As of the 2024 ecommerce report, 86% of internet users globally use ecommerce services to buy and sell goods online because it is an easy and convenient option. Users can easily view the product, check prices, and place orders within a few minutes. In fact, it has been estimated that in 2025, ecommerce sales might exceed 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars globally. Meeting customer expectations in a highly competitive market and keeping up with constant technological advancements can be challenging. To address these challenges, ecommerce platforms have implemented various improvements, such as enhanced personalization, faster checkout processes, and better integration with mobile devices, to deliver a superior user experience.
Headless and composable commerce are two innovative approaches most online businesses adopt to keep pace with the ever-changing online shopping landscape. These two popular architectural approaches share many similarities but also have key differences.
Let’s explore how headless and composable commerce differ. Additionally, you’ll find their unique benefits and disadvantages listed. Finally, you’ll see a comparison to help you determine which is better for your business.
What is headless commerce?
Headless commerce is an innovative ecommerce architecture approach that separates the front end from the website's backend functionality. It separates the management of customer interface and backend processes such as data storage and other essential operations.
Today, most users demand complete control over their shopping experience and flexibility. Headless commerce fulfills this demand by allowing access to frontend elements such as customer interface, social commerce, etc., without impacting the backend practices. It is unlike the traditional monolithic ecommerce platforms where the frontend and back end are coupled.
So, how do the frontend and backend communicate in a headless commerce setup? Communication between them is handled through APIs, which provide greater flexibility in managing content across multiple channels and devices, such as web, mobile, and IoT.
Let's simplify how the headless commerce system works. Assume your frontend is a website or mobile app, and the backend engine includes functionalities like inventory management, order processing, payment gateway, etc. APIs can simplify development processes by reducing the time necessary to construct and maintain multiple platform-specific connections. In headless commerce, APIs help ensure that the data flows smoothly across backend and multiple frontend platforms without any hassle.
For a deeper dive, check out our guide on the top headless eCommerce platforms for 2025.
Here are some brands that have adopted headless architecture:
- Amazon: Amazon uses headless commerce to offer smooth integration with other ecommerce platforms, video commerce functionality, etc.
- Tesla: Tesla uses a headless commerce approach and allows its customers to easily choose colors and materials for cars based on their preferences.
- Nike: Nike leverages this modern approach to give a better user experience regardless of their device and in-store digital displays.
What is composable commerce?
Composable commerce architecture is an enhanced version of headless commerce that uses best-of-breed solutions to create a better ecommerce solution. The modular approach treats each component independently, e.g., product catalog, content management system (CMS), marketing tools, etc.
Businesses leveraging this approach can mix and match the right solutions for each service and optimize the ecommerce system according to their needs.
The modern commerce architecture breaks down each component and treats microservices independently. There are several benefits associated with composable commerce architecture. Businesses can even use APIs connected to these components to build and customize ecommerce solutions. Further, they can add or remove services without impacting the system.
Headless vs. composable commerce: Key differences
Understanding the differences between composable and headless commerce is important for choosing the right approach. Both have unique structures and benefits. Here's how they differ:
Technical structure
In a headless commerce platform, the front and backend systems work separately and independently. Customers may gain good control over the frontend, but users are restricted to a few functionalities in the backend.
Headless systems use APIs as connectors to modify or transfer data between the frontend and backend. However, in composable commerce, each component is further broken down for independent operations. Under this approach, individuals can work on a specific component and replace services without affecting the whole system.
Customization and flexibility
Under headless commerce, customers can easily control and customize the frontend; however, core functionalities are still restricted to the backend system.
On the other hand, with composable commerce, businesses gain full flexibility across the entire platform. Thus, they can customize and experiment with different components, such as the product catalog, CMS, or payment system, based on their unique needs. This modular and modern approach provides greater flexibility than headless commerce.
Development complexity and time to market
Headless commerce enables faster deployment by utilizing an existing backend ecommerce platform, but it still requires custom development for the frontend interface to deliver a tailored user experience. Teams must specialize in API integrations and other skills for quick designs.
Composable commerce, on the other hand, is highly customizable, but the setup process is a bit complex and requires more technical expertise. This added complexity can extend the time needed to integrate various solutions, resulting in a longer deployment timeline.
Scalability
The decoupled architecture of headless commerce design allows businesses to scale both frontend and backend independently. The frontend is highly scalable because it operates independently and can be easily updated or customized to meet user demands. However, the backend's scalability depends on the underlying ecommerce platform. While some headless commerce backends are scalable, others may be limited by their monolithic architecture, which can restrict flexibility and growth.
Composable commerce, on the other hand, is highly scalable. Businesses can easily add, remove, or replace different components based on their requirements without causing any disruption to the system. Due to this feature, most large-scale businesses prefer composable commerce.
Business control and ownership
In headless commerce, businesses can customize and update the user interface but still rely on the backend platform to access the core functionalities, which introduces certain limitations.
Composable commerce, on the other hand, offers total control and ownership to businesses. The modular design allows businesses to add, replace, or update new services without disruption.
Shared elements between headless and composable commerce
While headless and composable commerce have distinct approaches, they share foundational elements that enable modern ecommerce platforms to meet evolving customer and business needs.
Here are some of the key elements these two approaches have in common:
API-driven design
Both innovative approaches rely on API-driven architecture to manage ecommerce platforms and deliver better customer experience.
In headless commerce, frontend and backend systems are decoupled, so APIs are the best source to communicate with both interfaces. This allows businesses to transfer data across different channels and devices without any limitations.
Similarly, composable commerce uses APIs to integrate different components and ensure seamless functionality. This enables businesses to deliver a custom solution that meets their requirements.
To learn more about the importance of APIs in headless and composable commerce, read this guide on API-first eCommerce design.
Flexibility in development
Development teams gain access to unparalleled flexibility with headless or composable commerce design compared to traditional monolithic platforms. For example, in headless models, businesses have full access to build and design user interfaces, choose technologies that work best, and implement new features without stressing over backend systems constraints.
Similarly, composable commerce allows businesses to compose and customize multiple services without impacting the overall design. It allows businesses to choose different components and services to create the best solution.
With more flexibility, both approaches enable businesses adapt to market changes and trends. This allows them to provide a tailored experience to its users and allows for the availability of new features.
Focus on user experience and multi-device support
Unlike traditional ecommerce platforms, these two popular approaches focus more on customer experience and multi-device support.
Separating backend systems with frontend under headless commerce solutions makes it easier for users to access and customize the web platform, mobile, and IoT devices. Composable commerce also prioritizes user experience by providing flexibility and the right tools to optimize and upgrade design.
Omnichannel capabilities
In headless commerce platforms, users can push the commerce functionality to different platforms and channels. No matter what device or channel users connect for engagement, they can access consistent information with this feature.
Similarly, composable commerce supports smooth integration with different third-party systems. Both approaches come with robust omnichannel capabilities that help enhance the shopping experience for users across different preferred channels like websites, mobile apps, social media, and physical stores.
Benefits and limitations of headless and composable commerce
Several ecommerce businesses are adopting headless or composable commerce approaches to deliver innovative digital experiences to their customers. But the approach comes with a few pros and cons, such as:
Headless commerce
Advantages of headless commerce
- Faster frontend development: The separation between the frontend and backend system allows users to make changes to the user interface without any restrictions. Thus, it enables faster development and deployment of frontend design.
- Easier personalization: The approach offers more control, which helps in better personalization and building design according to customer behavior but requires careful planning.
- Reduced time to market: Developers no longer need to stress over backend processes or wait for approval to add new features or updates to the frontend design. Learn more about the benefits of headless commerce.
Challenges of headless commerce
- Limited backend flexibility: The backend system still comes with certain restrictions. The backend system still has certain limitations, which can make it difficult for businesses to fully customize their backend functionalities.
- Reliance on a single backend platform: Being reliant on a single backend provider may result in vendor lock-in by limiting growth or integration with other tools and systems.
- Scaling challenges: The backend platform might find it difficult to keep up with demand as the business expands. Insufficient scalability choices may lead to constraints in feature extension or performance issues.
Composable commerce
Advantages of composable commerce
- High degree of flexibility and customization: Businesses have the right to choose components or services based on their needs and preferences with composable commerce solutions. This flexibility enables them to build highly customized commerce experiences.
- Best-in-class services: For any particular function, businesses can choose the best tools available, guaranteeing they employ the best products on the market.
- Long-term scalability and adaptability: With this modular architecture, businesses don't have to completely redesign the system to replace or upgrade individual components when new technologies or business needs change.
Challenges of composable commerce
- Complex and time-consuming: The implementation process is a bit complex and may take longer time in comparison to headless approaches.
- Requires technical expertise: The customization process is not as easy as it sounds. One must have strong technical expertise to implement and manage composable commerce platforms.
- Higher initial costs: Usually, the initial costs are higher when several services and integrations are required. Additionally, companies seeking rapid deployments may find the extended setup time to be a disadvantage as it can prolong the time-to-market.
How to choose between headless and composable commerce
Choosing between headless and composable commerce depends on your business goals, technical resources, and the level of flexibility and scalability you need. Here are some key factors to consider when deciding which approach best suits your business needs:
- Evaluate your business needs: Firstly, you need to understand your ecommerce business goals and examine your resources. Once you have acknowledged your packaged business capabilities, align these with the architectural approach that best meets your capabilities and objectives.
- Scalability: To ensure optimal performance and reliability, consider how each design provides scalability and high availability to handle increasing traffic, transaction volumes, and shifting business demands.
- Budget: Compare the two based on their cost-effectiveness. For example, businesses looking for fast deployment with fewer resources may find headless commerce more cost-effective.
- Operational Complexity: While headless commerce may be adequate for smaller organizations, the modularity and customization of composable commerce may be advantageous for larger, more complicated enterprises. Composable commerce offers the flexibility to build a tailored ecosystem. Evaluate your team's technical expertise and long-term scalability of your operations to determine which one best aligns with your needs.
- Future-proofing: Businesses that anticipate change over time can benefit from the long-term flexibility that composable commerce offers. Because of its modular design, businesses may include best-of-breed solutions without completely redesigning the system as new consumer needs and technological advancements arise. Businesses may scale and modify their operations to meet shifting market conditions because of this adaptability.
Conclusion
Both headless technology and composable platforms offer significant advantages and share several similarities, while also having distinct differences. However, before implementing any of these solutions, it is essential to understand your business model or ecommerce website thoroughly.
Think beyond traditional commerce platforms and implement a solution that best fits your needs. Consider scalability, flexibility, and other factors before investing in these architectures. Headless commerce provides better personalization;however, composable architecture delivers unrivaled customization and agility, making it ideal for businesses seeking to stay ahead in a competitive market. Businesses that take a composable approach can also integrate best-in-class solutions to create a bespoke ecosystem that evolves with their needs.
Monogram is one of the pioneers of the AI-first Web. It has extensive expertise in helping businesses design a unique tech stack and deploy personalized products. It is an all-in-one platform that further helps businesses develop tailored headless platforms or composable approaches.
Whether you're seeking scalable commerce architecture or fast frontend development solutions, Monogram can help you make better decisions and achieve smooth implementation.