The Best Headless CMS for Shopify Plus in 2025

If you're here, chances are you’ve hit a wall with Shopify’s page builder.

Maybe your team is trying to design high-converting landing pages, brand-rich product stories, or dynamic promotional content but Shopify’s built-in editor is slowing you down. And if you're running a serious business, you already know: that’s not sustainable.

This isn’t about replacing Shopify. In fact, you're doubling down considering Shopify Plus for its scalability and advanced features. But now, you need a content layer that actually matches that level of power.

Why You Need a Headless CMS With Shopify Plus

Shopify Plus gives you the infrastructure, but the content tools still lag behind. You're stuck between:

• Limited design flexibility with Shopify's native builder
  
  

• Rigid templates that hinder brand storytelling
  
  

• Constant dev work for simple content updates
  
  

If that sounds familiar, it's time to bring in a headless CMS.

We’ve Seen It Firsthand: Real Brands, Real Frustrations

We’ve helped brands transition from rigid content systems to headless CMS setups that work in harmony with Shopify Plus. What we’ve learned is this:
The right CMS doesn’t just plug into Shopify it transforms how your team works and how your customers experience your brand.

This guide is based on hands-on implementation, not affiliate recommendations or biased reviews. Whether you’re in fashion, beauty, health, or B2B this will help you make a confident, strategic choice.

 

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Why Shopify Plus Stores Are Going Headless

1. Design Freedom, Finally

Say goodbye to boxed-in templates and rigid page sections. A headless CMS lets your marketing and design team build visually stunning, performance-first pages without developer bottlenecks.

• Create fully custom landing pages in hours, not weeks
  
  

• Manage structured content (like FAQs, guides, lookbooks) with ease
  
  

• Own your brand voice across web, mobile, and social
  
  

2. Speed + SEO That Actually Delivers

When your content and Shopify storefront are decoupled, you get:

• Faster page loads across the board
  
  

• Better SEO performance (especially on Core Web Vitals)

• Smooth customer journeys that increase time-on-site and drive conversions

• Any frontend your developers want like next js , nuxt
  
  

3. Marketing Control Without Compromise

Your marketing team deserves more than a glorified text editor. With a proper CMS:

• Content can be updated instantly across all pages and platforms
  
  

• New pages and campaigns launch without dev delays
  
  

• Localization, personalization, and A/B testing become a breeze
  
  

 

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Choosing the Right Headless CMS for Shopify Plus

You don’t need a long list. You need the right fit based on:

• Your business model: B2C, B2B, subscription, multi-brand?
  
  

• Content complexity: Simple blogs vs. high-stakes storytelling
  
  

• Team dynamics: Do you have in-house devs? Tech-savvy marketers?
  
  

• Growth plans: Are you building for scale or maintaining efficiency?
  
  

 

 

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Final Word: A Better Shopify Experience Starts With Content

Shopify Plus is your commerce engine. A headless CMS becomes your storytelling engine. When you connect the two, you get:

• Lightning-fast performance
  
  

• Beautiful, branded content
  
  

• Marketing freedom
  
  

• A better experience for your team and your customers
  
  

Don’t just sell more—build a brand that connects.

 

 

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Top 6 Headless CMS Solutions for Shopify in 2025

After testing these platforms with dozens of Shopify stores and speaking with store owners, marketing teams, and developers, we've identified the six best headless CMS options that actually work well with Shopify:

Sanity

Real-Time Content for Dynamic Stores

Sanity excels at stores where content changes frequently - think fashion brands with seasonal collections or electronics stores with constantly updating product information. Its real-time editing means your team can update product descriptions, launch campaigns, and manage inventory-related content instantly. The visual editing experience makes it easy for marketing teams to create rich product stories that actually help sell products.

Used By:

• Puma

• Tata Digital

• Morning Brew

• Aether

• Figma

Contentful

The Reliable Choice for Growing Stores

Contentful is the go-to option for Shopify stores that want proven reliability without complexity. It handles your product stories, blog content, and landing pages while connecting seamlessly to Shopify through simple, well-documented integrations. Your marketing team gets an intuitive editor, your developers get reliable tools, and your store gets the professional content management it needs to compete with bigger brands.

Used By:

• Kraft Heinz

• KFC

• BMW

• Ruggable

• Spotify

Builder.io

Visual Content Creation That Just Works

Builder.io is ideal for stores where non-technical team members need to create landing pages, product showcases, and promotional content quickly. Its drag-and-drop interface lets your marketing team build compelling shopping experiences without waiting for developer help. When you need to launch seasonal campaigns or test new product presentations fast, Builder.io removes the bottlenecks.

Used By:

• Everlane

• Zapier

• J.Crew

• Harry’s

• Sephora

Directus

Complete Control for Data-Conscious Stores

Directus works best for Shopify stores that handle sensitive customer data or have specific compliance requirements. It gives you complete control over where your content is stored while still providing an easy-to-use interface for your marketing team. If your store deals with B2B customers, custom pricing, or regulated industries, Directus offers the security and control you need.

Used By:

• Ripley Entertainment

• Copa Airlines

• Walmart

• T-Mobile

• Adobe

Payload CMS

Developer-Friendly with Marketing Team Freedom

Payload CMS strikes the perfect balance for stores with technical founders who want control but also need their marketing team to move fast. Your developers get the customization and security features they want, while your marketing team gets simple tools for managing product content, blog posts, and campaign materials. It's built for stores that want both technical sophistication and practical day-to-day usability.

Used By:

• Microsoft

• ASICS

• Blue Origin

• Hello Bello

• Dribbble

Strapi

Budget-Friendly Power for Independent Stores

Strapi gives smaller Shopify stores enterprise-level content management without the enterprise price tag. It's open-source, which means lower costs, but still provides the professional features you need: easy content editing, flexible product story creation, and reliable Shopify integration. Perfect for stores that want to punch above their weight class without breaking the marketing budget.

Used By:

• PostHog

• Société Générale

• Mug and Snug

• Shelt.in

• Toyota

Finding Your Perfect Solution

Moving to a headless CMS for your Shopify store isn't just about adding new features. It's about choosing a system that makes content management easier, helps your team create better shopping experiences, and grows with your store's success. Each platform we've covered offers something special - whether it's simple content editing, visual page building, smooth team collaboration, or complete control over your store's content.

Consider what's currently slowing down your content creation process. Then pick a platform that solves those problems and helps you build a more successful Shopify store with confidence.

 

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Pricing of Each Headless CMS

When you're choosing a headless CMS for your Shopify store, pricing is important but it's not the only thing to consider. You need to think about your current needs and how your business will grow over the next 3 to 5 years. The right choice means looking at how well it grows with you, how it connects with other tools, how it helps your team work together, and what it costs to fit your store's long-term success plan.

When Does It Make Sense to Invest?

Is a Headless CMS Worth the Investment for Your Shopify Store? Let's look at an example of a fast-growing online store with:

2 million monthly visitors 

20 million content requests per month 

10 team members managing content

This business is growing quickly and needs a content management system that can handle:

• Large amounts of content (product descriptions, blog posts, landing pages, marketing content). 

• Multiple sales channels(website, mobile app, social media, marketplaces). 

• Personalized shopping experiences (different content for different customers and locations).

What would be the approximate yearly cost for each headless CMS option for Shopify stores at this size? Here's the breakdown.

CMS Cost Comparison: Best Options for Shopify Stores

 

CMS Platform	Approx. Annual Cost ($)
Directus	$20,000 to $35,000
Payload CMS	$30,000 to $45,000
Sanity	$60,000 to $80,000
Contentful	$90,000 to $120,000+
Builder.io	$100,000 to $120,000
Strapi	$40,000 to $45,000

Note: These cost estimates are based on current market rates and may vary depending on your specific requirements. For open-source CMS platforms like Directus, Strapi, or Payload, pricing differs based on hosting choice. Using their official cloud services includes managed infrastructure and support, with pricing clearly listed. However, if you choose to self-host, costs will vary based on your infrastructure—such as cloud provider, server specs, and maintenance needs. While self-hosting can reduce subscription fees, it may increase operational complexity. Carefully evaluate both options to determine the most cost-effective and technically feasible solution for your project.

Important Things to Consider When Choosing for Your Shopify Store

Visual Content Support → Your chosen system must handle high-quality product images, videos, and interactive content, especially important for Shopify stores that rely on visual appeal.

Multiple Sales Channel Support → Making sure your content works consistently across your website, mobile app, social media, and other selling platforms.

Easy Connections with Other Tools → Ability to work with email marketing tools, customer tracking systems, and your existing business tools.

Total Cost of Everything → Considering setup costs, ongoing maintenance, content creation time, and daily operations to ensure long-term value for your money.

 

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Choosing the Best Headless CMS for Your Shopify Store: A Simple Guide

Running a Shopify store means you need great content to attract customers and drive sales. But Shopify's built-in content tools can feel limited when you want to create rich blog posts, landing pages, or marketing content. That's where a headless CMS comes in– it's like having a powerful content creation tool that works alongside your Shopify store.

Based on Who Manages Your Content

If your web developer handles most content updates:

• Strapi,Payload or Directus are your best choices

• These give your developer full control to customize everything for your store's needs

If your marketing team or store manager creates content:

• Sanity ,Builder io or Contentful are built for non-technical users

• Your team can easily create and update content without calling your developer every time

If both your developer and marketing team work together:

• Directus,Sanity,Contentful strikes the perfect balance

• Your developer can set everything up, then your marketing team can work independently

Based on What Your Store Needs

Want to create unique, custom content experiences?

• Strapi,Payload gives you unlimited flexibility to build exactly what you envision

• Perfect for stores that want to stand out with creative content layouts

Need your content to work smoothly with your existing business tools?

• Directus connects easily with your customer data, inventory systems, and email marketing tools

• Great for stores that want everything to talk to each other

Want to get started quickly without headaches?

• Sanity gets you creating content in minutes, not days

• Ideal when you need to launch content campaigns fast

Planning to connect with lots of different marketing tools?

• Contentful works with almost every marketing platform you can think of

• Perfect for stores using email marketing, social media schedulers, and analytics tools

Based on Your Store Size

New or small Shopify stores:

• Start with Directus or Sanity for easy setup

• These won't overwhelm you while you're focused on growing your business

Growing stores with steady sales:

• All four options work well at this stage

• Directus gives you room to expand your content strategy as you grow

Large stores or multiple locations:

• Sanity Contentful and Directus handle complex content needs

• These can manage large amounts of content and multiple team members working together

Making Your Final Decision

Sanity , Contentful,Directus works best for most Shopify stores because it balances ease of use with powerful features. Your developer can set it up properly, then your team can manage content without technical knowledge.

Here's how to choose:

• Pick based on who will use it most, your developer or your marketing team

• Think about your current needs but also where your store will be in 2-3 years

• Consider how much content you plan to create and how often you'll update it

Remember, the best headless CMS is the one your team will actually use consistently to create great content that helps your Shopify store succeed.

 

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Will Making the Switch Pay Off? Absolutely, If You Choose Wisely

A great content management system for your Shopify store isn't just about creating pages; it should save you time, make your team's work smoother, and help your store grow. The right system means fewer headaches, faster content updates, and more engaging shopping experiences going live. This leads to better store performance, happier customers, and stronger sales results.

One Important Warning: Don't Be Fooled by Low Prices

It might seem smart to choose the cheapest option, but this can hurt your store in the long run. If a content system can't handle your store's growth or slows down your team, you'll end up spending more money fixing problems later. Look beyond the initial cost and consider ease of use, customer support, flexibility, and how well the platform works with your daily Shopify operations.

Bottom Line:

Your current Shopify content setup might be working fine now, but if you're feeling limited, these headless CMS options offer better ways to manage your store's content and grow your business. Choose one that fits how your team works and supports your store's future goals, and you'll notice the improvement faster than you expect.

When Will the Project Start Reaping Benefits?

Migrating from Shopify to Shopify Plus with a headless CMS is not just about lowering platform costs — it’s about unlocking scalable growth, faster experimentation, and streamlined team operations.

Step 1: Assumptions

Let’s assume:

• Your e-commerce brand generates $10 million in monthly revenue.
  
  

• Net profit margin is 18%, giving $1.8 million in monthly net profit.
  
  

• You're on Shopify Advanced, incurring limitations in flexibility and performance.
  
  

• You decide to migrate to Shopify Plus with a headless CMS (e.g., Strapi, Directus, or Payload).
  
  

• Monthly CMS and dev stack cost increases to $20,000, but:
  
  

• Page load speeds improve significantly.
  
  

• Teams move faster with decoupled workflows and real-time A/B testing.
  
  

• Operational efficiency increases by 35%.
  
  

• Mobile conversion improves by 15% due to faster UX.
  
  

Step 2: Calculating Current Conversion Rate

Current traffic split:

• Mobile: 70% at a 3.5% conversion rate
  
  

• Desktop: 30% at a 5.5% conversion rate
  
  

Overall CVR = (70% × 3.5%) + (30% × 5.5%) = 4.2%

Step 3: Projected Conversion Rate Post-Migration

Assuming a 15% increase on mobile:

New CVR = (70% × 3.5% × 1.15) + (30% × 5.5%) = 4.8%

This leads to an additional $1.4 million in monthly revenue, bringing monthly revenue to $11.4 million.

Step 4: Financial Impact

• New monthly net profit: $2.052 million
  
  

• Monthly profit increase: $252,000
  
  

• Operational savings: 35% of $3 million = $1.05 million/month
  
  

• Platform upgrade cost difference: From ~$5,000 to ~$20,000/month
  
  

• Net increase: $15,000/month
  
  

Total Monthly Added Value:

Annual Benefit:

$1.287 million × 12 = $15.44 million/year

Payback Period:

Assuming total replatforming and CMS integration costs of $150,000, the payback is realized in under 2 months.

With faster store speed, agile testing, and smoother team operations, the return could be even quicker.

 

Book a Meeting Now

 

About Us

 

We are Weframe Tech, a leading provider of open-source-based headless CMS and composable content solutions. Our mission is to empower businesses with scalable, flexible, and high-performance content management systems that drive growth and innovation.

Our Vision

To be the most trusted and innovative leader in open-source headless CMS and composable content technologies.

Why Work with Us?

• Expertise in Headless CMS Solutions: We specialize in Directus, Strapi, and other open-source headless CMS platforms, ensuring seamless content management for businesses of all sizes.

• Proven Results: We have helped brands managing over $100M in e-commerce revenue significantly cut costs — reducing TCO by over $1M annually by eliminating high licensing fees and improving operational efficiency.

• Optimized Content Performance: Our solutions have enabled businesses to increase content engagement rates by 20% while reducing time-to-market for updates by over 40%.

• Tailored Strategy & Implementation: We customize our solutions to fit your specific business requirements, whether it’s multi-language content, structured data management, or API-driven personalization.

Get in touch for a consultation on how to future-proof your content management strategy.