How Do APIs and Headless Commerce Work with BigCommerce?

APIs and headless commerce work hand in hand on BigCommerce by separating the frontend from the backend. APIs handle the data flow between both sides, which allows you to create custom shopping experiences across multiple channels. By 2028, global ecommerce sales are expected to reach $6.8 trillion (Forrester, 2024). With such rapid growth, many online stores are turning to platforms like BigCommerce to keep pace. BigCommerce is built with an API-first approach, which means you have the flexibility to design and manage your online shop without being restricted by a single system. This makes it possible to create online stores that meet specific requirements while keeping everything connected.

What Is Headless Commerce?

Headless commerce separates the frontend, the part customers see and shop on from the backend, which manages product inventory, orders, and payments. In a traditional setup, the frontend and backend are tied together. Any changes made to one often affect the other, slowing down updates and making customizations harder. With a headless setup, you can choose your own frontend tools while letting BigCommerce manage the backend through APIs. This gives you more control and freedom. You can redesign your storefront without disturbing backend operations. Another benefit is speed. Since the frontend is not weighed down by backend code, pages load faster and provide a smoother shopping experience. This is one reason many businesses are moving to headless commerce.

How Do APIs Fit into BigCommerce?

APIs act as the connectors in BigCommerce, making it possible for different systems to communicate. BigCommerce provides both REST and GraphQL APIs. These allow developers to pull real-time data such as products, orders, or carts and display them anywhere. For example, the Storefront API can show products inside a custom mobile app. Development teams also use APIs to connect tools like CRMs, payment gateways, or shipping systems.

• GraphQL APIs are popular because they fetch only the data you ask for, keeping things efficient.
• REST APIs are useful for broader tasks such as managing carts and checkouts.

Together, they give BigCommerce the flexibility to work with any frontend, whether it’s a website, mobile app, or other digital platform.

Why Go Headless with BigCommerce in 2025?

Headless commerce is growing quickly because it helps businesses stand out. It offers:

• Flexibility: You can sell on websites, apps, or even smart devices.
• Performance: Frontends built with modern frameworks load much faster.
• Omnichannel selling: Customers can shop across platforms without restrictions.
• Freedom of design: BigCommerce’s open APIs mean you’re not locked into pre-built themes.

For companies looking into BigCommerce website development services, headless setups mean faster builds, easier updates, and more control. As ecommerce trends shift toward personalization and multi-channel shopping, headless commerce is becoming the preferred choice.

Key Trends and Stats for 2025

Several reports highlight the growth of ecommerce and headless commerce in the coming years:

• Global headless commerce market projected at $1.74 billion in 2025 (Coherent Market Insights, 2025).
• Headless commerce growing at 22.5% CAGR through 2030 (Globe Newswire, 2023).
• Social commerce sales in the USA projected at $80 billion in 2025 (Shopify, 2025).

These numbers clearly point to a growing shift toward flexible, API-driven ecommerce systems.

How to Set Up Headless Commerce on BigCommerce?

Setting up headless commerce involves a few structured steps:

1. Choose a frontend framework such as React or Next.js.
2. Connect via BigCommerce APIs by generating credentials from your BigCommerce account.
3. Sync essential data like products, customers, and carts.
4. Test the integration to make sure everything updates properly across devices.
5. Use tools like Catalyst to simplify the build process.
6. Track performance and optimize as needed.

If your team doesn’t have the technical expertise, you can partner with a BigCommerce development company to handle the setup.

What Are The Benefits of Going Headless?

The benefits of going headless are:

• Faster websites without backend delays.
• Customization to build unique storefronts.
• Ability to handle growth, even with high traffic.
• Omnichannel presence across web, mobile, and in-store
• Easy integrations with third-party services.

These advantages make headless commerce a strong choice for growing ecommerce stores.

What Are The Challenges You Should Keep in Mind?

Headless Commerce:

• Requires skilled developers to set up and maintain.
• Costs may increase with custom frontend development.
• Ongoing maintenance is more complex since the frontend and backend are managed separately.

It’s important to balance these challenges against the benefits before making a decision.

Conclusion

Headless commerce opens up new opportunities for businesses to design online stores with flexibility and speed. It combines a strong backend with the freedom to choose your own frontend. This approach allows businesses to expand across multiple channels. If you are considering going headless, now is a good time to assess how it can fit your business goals. Reach out to us for BigCommerce development services and take the first step toward building your custom headless store.

FAQs

1. What are the costs of going headless on BigCommerce?

BigCommerce Enterprise plans start at $1000+ monthly for unlimited APIs. On top of that, you’ll need to budget for developer fees to build and maintain your custom frontend.

2. Which frontend frameworks work best with BigCommerce APIs?

React and Next.js are commonly used for building fast and modern headless frontends.

3. Can I switch back from headless to traditional BigCommerce?

Yes, but it may require re-integrating themes and migrating some data.

4. How secure are APIs in a headless BigCommerce setup?

BigCommerce uses rate-limiting and secure tokens, but it’s recommended to add your own security checks as well.

5. What if my team lacks developer experience?

You can work with a BigCommerce development company to handle the technical setup and ongoing management.