6 Headless Commerce Platforms You Should Know About in 2025

Headless commerce is changing the nature of a firm's operations running an online store. This concept separates the front-end user interface from the back-end infrastructure, giving unmatched flexibility. It is currently on the rise as companies focus on faster, seamless, and personalized user experiences.

Some of the trends in 2025 include increasing demand for scalability, multi-channel selling, and API-driven solutions. Such businesses need platforms that are responsive to changes in the market, while performance and customer satisfaction will be better.

We will focus on six headless commerce platforms creating ripples in 2025. Each one is unique and ensures that businesses get a future-proof solution for their eCommerce requirements. Be it scalability or even more customization, these platforms change the way companies build their online stores.

Why Headless Commerce?

Headless commerce has some evident advantages over traditional e-commerce platforms.

Benefits of Headless Commerce:

• Flexibility: Personalize your store without bounds. Update the front end independently of the back end.

• Speed: It loads faster and the user experience improves with sales.

• Scalability: Handles heavy traffic easily when there are peak seasons or product launches.

• Rich User Experience: Now offer customized content through several channels.

Supporting Market Insights:

• 85% of companies that have opted for headless commerce have seen better page speeds.

  • The global headless commerce market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 22% by 2030.

Top 6 Headless Commerce Platforms

Headless commerce is changing the face of business design and management of an online store. It separates the frontend, which is the user interface, from the backend, which is the functional systems. This way, it offers unparalleled customization, scalability, and performance. Being a business owner, developer, or agency, it becomes crucial to find the appropriate headless solution to ensure the future-proofing of e-commerce operations. Below are six headless commerce platforms to look out for in 2025.

1. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a robust SaaS eCommerce that allows for headless implementations. Its APIs and integration capabilities make it a darling for businesses that look for seamless scalability.

Key Features

• Rich libraries of APIs for custom integrations

• Multi-channel selling (marketplaces, social media)

• Built-in tools for SEO and marketing

Best Use Cases

• Medium to large businesses wanting expansion into multi-channel sales.

• Brands needing a robust backend system with custom frontend designs.

Pricing Overview

• Begins at $39/month for basic plans. Enterprise solutions are custom quote-based.

Pros

• Trivial to integrate with popular CMS platforms like WordPress.

• Strong security features.

• Minimal downtime and reliable performance.

Cons

• Non-headless implementations lack design flexibility.

• The advanced features come with the more expensive plans.

2. Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus is a premium version of Shopify. It is meant for high-growth businesses. The capabilities of headless commerce help deliver seamless scalability and high performance.

Key Features

• Strong API support for headless setups.

• Simplified multi-store management.

• Access to over 6,000 apps in the Shopify ecosystem.

Best Use Cases

• Established brands seeking headless commerce solutions.

• Businesses expanding globally with localized stores.

Pricing Overview

• $2,066/month for Shopify Plus.

Pros

• Highly reliable with 99.99% uptime.

• Quick implementation for fast-growing businesses.

• Large developer community for support.

Cons

• Expensive for small to medium businesses.

• Limited flexibility for backend customizations.

3. Magento (Adobe Commerce)

Magento, formerly known as Adobe Commerce, is an enterprise-level solution that is scalable and has a lot of customization options.

Key Features

• Open-source version for flexibility.

• Advanced inventory management tools.

• Global scalability with multi-language and currency support.

Best Use Cases

• Enterprise firms who want full control over their platform.

• Complex B2B activities that need customizations.

Pricing Overview

• Open-source is free, while Adobe Commerce starts at $22,000 per annum.

Pros

• Customizations for very specific business needs

• Community strength with a plethora of resources

• Flexibility in hosting

Cons

• Needs a lot of technical know-how.

• Enterprise features are very expensive

4. Commerce Layer

Commerce Layer is an API-first headless commerce platform that targets global businesses that are searching for omnichannel scalability.

Key Features

• Decoupled architecture allows for custom frontend development

• Mobile-first optimized

• Enhanced localizations features

Best Use Cases

• Businesses that offer internationalized content and checkout experiences

• Any mobile-focused eCommerce growth companies

Pricing Overview

• For free for small projects. The paid version begins at $499 a month.

Pros

• Fast speed API responses

• Perfect for any type of global scaling

• Integrates third-party tools flawlessly

Cons

• The ecosystem is pretty small compared to any other similar platform.

Does not support non-technologically sound businesses.

5. Swell

Swell is a modern eCommerce platform intended for full flexibility in headless setups and fast growth. It is meant for companies that want to experiment with user experiences.

Key Features

• Modular architecture.

• Built-in subscription support.

• Checkout flows are customizable.

Best Use Cases

• Start-ups that are in dire need of innovative eCommerce solutions.

• Companies that need custom features but too much coding do not sound good. 

Pricing Overview

• Basic Plan:  $89/month

• Standard Plan: $299/month

• Unlimited: $2,000/month

Pros

• Cost-effective for small businesses.

• Good developer tools.

• Fast MVP deployment.

Cons

• Does not support large-scale enterprises.

• Not as significant of a community as the established players.

6. Medusa

Medusa is an open-source headless alternative to conventional headless platforms. It's developer-friendly and flexible.

Key Features

• It is an open-source, free platform.

• Supports multi-vendor marketplaces.

• It is highly customizable in its backend and APIs.

Best Use Cases

• Custom eCommerce solutions

• Small to medium-sized businesses that seek low-cost alternatives

Pricing

• Free and open-source. The cloud hosting and other services will cost you.

Pros

• Full control over the platform

• No licensing fee

• Very active community of developers

Cons

• Requires deep technical knowledge.

• Fewer in-built capabilities compared to SaaS platforms.

Selecting the headless commerce platform depends on the business's requirements. It can fulfill any of your business's needs, be it scalability, flexibility, or UX. Compare the features and costs carefully before selecting the most suitable one for 2025.

[Note: All mentioned prices and features are likely to change. Please double-check the information from the company's official website before deciding on anything.]

How To Select The Best Platform?

Choosing the right headless commerce platform depends on your business aims, technical resources, and budget. Here are key decision-making criteria broken down for you:

1. Business Size and Complexity

• Small businesses look for simplicity and affordability.

• Large enterprises look for scalability, integration, and more sophisticated features.

2. Developer Resources

• If you don't have an in-house team, look for ease of use and robust support.

• Tech-savvy teams are looking for platforms that give rich APIs and extensive customization.

3. Budget

• Platforms with flat rate pricing are best suited when you know your budget.

• Use usage-based pricing to scale along with your store.

Quick Comparison Table

With these considerations, you can find a platform that fits your needs.

Important Features to Look For

When evaluating headless commerce platforms, ensure to look for the features that are enhancing growth and user experience.

1. API-Driven Architecture

APIs provide adequate flexibility between the front-end and the back-end, allowing the adjustment of the user experience.

2. Scalability

Ensure it can scale up when there are sales or holidays without performance collapse.

3. Multi-Channel Support

A good platform would support multiple sales channels, including web, mobile, and in-store channels.

4. Security and Compliance

Protect customer data with high-powered security measures and ensure that the solutions adhere to industry standards such as GDPR or PCI DSS.

5. Customization Tools

Find development frameworks or visual editors that make customization on the platforms easier.

Some of these features can lead to a solid, future-proof eCommerce store.

Conclusion

Headless commerce platforms present a level of flexibility and scale within a seamless user experience, decoupling the frontend and the backend of the application to enable faster innovation, personalized customer experiences, and easy integration with modern tools. Adopting these platforms could future-proof your eCommerce business and keep you ahead in a competitive market.

If you want to deploy headless commerce for your business, we can walk you through the process and help you select the right platform for your requirements. Contact us today to start.