The Best Headless Ecommerce Platform for 2025 + Guide to Headless

Choosing the right ecommerce platform is a big decision. Headless ecommerce platforms are receiving a lot of buzz— and for good reason. They give businesses the flexibility to create unique online shopping experiences. They do this by splitting up the customer-facing front end and the administrative back end —  removing the limits of traditional platforms.

This guide explores the best headless ecommerce platforms available in 2025. We also cover questions like:

• What is a headless ecommerce platform?
• Why are companies using ecommerce platforms? 
• What's the difference between headless ecommerce and headless marketplaces? 
• What are the benefits of headless ecommerce platforms?
• What are the best headless commerce platforms for 2025?
• How to choose the right headless commerce platform?

What is a headless ecommerce platform?

Headless ecommerce is becoming another commerce buzzword. But many people don’t know what it means to be headless — just that they need to be.

The term headless ecommerce platform describes a type of ecommerce architecture that splits up a front end, or the “head” (whether it’s a desktop website, mobile app, or social channel) and the back end, where transactions are processed.

Commercetools CEO is credited with coining the term headless commerce, and the company is reaping the benefits. Commercetools was recently valued at $1.9B. Other headless commerce companies are seeing similar fanfare as the need to enable outdated tech infrastructure increases.

The buzz around headless ecommerce platforms is considerable, with many different types of businesses buying in. Amazon was built as a headless marketplace, while retail brands like Nike and Under Armour have also gone headless. More companies from other industries across the B2C and B2B spectrum are following suit.

Understanding headless ecommerce architecture

Headless ecommerce architecture separates the front end of your site from the back end. The front end is what customers see — your storefront. The back end handles operations like inventory, orders, and payments.

With headless architecture, these two parts work independently. Instead of being tightly connected, they communicate through APIs. This setup gives businesses more flexibility. You can design a custom storefront without being limited by the back-end system.

Headless ecommerce is the foundation of composable commerce. Composable commerce allows businesses to create a tailored ecommerce system by combining the best tools and microservices for each function. For example, you might use one tool for inventory management, another for customer engagement, and a third for shipping. APIs connect these tools, so they work together seamlessly.

By decoupling the front end and back end, headless platforms make composable commerce possible. This approach gives businesses the flexibility to innovate, scale, and adapt as their needs change.

Why are companies using headless ecommerce platforms?

Headless tech proliferates due to fundamentally broken experiences like social commerce, mobile commerce, catalog syndication, multi-vendor, and marketplace commerce. Commerce tech incumbents are at least 20 years old and built on rigid architectures. For example, most of the major ecommerce platforms were built before social networks and smartphones existed. Organizations can’t innovate on a platform that lacks the agility to respond to the shift in buyer expectations.  

On the storefront side, companies are locked into the limitations of the existing ecommerce platforms with frontends and template builders that don’t allow a differentiated customer experience. You will always be stuck at the pace of development of these platforms.

On the infrastructure side, companies want to get all the different tools off the shelf and build an experience that is specific and custom. This is particularly interesting to large companies with an extensive stack because they can easily stick a new module into their existing stack.

Many companies today look for a “composable architecture” where they can fashion their ideal customer experience but require a flexible backend to support their workflows to deliver that experience.

You can use a headless strategy to have the best-in-breed app for your OMS, PIM, CMS, CRM — everything. Ideally, they should all be API (application programming interfaces) native, connect to each other, and run off a centralized data system.

However, companies don’t necessarily want to create headless stacks by themselves. This can be a high-stakes investment, especially for a headless marketplace, which involves multiple vendors, each with their own inventory and orders. In response, tech startups, like Nautical, are responding with different headless solutions.

Headless ecommerce vs. headless marketplaces

Headless ecommerce platforms are versatile. They provide the flexibility to design custom storefronts and integrate advanced tools. Whether you’re running a single-seller store or a multi-vendor marketplace, the right headless platform can meet your needs.

Marketplaces, however, come with added complexities. They need features like vendor management, multi-vendor checkouts, payment splits, and more. A headless platform built for marketplaces needs to be able to support these advanced workflows.

🔵 Learn more about how to choose the right marketplace platform 🔵

What are the benefits of headless ecommerce platforms?

Headless ecommerce platforms are the antidote to traditional systems. In this section, we cover four key benefits that show why businesses are choosing headless platforms.

1. Flexibility for custom storefronts

Off-the-shelf ecommerce platforms often come with rigid templates. These templates limit how a storefront can look or function. A headless ecommerce platform removes these restrictions. It separates the front end from the back end, allowing businesses to design a storefront to their liking.

This flexibility is critical for personalization. At least 80% of consumers expect tailored shopping experiences. Headless platforms let you build marketplaces with unique experiences for each brand or vendor. 

2. Front-end changes can be deployed rapidly

Headless ecommerce platforms allow developers to make fast front-end changes. There’s no need to wait for compatibility checks or deal with legacy infrastructure. Updates go out quickly, letting businesses respond to customer needs or trends.

For marketplace operators, this is a major advantage. They can experiment with new designs or features without long delays. Multi-vendor marketplaces benefit from this speed by staying agile in a competitive market.

3. Headless has better back-end integrations

Modern ecommerce relies on specialized tools. From managing customer data to storing product information, businesses use multiple systems to stay efficient. Traditional platforms often struggle with these integrations. They force businesses to rely on outdated, monolithic solutions.

Headless platforms solve this. They use APIs to connect the front and back ends. This gives operators the freedom to choose the systems that work best for their needs. For marketplaces, this creates smooth operations across vendors and buyers.

4. Headless ecommerce platforms improve conversion

Page speed has a direct impact on conversions. According to a study by Portent, a site that loads in one second has a conversion rate three times higher than a site that loads in 5 seconds.Traditional platforms often require plugins or add-ons to handle new ecommerce features. Over time, this slows down the site and frustrates users.

Headless ecommerce platforms avoid this problem. By decoupling the front and back ends, they deliver faster loading times and better performance. This is critical for marketplaces where large catalogs and high traffic can strain legacy systems. Faster sites not only improve user experience but also help with search engine rankings.

The best headless commerce platforms of 2025

Choosing the right headless ecommerce platform depends on what your business needs. Some platforms are built for large enterprises. Others work better for specific business models. Below are the top headless platforms for 2025 for different scenarios.

Nautical: Best headless ecommerce platform for marketplace founders

Single-vendor operations seeking a headless ecommerce platform have many options, but the same hasn’t been true for businesses interested in launching a headless marketplace — until recently. Nautical was designed for multi-vendor marketplace founders. And from day one, customers have had the option to be headless. By choosing Nautical, companies that want to launch and scale headless marketplaces have a highly flexible solution without huge IT investment or millions in upfront fees.

We don’t force companies to adopt our templates or a specific coding language. Nautical empowers businesses to create a multi-vendor headless marketplace with the best possible storefront for their unique business.

We also don’t want to limit what’s possible on the back end, so our platform is designed to be compatible with a variety of other software platforms, whether they specialize in something we don’t or they’re leaders in their space.

The platform lets founders launch quickly without heavy development. It’s scalable, so it grows as your marketplace does. Whether you're starting a B2B or B2C marketplace, Nautical offers flexibility. 

Pros:

• API-first infrastructure: Enables easy integrations and customization.
• Multi-vendor support: Built to manage vendors, payments, and logistics.
• Headless flexibility: Allows infinite customization options to design unique storefronts and workflows.

Cons:

• Learning curve: Some of the more advanced features can take time to learn.
• Marketplace focus: It's more than what you'd need for a single-seller store.

👉 Note: If you decide headless isn’t the right path for you, Nautical also offers low-code marketplace solutions.

BigCommerce: Best for traditional ecommerce setups

BigCommerce is a dependable platform for single-seller operations. It offers pre-designed templates that are easy to use. It also integrates with tools for inventory, payments, and marketing. This makes it a good option for businesses focused on traditional online retail that want to go headless.

But it’s less flexible for companies with complex business logic and workflows. It doesn’t support multi-vendor marketplaces as well. For those needs, other platforms may be a better fit.

Pros:

• User-friendly: Simple setup and management for single-brand stores.
• Scalable: Handles growth in products and traffic effectively.
• Wide integrations: Supports tools for payments, inventory, and marketing.

Cons:

• Limited flexibility: Not ideal for highly customized workflows.
• Limited marketplace functionality: Built for single-vendor operations.

Salesforce Commerce Cloud: Best for large enterprises

Salesforce Commerce Cloud is built for enterprise-level operations. It also includes tools for ecommerce, marketing, and customer service. Businesses with global reach benefit from its support for multiple currencies and languages.

This platform is powerful but complex. It requires significant resources to implement and manage. Most companies using Salesforce products end up hiring Salesforce implementation and development agencies to keep it working the way they need. Smaller businesses may find it overwhelming or too expensive.

Pros:

• Comprehensive tools: Covers ecommerce, marketing, and customer service.
• Global reach: Supports multiple currencies and languages.
• AI integration: Improves personalization for shoppers.

Cons:

• Complex setup: Takes time and effort to implement.
• High cost: Best for companies with large budgets.

Shopify Plus: Best for single-seller ecommerce stores

Shopify is not traditionally a decoupled headless platform, but with Shopify Plus single-seller ecommerce stores can go headless. It offers customizable storefronts, reliable payment processing, and a wide range of apps. Shopify makes it easy for businesses to launch quickly and expand functionality as they grow, thanks to its intuitive user interface.

However, Shopify Plus is not designed for multi-vendor setups. Businesses with more complex needs may find the platform restrictive.

Pros:

• Ease of use: Simple for non-technical users to manage.
• Extensive app store: Adds extra functionality without custom development.
• Fast setup: Quickly launch and start selling.

Cons:

• Not built for marketplaces: Lacks multi-vendor functionality.
• Higher costs to customize: Can require additional expensive apps for advanced needs.

How to choose the right headless ecommerce platform

We've covered some of the best headless ecommerce platforms. But how do you choose? Here are the key factors to consider when evaluating your options.

Business size and needs

The size of your business impacts your platform choice. Smaller businesses may need simpler solutions to avoid unnecessary costs or complexity. Larger businesses or marketplaces often require scalability and advanced features.

Think about your future needs too. For example, a company selling products across North America might plan to expand into Europe. This shift would require the platform to support multiple languages, currencies, and regional tax rules. A platform built to handle international operations will make this transition smoother and faster.

Integration capabilities

Headless ecommerce platforms need to integrate with the tools you already use. This might include logistics systems like ShipBob, manufacturing software like Katana, or ERP tools like NetSuite. A strong API-first approach means these systems can work together.

Composable commerce relies on these integrations. Instead of using a single platform for everything, businesses can combine best-in-class tools to build a tailored system. For example, a marketplace might need an identity verification tool for vendors, advanced analytics for tracking performance, and dynamic shipping integrations to manage multiple warehouses. A headless platform should support these connections seamlessly. 

Budget and pricing

Cost is obviously a critical factor. Some platforms charge based on sales volume, while others have flat fees or tiered pricing. Be clear about what’s included. For example, one platform might charge extra for advanced reporting, while another includes it in the base price.

Look for a headless ecommerce platform that balances cost with value. Don’t choose the cheapest option if it limits your ability to grow or operate effectively.

Developer resources and support

Headless platforms often require some level of technical expertise. If your team has developers, you’ll need a platform that provides clear documentation and tools. For instance, robust API documentation can speed up integration and customizations.

If you don’t have developers, consider platforms that offer support or certified partners. For example, some platforms have dedicated partner networks for implementation. Make sure the platform offers responsive support for issues like bugs or updates. Nautical provides extensive API documentation for developers to make things easy. We also have a free Marketplace Bootcamp for founders who aren't sure where to start.

Future-proof your business with Nautical's headless ecommerce platform

Building marketplace infrastructure from the ground up is a long, expensive process. With Nautical’s flexible headless marketplace platform, you can use best-in-class ecommerce tools to launch your multi-vendor experience. Sign up to start using Nautical's multi-vendor marketplace platform — headless.