Headless Shopify Migration

A headless Shopify migration is the process of moving from a traditional Shopify theme (Liquid-rendered) to a headless architecture, where a custom frontend connects to Shopify via the Storefront API. Flux builds these frontends with Astro and Shopify's latest Hydrogen release, which since October 2026 is a framework-agnostic library rather than a React-only framework.

This is different from a platform migration (like Magento to Shopify Plus). Your commerce backend stays on Shopify. You replace the frontend rendering layer. The key decisions are framework choice, CMS selection (Sanity is our default), search infrastructure (Algolia or native), and hosting (Cloudflare or Shopify's Oxygen).

The migration typically takes 12 to 20 weeks, depending on storefront complexity and integration requirements. Not every store needs to go headless, so read our guide on when headless makes sense before committing. Our headless Shopify service covers the full migration scope.

Frequently asked questions

What is a headless Shopify migration?

A headless Shopify migration replaces your theme-based frontend with a custom application, built with a framework such as Astro and Shopify's Hydrogen library, while keeping Shopify as your commerce backend. Checkout, payments, inventory and orders stay on Shopify. You are rebuilding the presentation layer customers interact with.

How long does a headless Shopify migration take?

A headless migration typically takes 12 to 20 weeks, depending on storefront complexity, integration requirements and CMS setup.

Is a headless migration the same as a platform migration?

No. A platform migration (like Magento to Shopify) moves your entire commerce backend. A headless migration keeps Shopify as the backend and replaces only the frontend rendering layer. Your product data, customer accounts and order history stay on Shopify throughout.

Related terms: Headless Commerce, Shopify Hydrogen, 301 Redirect Map. For hands-on help, see Flux's headless Shopify team.