Headless Commerce

Headless commerce is an architecture where the frontend (what customers see and interact with) is separated from the backend commerce engine (inventory, checkout, payments, order management). Instead of the commerce platform rendering your storefront directly, a custom frontend application fetches data via APIs and renders it independently.

In a Shopify Plus context, this means using Shopify as your commerce backend while building a custom storefront. Flux builds with Astro and Shopify's latest Hydrogen release, a framework-agnostic library of storefront components. You keep everything Shopify is good at, such as checkout, payments and inventory, and replace the templating layer with something built for your brand.

Headless isn't always the right call. When the business is simple, it can add more complexity than it removes. For brands that need complete design control, content experiences beyond product pages, or several storefronts on one backend, it removes the ceiling that theme-based storefronts hit. Read our guide on when a Shopify Plus store should go headless for a practical framework.

Frequently asked questions

What is headless commerce on Shopify?

Headless commerce on Shopify means using Shopify as your commerce backend (checkout, payments, inventory, orders) while building a separate custom frontend, for example with Astro and Shopify's Hydrogen library. The frontend fetches data via Shopify's Storefront API instead of using Liquid templates.

When should a Shopify Plus store go headless?

Go headless when you need design control beyond what themes allow, content experiences that go beyond standard product and collection pages, or multiple storefronts on one backend. If your business is simple and a well-built OS2.0 theme covers your needs, a theme is the better call.

How much does a headless Shopify build cost?

Like for like, a bespoke headless build costs about the same as a bespoke theme build. Both typically take 12 to 20 weeks, and cost depends on storefront complexity and integration requirements.

Related terms: Composable Commerce, Shopify Hydrogen, Headless CMS. For hands-on help, see Flux's headless Shopify team.