Top 10 Headless Ecommerce Solutions to Consider

Introduction

The economy is changing rapidly, and businesses are looking for more robust solutions to streamline their sales and services and reach a wide range of customers. One such robust and cutting-edge solution is headless e-commerce. 

With headless e-commerce, you can design any storefront, mobile app, voice assistant, etc., and connect it to the stockroom through a special code (API). 

The out-of-the-box arrangement of a headless e-commerce solution gives you more freedom to create a unique shopping experience in a mix-and-match approach. 

This opens possibilities for businesses, be it big or small, looking to deliver flexible, personalized, and omnichannel experiences to their customers. 

With a decoupled architecture, another name for headless e-commerce, businesses can leverage the power of custom ecommerce solution platforms to create tailored websites according to their brand's voice and budget. 

In this article, we will discuss our top 10 choices for headless e-commerce service providers and the things you should keep in mind when considering an e-commerce development solution. 

What is Headless E-commerce and Why Should You Consider It?

Headless e-commerce solution, a.k.a. decoupled ecommerce, is a modern approach to building online stores. 

Instead of using a traditional monolithic architecture where the front end and back end are tightly coupled, a headless e-commerce solution separates the two, allowing for more flexibility and scalability. 

With a decoupled architecture, businesses can easily update or change the front or backend without affecting the other. 

This separation enables faster development and deployment of custom e-commerce solutions and the ability to tailor the customer experience to specific channels or devices.

Benefits of a Decoupled Architecture in Headless E-commerce

• Omnichannel Experiences: A headless e-commerce solution allows businesses to deliver seamless and consistent experiences across multiple channels, such as websites, mobile apps, social media, and voice assistants, providing a unified brand experience for customers.
• Customized Ecommerce Solutions: With a decoupled architecture, headless ecommerce empowers businesses to leverage custom ecommerce solutions. Companies can choose the best-in-class tools and technologies to meet their specific needs, whether a unique user interface or a specialized backend system for inventory management.
• Flexibility and Scalability: Adopting a headless e-commerce solution gives businesses the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing market demands and the scalability to grow alongside their ecommerce development solutions, helping them stay ahead of the competition.

Top 10 Headless Ecommerce Platforms to Explore

If you're considering adopting a headless e-commerce solution for your business, choosing the right platform that aligns with your specific needs and goals is important for your custom ecommerce solutions. 

With numerous options available in the market, we've compiled a list of the top 10 headless ecommerce platforms you should explore.

1. AppsRhino: Feature-Rich Platform with Focus on Mobile Commerce

AppsRhino is a feature-rich headless ecommerce solution provider strongly emphasizing mobile commerce. It offers a range of mobile-specific features like push notifications, in-app messaging, and mobile analytics. 

AppsRhino's headless approach enables businesses to create mobile-first experiences while seamlessly integrating with backend systems. 

Features of AppsRhino

• Push Notifications: Enhance user engagement with timely and targeted push notifications.
• In-App Messaging: Improve customer communication and support with integrated in-app messaging.
• Mobile Analytics: Gain insights into user behavior and optimize mobile commerce strategies with comprehensive mobile analytics.
• Pricing : AppsRhino offers flexible pricing plans to accommodate various business needs. Contact them for detailed pricing information and to find the plan that best suits your requirements.

2. Shopify Plus: Scalable Solution for Large Businesses

Shopify Plus is a leading headless e-commerce platform that offers scalable customized e-commerce solutions for large businesses. With its robust infrastructure and extensive set of features, Shopify Plus can handle high volumes of traffic and transactions. 

Its headless capabilities allow businesses to create personalized storefronts, leverage APIs for integration, and offer seamless experiences across multiple channels. 

Features of Shopify Plus

• Personalized Storefronts: Create custom ecommerce solutions with tailored user experiences to match your brand's unique identity.
• API Integration: Utilize robust APIs for seamless integration with various ecommerce development solutions, ensuring efficient backend processes.
• Multi-Channel Experiences: Deliver consistent and engaging experiences across multiple channels, including websites, mobile apps, and social media, leveraging the full potential of a headless e-commerce solution. 
• Pricing : Shopify Plus pricing starts at $2,000 per month, and it offers tailored plans based on your business's specific needs and scale. 

3. Magento (Adobe Commerce): Open-Source Powerhouse for Customization

Magento, now known as Adobe Commerce, is an open-source powerhouse with extensive customization options. With its flexible architecture and modular approach, Magento allows businesses to build tailored headless e-commerce solutions for their business needs. 

It offers many features, including advanced catalog management, robust order processing, and powerful marketing tools. Magento's headless capabilities enable businesses to create unique frontend experiences while leveraging its powerful backend functionality.

Features of Magento (Adobe Commerce)

• Advanced Catalog Management: Efficiently manage product catalogs with customizable attributes, ensuring your e-commerce development solutions meet your unique business needs.
• Robust Order Processing: Streamline order processing with powerful tools that enhance the efficiency and accuracy of your custom e-commerce solutions.
• Powerful Marketing Tools: Utilize Magento's comprehensive marketing suite to drive sales and engagement, providing customized e-commerce solutions for targeted campaigns. \
• Pricing : Adobe Commerce (Magento) pricing depends on your yearly sales. Expect a base cost of $22,000+ annually. Additional costs include development, hosting, extensions, and maintenance.

4. BigCommerce Enterprise: All-in-One for B2B and B2C Brands

BigCommerce Enterprise is an all-in-one headless e-commerce solution platform catering to B2B and B2C brands. It offers comprehensive features, including flexible catalog management, advanced shipping options, and integrated payment solutions. 

BigCommerce Enterprise's headless approach enables businesses to deliver consistent omnichannel experiences while benefiting from its robust backend functionality. 

Features of BigCommerce Enterprise

• Flexible Catalog Management: Customize your product catalogs to meet specific business needs, providing robust ecommerce development solutions.
• Advanced Shipping Options: Offer a variety of shipping methods tailored to your customers' preferences, enhancing your custom ecommerce solutions.
• Integrated Payment Solutions: Streamline transactions with integrated payment gateways, ensuring seamless and secure payment processing for your customized ecommerce solutions.
• Pricing :The pricing of BigCommerce Enterprise's headless e-commerce solution typically starts around $1,000 per month and can go up to $15,000 or more.

5. Elastic Path Commerce Cloud: API-First Approach for Agility

Elastic Path Commerce Cloud is an API-first headless e-commerce solution platform that focuses on agility and flexibility. Its headless architecture allows businesses to leverage its extensive APIs to build and customize unique shopping experiences. 

Elastic Path Commerce Cloud offers features like dynamic pricing, subscription management, and complex product configuration, making it suitable for businesses with unique e-commerce requirements and the best e-commerce development solutions.  

Features of Elastic Path Commerce Cloud

• Dynamic Pricing: Implement flexible pricing strategies that adapt to market conditions, providing tailored e-commerce development solutions.
• Subscription Management: Efficiently manage subscription services, offering custom ecommerce solutions that cater to recurring revenue models.
• Complex Product Configuration: Customize product configurations to meet specific customer needs, ensuring your customized headless e-commerce solutions are comprehensive and versatile. 
• Pricing: Elastic Path Commerce Cloud uses a tiered pricing model for its headless e-commerce solution. Individual products start at $2,200/month.

6. Salesforce Commerce Cloud (formerly Demandware): Enterprise-Grade Features for Complex Businesses

Salesforce Commerce Cloud, formerly Demandware, is an enterprise-grade headless e-commerce solution platform offering powerful features for complex businesses. 

It provides a highly scalable infrastructure, advanced order management capabilities, and AI-powered personalization tools. Salesforce Commerce Cloud's headless approach allows businesses to create tailored frontend experiences and integrate seamlessly with other Salesforce products. 

Features of Salesforce Commerce Cloud

• Highly Scalable Infrastructure: Handle high volumes of traffic and transactions, providing robust headless e-commerce solutions for growing businesses.
• Advanced Order Management: Streamline order processing with sophisticated tools, enhancing your custom headless e-commerce solutions for efficient backend operations.
• AI-Powered Personalization: Utilize AI-driven personalization tools to deliver customized e-commerce solutions that enhance customer engagement and satisfaction.
• Pricing : Salesforce Commerce Cloud doesn't have a public pricing list. They offer custom quotes based on your business needs. 

7. Swell: Feature-Rich for Subscription-Based Businesses

Swell is a feature-rich headless e-commerce solution platform specifically for subscription-based businesses. It offers various subscription management features, including flexible billing options, customer retention tools, and personalized product recommendations. 

Swell's headless architecture allows businesses to integrate its subscription functionality into their existing frontend experiences seamlessly. 

Features of Swell

• Flexible Billing Options: Customize billing cycles and payment plans to suit the needs of your subscription-based business, providing tailored headless e-commerce solution.
• Customer Retention Tools: Utilize advanced tools to improve customer retention and reduce churn, ensuring effective ecommerce development solutions.
• Personalized Product Recommendations: Leverage data-driven insights to offer personalized product recommendations, enhancing your customized ecommerce solutions.
• Pricing : Swell offers custom quotes based on your business needs and starts at around $60/month for basic plans.

8. Snipcart: Lightweight Solution for Startups and Small Businesses

Snipcart is a lightweight, headless e-commerce solution platform that is ideal for startups and small businesses. It provides an easy setup process, minimal maintenance requirements, and a range of customizable features. 

Snipcart's headless e-commerce solution capabilities allow businesses to embed its shopping cart functionality seamlessly into their existing websites or applications. 

Suggested Reading : How to Choose Right Enterprise ecommerce Platform in 7 Steps

Features of Snipcart

• Flexible Integration: Snipcart offers flexible integration as a headless e-commerce solution, seamlessly embedding shopping cart functionality into existing websites or applications.
• Easy Setup and Low Maintenance: It provides a straightforward setup process and requires minimal ongoing maintenance, ideal for startups and small businesses.
• Customizable Features: Snipcart offers a range of customizable features tailored to meet the specific needs of businesses seeking flexible e-commerce solutions. 
• Pricing : Snipcart offers a budget-friendly option for a headless e-commerce solution. They have a free plan, but you'll pay a transaction fee either 2% of the sale or a minimum of $20 per month. An upgrade is required for advanced features like subscriptions or discounts.

9. Commercetools Platform: API-First Platform for Developers

Commercetools Platform is an API-first headless e-commerce solution that focuses on providing a developer-friendly platform. It offers many APIs, allowing developers to build highly customized e-commerce solutions. 

Commercetools Platform's headless approach facilitates rapid development and seamless integration with other systems and applications. 

Features of Commercetools 
 

• API-First Approach: Commercetools Platform emphasizes an API-first architecture, enabling developers to create unique headless e-commerce solutions with extensive customization capabilities.
• Seamless Integration: Facilitates seamless integration with third-party systems and applications, leveraging its robust set of APIs for smooth interoperability.
• Scalability and Flexibility: Offers scalability to handle varying business needs and flexible customization options to adapt to specific e-commerce development solutions requirements.
• Pricing : For headless e-commerce solution, Commercetools uses a custom quote system based on your business's annual revenue. There's no public pricing, but it generally scales with your sales volume. 

10. Spryker Commerce Cloud: Ideal for Complex Product Catalogs

Spryker Commerce Cloud is an ideal headless ecommerce platform for businesses with complex product catalogs. It offers advanced product management capabilities, including options for bundling, configurable products, and dynamic pricing. 

Spryker's headless architecture allows businesses to deliver highly personalized experiences while efficiently managing their extensive product offerings. 

Features of Spyker Commerce Cloud

• Advanced Product Management: Spryker Commerce Cloud provides robust capabilities in the headless e-commerce solution for managing complex product catalogs, such as bundling, configurable products, and dynamic pricing.
• Scalable and Personalized Experiences: Its headless e-commerce solution enables businesses to deliver highly personalized customer experiences across various channels, ensuring scalability as per business growth.
• Customization and Flexibility: Offers customized e-commerce development solutions tailored to specific business needs, supporting extensive customization without compromising on performance or scalability.
• Pricing : Spyker Commerce Cloud offers custom quotes based on your specific needs, which are not disclosed to the public.  Their website offers a contact form to request a demo or discuss pricing.

Choosing the Right Headless Ecommerce Platform for Your Needs

In the realm of e-commerce development solutions, selecting the ideal headless e-commerce solution demands a thorough understanding of your business's unique requirements. 

This includes assessing scalability, customization, budget, and available development resources. Let's explore these critical considerations in detail.

Evaluating Your Business Requirements: Scalability, Customization, Budget 

Here is how you should evaluate your business requirements for a robust headless e-commerce solution. 

Scalability

Scalability is a vital factor when choosing a headless e-commerce solution for your online store. As your business grows, ensuring the platform can easily handle increased traffic and sales volume without compromising performance is essential. 

Scalability allows your store to remain responsive and deliver a seamless customer experience, even during periods of high demand.

Customization

Alongside scalability, customization options are paramount in aligning your online store with your brand's unique identity. 

A headless e-commerce solution platform should offer a high degree of flexibility, enabling you to tailor the shopping experience to reflect your brand's personality and aesthetics. 

From product displays and layout to checkout processes and branding elements, customized e-commerce solutions empowers you to create a memorable and engaging experience for your customers.

Budget Considerations

Budget considerations also play a crucial role in the selection process.

 Before exploring headless e-commerce solutions, defining your budget and determining what features and functionalities are essential for your online store's success is important. 

Carefully evaluate the pricing structures of different platforms to ensure that you choose a solution that balances affordability and the necessary features required to meet your business goals.

Suggested Reading : 9 Brilliant Ecommerce App Development Examples for 2024

Considering Development Resources: In-House Expertise vs. Partnering with an Agency 

Various resources are available for a custom e-commerce development solution, which you should consider before starting the development process. 

Capabilities of Your In-House Team

When it comes to implementation, assessing your available development resources is essential. Evaluate the skills and expertise of your in-house team to determine if they have the necessary capabilities to handle the development, integration, and ongoing maintenance of a headless e-commerce solution. 

Consider programming languages, frontend and backend development expertise, and system architecture knowledge.

Partner with an Agency

If your in-house team does not possess the required skill set or is limited by time constraints, partnering with a specialized agency can provide significant benefits. 

Agencies with experience in e-commerce development solutions can offer comprehensive support in implementing and maintaining the chosen headless ecommerce platform. 

They bring a wealth of expertise, best practices, and resources that enable a smooth and efficient implementation process of your custom e-commerce solution. 

Engaging with an agency also allows your internal team to focus on other strategic initiatives while the experts handle the technical aspects.

Conclusion

Here we have it, the top 10 list of headless e-commerce solutions along with their features and pricing. We also have mentioned the benefits and some tips which will be useful for you in selecting the best solution available. 

Remember to consider factors like scalability, customization options, budget, and available development resources. By thoroughly evaluating these aspects, you can make an informed decision and select the e-commerce development solution that best aligns with your goal. 

We hope that the right headless e-commerce solution will make your e-commerce journey successful and help you stay ahead of your competition. 

Suggested Reading : 10 Best Ecommerce App Development Companies in 2024

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is headless ecommerce and how does it differ from traditional e-commerce architectures?

Headless e-commerce separates the frontend and backend, allowing for more flexibility and scalability. Unlike traditional monolithic architectures, it enables businesses to update and change either the frontend or backend without impacting the other.

What are the key benefits of adopting a headless e-commerce solution?

Key benefits include the ability to deliver omnichannel experiences, tailored solutions, flexibility in technology choices, scalability, and the capability to provide personalized customer experiences across various devices and channels.

Which headless e-commerce solution platform is best suited for mobile commerce and exceptional user experiences?

AppsRhino is a feature-rich headless ecommerce platform that emphasizes mobile commerce. It offers mobile-specific features like push notifications, in-app messaging, and mobile analytics, enabling businesses to create mobile-first experiences with seamless backend integrations.

Which headless e-commerce solution platform provides a scalable solution suitable for large businesses?

Shopify Plus is a leading headless ecommerce platform known for its robust infrastructure and extensive features, making it ideal for handling high volumes of traffic and transactions while offering personalized storefronts and seamless experiences across multiple channels.

What headless e-commerce solution platform is recommended for businesses with complex product catalogs?

Spryker Commerce Cloud is an ideal platform for businesses with complex product catalogs. It offers advanced product management capabilities, allowing businesses to deliver highly personalized experiences while efficiently managing their extensive product offerings.