platforms
Headless ecommerce platforms enable you to separate your frontend user experience from backend commerce logic. This separation allows you to innovate on the frontend without disrupting backend operations like inventory management, pricing, and checkout processes.
By leveraging these platforms, you can deliver consistent, content-rich shopping experiences across multiple channels from mobile apps to social media and beyond. This approach supports efficient content reuse and faster time-to-market for new campaigns or product launches.
Why a Headless CMS Matters
Pairing your headless commerce platform with a headless CMS gives you even greater control over your content management. A headless CMS allows your marketing teams to create, manage, and publish rich content independently from your commerce backend, ensuring your storefront remains dynamic and engaging.
This modular architecture enables flexible content modeling and supports complex content relationships, which is essential for delivering personalized experiences to your customers. With built-in internationalization enhancements and a broader plugin ecosystem, headless CMS platforms empower you to scale your ecommerce business globally with ease.
Content Management
Effective content management is key to your ecommerce success. Headless solutions provide you with the tools to manage content across multiple channels without downtime or disruption to your commerce operations.
You can update product descriptions, promotional banners, and blog content in real-time, ensuring your customers always see the latest information. This agility helps you respond quickly to market trends and customer preferences, driving engagement and conversions.
What is a Headless Solution?
A headless solution is a software application designed to provide specific commerce or content functions without a traditional user interface. This approach enables you to manage commerce functionality and content components independently, offering enhanced scalability, security, and performance.
By adopting a headless solution, you reduce complexity and increase flexibility in your ecommerce architecture, allowing you to innovate faster and adapt to emerging technologies.
Choosing the Right Platform for Your Business
Selecting the right headless commerce platform depends on your unique business needs and goals. Consider platforms that offer robust enterprise features, including customer-specific pricing, advanced security measures, and seamless integration capabilities to support your ecommerce growth.
Modular Architecture for Scalability
An ideal headless commerce platform should support a modular architecture that enables independent scaling of commerce components based on demand. This flexibility ensures your ecommerce store can efficiently handle increasing traffic, adapt to market changes, and maintain consistent performance as your business expands.
Integration Capabilities
Why Integration Capabilities Matter
Strong integration capabilities are essential for connecting your ecommerce platform with third-party services such as payment gateways, inventory management systems, and marketing tools. These integrations enable you to build a comprehensive ecommerce tech stack that supports operational efficiency and a seamless customer experience.
Enhancing Your Commerce Strategy
With robust integration options, you can create custom storefronts and deliver personalized shopping experiences across multiple channels, including websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms. This connectivity is critical for executing a broader commerce strategy and reaching customers wherever they shop.
Custom Storefronts
Custom storefronts allow you to differentiate your brand by crafting unique and engaging shopping experiences tailored to your customers’ preferences. Headless commerce platforms empower you to build these storefronts using modern frontend frameworks like React, Vue.js, or Angular, providing full creative freedom and control over the user interface.
Developer Tools
Empowering Your Development Teams
Advanced developer tools are vital for building, maintaining, and scaling your ecommerce solution. Platforms that offer comprehensive developer resources, including APIs, SDKs, and plugin ecosystems, help your teams work more efficiently and accelerate development cycles.
Facilitating Custom Development
By leveraging these tools, your developers can implement custom features, integrate third-party services smoothly, and optimize site management. This enhances overall performance and ensures your ecommerce platform remains agile and responsive to evolving business needs.
Conclusion and Recommendations
Adopting a headless commerce approach positions your ecommerce business for success in 2025 and beyond. By choosing one of the top headless commerce platforms, you benefit from enhanced flexibility, scalability, and the ability to deliver rich, personalized customer experiences.
Invest in platforms that provide advanced capabilities, robust integration options, and strong developer support to future-proof your ecommerce store and support your business growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between headless commerce and traditional ecommerce?
Headless commerce separates the frontend user experience from the backend commerce engine, allowing greater flexibility and customization. Traditional ecommerce platforms tightly couple these layers, which can limit scalability and innovation.
How does headless ecommerce cms improve site performance?
By decoupling the frontend from the backend, headless commerce platforms enable faster load times and more responsive user interfaces. Developers can optimize each layer independently, leading to improved overall performance.
Can I integrate a headless CMS with my headless commerce platform?
Yes, pairing a headless CMS with your commerce platform allows marketing teams to manage content independently, supporting flexible content modeling and efficient content reuse across multiple channels.
Is headless commerce suitable for small businesses?
While headless commerce offers significant benefits, it requires technical resources for setup and maintenance. Small businesses with limited development capacity might prefer traditional platforms but can consider headless solutions as they grow.
What are the key features to look for in a headless commerce platform?
Look for platforms with enterprise capabilities such as modular architecture, advanced security, seamless integration options, developer tools, and support for customer-specific pricing and multi-vendor marketplaces.
