Best Headless ecommerce Platform 2026

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.

When to Choose Commerce Layer:

• Preferred Business Categories:

Luxury & Fashion

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Brands

Retail & E-Commerce Brands Scaling Internationally

Best For:

• International Expansion — Ideal for brands looking to expand into multiple regions with a reliable API-first platform.
• Lower TCO — Suitable for businesses seeking cost efficiency without significant development overhead.
• Scalability — Best for enterprises needing advanced scalability and high customizability.

When to Choose Shopify Plus:

• Preferred Business Categories:

DTC E-Commerce Brands

Consumer Goods & Lifestyle Brands

Subscription-Based Businesses

Best For:

• Ease of Use — Ideal for businesses that prioritize simplicity and quick deployment.
• Limited Customization Needs — Suitable for those who do not require extensive customization.
• Global Expansion — Best for businesses expanding globally but willing to manage separate instances for each country-specific store.

When to Choose BigCommerce:

• Preferred Business Categories:

Small to Mid-Sized Retailers

Wholesale & B2B E-Commerce

Consumer Electronics & Lifestyle Brands

Best For:

• Cost-Effective Solution — Ideal for businesses seeking an affordable SaaS platform.
• Strong Out-of-the-Box Features — Suitable for those needing strong built-in features without heavy development.
• Limited Customization Needs — Best for businesses that do not require extensive customization.

When to Choose CommerceTools:

• Preferred Business Categories:

Enterprise-Level Retail & E-Commerce

Global B2B & B2C Marketplaces

Large-Scale DTC Brands with Custom Needs

Automotive & Industrial

Best For:

• Fully Composable & API-First Architecture — Best for enterprises seeking a true composable commerce solution with high flexibility.
• Enterprise-Grade Scalability — Ideal for large businesses handling high-volume transactions and global operations.
• Microservices & Cloud-Native Approach — Suitable for businesses wanting a modular, API-driven solution that integrates seamlessly with other services.
• Highly Customizable — Best for brands that need deep customization without the constraints of monolithic platforms.

Selecting headless commerce platforms based on business use cases

📌 3 Real-World Use Cases for Medusa JS

(Best for businesses needing full control over their commerce backend with high customization requirements.)

1. Custom Furniture Brand — Made-to-Order & Configurable Products

Scenario:
A premium furniture brand allows customers to design their own sofas, tables, and wardrobes by choosing materials, dimensions, and colors.

Why Medusa JS?
✅ Supports dynamic product customization and pricing logic.
✅ Handles multi-warehouse fulfillment and split orders.
✅ Self-hosted solution allows for custom checkout flows tailored to complex purchases.

2. Gourmet Meal Kit Subscription Service — Recurring Billing & Personalized Bundles

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.

3. B2B Wholesale Electronics Supplier — Custom Pricing & Bulk Ordering

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.

2. Industrial Equipment Supplier — B2B Custom Quotes & Contract Pricing

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.

3. High-Volume Grocery Delivery Platform — Multi-Warehouse & Inventory Sync

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.

2. Subscription-Based Meal Delivery — Recurring Orders

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 (-;

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Appendix 1 — How to Shortlist Vendors?

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.

1. 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).
2. 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..
3. MACH Alliance Listings: You could refer to the MACH Alliance listings for Composable Platforms.
4. G2 and Capterra Reviews: G2 and Capterra reviews can also help you shortlist your chosen criteria.
5. 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!

Read Now

Tracking and Analytics

• Google Analytics 4 (GA4): Provides comprehensive tracking and analytics for understanding user behavior and optimizing marketing strategies.
• Segment: A powerful tool for collecting, managing, and routing data to various analytics and marketing platforms.
• Mixpanel: Offers advanced analytics and user behavior tracking, helping businesses make data-driven decisions.

Advanced Analytics

• Metabase: An open-source platform for creating custom dashboards and visualizing data.
• Tableau: A robust analytics platform for in-depth data analysis and visualization.
• Power BI: Microsoft’s business analytics tool for creating interactive dashboards and reports.

Custom Dashboard

• Snowflake: A cloud-based data warehousing solution that provides scalable and secure data storage and analytics.
• Looker Studio: A powerful tool for creating custom dashboards and visualizing data.
• Metabase: An open-source platform for creating custom dashboards and visualizing data.

User Behavior Tracking

• Hotjar: Provides heatmaps, session recordings, and user feedback tools to understand user behavior.
• FullStory: Offers comprehensive session replay and user behavior analysis.
• Amplitude: Focuses on product analytics and user behavior tracking.

Fast Delivery and Caching

• Content Delivery Network (CDN): Services like Cloudflare, Akamai, or AWS CloudFront for fast content delivery.
• Caching Solutions: Tools like Redis or Varnish for improving performance and reducing load times.

A/B Testing and Optimization

• Optimizely: A leading platform for A/B testing and personalization.
• VWO (Visual Website Optimizer): Offers comprehensive A/B testing and optimization tools.
• 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:

1. 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:

1. 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.
2. Scalability and Global Expansion: Companies expanding into new markets require platforms that can scale effortlessly and support multi-region operations.
3. Faster Time to Market: Composable solutions enable faster deployment of new features and integrations, giving businesses a competitive edge.
4. 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:

1. Increased Adoption of AI and Automation: Composable platforms will increasingly integrate AI-driven personalization and automation tools to enhance customer experience.
2. Greater Focus on Sustainability: Businesses will adopt composable solutions to build more sustainable and efficient digital ecosystems, reducing energy consumption and waste.
3. 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.
4. 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.

80%×4%+40%×6%=4.8%80\% \times 4\% + 40\% \times 6\% = 4.8\%80%×4%+40%×6%=4.8%

Step 3: Estimate the potential conversion growth:

After migrating to Medusa.js, conversion rates are projected to increase by 20%.

80%×4%×1.2+40%×6%=5.52%80\% \times 4\% \times 1.2 + 40\% \times 6\% = 5.52\%80%×4%×1.2+40%×6%=5.52%

Step 4: What are the results?

• 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, the world’s leading open-source-based composable solution development company. Our mission is simple: to be pioneers in open-source composable technologies.

Our Vision:

To be the world’s most trusted and innovative leader in open-source composable technologies.

Why Work with Us?

• Expertise in Building Solutions with Open-Source Tech: Our team has extensive experience in developing solutions using open-source technologies.
• Proven Track Record: We’ve helped brands generating over $100M in GMV significantly cut costs — reducing total cost of ownership (TCO) by over $1M annually through lower licensing fees and maintenance costs. Additionally, we’ve boosted conversion rates (CVR) by up to 20% and slashed operational expenses by over 40%.
• Customized Planning and Execution: We tailor our solutions to meet your specific business needs.

Contact us for detailed planning and consultation.

About the Author

Vipul Uthaiah is the COO and Founder of Weframe Tech, a global leader in open-source headless commerce and composable development solutions. With years of experience in helping brands scale through innovative solutions, Vipul is passionate about open-source technologies and digital transformation.