Top 10 Headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025

The convenience of online shopping has made it a staple in modern life, and so has delivering an exceptional customer experience for businesses. But the catch here is that offering an unparalleled customer experience is not only about an eye-catching website or flawless navigation. Rather, it includes every element, right from seamless interaction on every digital interface to customization and beyond.

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All things stated, a good headless eCommerce platform is the key to achieving it all. However, headless eCommerce has been one of the most debated and least understood buzzwords in recent times. Statistically speaking, the market size of headless commerce is anticipated to reach $32 billion by 2027 with a CAGR of approximately 20.5%.

Despite this, the question persists – which is the best platform to pick that can stand out as the ultimate choice for your business? That’s what the blog demystifies here! Read through to know what is a headless eCommerce platform and a list of top platforms.

Basics of headless commerce platforms

Did you know? 92% of businesses find it easier to deliver a strong digital experience using headless commerce platforms. These platforms offer a separate architecture for content management, providing more flexibility, consistency, and agility. Unlike traditional eCommerce platforms, the front-end (presentation layer) is decoupled from the back-end (content library), giving businesses more control and customization options.

Headless eCommerce platforms offer unmatched scalability, allowing you to upgrade your front end without redoing the back end as your business grows. They enable personalized shopping experiences with full control over design and content while maintaining fast performance. Perfect for omnichannel commerce, they ensure seamless experiences across all devices. Plus, their API-focused structure allows easy integration of new features, making them ideal for future-proofing your eCommerce business.

Let’s dive into the various headless commerce platforms that you can choose for your business!

Top 10 Headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025

1. BigCommerce

BigCommerce is a popular eCommerce platform packed with features to help businesses grow online. Its Enterprise edition offers advanced tools for large companies. With its headless capabilities, BigCommerce gives developers and store owners the flexibility to customize and manage their online stores. It provides a range of ready-to-use tools like front-end frameworks and CMS integrations, making launching and modifying stores quickly easy.

Pros:

Scalable features with a built-in CRM and 200+ templates.
Add unlimited products (physical or digital) to the catalog.
Advanced SEO tools are included by default.

Cons:

No native multi-language support (requires third-party apps).
Mandatory upgrade if annual sales exceed a set limit.
Lacks built-in options for subscriptions or recurring payments.

2. Adobe Commerce (Magento)

Adobe Commerce is a top enterprise platform offering fast, personalized shopping experiences. It supports both traditional and headless setups, with a free Magento Open Source version and advanced paid solutions for growing businesses. You can integrate third-party tools like Stripe, Klarna, or Microsoft 365 and leverage Adobe’s ecosystem for tools like Experience Manager. Licensed plans, starting at $24K/year, offer cloud services and enhanced capabilities.

Pros:

Extensive reporting with 100+ best-practice reports for the cloud version.
Scalable solution, from free open-source to robust cloud-hosted options.

Cons:

The open-source version lacks the advanced features of the cloud version.
High licensing and development costs.
Requires significant technical expertise to manage effectively.

3. Commerce tools

Commercetools is a leader in headless eCommerce platforms, known for its MACH architecture and microservices model, offering flexibility and easy innovation. With over 200 updates annually, it integrates with tools like Adyen, Algolia, and Coveo. Pricing is on-demand, starting at around $45K, and includes infrastructure and variable fees per order. Designed for large enterprises, it suits businesses with strong technical resources aiming for scalability and innovation.

Pros:

Pre-built solutions speed up time to market.
Modular design lets you select only the components you need, reducing complexity.
The microservices model offers flexibility to adapt to innovations and needs.

Cons:

The base platform may have some limitations for marketing and order management.
Limited third-party integrations and SDKs despite being a leading platform.

4. Shopify plus

Shopify, a top SaaS eCommerce platform with over 1.75 million merchants, is ideal for small businesses starting online. Shopify Plus caters to medium and large enterprises, offering advanced features and built-in automation tools. The headless solution gives businesses complete creative freedom to design distinctive shopping experiences. It also allows seamless management across multiple channels from a single platform.

Pros:

Turn any screen—web, mobile, wearables, or smart mirrors—into a storefront.
Instantly update storefront content via CMS integration.
Flexible front-end customization with an editor or direct code access.

Cons:

No multi-store support for managing multiple brands under one account.
Limited backend configuration compared to open-source platforms.
Restricted control over the checkout process.

5. nopCommerce

nopCommerce is a free, open-source eCommerce platform built on the secure and scalable ASP.NET framework. It has a low ownership cost, letting you own your online store instead of renting it. With features like a customizable shopping cart, catalog management, and a Web API plugin, it supports headless architecture. You can integrate third-party tools and use any front-end technology to create unique shopping experiences across multiple channels.

Pros:

Highly customizable and scalable with flexible plugins.
Works smoothly on Windows, Linux, and macOS.
No transaction or subscription fees.

Cons:

Limited CMS features for managing large amounts of content.
Upgrading requires technical expertise.

6. Salesforce commerce cloud

Salesforce Commerce Cloud (formerly Demandware) is a unified commerce solution that can be used traditionally or with a headless approach. Known for its AI innovations, it integrates with other Salesforce systems and services like FedEx, Adyen, and Mirakl. Pricing is based on demand, with separate plans for B2C (Starter, Growth, Plus) and B2B (Starter, Growth), depending on sales volume. Support plans are additional, and the Unified Commerce plan’s price is not publicly available.

Pros:

Seamless integration with other Salesforce tools, especially in customer management.
Strong integration capabilities, ideal for custom integrations.
A unified solution that combines CRM, channels, and operations (inventory, orders).

Cons:

Steep learning curve for developers and users due to limited integrations.
High cost.

7. SAP

SAP is a leader in ERP systems, helping businesses of all sizes manage data and streamline complex processes. SAP Commerce is its exclusive headless eCommerce platform, designed to support innovation and growth. It offers a simplified and reimagined solution for both growing and large businesses, helping them manage and scale their online commerce effectively.

Pros:

Easily add new customer touchpoints.
Multilingual catalog support for global sites.
Manage multiple storefronts under one account.
Built-in support for various touchpoints.

Cons:

Limited support compared to other major eCommerce platforms.
It may need additional integration with SAP software for full efficiency.

8. Snipcart

Snipcart is a shopping cart platform that integrates easily with any website using JavaScript and basic HTML. It provides a comprehensive back-end for managing eCommerce operations and a customizable front-end cart. Designed for developers and designers, Snipcart allows you to turn a regular website into a fully functional online store by simply adding a script to the HTML.

Pros:

It separates the back end from the front end, allowing any CMS/front end stack to be used.
Effortlessly integrate a shopping cart on any web page.
Affordable for small businesses building an MVP shop.

Cons:

Limited features and basic tools out-of-the-box.
Monthly transaction fees.
No social commerce features.

9. Elastic path

Elastic Path is one of the top headless eCommerce platforms designed for enterprise businesses, offering ready-to-launch solutions. It combines the strength of traditional eCommerce with the flexibility of a headless setup. Compatible with Adobe Marketing Cloud, it provides omnichannel eCommerce, multi-device shopping carts, advanced product search, dynamic pricing, and strong customer support.

Pros:

Seamless integration with front-end systems like CRM, ERP, and POS.
Supports PWA, AR experiences, chatbots, and Alexa skills.
Flexible deployment options: private cloud or on-premise.
Easy setup for non-Java programmers.

Cons:

The product management tool isn’t web-accessible.
Customizing some business solutions takes time.
Documentation and guidelines are not detailed enough for beginners.

10. OroCommerce

OroCommerce is an open-source eCommerce platform mainly designed for B2B businesses, but it can support B2B, B2B, and B2C models. Built for B2B solutions, it offers both headless and traditional setups. If you’re looking to combine a powerful commerce backend with third-party front-end tools like CRM or ERP, OroCommerce is a great choice.

Pros:

Manage multiple storefronts from a single panel.
Integrate with third-party tools like ERP, EDI, and PIM.
Multi-channel CRM for a complete view of businesses and customers.
Active community of over 20,000 developers.

Cons:

Requires coding skills for setup due to complex programming.
Limited add-on extensions, as most features are built-in.

That’s it for the list of the top 10 headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025! Now, This brings us to the key question: how do you select the best one among all to suit your business requirements? So, let’s discuss the factors to look at while choosing the right platform!

Factors to consider before choosing the right headless commerce platform in 2025

Choosing the right headless commerce platform for your business depends on factors like your company size, business model, and resources. Here’s a simple approach to guide your decision:

Work with your tech team: Collaborate to define clear goals and requirements for both business and technical needs.
Do thorough research: Shortlist platforms that meet your needs, read case studies, and check reports.
Assess your digital maturity: Understand your current digital capabilities and how well you can meet customer expectations.
Communicate well with vendors: Contact vendors to understand pricing, development plans, and potential hidden costs.
Consider long-term costs: Look beyond initial pricing—factor in the cost of customizations, integrations, and ongoing maintenance.
Know your technical limits: Ensure you have the technical expertise in-house or through partners to manage and improve the platform.

Following these steps will help you choose the best headless commerce platform for your business.

What’s Next?

Choosing the right headless eCommerce platform depends on your business size, needs, and goals. The best platforms offer flexibility, scalability, and efficiency while enabling unique customer experiences. Some excel at omnichannel support, while others handle high traffic securely or enhance mobile apps and data visualization. Research thoroughly to find the perfect fit and build a tailored, composable solution.

Top 10 Headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025

Basics of headless commerce platforms

Top 10 Headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025

1. BigCommerce

2. Adobe Commerce (Magento)

3. Commerce tools

4. Shopify plus

5. nopCommerce

6. Salesforce commerce cloud

7. SAP

8. Snipcart

9. Elastic path

10. OroCommerce

Factors to consider before choosing the right headless commerce platform in 2025

What’s Next?

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Top 10 Headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025

Basics of headless commerce platforms

Top 10 Headless commerce platforms to watch in 2025

1. BigCommerce

2. Adobe Commerce (Magento)

3. Commerce tools

4. Shopify plus

5. nopCommerce

6. Salesforce commerce cloud

7. SAP

8. Snipcart

9. Elastic path

10. OroCommerce

Factors to consider before choosing the right headless commerce platform in 2025

What’s Next?

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