This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Ryan Caldwell
As an e-commerce store owner using Shopify, you’re looking to explore a Headless Shopify Store built with React.js and Next.js. If you don’t have a technical background, I’ll explain this concept in plain language, using analogies to make it relatable, and provide a step-by-step guide to help you work with a developer to create a custom, high-performance online store.
This approach can make your store stand out, load faster, and work across multiple platforms (like websites and apps), which could boost your sales and customer satisfaction.
What is a Headless Shopify Store?
Normally, Shopify provides both the frontend (what your customers see) and the backend (where your products, orders, and settings are managed) in one system.
But in a headless setup, we separate the frontend from Shopify. Shopify still handles your products, checkout, inventory, etc. But you use your own custom-designed storefront, powered by tools like React.js and Next.js.
Think of it like:
- Shopify = Your warehouse, cashier, and back office
- React + Next.js = A beautiful, custom-built storefront designed exactly the way you want
A headless Shopify store separates these two parts:
1. Backend: Shopify
The backend is like the brain of your store. It’s where everything happens behind the scenes. Shopify handles this part for you. Here's what it does:
Product Management: Shopify stores all your products, their prices, descriptions, and images.
Inventory: It tracks the quantity of products you have in stock.
Orders and Payments: Shopify processes customer orders, handles payments, and manages inventory when a product is sold.
Customer Data: Shopify stores your customer information, like their contact details and purchase history.
In simple terms, Shopify's backend is like your store's warehouse and cashier. It keeps track of everything and makes sure things run smoothly. You don’t have to worry about the technical stuff, Shopify does it for you!
2. Frontend: React.js + Next.js (Where Customers See and Interact with Your Store)
The frontend is what your customers actually see and interact with. It’s like the store’s window display, the shelves, and the shopping cart that customers use to browse products, add things to their cart, and check out.
React.js
React.js is the tool used to build everything your customers interact with. It builds the interactive parts of your website. For example, when a customer clicks a button to add a product to their cart, React helps update the website smoothly without needing to refresh the page.
Why it’s important
React makes your website feel fast and responsive. If you’re showing products or handling interactions, React updates only the part of the page that’s changing, which makes it feel snappy for the user.
Next.js
Next.js is built on top of React and adds even more power. It helps make sure the website loads quickly and is optimized for search engines (Google). It makes things like SEO and page loading much better.
Why it’s important
Next.js helps improve the performance of your site. It ensures that when a user visits your store, the page loads faster, and the site works smoothly on different devices. It also ensures that your site is search engine-friendly, which helps your store appear higher on Google.
React.js + Next.js build an attractive, fast, and interactive shopping experience, while Shopify makes sure everything works behind the scenes to process sales, manage inventory, and keep your store running smoothly.
Why Go Headless with React.js and Next.js?
A headless setup can transform your e-commerce store by offering benefits that traditional Shopify themes might not provide. Here’s why it’s worth considering:
Unique, Custom Design: With a headless store, you can design a website that looks exactly how you want, unlike Shopify’s themes, which might feel restrictive if you want a standout look.
For example, if you sell handmade jewelry, you could create a website with elegant animations or a unique layout, like high-end brands such as Tiffany & Co.
Faster Website: Next.js makes websites load quickly, which keeps customers happy and encourages them to buy. A fast site also improves your ranking on Google, making it easier for new customers to find you.
Multi-Platform Support: You can use the same Shopify back-end to power a website, a mobile app, or even in-store kiosks. This creates a seamless experience for customers shopping on their phones, computers, or in person.
Future-Proof: Technology changes fast. With a headless setup, you can update the website’s design or add features (like a loyalty program) without touching Shopify’s back-end, keeping your store modern.
Engaging Features: You can add interactive elements, like personalized product recommendations or zoomable product images, to make shopping more exciting for your customers.
However, there are trade-offs to consider:
Higher Costs: Building a headless store requires hiring a developer or agency, which can cost $5,000–$20,000 depending on the complexity (e.g., number of pages or features like a search bar). Ongoing maintenance might cost $500–$2,000 per month.
More Complexity: A headless store is more technical to set up and maintain than a Shopify theme, so you’ll rely on a developer for most tasks.
Time Investment: Building a custom site takes 1–3 months, longer than tweaking a Shopify theme.
Just check out this press release by Lucent Innovation on Why React.js and Shopify Matter to Businesses
Live Examples of Headless Shopify Stores (Using React/Next.js)
These are real-world brands using headless architecture with React or Next.js, showing how powerful and customized a Shopify backend + React frontend can be:
Why You Should Care
These brands wanted more than a basic template. They needed performance, design flexibility, and custom features, exactly what headless offers.
What are React.js and Next.js?
React.js
React.js is like a toolkit for building the interactive parts of a website. When you visit a website and scroll through products, add things to your cart, or click buttons, React helps create those smooth interactions.
Instead of reloading the whole page every time, React only updates the parts that change. This makes websites feel faster and more responsive, giving users a better experience.
Developers love React because it allows them to break down a website into smaller pieces called "components," which are easy to manage, update, and reuse.
Next.js
Next.js takes React a step further by adding features that help your website perform even better. One of the key benefits is server-side rendering. This means that when someone visits your site, Next.js can send them the complete page right away, making it load faster.
It's like when you go to a store and everything you need is already on the shelf, ready for you to pick up, instead of waiting for it to be brought to you.
Next.js also helps with SEO (Search Engine Optimization), which makes your site more visible to Google, so it can rank higher in search results. And with automatic code splitting, Next.js ensures that users only load the code they need, keeping things quick and efficient.
Big brands like Nike and eBay use Next.js for their online stores because it’s powerful and reliable.
How Shopify (Backend) + React/Next.js (Frontend) Work Together
Shopify (Backend) manages your store’s data: the products, orders, and customers.
React and Next.js (Frontend) create the visual side of your store that customers interact with: the layout, product pages, checkout process, etc.
Communication: Shopify sends the necessary data (like products or customer information) to the frontend built with React and Next.js. Your customers can see the products, interact with them, and place orders all while Shopify handles the data in the background.
So, React is the tool that builds the interactive parts of your website, and Next.js enhances it by making sure your site loads quickly, performs well, and ranks higher on Google, making it a powerful combo for building modern websites.
Why You’ll Need a Developer
Building a headless Shopify store is like constructing a custom house it requires skill and expertise.
You’ll need a developer or agency experienced with Next.js and Shopify’s Storefront API to create and maintain your site.
They’ll handle the technical work, like writing code, connecting to Shopify, and designing the website, while you focus on your business and vision (e.g., how you want the site to look or what features to include).
To find the right developer:
Look for someone who’s built headless e-commerce sites before. Check platforms like Upwork, Toptal, or Shopify expert developers.
Ask to see examples of their work, like other headless Shopify stores they’ve created.
Plan to work with them long-term for updates, bug fixes, or new features (like adding a newsletter signup or mobile app).
Discuss costs upfront. A simple site might cost $5,000, while a complex one with animations or custom features could reach $20,000.
Your role will be to share your brand’s vision (e.g., colors, logo, design preferences) and test the site to ensure it meets your needs.
Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Headless Shopify Store with React.js & Next.js
If you are from a non-technical background, this guide explains what your developer will do and what you need to do at each step. It’s based on best practices from Shopify’s documentation, Vercel, and Bejamas, but simplified for you.
Think of this as a roadmap for working with your developer to create a custom store.
Step 1: Set Up Your Shopify Store for Headless
What Happens
Your developer prepares Shopify to work with a custom website by enabling the Storefront API. This API acts like a messenger, letting your website fetch products, manage carts, and process payments from Shopify’s system.
What You Need to Do
Log in to your Shopify admin panel (e.g., yourstore.myshopify.com/admin).
Ask your developer to create a custom app in Shopify (under Apps > Develop Apps) to get a secure API access token. This token serves as a key that securely connects your new website to Shopify.
Add sample products in Shopify, just as you would normally, so your developer can test the setup. Include product names, prices, images, and descriptions.
If you want to experiment without affecting your live store, create a free Shopify Partner account to set up a test store.
Your Role
Share your Shopify admin login (or test store access) with your developer. Tell them which products or features (e.g., discounts, shipping options) you want to include on the website.
Why This Matters
This step ensures your Shopify store can “talk” to your new website, keeping your products and orders in sync.
Step 2: Plan the Development Environment
What Happens
Your developer sets up their tools to build the website. They’ll use a code editor (like a digital workbench) and install Next.js to create the site’s foundation. They’ll also use Tailwind CSS, a tool that helps them design a professional, modern look quickly.
What You Need to Do
Share your vision for the website’s look and feel. For example, do you want a sleek, minimalist design like Apple’s website or a bold, colorful style like a fashion brand? Provide your brand’s colors, logo, and any design inspirations (e.g., “I like how Nike’s website has smooth animations”).
Ask your developer to use Next.js with Tailwind CSS for a fast, good-looking site.
Discuss which pages you want, like a homepage, product pages, cart, checkout, or an “About Us” page.
Your Role
Provide clear design preferences and examples of websites you admire. This helps your developer create a site that matches your brand.
Why This Matters
This step sets the stage for building a website that reflects your brand and meets your customers’ needs.
Step 3: Create the Next.js Project
What Happens
With the tools ready, your developer starts building the website’s foundation using Next.js. They’ll create a secure file (like a digital safe) to store your Shopify store’s domain (e.g., yourstore.myshopify.com) and API token from Step 1. This ensures the website connects safely to Shopify.
What You Need to Do
Provide your Shopify store’s domain and API token to your developer. Confirm the key pages you want (e.g., homepage, product pages, cart) and any special features, like a search bar, product filters, or a wishlist. Ask for a timeline (e.g., “How long will it take to see a first draft?”).
Your Role
Clarify your website’s structure and features. For example, say, “I need a homepage with a slideshow of my best products” or “I want customers to filter jewelry by price or material.”
Why This Matters
This step creates the skeleton of your website, ensuring it’s ready to connect to Shopify and display your products.
Step 4: Connect Next.js to Shopify’s Storefront API
What Happens
Your developer writes code to connect your Next.js website to Shopify using the Storefront API. This lets your site:
Fetch products (to display items like your jewelry with images and prices).
Manage the cart (so customers can add items and see their total).
Handle checkout (redirecting to Shopify’s secure checkout page).
For example, they might write code like this to fetch your products from Shopify (you don’t need to understand this; it’s for your developer)
async function fetchProducts() {
const response = await fetch('https://yourstore.myshopify.com/api/2025-04/graphql.json', {
method: 'POST',
headers: { 'X-Shopify-Storefront-Access-Token': 'your-api-token' },
body: JSON.stringify({ query: '{ products(first: 10) { edges { node { id title } } } }' }),
});
const data = await response.json();
return data.data.products.edges;
}
This code requests a list of your products from Shopify, retrieving their titles and IDs to display on your website.
What You Need to Do
Provide any specific requirements, like “I want product pages to show customer reviews” or “The cart should update instantly when items are added.”
Test a demo version of the site to ensure products, prices, and images appear correctly.
Confirm that customers can add items to the cart and check out without issues.
Your Role
Review the demo to make sure your products look right and the shopping process feels smooth. For example, check if product images load clearly or if the “Add to Cart” button works.
Why This Matters
This step brings your Shopify data (products, prices) to life on your custom website, creating a functional store.
Step 5: Build the Front-End with React.js and Next.js
What Happens
Your developer designs the website using React.js components (like reusable building blocks for product cards, navigation bars, or buttons) and Next.js for fast performance. They’ll use Tailwind CSS to style the site, making it look professional and aligned with your brand.
For example, a product page might show your jewelry with zoomable images and an “Add to Cart” button.
Here’s a simplified example of code they might use to create a product page (you don’t need to understand this; it’s for your developer)
import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
import { fetchProducts } from './services/shopify';
function ProductPage() {
const [products, setProducts] = useState([]);
useEffect(() => {
async function getProducts() {
const products = await fetchProducts();
setProducts(products);
}
getProducts();
}, []);
return (
<div>
<h1>Our Products</h1>
<ul>
{products.map((product) => (
<li key={product.id}>
<h2>{product.title}</h2>
<img src={product.image.src} alt={product.title} />
<p>${product.variants[0].price}</p>
</li>
))}
</ul>
</div>
);
}
export default ProductPage;
This code creates a page that lists your products with their names, images, and prices.
What You Need to Do
Review design mockups or a test version of the site to ensure it matches your brand’s look (e.g., colors, fonts, layout).
Decide on features, like “I want customers to zoom in on product images” or “Can we add a filter for gold vs. silver jewelry?”
Provide feedback, such as ‘Make the ‘Add to Cart’ button bigger’ or ‘The homepage needs more images of my products.’
Your Role
Act like a customer testing the site. Share feedback on the design and user experience to ensure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing.
Why This Matters
This step creates the customer-facing part of your store, making it attractive and easy to use.
Step 6: Test and Launch
What Happens
Your developer tests the website to ensure everything works, products load, carts update, and checkouts complete smoothly. They’ll host the site on a platform like Vercel or Netlify, which makes it fast and reliable for customers worldwide.
What You Need to Do
Test the site yourself: browse products, add items to the cart, and try the checkout process on your phone, tablet, and computer.
Ask your developer to confirm the site is secure (e.g., it has a lock icon in the browser’s address bar to protect customer data).
Ensure your domain points to the new site. Your developer can help set this up.
Decide when to launch, like after a final review or during a slow sales period, to avoid disruptions.
Your Role
Approve the final site, test it like a customer would, and pick a launch date. Ask your developer to monitor the site for a few weeks after launch to fix any issues.
Why This Matters
Testing ensures your site works perfectly, and launching on a secure platform keeps your customers’ data safe.
Step 7: Maintain and Update
What Happens
After launch, your developer keeps the site running smoothly by fixing bugs, improving speed, or adding features (e.g., a newsletter signup or product recommendations).
You’ll continue managing your Shopify admin for products, orders, and analytics, just as you do now.
What You Need to Do
Plan for ongoing maintenance, like monthly check-ins with your developer to update the site or fix issues.
Decide on future features, like a mobile app, a blog, or a loyalty program, and discuss costs with your developer.
Keep your Shopify product data (inventory, prices, images) up to date as usual.
Your Role
Work with your developer to prioritize updates and budget for maintenance. For example, you might say, “I want to add a holiday sale banner next month.”
Why This Matters
Regular maintenance keeps your site fast, secure, and up to date with new features to attract customers.
Should You Go Headless?
A headless Shopify store with React.js and Next.js is a great choice if:
You want a unique, high-performance website that stands out from competitors using standard Shopify themes.
You plan to sell across multiple platforms (e.g., website, mobile app, in-store kiosks).
You have the budget ($5,000–$20,000 for development, $500–$2,000/month for maintenance) and are okay hiring a developer for ongoing support.
However, it might not be the best fit if:
You’re happy with Shopify’s themes and don’t need a custom design.
You want a quick, low-cost setup (a traditional Shopify store is cheaper and faster to launch).
You prefer managing the site yourself without relying on a developer.
To decide, weigh the benefits (customization, speed, flexibility) against the trade-offs (cost, complexity, time). If you’re unsure, talk to Shopify experts to see if headless fits your business goals.
Example: What Your Store Could Look Like
If you sell handmade jewelry, a headless Shopify store could:
Feature a homepage with a stunning slideshow of your best pieces, with smooth animations to grab attention.
Include product pages where customers can zoom in on jewelry details or switch between colors (e.g., gold vs. silver).
Have a cart that updates instantly when customers add items, without reloading the page.
Later, power a mobile app using the same Shopify back-end, so customers can shop from their phones.
Big brands like Nike and Walmart use Next.js for similar setups because it’s fast, flexible, and customer-friendly.
Tips for Working with Your Developer
Share Your Vision: Tell your developer how you want the site to look and feel (e.g., “I want a clean, elegant design like a luxury brand”). Share examples of websites you like.
Ask for Demos: Request a test version of the site before launch to check the design and features.
Set a Budget: Discuss costs upfront, including development and maintenance. Ask what factors (e.g., number of pages, animations) affect the price.
Stay Involved: Ask for weekly updates to track progress. Test the site at key stages to ensure it meets your needs.
Plan for the Future: Talk about long-term goals, like adding a mobile app or new features, to ensure the site can grow with your business.
What You’ll Need to Get Started
A Shopify Account: You already have this! Ensure it’s active with products, prices, and images set up.
A Developer or Agency: Hire someone experienced with Next.js and Shopify’s Storefront API. Check their portfolio for headless e-commerce projects. Use platforms like Upwork, Toptal, or Shopify Experts.
Budget: Expect to spend $5,000–$20,000 for development, depending on complexity (e.g., a simple site with a few pages vs. a complex one with animations). Maintenance might cost $500–$2,000/month.
Time: Building a headless site takes 1–3 months, depending on features and design.
Vision: Know what you want your store to look like (e.g., colors, layout) and what features matter (e.g., fast loading, mobile-friendly, product filters).
Next Steps for You
Decide if Headless is Right: Ask yourself if you need a custom design or advanced features. If unsure, consult a Shopify Expert or developer to discuss your goals.
Find a Developer: Search for someone with experience in Next.js and Shopify. Request examples of their work and discuss your budget and timeline.
Share Your Vision: Write down your brand’s design preferences and must-have features (e.g., “I want a search bar and zoomable product images”).
Test and Launch: Work closely with your developer to test the site and plan a smooth launch.
Your store can be more than ordinary. With a headless setup, you’ll create a shopping experience that stands out and grows your business. Start today, make your store the best it can be!
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Ryan Caldwell
Ryan Caldwell | Sciencx (2025-07-22T13:08:58+00:00) How to Build a Headless Shopify Store with React.js & Next.js. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/07/22/how-to-build-a-headless-shopify-store-with-react-js-next-js/
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