Headless: for when you've outgrown the Shopify templates

Go headless with Shopify

For when you’ve outgrown the template and need something that's fully your own.

What is a headless setup?

Headless means seperating the front-end (what your customers see) from the back-end (where your data and operations live). In case of Shopify, this means using Shopify for the commerce engine in the back-end, while building a custom front-end on top. Meaning you can create a digital storefront completely customized for your, your customers, and your goals.

The sky is the limit

When you go headless, you're finally done fighting templates. The sky is the limit: your design and UX can be whatever you dream up. But don't be fooled: headless isn’t just a tech upgrade. It’s a strategic move. Done right, it unlocks faster go-to-market, stronger brand differentiation, and higher conversion rates. Done wrong? You’ll end up with something fragile, slow, or impossible to maintain.

Get a partner that gets you

We’re a certified Shopify Plus Partner, with over 100 projects under our belt. We are uniquely set-up with experts in both in the front and back-end systems. We've implemented headless stores for several brands by now, such as QLEVR, Vorwerk (Thermomix) and Yummygums. If you value clear communication, honest advice, and a team that’s actually enjoyable to work with - we're your crew.

At your side

+40 experts

Discover who you'll work with

A phased approach

1. First meeting

During our first meeting, we listen to your needs and determine if a headless setup would suit your needs.

If that seems to be the case, we do the necessary research to see what you really need from such setup.

2. Analysis & Planning

We run a series of workshops to align business goals, technical feasibility, and budget.

By investing time upfront, we de-risk the project, minimising technical surprises, bottlenecks, and budget overruns.

3. Design

In this phase we’ll create a scalable design system in Figma aligned with your brand and the code we’ll be writing.

Our design approach makes it easier to scale across teams, brands, and markets without starting from scratch each time.

4. Development

We follow an agile approach to deliver structured, iterative progress, with full transparency and flexibility.

Development is broken into two-week sprints, each including planning, execution, demos, and refinement.

5. Go-live

This phase marks the transition from build to live. We implement a phased launch strategy that prioritises stability.

We begin with a soft launch in a low-traffic window, monitor performance in real time, and resolve any final issues before scaling to full traffic and campaigns.

6. Care & growth

We don’t just launch: we optimise and scale. Together, we track key metrics, refine strategy, and ensure continuous growth.

We have a dedicated helpdesk and SLA, ensuring stability and quick issue resolution.

"We saw a significant increase in conversion rates from the moment we switched to Shopify with dear digital."

Brent Luyckx Co-founder 4Gold

These companies took the next step

The party continues on Shopify: SoLow’s platform migration

The Second Life app for Jeune Premier: A win-win-win scenario

shopify

Refining Naduvi’s shopping experience with Shopify and Algolia

Changing 4GOLD for the better: From WooCommerce to Shopify

Fast, flawless & headless: Migrating Yummygums from WooCommerce to Shopify

Optimising subscriptions and CRO for BRAUZZ

FAQ

Why go headless instead of using a Shopify theme?

A headless approach makes sense if:

You want ultra-fast performance and custom UI/UX.
Your store needs advanced integrations or complex logic.
You’re building for multiple platforms (think web, app, kiosk) from one backend.

If you're not sure, give us a call. We're happy to take a look at your specific situation, free of charge.

Is headless only for big brands and stores?

Not per se. Yes, it’s more common for scale-ups and enterprise brands, smaller teams with specific performance or design needs can benefit too. Especially if you're focused on speed, storytelling, or international expansion.

Do keep in mind that a headless setup costs more up front because of the extra development work, compared to a Shopify theme. It's not a budget friendly option.

Do I need a developer on my team after the go-live?

If you're going headless, it's helpful to have someone technical help available, because deeper changes will usually require dev support. But it doesn't to be someone in your team - we also provide extensive aftercare, a helpdesk and SLA.

When should I not go headless?

If you're looking to launch fast, need limited customization, or simply want a budget-friendly solution, then a traditional Shopify theme is likely the better choice. If you need more help to decide on that, you can always reach out to us - we're happy to help!

Let's see if headless is the right path for you

Book a free consult