In today’s fast-paced digital world, businesses are constantly looking for ways to deliver better, faster, and more personalized shopping experiences. Traditional eCommerce platforms often come with limitations that can restrict how businesses innovate and scale. This is where headless commerce steps in—a flexible, modern approach that separates the front-end user experience from the back-end commerce functionality.

If you’re new to the term, headless commerce means decoupling the “head” (the front-end interface customers interact with, like your website or app) from the “body” (the back-end systems that handle product management, payments, and orders). This separation allows businesses to customize the shopping experience freely while relying on a powerful back-end to manage the heavy lifting. Headless commerce solutions enable brands to deliver dynamic, flexible, and scalable experiences across multiple channels, all while maintaining robust functionality on the back-end.

In this blog, we’ll explore the top 8 headless commerce platforms that can help your business succeed by providing flexibility, scalability, and performance. Whether you’re a startup or a large enterprise, these platforms offer unique features designed to elevate your online sales.

What Makes Headless Commerce Important?

Before diving into the platforms, let’s quickly understand why headless commerce is becoming essential:

• Flexibility: Customize every aspect of your front-end without being limited by the back-end platform.

• Omnichannel Selling: Seamlessly deliver consistent shopping experiences across websites, mobile apps, social media, IoT devices, and more.

• Faster Innovation: Launch new features, update designs, or integrate with third-party services without disrupting the entire system.

• Better Performance: Load times improve as the front-end can be optimized separately.

• Future-Proof: Easily adapt to new trends and technologies without rebuilding the whole platform.

Now, let’s jump into the top headless commerce platforms that can power your business growth.

1. Shopify Plus (Headless)

Shopify is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms globally, known for its ease of use. Shopify Plus offers a headless commerce solution by allowing businesses to use Shopify’s powerful back-end with a customizable front-end experience through its Storefront API.

• Key Features:

  • Easy-to-manage product catalog and inventory.

  • Powerful APIs for integrating with custom front-ends or apps.

  • Scalability for high-volume businesses.

  • Extensive app ecosystem for marketing, shipping, and analytics.

Shopify Plus is ideal for businesses looking for a reliable, well-supported platform with a low barrier to entry into headless commerce.

2. BigCommerce

BigCommerce offers robust headless commerce capabilities, making it a strong contender for brands wanting full control over the customer experience without sacrificing back-end power.

• Key Features:

  • Flexible APIs and SDKs for building custom front-ends.

  • Supports omnichannel sales including marketplaces, social media, and voice assistants.

  • Built-in SEO tools and scalability.

  • Integrations with popular CMS systems like WordPress and Contentful.

BigCommerce is a great option for mid-sized to large businesses that want flexibility paired with strong out-of-the-box eCommerce features.

3. Commerce Layer

Commerce Layer is a specialized headless commerce platform designed for global brands. It excels in managing multi-currency, multi-warehouse, and international tax complexities, many businesses face when scaling worldwide.

• Key Features:

  • API-first design for complete customization.

  • Multi-currency and multi-language support.

  • Seamless integration with existing systems and front-ends.

  • Robust inventory and order management.

If your business plans to go international or needs complex global eCommerce capabilities, Commerce Layer is worth considering.

4. Salesforce Commerce Cloud (Headless)

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is a premium solution offering enterprise-grade headless commerce through its Salesforce Experience Cloud and Commerce APIs.

• Key Features:

  • Deep integration with Salesforce CRM for personalized customer experiences.

  • Flexible front-end development using APIs.

  • Strong support for B2B and B2C models.

  • Advanced AI-powered marketing and product recommendations.

This platform suits large enterprises with complex sales cycles and an existing Salesforce ecosystem.

5. Contentful + Custom Commerce Back-End

Contentful is a leading headless CMS (Content Management System), and when paired with a custom commerce back-end or other commerce APIs, it creates a highly flexible headless commerce architecture.

• Key Features:

  • Excellent content modeling and management.

  • API-first, allowing for integrations with various commerce engines.

  • Great for brands focused on content-driven shopping experiences.

  • Freedom to build unique user interfaces.

Contentful is perfect if your business relies heavily on content marketing and wants to create a unique, branded shopping experience.

6. Magento Commerce (Adobe Commerce)

Magento has long been a favorite for eCommerce businesses, and its Adobe Commerce version supports headless commerce with powerful APIs and integration tools.

• Key Features:

  • Open-source flexibility with enterprise-grade features.

  • Comprehensive product, order, and customer management.

  • Wide range of integrations and third-party extensions.

  • Ability to build custom front-ends or integrate with modern frameworks like React or Vue.js.

Magento is best for businesses that want full control over every aspect of their platform and have the technical resources to manage it.

7. commercetools

commercetools is a pure headless commerce platform built on microservices architecture, making it incredibly scalable and flexible.

• Key Features:

  • API-first platform with extensive developer tools.

  • Supports complex business models including subscriptions, marketplaces, and B2B.

  • Cloud-native with continuous deployment and updates.

  • Enables rapid innovation without downtime.

Ideal for enterprises that want a future-proof, highly customizable platform built for modern commerce.

8. Swell

Swell is a newer but rapidly growing headless commerce platform that focuses on simplicity and developer experience.

• Key Features:

  • Easy-to-use APIs for building custom front-ends.

  • Built-in support for subscriptions, marketplaces, and digital products.

  • No-code and low-code options for quicker setup.

  • Seamless integration with popular front-end frameworks.

Swell works well for startups and growing businesses that want to quickly launch and iterate on their eCommerce presence.

How to Choose the Right Headless Commerce Platform?

Choosing the right headless commerce platform depends on your business size, technical resources, and long-term goals. Here are some factors to consider:

• Technical Expertise: Do you have an in-house development team or will you rely on agencies?

• Budget: Some platforms like Salesforce and Magento can be expensive compared to Shopify or Swell.

• Business Model: Are you B2C, B2B, or both? Do you sell internationally?

• Customization Needs: How much control do you want over the front-end design and user experience?

• Integration Requirements: What other systems (CRM, ERP, marketing tools) do you need to connect?

Conclusion

Headless commerce is revolutionizing how businesses sell online by offering unmatched flexibility and scalability. Each headless solution highlighted here represents the best in the market, with unique strengths tailored to different business needs. Whether you're focused on customization, global reach, or rapid innovation, there's a platform designed to help you succeed in the evolving digital landscape.

Whether you choose Shopify Plus for ease of use, commercetools for scalability, or Commerce Layer for global sales, adopting a headless commerce approach can future-proof your business and create better customer experiences.

By selecting the right platform, you can focus on what matters most: growing your business and delighting your customers in today’s competitive digital landscape.