How to Migrate a Shopify Store to a Headless CMS for Better Performance
Modern eCommerce is moving away from “monolithic” structures where the storefront and the database are tightly locked together. For growing Shopify brands, the transition to a headless architecture allows the backend (Shopify) to handle inventory and checkout while a dedicated Headless CMS (like Sanity, Contentful, or Strapi) and a modern frontend framework (like Next.js or Hydrogen) handle the customer experience.
Why Go Headless?
The primary driver for this migration is performance. Traditional themes often suffer from “app bloat”—JavaScript from various Shopify apps that slows down the site. In a headless setup, you only load the exact code needed for each page. This leads to better Core Web Vitals, improved SEO, and a mobile experience that feels like a native app.
Step 1: Choose Your Tech Stack
Before moving any data, you must define your “head.”
- The Frontend: Next.js and Shopify’s own Hydrogen (built on Remix) are the industry leaders