So, what is the best headless e-commerce platform on the market?
Before we get into that, I have a small confession to make.
One of my motivations for writing this article is to test whether I can rank for a highly competitive search term like “best headless commerce” or “top composable platform”.
The key strategy here? I’m publishing this on Medium, a high domain authority site, and by getting this article out early (I’m writing this in February 2025), there’s a strong chance of securing a decent ranking for 2026 search queries.
Play the long game.
Why Are You Searching for the Best Headless E-commerce Platform?
Most likely, because the market is crowded with options, making it overwhelming to choose the right one.
Listicles have become a popular way to cut through the noise — letting someone else do the research for you. But, as I’m illustrating here, most of these lists aren’t created by impartial experts. Many of them are biased toward platforms they’re affiliated with or sponsored by.
A smarter way to fast-track your research is by turning to Reddit forums or other online communities where professionals discuss their real-world experiences. The most frequently mentioned platforms tend to be the ones backed by big VC funding — which means high awareness but also potential complexity and rising costs as they move upmarket.
Inspired by Alan Gleeson’s approach to ranking the “best headless CMS,” this article follows a similar format but goes further by incorporating various scenarios, pricing considerations, and real-world experience. With these insights, you’ll be able to choose the right headless commerce platform with confidence.
A Different Approach: Insights from Real Experience
Rather than just listing platforms, we’re offering insights from hands-on experience. As an agency that has worked with multiple headless CMS and e-commerce solutions, we’ve seen firsthand that there’s no single “best” platform — only the best platform for a specific use case.
Our goal isn’t to promote one solution over another but to help you understand the ideal choice based on your needs, budget, and business category. Through real-world scenarios, we’ll break down which platforms excel in different areas — helping you make a more informed decision.
Let’s dive in.
An Introduction to Composable Commerce
The following represents a list of the composable platforms we encounter the most. We are not applying any scientific rigor around this selection — it goes back to a core point in this blog: all of the various “best of” listicles are heavily biased. At least we are being upfront about it (see below).
To that end, we have to start with:
Medusa JS
Medusa JS — The Best headless commerce platform built on Node.js. It offers flexibility, zero licensing fees, and complete control over the codebase. Suitable for brands with complex requirements and custom data flows.
Commerce Layer
Commerce Layer— An API-first platform designed for brands looking to expand internationally. It supports multi-region operations and scalability, with a lower total cost of ownership for businesses seeking quick global reach.
Commercetools
Commercetools s — A platform focused on headless and composable commerce. It provides a modular approach, designed for enterprises needing scalability and customization.
Shopify Plus
Shopify Plus — A SaaS solution known for ease of use and quick deployment. However, it requires separate instances for each country-specific store, which may not be ideal for large-scale global operations.
BigCommerce
BigCommerce— A SaaS platform offering out-of-the-box features at a competitive cost. While budget-friendly, it has limitations in flexibility compared to fully composable solutions.
Unlike traditional platforms or even headless solutions, composable commerce allows businesses to select best-of-breed components and integrate them seamlessly, enabling unparalleled flexibility and customization.
When to Switch to Composable Commerce?
When switching to or planning for a headless commerce platform, pricing is a crucial factor. It’s essential to consider not just your current costs but also where your brand will be in the next 5 to 10 years.
To illustrate when transitioning to composable commerce makes sense, let’s take an example: a brand generating $200M in GMV annually, aiming to expand into 10 new geographic locations.
What would be the approximate cost for each platform? Let’s break it down.
Platform
Annual TCO ($)
IT Costs ($)
Plugins & 3rd Party Fees ($)
Licensing Fees ($)
Transaction Fees ($)
Additional Notes
Total Cost ($)
Shopify Plus
$ 10,80,000.00
$ 70,000.00
$ 20,000.00
$ 80,000.00
$ 5,00,000.00
Easy to use but limited customization. Requires separate instances for each country, adding $400K extra cost.
$1.58M
AEM
$ 4,00,000.00
$ 1,00,000.00
$ 25,000.00
$ 6,00,000.00
$ 0.00
Powerful content management, high cost.
$1.20M
BigCommerce
$ 11,50,000.00
$ 50,000.00
$ 10,000.00
$ 50,000.00
$500,000 - $1,000,000
Affordable SaaS solution, less flexibility.
$1.65M
Commerce Layer
$ 3,80,000.00
$ 50,000.00
$ 15,000.00
$ 60,000.00
$ 0.00
API-first, great for international scalability. Additional multi-country fees of $130K for 10 countries.
$380K
commercetools
$ 1,80,000.00
$ 60,000.00
$ 12,000.00
$ 3,00,000.00
$ 0.00
Strong headless capabilities, modular approach.
$480K
Medusa JS
$ 80,000.00
$ 45,000.00
$ 5,000.00
$ 0.00
$ 0.00
Open-source, highly customizable with zero licensing and transaction fees.
$80K
Key Considerations:
Scalability: The brand needs a platform that can handle increased traffic and transactions across multiple regions.
Customization: They require a highly customizable solution to differentiate their brand in each market.
Cost Efficiency: Lowering the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and IT maintenance costs is crucial.
(Note: The costs presented below are approximations based on our experience and the latest data.)
When to Choose Which Platforms (With Preferred Business Categories)?
When to Choose Medusa JS:
Preferred Business Categories:
Manufacturing
Electronics
Hardware
Furniture
Custom Medical or Subscription Services
Custom SaaS Solutions (if you’re building a solution over Medusa JS)
Best For:
Full Control Over Infrastructure and Code — Ideal for businesses that need complete control over their tech stack and custom data flows.
Complex Requirements — Suitable for B2B clients with complex workflows and a need for extensive customization.
Cost Efficiency — Best for businesses looking to reduce TCO and avoid licensing and transaction fees.
Scenario: A gourmet meal kit brand offers weekly subscription boxes, allowing customers to pick meals based on dietary preferences and availability.
Why Medusa JS? Built-in subscription management with dynamic customization options. API-based flexibility enables customer-driven meal plan adjustments. Integration with email automation for meal recommendations based on past preferences.
Scenario: An electronics wholesaler sells in bulk to businesses, where pricing is determined by the volume and type of customer.
Why Medusa JS? Multi-tiered pricing structures based on order quantity and customer type. Custom API-driven checkout for bulk orders, purchase orders, and invoicing workflows. Supports ERP integrations for automated order fulfillment.
3 Real-World Use Cases for Commerce Layer
(Best for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands looking for seamless global expansion and localized checkout experiences.)
1. Luxury Skincare Brand — Global Expansion with Localized Pricing
Scenario: A high-end skincare company wants to sell internationally with region-specific pricing and regulations.
Why Commerce Layer? Automates currency conversion and tax calculations. Supports localized checkout pages per region. Integrates seamlessly with content-driven CMS like Builder.io.
2. Boutique Jewelry Store — Omnichannel Sales Across Retail & Online
Scenario: A jewelry brand sells in physical stores, online, and through pop-up events.
Why Commerce Layer? Provides a single commerce backend for online and in-store sales. Supports real-time inventory management to prevent overselling. Integrates with POS systems for seamless order tracking.
3. Sustainable Fashion Brand — Carbon Offset Integration in Checkout
Scenario: A sustainable clothing brand wants to offer customers the ability to add carbon offset donations at checkout.
Why Commerce Layer? API-first approach allows for custom checkout modifications. Enables seamless integration with carbon offset programs. Provides customer choice for sustainable shipping options.
3 Real-World Use Cases for Commerce Tools
(Best for enterprises handling global commerce operations with complex pricing, multi-market needs, and large-scale product catalogs.)
1. Global Fashion Marketplace — Multi-Brand & Multi-Region Expansion
Scenario: A high-end fashion marketplace sells luxury brands across different countries, offering region-specific collections.
Why Commerce Tools? Multi-market capabilities allow separate catalogs, pricing, and tax handling per region. Supports multi-brand store management with different rules for each vendor. Scalable API-first architecture ensures seamless expansion into new countries.
Scenario: A heavy machinery distributor provides equipment to construction firms with contract-based pricing and custom quotes.
Why Commerce Tools? Enables negotiated contract pricing for bulk purchases. Supports complex order workflows, including RFQs (Requests for Quotes). Provides role-based user access for procurement teams to manage orders efficiently.
Scenario: A supermarket chain offers online grocery shopping, syncing inventory across multiple fulfillment centers.
Why Commerce Tools? Real-time inventory sync across warehouses to prevent overselling. API-driven solution enables fast updates on product availability and dynamic pricing. Supports custom fulfillment rules based on warehouse proximity to the customer.
3 Real-World Use Cases for Shopify Plus
(Best for high-growth brands looking for a robust, scalable, and user-friendly eCommerce solution.)
1. Fast-Growing Beauty Brand — High-Volume Sales
Scenario: A cosmetics brand experiences massive traffic spikes during product launches.
Why Shopify Plus? Handles high-traffic events with Shopify’s enterprise-grade infrastructure. Custom checkout scripting for unique customer experiences. Seamless integration with marketing automation tools.
Scenario: A meal delivery service offers weekly subscription plans.
Why Shopify Plus? Supports subscription models via Shopify Subscriptions API. Integration with third-party subscription apps like Recharge. Advanced customer retention tools like loyalty programs.
3. Influencer-Driven Apparel Brand — Social Commerce First
Scenario: A fashion brand leverages influencers and social media to drive sales.
Why Shopify Plus? Seamless integration with TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube Shopping. Custom storefronts for influencer collaborations and exclusive drops. Mobile-first checkout optimized for impulse purchases.
Shopify Plus Restrictions
Unlike Medusa JS or Commerce Layer, Shopify Plus has strict policies on what can be sold:
Firearms & Ammunition — Shopify prohibits the sale of guns, ammo, and certain weapon-related accessories. Supplements & Health Products — Many supplement brands face strict regulation on Shopify Plus, especially if they contain restricted ingredients. Specialty Drugs & Pharmaceuticals — Prescription medications and certain health-related products are not allowed on Shopify due to compliance issues.
If your business involves regulated goods, you may need a more flexible self-hosted solution like Medusa JS or an enterprise-grade API-first platform like Commerce Tools for compliance management.
Final Thoughts
Medusa JS → Best for businesses needing extreme customization (Made-to-order, B2B, Subscriptions). Commerce Layer → Best for DTC brands expanding globally with localized checkout. Commerce Tools → Best for enterprises handling multi-market operations & complex pricing. Shopify Plus → Best for high-growth, influencer-driven, and subscription-based eCommerce brands (but has product restrictions).
Brief
This article has attempted to illustrate that ‘best of lists’ lack rigor and thus need to be taken with a grain of salt. Reviewing seven different Composable Platforms is a significant task, and most lists are quickly crafted using some arbitrary heuristics. This is no different.
We offer some ideas as to how to shortlist below (see Appendix 1), and recommend you always leave space for a ‘wild card’ — a newer entrant like Medusa JS that focuses on a narrower set of requirements.
As we’ll explore in an upcoming blog, the main goal of this article was to demonstrate strategies for ranking at the top of Google for a high-intent commercial keyword. After all, the author represents one of the leading composable commerce integration solutions on the list — Medusa JS. So, while the insights are valuable, take the rankings with a pinch of salt (-;
So how can you distill the best Composable Commerce Platform down?
In some ways, it is a pretty challenging task.
You’ve probably exhausted a lot of energy winning the traditional (monolithic) vs. modern (Composable) commerce battle and now you have to go again?
Firstly — a lot will depend on your role. Technology leaders and marketing leaders will likely have very different views as to what best looks like.
Market Leaders: You could go for one of the market leaders — but if you do, that needs to come with a health warning as claims and evidence of ‘price gouging’ are rampant (especially on Reddit forums).
Agency Recommendations: You can rely on your agency partner to suggest a preferred platform. However, keep in mind that enterprise commerce providers like SAP and Salesforce have agency partnerships, meaning agencies often receive 10–15% of the revenue from each client through these platforms. So, it’s worth double-checking whether their recommendation truly aligns with your business needs or if it’s influenced by commission incentives..
MACH Alliance Listings: You could refer to the MACH Alliance listings for Composable Platforms.
G2 and Capterra Reviews: G2 and Capterra reviews can also help you shortlist your chosen criteria.
New Entrants: Finally, you can assess if any of the newer entrants like Medusa JS offer some unique characteristics that appeal.
Best Tech Stack for Headless Commerce
When building a headless commerce solution, selecting the right tech stack is crucial for ensuring scalability, flexibility, and performance. Here’s a detailed look at the best tech stack components:
CMS (Content Management System)
Looking to choose the best headless CMS for your eCommerce store? Check out this dedicated article to help you make the right decision!
Google Optimize: An integrated tool for A/B testing and personalization with Google Analytics.
User Search Queries
Algolia: A powerful search engine that provides fast and relevant search results.
Elasticsearch: An open-source search engine that offers advanced search capabilities.
Typesense: A modern, open-source search engine that is easy to set up and use.
Customer Queries
Zendesk: A comprehensive customer service platform for managing customer queries.
Intercom: A customer messaging platform that helps businesses engage and support customers.
Freshdesk: A customer support software that offers robust ticketing and support features.
Payment Processing
Stripe: A popular payment gateway that offers robust APIs and extensive features.
PayPal: A widely-used payment solution that supports multiple payment methods.
Braintree: A payment gateway that provides flexible and secure payment processing.
These components form a robust tech stack for building a headless commerce solution, ensuring that your platform is scalable, flexible, and optimized for performance.
Our Recommendation: Why Medusa JS is Best
Medusa JS stands out as the best composable commerce solution for several key reasons:
Open Source Leadership:
Many of the world’s best software solutions powering global infrastructure are open source. Examples include:
Linux: Powers NASDAQ, top 500 supercomputers, 96% of web servers, NASA missions, and major cloud providers.
Docker, TensorFlow, Git, Kubernetes: All leading technologies are open source, enabling global developer collaboration, code transparency, and full control.
2. Flexibility and Scalability:
Medusa JS is a leading Node.js-based open-source composable solution that provides unmatched flexibility over code and data flow.
Its architecture supports complex integrations with POS, ERP, and custom manufacturing systems, making it ideal for brands with diverse SKUs and complex requirements.
Scalability with Medusa JS is virtually endless, and the total cost of ownership (TCO) is the highest among its competitors.
For businesses seeking full control over their commerce stack, minimal transaction fees, and extensive customization capabilities, Medusa JS is the future-proof choice.
Adoption Trends: Composable Commerce in 2025
Composable commerce is rapidly becoming the go-to strategy for businesses looking to enhance their digital presence, flexibility, and scalability. In 2025, the adoption of composable solutions is expected to increase significantly due to the following trends:
Increased Demand for Customization: Businesses are moving away from monolithic solutions in favor of platforms that allow for custom-built components tailored to their specific needs.
Scalability and Global Expansion: Companies expanding into new markets require platforms that can scale effortlessly and support multi-region operations.
Faster Time to Market: Composable solutions enable faster deployment of new features and integrations, giving businesses a competitive edge.
Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): By adopting open-source solutions like Medusa JS, companies can significantly reduce licensing and operational costs.
Major Companies Adopting Composable Commerce:
Nike: Implemented a composable approach to enhance their online experience.
Lululemon: Successfully scaled their ecommerce operations across multiple regions using composable solutions.
Tesla: Leveraged a composable commerce setup to streamline the purchasing process for customers worldwide.
Amazon Go: Adopted composable technologies to create a seamless checkout-free experience.
Burberry: Used composable commerce to deliver personalized shopping experiences across global stores.
Future of Composable Commerce: Predictions for 2025 and Beyond
As we move further into 2025, composable commerce is poised to transform the digital commerce landscape even more profoundly. Here are some key predictions:
Increased Adoption of AI and Automation: Composable platforms will increasingly integrate AI-driven personalization and automation tools to enhance customer experience.
Greater Focus on Sustainability: Businesses will adopt composable solutions to build more sustainable and efficient digital ecosystems, reducing energy consumption and waste.
Expansion of Open-Source Ecosystems: Open-source composable platforms like Medusa JS will continue to gain traction, driven by the global developer community’s contributions and innovations.
Consolidation of Third-Party Services: Expect to see greater collaboration and partnerships among third-party service providers, leading to more seamless integrations and unified ecosystems.
When will the project start reaping benefits?
We’ve determined the cost of implementing a headless commerce platform. Based on our experience, the projected payback period for transitioning to headless commerce ranges from 3 to 5 months.
Consider the following scenario:
Step 1: Let’s assume:
Your monthly revenue is $5,000,000.
Your net profit margin is 20%, meaning your monthly net profit is $1,000,000.
You’re currently using Salesforce, paying $1M annually (~$83,333 per month) in licensing and other fees.
After migrating to Medusa.js Cloud, your new cost is $80K annually (~$6,667 per month).
Because of the flexibility and customization, your operational costs decrease by 40%.
Your Conversion Rate (CVR) increases by 20% post-migration.
Step 2: Calculate the overall conversion rate:
Mobile traffic: 80%, Desktop traffic: 40%.
Current Conversion Rates: 4% for mobile, 6% for desktop.
Your new overall conversion rate is 1.15x the current rate.
Projected monthly revenue:$5,750,000 (an increase of $750,000 per month).
New monthly net profit:$1,150,000 (up $150,000 per month).
Annual profit increase:$1,800,000.
Operational cost savings (40% reduction): Assuming operational costs of $2M per month, a 40% reduction saves $800,000 per month ($9.6M annually).
Total extra money made after migration:
$150,000 extra monthly net profit
$800,000 saved in operational costs per month
$76,666 saved in platform fees per month
Total additional monthly savings & profit: $1,026,666
Total annual additional money: $12,320,000
Payback Period Calculation
Assuming a $100,000 migration cost,
With additional profit + cost savings (~$950,000/month), the migration pays for itself in just 3 to 5 months.
If revenue scales up further, the payback period could be even shorter.
Summary
Transitioning to a headless commerce platform can significantly boost your conversion rates, reduce operational costs, and lower the total cost of ownership. By investing in a headless commerce solution, you can expect to see substantial returns within 10 to 12 months, making it a worthwhile investment for businesses looking to enhance their e-commerce capabilities
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 Choose Weframe Tech for Composable Commerce Development?
Proven track record migrating monolithic platforms to modern composable architectures
Early adopter of headless, API-first, cloud-native, and microservices technologies
End-to-end composable commerce solutions across all business verticals
100% Job Success and Top Rated on Upwork for enterprise integrations
Worked with high-GMV clients and complex omnichannel commerce implementations
Experts in orchestrating best-of-breed solutions: headless CMS, commerce engines, PIM, search, analytics, and customer data platforms
Fast composable MVP delivery (8-12 weeks) for scalable commerce architectures
Proven ROI for brands transitioning from legacy monolithic to flexible composable stacks
Expert Composable Commerce Integration Team
We specialize in building modern, API-first composable commerce ecosystems with years of proven expertise across 15+ headless commerce platforms, 10+ CMS solutions, and enterprise integration tools. Our client portfolio includes million-dollar companies such as Abaxx Exchange (publicly traded), Certify ($50M funded), Unimig, and other enterprise-level businesses implementing complex composable architectures (detailed case studies available in our Loom presentation).
Multi-cloud deployment (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Vercel, Netlify)
Containerization with Docker and Kubernetes
CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code
Performance monitoring and analytics
Reviews and testimonials
Proven SEO & Ranking Success
We've mastered modern SEO, AIO, and Geographic Optimization strategies. Our organic rankings include competitive keywords
Our SEO expertise consistently drives business growth for our agency and delivers proven results for our clients. Whether you're a SaaS company, B2B business, travel agency, or ecommerce brand, we deliver the same level of success.
Performance Guarantee
Every migration and replatforming project maintains:
SEO best practices implementation
Lighthouse scores above 95%
Optimal site performance and user experience
Why Choose Us?
Deep Platform Knowledge:At WeFrame Tech, we deliversolutions that demonstrate strategic thinking not generic service menus, but purposeful solutions designed to tackle complex challenges.
Proven Results: Our organic SEO success and client portfolio speak to our technical capabilities and business impact.
Risk-Free Start: We're confident in our expertise. That's why we offer 10 hours of free development to demonstrate our capabilities
Next Steps
Ready to elevate your headless eCommerce experience? Let's discuss your project requirements and show you exactly how we can deliver results.
Vipul Uthaiah is the CSO and Founder of Weframe Tech, a global leader in open-source headless CMS and composable content solutions. With years of experience in scaling content-driven businesses, Vipul specializes in helping brands transition from traditional CMS models to API-first, headless architectures. He is passionate about open-source technologies, digital transformation, and building future-ready content ecosystems.
Struggling to choose the right Headless CMS & Headless
Commerce tech stack?
We’ll help you pick the best solution for your business!
Exclusive Offer: 20 Hours of Free Development & Consultation
