Shopify has revolutionized the eCommerce world, powering over 10% of global online stores. It offers two main approaches for building storefronts: native Shopify themes and headless Shopify architecture.
Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but choosing the right one can significantly impact your store’s performance, scalability, and customer experience.
In this blog, we’ll break down the differences between native Shopify themes and headless Shopify, provide real-world examples of successful stores, and help you decide which approach is the best fit for your eCommerce business.
What Are Native Shopify Themes?
Native Shopify themes are pre-built templates designed to work seamlessly within the Shopify ecosystem. These themes are powered by Shopify’s Liquid framework, making them easy to use and manage, even for non-technical users.
Key Features of Native Shopify Themes:
Ease of Use: Shopify themes are designed for quick setup and minimal coding.
Mobile-Friendly Design: All themes are responsive, ensuring a consistent user experience across devices.
SEO Optimized: Themes come with built-in features to improve your store’s visibility on search engines.
Wide Variety: Shopify’s Theme Store offers over 100 free and paid options, catering to diverse business needs.
Example Brand:
Allbirds is a well-known DTC brand that uses a native Shopify theme. Their website is clean, mobile-friendly, and optimized for simplicity, reflecting their eco-conscious branding.
Best For:
Native Shopify themes are ideal for:
Small-to-medium businesses (SMBs).
Merchants looking for a cost-effective, fast-to-market solution.
Brands that don’t require extensive customizations.
What Is Headless Shopify?
Headless Shopify takes a different approach, separating the frontend (what customers see) from the backend (where data and operations are managed). With headless Shopify, businesses can use third-party frameworks like Hydrogen, Gatsby, or Next.js to create custom storefronts while still leveraging Shopify’s robust backend for order management, inventory, and payments.
API Integration: Shopify’s GraphQL APIs allow seamless communication between the backend and external systems.
Flexibility: Integrate headless setups with CMS platforms like Sanity or Contentful.
Performance: Headless stores often load faster, enhancing user experience and improving Core Web Vitals scores.
Example Brands:
Ruggable: Known for their washable rugs, Ruggable uses headless Shopify to offer a seamless browsing experience with dynamic product filtering.
Sennheiser: A global audio brand that relies on headless Shopify to support multi-regional storefronts and localized user experiences.
Best For:
Headless Shopify is ideal for:
Large or fast-scaling eCommerce businesses.
Brands seeking advanced customization and performance optimization.
Companies focused on omnichannel selling or operating in global markets.
Key Differences Between Native Shopify Themes and Headless Shopify
Choosing between native Shopify themes and headless Shopify comes down to understanding their differences in functionality, cost, and scalability. Below is a detailed comparison table summarizing the key aspects of both approaches:
Feature
Native Shopify Themes
Headless Shopify
Ease of Use
Beginner-friendly, no coding required
Requires advanced technical skills
Customization
Limited to Shopify’s Liquid framework
Fully customizable with modern frameworks
Performance
Optimized for Shopify but limited by Liquid
Faster load times if optimized properly
SEO
Built-in SEO capabilities
Advanced customization for technical SEO
Omnichannel Selling
Limited support for omnichannel integrations
Tailored omnichannel experiences with APIs
Cost
Low upfront cost; affordable for SMBs
High development and maintenance costs
Scalability
Suitable for small to medium-sized businesses
Ideal for large or rapidly growing businesses
Why Do Businesses Choose One Over the Other?
The decision between native Shopify themes and headless Shopify often hinges on business size, goals, and technical requirements.
Why Choose Native Shopify Themes?
Cost-Effective: Perfect for businesses with smaller budgets.
Quick to Launch: Launch your store in as little as a few days.
Integrated Shopify Ecosystem: Out-of-the-box compatibility with apps like Giftkart for store credits or Kite for promotional offers.
Stat to Consider:80% of Shopify merchants use native themes due to their simplicity and affordability.
Why Choose Headless Shopify?
Unparalleled Customization: Design unique customer experiences tailored to your brand.
High Performance: Faster page load speeds lead to better customer retention. Stat: A 1-second delay in page load time can reduce conversions by 7%.
Scalable for Global Brands: Supports multi-regional storefronts and omnichannel selling.
Example:Puma uses headless Shopify to deliver a seamless experience across global markets, ensuring high performance and personalized shopping experiences.
Examples of Brands Using Native Shopify and Headless Shopify
Real-world examples help illustrate how businesses leverage both approaches:
Native Shopify Examples:
Allbirds:
Uses a Shopify native theme for its minimalist design and quick navigation.
Focused on simplicity to reflect their eco-conscious branding.
Gymshark:
Primarily uses Shopify’s native functionality with minor customizations.
Their storefront emphasizes seamless checkout and mobile optimization.
Headless Shopify Examples:
Ruggable:
Known for its washable rugs, Ruggable built a custom frontend using Shopify’s backend.
Benefits: Faster load times and an intuitive product filtering system.
Sennheiser:
The global audio giant uses headless Shopify to support multiple languages and regional storefronts.
Benefits: Tailored shopping experiences for customers in different locations.
Puma:
Uses headless Shopify to integrate omnichannel shopping and personalized product recommendations.
How to Choose Between Native Shopify and Headless Shopify
When deciding between the two, consider the following:
1. Budget:
Native Shopify Themes: Ideal for businesses with limited budgets, with costs primarily tied to theme purchases and app subscriptions.
Headless Shopify: Requires a larger investment, with custom development and ongoing maintenance costs.
2. Customization Needs:
Native Shopify Themes: Suitable for businesses that can work within pre-designed templates.
Headless Shopify: Allows full creative freedom for unique customer experiences.
3. Business Size and Scale:
Native Shopify Themes: Perfect for small-to-medium businesses looking for quick launches.
Headless Shopify: Scales better for large enterprises or businesses with global reach.
Pro Tip: If you're transitioning to headless Shopify, use Fly Bundles to boost sales with advanced bundle recommendations during the transition.
How to Transition From Native Shopify to Headless Shopify
For businesses ready to scale or improve performance, transitioning to headless Shopify is a strategic move. Here’s how to make the shift:
Assess Your Goals: Identify whether you need advanced customization, better performance, or support for omnichannel selling.
Leverage APIs: Use Shopify’s GraphQL APIs for seamless integration between backend and frontend.
Optimize Core Web Vitals: Ensure fast load times to maintain SEO and user experience.
Stat: Websites optimized for Core Web Vitals see up to 25% more conversions.
Test and Launch: Gradually roll out your headless storefront to ensure a smooth transition.
Conclusion
Both native Shopify themes and headless Shopify have their strengths. While native themes offer simplicity and cost-effectiveness, headless Shopify provides unmatched flexibility and scalability for businesses looking to grow.
Ultimately, your choice depends on your budget, technical capabilities, and business goals. Shopify’s ecosystem supports both options, ensuring that businesses of all sizes can thrive.
If you’re ready to explore Shopify further, tools like Giftkart, Byte, and Fly Bundles can supercharge your store’s performance regardless of the approach you choose.
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Features
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AI recommended and manual recommendations for upselling.
Pricing
Development
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Monthly Plan
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Plus Plan
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Plus Plan
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Native Shopify Theme vs Headless Shopify FAQs
What’s the biggest difference between native Shopify themes and headless Shopify?
Is going headless worth the cost for small businesses?
How does headless Shopify affect SEO performance?
Can I use Shopify apps with a headless store?
What’s the average cost of transitioning to headless Shopify?
Can I switch back to a native Shopify theme after going headless?
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Neetika M
Neetika is the founder of Skai Lama. Passionate about building SaaS, Product Development, and Marketing, she talks about eCommerce Growth, Product Bundling, Gifting, Retention, and Shopify.
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