Headless
A Shopify storefrontbuilt outsidethe theme.
Full design control and performance for teams who've hit the ceiling of what Shopify themes can do.
Honest take
Headless isn't always the right answer.
Most brands don't need it. Shopify themes are fast, well-maintained, and cover a lot of ground. Headless adds complexity, it needs a team to maintain it and a reason that justifies the cost. Here's when it actually makes sense.
Makes sense when
- Your UX requirements are too complex for any theme to handle
- You need sub-second load times across a large, complex catalog
- You're running multiple storefronts or markets from one Shopify instance
- You want to use Shopify as the commerce layer but control every pixel of the frontend
Probably overkill when
- You're a small team without a dedicated developer to maintain the codebase
- A well-configured theme would solve your actual problems
- You don't have clear performance or UX requirements that justify the complexity
How it works
Shopify handles commerce. I build the layer your customers see.
Headless means the storefront is decoupled from the commerce engine. Shopify manages products, inventory, checkout, and payments. A custom Next.js frontend connects to it via the Storefront API, giving you full control over design, performance, and UX without touching Shopify's backend.
Customer
What they see and use
Browser · Mobile · Any device
Built by me
Custom storefront
Next.js · React · Shopify Storefront API · Tailwind
Commerce engine
Shopify
Products · Inventory · Checkout · Payments · Orders
What's included
Everything from architecture decisions to handover.
A headless project is only as good as the architecture decisions made at the start. This covers all of it, not just the code.
- 01
Architecture and stack decisions
Next.js vs Hydrogen, rendering strategy (SSR/ISR/SSG), API design, caching strategy. Documented before a line of code is written.
- 02
Component system
A structured, documented component library, not just pages. Built so your team can extend it without breaking anything.
- 03
Storefront API integration
Products, collections, search, cart, checkout, fully integrated with Shopify's Storefront API. Edge cases handled, not deferred.
- 04
Performance optimization
We agree what fast enough means before build. Then images, lazy loading, and leaner JS, measured on phones as we ship.
- 05
Handover documentation
Architecture docs, component guides, deployment instructions. Your team should be able to maintain this without asking me how it works.
What you get
What a well-built headless storefront actually delivers.
Full design control
No theme constraints. Every pixel, every interaction, every layout decision is yours.
Performance your customers notice
Pages that feel quick on mobile. Speed targets agreed up front and checked as the store is built, not guessed at the end.
A codebase your team can maintain
Documented, structured, and built so your team isn't dependent on the original developer.
Shopify's commerce, your UX
Keep Shopify's payment infrastructure and admin. Replace everything the customer touches.
Related workMagento → Next.js headlessSAP Commerce Cloud backendEnterprise B2C headless storefront
Sole frontend owner on a decoupled build: custom Next.js UX on top of SAP Commerce Cloud APIs, with performance, rendering, and checkout flow owned on the storefront side.
View case studyNot sure if headless is right for you? The storefront audit includes a recommendation on whether your store needs headless or whether a well-configured theme would do the job. $1,200, delivered in 5 days.
See the auditTell me what you're trying to do.
What the theme can't handle. What your performance requirements are. What your team looks like. I'll tell you if headless makes sense and what the project would involve.
Based in India (IST). Work async-first with EU, UK, Middle East, Australia and New Zealand teams.
Custom quote after a discovery conversation.
Not sure if you need headless? Start with the storefront audit.