Are you overwhelmed by all the software options for your online retail business?
Whether you’re picking your first eCommerce platform or looking to make a switch, it’s hard to get through all the technical jargon. And one of the very first choices you have to make involves two technical terms: “headless” and “templated” eCommerce software.
We’ll take you through the differences to help you choose the type that’s right for your business needs. Here at Stellar One, our expert team has worked with scores of eCommerce setups as we help our members get the best possible tech stack. So, we know which combos work best together, and how the technical differences will affect your business success.
In this quick overview, you’ll find out whether headless or templated eCommerce software will work best for you. We’ll compare costs, capabilities, and how each one would support your vision for your business. By the end, you’ll be clear on which eCommerce option is the right choice.
- What’s the Difference Between Templated and Headless eCommerce Platforms?
- What Is Templated eCommerce Software?
- What Is Headless eCommerce Software?
- Who Offers Templated and Headless eCommerce Solutions?
- Should I Choose a Headless eCommerce Platform or Use a Template?
- At a Glance: Templated vs Headless eCommerce
- How Does Your eCommerce Software Integrate With ERP Solutions?
- Growing and Scaling with the Right eCommerce Software
What’s the Difference Between Templated and Headless eCommerce Platforms?
Let’s say you’re opening a new brick-and-mortar retail store. You’ve got two choices:
- Move into a pre-built storefront with walls, shelves, and a cash register already set up.
- Start with a blank, open space where you can build exactly what you want from scratch.
This is the same choice you face between templated eCommerce and headless eCommerce.
If you want an online store that is already laid out in an easy-to-use way, you want a template. If you’d rather pick and choose the selling portal you use, your checkout flow, or your visual design, then you may prefer a headless setup.
Now you just need to decide which approach makes sense for your specific business goals.
What Is Templated eCommerce Software?
Templated eCommerce will make your setup quick and easy if your needs are straightforward. Platforms such as Shopify, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, or Wix will offer you ready-made themes and plug-and-play features.
You pick a template, swap in your logo and colors, upload your products, and you’re live in hours or days, not weeks.
Why people love it:
- It’s fast to launch
- Cheaper upfront
- Updates, security, and hosting are handled for you
- No coding headaches
- You can still customize, but within safe limits
There’s just one problem: you’re limited. Want a super-custom checkout flow? Or a totally unique design? You might hit a wall because the platform has its own rules.
What Is Headless eCommerce Software?
“Headless” sounds pretty gruesome the first time you hear it! But the term just means that your “front end” (what shoppers see) is separated from the “back end” (where your products, inventory, and orders live).
The advantage is that you can mix and match anything. Your storefront could be a mobile app, a custom website, a kiosk in a mall, or even a smartwatch app. All these types of front-facing portals could be powered by the same back-end engine.
Why people love it:
- Total design freedom
- Faster, sleeker shopping experiences
- Easy to connect with any tech—AR, VR, voice shopping, you name it
- Scales better for complex stores
But understand that the headless option will be more expensive. You’ll need developers (or a good partner) to build and maintain your front-end choices.
Who Offers Templated and Headless eCommerce Solutions?
Some platforms are built primarily for templated use, while others are designed for flexibility. Best of all, some popular eCommerce software publishers will offer you both.
Online Retail Platforms with Templates
- Shopify – Known for its ease-of-startup for small to midsized businesses. Simple themes, huge app ecosystem.
- Wix eCommerce – Easy for beginners with drag-and-drop design.
- Squarespace Commerce – Sleek templates, great for brands focused on visuals.
- BigCommerce (templated mode) – Offers ready-to-use themes with more scalability for growing stores.
Online Retail Platforms with Headless Options
- Shopify Plus – You can go headless using Shopify as the backend while creating a custom front end with React, Vue, or Next.js.
- BigCommerce Enterprise – Built with APIs that make headless integrations easier.
- Adobe Commerce (Magento) – Flexible for both headless and traditional setups.
- Contentful + Commerce Layer – Headless-first options designed for brands with complex needs.
Some platforms, like BigCommerce, have hybrid options. They give you a template out of the box but also allow API-based customization if you want to go headless later.
Should I Choose a Headless eCommerce Platform or Use a Template?
If you’re just starting out with a very small business, templated eCommerce is a wise choice. It’s easy, affordable, and gets you on the road quickly.
If you’re aiming for a unique online experience, headless eCommerce gives you the flexibility to create that wow factor. So, if unforgettable branding and user flow will help your product stand out, consider headless.
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” answer. A small store probably doesn’t need a headless setup. But a brand with ambitious growth plans might outgrow a templated platform fast.
And you don’t have to commit forever. Plenty of brands start templated, then go headless later as their needs grow.
At a Glance: Templated vs Headless eCommerce
Templated eCommerce:
✅ Easy setup
✅ Lower cost
✅ Perfect for small-to-medium stores
❌ Limited customization
Headless eCommerce:
✅ Total creative control
✅ Future-proof for new tech
✅ Great for complex, high-traffic stores
❌ Higher cost and more dev work
How Does Your eCommerce Software Integrate With ERP Solutions?
As you’re planning your tech stack, there’s another vital decision that will deeply affect your business performance. You’ll need to plan how your eCommerce platform connects to your Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system.
Your ERP system is the central information hub of your business. It manages:
- Inventory levels
- Orders and fulfillment
- Customer data
- Financials and accounting
When your online store and ERP system are fully integrated, errors and glitches will disappear.
- No more manual data entry
- Real-time inventory updates across all channels
- Smooth order processing from start to finish
- Better forecasting and reporting
Templated platforms like Shopify and BigCommerce are supported by native integrations from select ERP publishers like Acumatica, Brightpearl, and Microsoft Dynamics.
Headless setups take it a step further. Because everything is API-driven, you can create deeper, more customized ERP connections even across multiple sales channels. But it’s more work upfront, and you’ll probably need developers or an ERP integration partner.
So, if ERP integration is critical for you, look at how much support you will get from your ERP partner. The more support you have, the smoother the process will be.
Growing and Scaling with the Right eCommerce Software
Choosing between templated and headless eCommerce isn’t about what’s “better.” It’s about what’s right for your current stage of growth and how much control you need.
If you want to launch fast and keep it simple, templated platforms are the clear winner. If you need complete design freedom and scalable performance, a headless platform gives you the edge.
Either way, your goal is the same: make shopping easy, memorable, and seamless for your customers.
If you need a partner to help evaluate your workflows, integrate your tech stack and give you fully optimized business operations, Stellar One has the expert experience to do it.
We’re an Acumatica Gold-Certified partner, which means we have achieved the highest level of expertise and training to support you. And if our solution isn’t right for you, we’ll be transparent and tell you what you need instead.
See how an ERP system can launch your business to success.
If you already know how ERP systems work, check out a list of the best ERP platforms for eCommerce.