Headless Shopify
Headless Shopify development with Hydrogen & Next.js.
Custom storefronts on top of Shopify's checkout and back office, for brands that have outgrown themes.
A good fit when you need
- A fully custom shopping experience
- Content and commerce in one site
- Web, app and in-store from one backend
- Very large catalogues and complex search
- Top Core Web Vitals scores
Trusted by businesses worldwide
Our stack
Modern tools, proven together.
Hydrogen & Oxygen
Shopify's own React framework, hosted on Shopify.
Next.js
React storefronts on Vercel or your own cloud.
Headless CMS
Sanity, Contentful, Storyblok or Shopify metaobjects for content.
Search
Algolia or similar for fast search and filters.
Is it worth it?
Theme vs headless.
| Item | Shopify theme (Online Store 2.0) | Headless (Hydrogen / Next.js) |
|---|---|---|
| Build cost | Lower | Higher |
| Time to launch | Faster | Slower |
| Design freedom | High, within the theme system | Complete |
| App compatibility | Almost all apps | Apps with APIs only |
| Content editing | Shopify theme editor | Headless CMS |
| Maintenance | Lower | Needs developers on an ongoing basis |
| Best for | Most stores | Large brands with custom needs |
How we build
From plan to launch.
Discovery 1–2 weeks
Goals, current setup, apps and content needs. We confirm headless is the right call.
Architecture 1 week
Framework, hosting, CMS, search and integrations chosen and quoted.
Design & build 8–16 weeks
Storefront, CMS and integrations built in sprints with weekly demos.
Launch & grow Ongoing
Speed and SEO checks, redirects, launch plan and ongoing support.
Our work
Real projects, real results.
FAQ
Questions about headless.
What is headless Shopify?
Shopify still runs products, cart, checkout and orders, but the storefront your customers see is a separate, custom-built website (for example with Hydrogen or Next.js) that talks to Shopify through its APIs.
Is headless Shopify worth it?
Only if you need something a theme cannot do well: very custom experiences, content-heavy sites, several frontends (web, app, kiosk) or very large catalogues. It costs more to build and maintain, so for many stores a fast theme is the better choice.
Hydrogen or Next.js for headless Shopify?
Hydrogen is Shopify's own framework and hosts on Oxygen. Next.js gives more freedom of hosting and fits teams already using React. We choose with you based on your team and needs.
Do Shopify apps work on a headless store?
Apps that only change the theme do not. Apps with APIs (reviews, search, subscriptions, loyalty) usually do, with some integration work. We check every app you use during discovery.
Hire us on Upwork
Prefer to work through Upwork?
Same Bytecode team, same way of working. Hire us through Upwork and pay safely by milestone, with Upwork’s payment protection.
- Protected paymentsFunds sit in Upwork escrow and are released only when you approve each milestone.
- A track record you can checkTop Rated Plus, with 550+ client reviews you can read on our agency profile.
- The same team either wayUpwork or direct, you work with the same Shopify experts and project lead.
Prefer to hire us directly? Same team, no Upwork fees. Talk to us the way you like.
Bytecode TechnologiesVerified
Shopify & full-stack development agency
Alpharetta, USA · Mohali, India
- Shopify
- Shopify Plus
- Shopify Apps
- Web Development
- AI Automation
Next step
Let's talk about your project.
Book a free 30-minute call. You talk to a senior developer, not a salesperson, and leave with a clear plan, whether you hire us or not.
