The Complete Guide to Shopware: Why Choose It in 2025
Shopware is a powerful open-source eCommerce platform that has rapidly become the go-to solution for agencies and developers seeking a flexible, API-first, and scalable alternative to legacy systems. With Shopware 6, advanced B2B features, a vibrant ecosystem, and robust SEO capabilities, it’s ideal for businesses looking to grow online. In this post, we explain everything from its technical architecture to its migration advantages and costs; plus how agencies like solution25 can help implement it successfully.
Why More Businesses Are Choosing Shopware in 2025
If you’re a business owner looking for a future-ready eCommerce solution that grows with you, Shopware is worth your attention. Unlike rigid platforms that force you into a fixed way of operating, Shopware gives you flexibility, performance, and control; without adding unnecessary complexity. Originally developed in Germany and trusted by thousands of merchants across Europe, Shopware is now expanding rapidly in the U.S. and globally. It is an open-source platform created specifically for companies that want to scale without limits; whether you’re launching your first online store or managing an international operation.
At solution25, we help clients migrate to Shopware because it works for businesses, not just developers or agencies. Its API-first architecture means it adapts to your needs; allowing you to integrate tools, build a headless storefront, and automate processes within one cohesive system. What makes Shopware especially powerful is its ability to support both B2C and B2B models seamlessly. It offers customizable workflows and scalable features; giving you the freedom to design a customer journey that reflects your brand and your business goals. Whether you’re building a multi-store setup, a global marketplace, or a niche online boutique, Shopware gives you the infrastructure needed to meet today’s eCommerce expectations and prepare for tomorrow’s growth. And with a dedicated partner like solution25 guiding your transition, you don’t just get a platform; you get a smarter, more sustainable way to scale your business.
Origins and Evolution
Shopware was founded in 2000 by Stefan and Sebastian Hamann. Initially developed as a classic on-premise solution, the platform has continuously evolved to meet the shifting needs of digital commerce. With the launch of Shopware 6 in 2019, the platform underwent a complete architectural transformation, embracing API-first principles and focusing on usability, modularity, and extensibility.
Shopware 6 marked a major shift: it introduced a brand-new tech stack based on Symfony and Vue.js, aligning with modern development standards. This evolution opened the doors for seamless integration with third-party tools, headless frontends, and advanced personalization logic.
Core Concepts
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- Headless by Default: Developers can build custom frontends (SPAs, PWAs) using APIs.
- Rule Builder: Define complex conditions for pricing, promotions, shipping, and content display.
- Shopping Experiences: Drag-and-drop CMS for landing pages, category layouts, and product presentations.
- Sales Channels: Manage multiple stores with different products, currencies, and languages from a single backend.
Who Uses Shopware?
Shopware is the right choice for businesses that want to sell online with more control, flexibility, and long-term scalability. Whether you’re just starting out or already running a complex retail operation, Shopware adapts to your needs and supports your growth at every stage.
Businesses That Thrive with Shopware
- Established retailers looking to upgrade from outdated platforms
- DTC brands needing unique customer experiences
- Wholesalers and B2B companies managing complex pricing and logistics
- Niche shops that want creative freedom in their storefronts
- International sellers with multilingual, multi-currency needs
At solution25, we often work with clients who feel limited by platforms like Magento, WooCommerce, or Shopify. Shopware offers them a refreshing alternative; one that combines ease of use with enterprise-level performance. Because it’s open-source, businesses can choose to self-host and fully customize their store without license fees. And for growing companies with more complex needs, Shopware offers managed cloud and enterprise options with premium support. In 2025, Shopware isn’t just a tool for developers; it’s a strategic advantage for businesses that want to move fast, adapt to trends, and stay ahead of the competition.
Shopware for B2B Projects
B2B eCommerce is no longer a niche—it’s a dominant force in the digital economy, and Shopware has recognized this shift with a dedicated suite of features for business-to-business transactions. As of 2025, Shopware has evolved into one of the most reliable platforms for B2B businesses looking to scale online operations. Whether you’re a wholesaler, manufacturer, or enterprise supplier, Shopware provides the tools needed to support complex buying processes, customer hierarchies, and pricing strategies.
Shopware silver &
extension partner
80+ Shopware Certificates
200+ E-commerce Projects
50+ Developers
Why B2B Needs a Different Approach
Unlike B2C,
B2B commerce involves larger order volumes, negotiated pricing, and complex approval workflows. Buyers are often companies rather than individuals, and transactions frequently require personalization and flexibility in payment and delivery options.
Shopware B2B Suite: Core Capabilities
- Company Accounts with multi-user roles (purchaser, approver, admin)
- Custom approval workflows and permission-based access
- Quick reordering and bulk purchasing tools
- Tiered pricing and role-specific product visibility
- Sales representative assignment for account-level support
- Quote management directly from the storefront
- Flexible ERP and CRM integrations through APIs and webhooks
Real-World Use Case
A packaging supplier uses Shopware’s
B2B features to allow distributors across Europe to log in, view personalized catalogs, and place bulk orders with negotiated pricing—streamlining operations and reducing manual overhead.
Why Agencies Choose Shopware for B2B
When it comes to B2B eCommerce, the expectations are higher. Businesses need custom pricing, role-based permissions, account management tools, and purchasing processes that are far more complex than standard online shops. For agencies working on these types of projects, Shopware offers the right foundation. At solution25, we work with B2B companies that are ready to move away from outdated systems and slow manual processes. Shopware allows us to deliver advanced solutions faster because it already includes many B2B features from the start; this reduces custom development time while keeping the flexibility to add tailored modules when needed. With Shopware’s Evolve and Beyond editions, agencies and their clients also gain access to priority support, advanced capabilities, and long-term scalability. It’s a reliable choice for companies that want their digital infrastructure to support sales teams, procurement departments, and large-volume buyers without added complexity. Unlike traditional B2B suites that are often expensive and inflexible, Shopware gives you the control to customize your workflows without being locked into one way of doing business. Its modular structure allows your platform to grow and adapt; making it a smart investment for companies planning to scale. In short, Shopware is the platform that allows agencies like solution25 to help B2B businesses digitize confidently—without compromising on performance, cost-efficiency, or long-term maintainability.
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How Shopware Compares to Other eCommerce Platforms in 2025
Shopware vs Magento: Magento has long been considered a powerful platform for large-scale online stores. It supports deep customization, enterprise-level performance, and a large ecosystem. However, the cost of running Magento — especially Adobe Commerce — is high. Development is complex, maintenance is resource-intensive, and businesses often face long deployment timelines. Shopware 6 offers similar flexibility with significantly lower overhead. Built as an open-source eCommerce platform with a modern, API-first architecture, Shopware supports complex business models, headless commerce implementations, and scalable eCommerce stores. For mid-sized companies and fast-scaling brands, Shopware provides a more efficient path to advanced features without the licensing burden of Adobe Commerce.
Shopware vs Shopify: Shopify remains a popular choice in the D2C space due to its ease of use, fast setup, and robust app marketplace. It is an ideal starting point for small to medium-sized businesses that need a simplified solution. However, Shopify’s closed ecosystem limits customization. It lacks native support for complex B2B eCommerce functions, and its capabilities in multilingual, multi-store, or composable commerce setups are limited. Shopware 6 is a more flexible platform built for scalability. It is better suited for businesses that require full ownership of their infrastructure, deeper integration logic, or advanced frontend control through headless commerce. Shopware’s native B2B Suite, internationalization tools, and structured data handling provide a serious advantage for companies ready to grow beyond the basics.
Shopware vs WooCommerce: WooCommerce is a widely used solution for small businesses already running WordPress websites. It offers quick entry into the eCommerce space and access to a broad plugin marketplace. But as store requirements become more complex, WooCommerce’s limitations become clear. Performance bottlenecks, security vulnerabilities from third-party plugins, and lack of structure often lead to scalability issues. Shopware is purpose-built to support growth. With its modular core, centralized management of catalogs, customers, and orders, and native support for multi-language and multi-currency stores, it serves as a strong foundation for serious online businesses. Shopware 6 also offers more robust architecture for developers, which reduces long-term technical debt compared to WordPress-based setups.
Why We Recommend Shopware; But Only When It’s the Right Fit
As a Shopware agency, we’ve built everything from custom plugins to full B2B and D2C storefronts on Shopware 6. But we’re not platform loyalists. Shopify is still a better choice for rapid deployment and simple online shops. Magento can outperform in highly customized, global enterprise environments. WooCommerce works well for small content-driven stores. Shopware stands out when flexibility, control, and scalability are required; particularly for businesses in Europe, or those planning to expand internationally. Its open-source foundation, API-first architecture, and robust feature set make it one of the best eCommerce platforms for 2025. At solution25, our job is to assess your goals, complexity, and future plans; then recommend and implement the eCommerce solution that fits. Sometimes that’s Shopware. Sometimes it’s not. That’s what makes us trusted Shopware experts and not just another agency.
SEO & Marketing Extensions for Shopware
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- Built-in SEO tools: Custom URLs, meta tag management, sitemaps, canonical tags, and schema.org support.
- Top Plugins for Marketing and SEO: SEO Professional, Blog Plugin, Google Shopping Feed, Klaviyo/Mailchimp integrations, and review management.
- Content + Technical SEO Strategy: Use Shopping Experiences CMS for SEO-optimized pages with rule-based personalization.
Migrating to Shopware
Migrating to a new eCommerce platform is a high-impact strategic decision. Shopware 6 has become a leading choice for businesses seeking freedom from rigid SaaS structures, greater scalability, and full ownership of their digital commerce stack. A successful migration is not just about transferring data; it involves rethinking architecture, preserving SEO equity, and enabling future growth through a more flexible and composable system.
Why Businesses Migrate to Shopware
- Full ownership of platform infrastructure through its open-source core
- Freedom from limitations of closed SaaS systems
- API access for complete integration and headless commerce compatibility
- Support for composable commerce and modular development workflows
- Native B2B suite with pricing rules, quick ordering, and account hierarchies
- Ability to manage large product catalogs with high performance
- Multi-location inventory and real-time stock synchronization
- Built-in multi-language, multi-currency, and multi-store support
- Compatibility with modern frontend frameworks such as Vue and React
- SEO-optimized routing, structured data, and full metadata management
- Visual rule builder for dynamic promotions, shipping logic, and customer segmentation
- GDPR-ready data handling and compliance features
- Flexible hosting options including cloud, self-hosted, and Shopware Cloud
- Built-in features for digital product sales and recurring revenue models
- Seamless API connections to ERP, CRM, PIM, and third-party services
- Advanced tax logic to support international growth and regional regulations
- Enterprise-grade scalability without dependency on Adobe licensing
- Developer-friendly technology stack based on Symfony and Twig
- Compatibility with advanced search tools such as Elasticsearch and OpenSearch
- Automation through Flow Builder for real-time business logic execution
- Strong ecosystem across the EU and growing adoption in the US
- Smooth migration from Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, or Shopware 5
- Modular system architecture that supports phased deployment
These features make Shopware one of the most powerful and scalable eCommerce platforms in 2025.
How the Shopware Migration Process Works at solution25
Every migration is treated as a full-stack transformation; not just a database transfer. The process is structured in phases to reduce risk, increase data integrity, and maximize performance after launch.
Popular Migrations to Shopware 6
Migration Path | Why Migrate? | Key Benefits of Shopware 6 |
Shopware 5 → Shopware 6 | End-of-life platform, outdated stack, limited flexibility | Modern architecture, Rule & Flow Builder, seamless upgrade path |
Shopify → Shopware 6 | SaaS restrictions, limited B2B functionality, lack of control | Full ownership, headless-ready, powerful B2B capabilities |
Magento → Shopware 6 | Complex maintenance, high development costs, slow time-to-market | Lower cost of ownership, easier management, faster deployments |
Oxid → Shopware 6 | Aging tech, poor integration support, limited scalability | Modular setup, rich plugin ecosystem, scalable architecture |
Why Replatform to Shopware in 2025?
How do you want to sleep the night before launch? Confident. Because we’ve gone through this proven process together.
Replatforming is more than just migrating data—it’s about transforming the way your business operates online.
For many companies, outdated platforms have become a bottleneck, limiting growth, flexibility, and customer experience. Whether you’re coming from Shopify, Magento, WooCommerce, or a proprietary system, Shopware offers a compelling reason to switch in 2025. Its API-first, modular architecture allows you to modernize your digital infrastructure while minimizing technical debt and operational risks.
Wwe approach replatforming as a strategic partnership. From discovery to deployment, every step is mapped out to ensure minimal disruption and maximum future-readiness.
One of the most critical aspects of this process is data migration—the careful extraction, transformation, and reintegration of all your store’s essential information. Think of it as moving homes: you don’t just toss everything into boxes and hope it fits the new space—you curate, optimize, and redesign to fit your new lifestyle.
We begin with a technical audit that identifies pain points, from performance limitations to plugin clutter. Then, our team creates a migration blueprint that includes not only product data and orders but also SEO configurations, category structures, and customer records.
This is where platforms like Magento often fall short—migration can be complex, costly, and slow. Shopware simplifies this by offering migration tools and flexible APIs, making the transition smoother and more cost-effective.
Key tools like the Visual Rule Builder and Flow Builder also help automate post-migration processes, so you don’t lose operational momentum.
Whether you need to sync inventory, set up marketing automations, or manage multi-store environments, Shopware offers native capabilities that would require third-party add-ons in other platforms.
Our methodology includes full integration with providers like PayPal, Stripe, and Klarna, so your financial workflows continue without friction.
It’s not about “selling Shopware”—it’s about presenting it as the smartest tool for the job.
If you’re still hesitant, think of replatforming in simple terms: it’s like switching from a basic toolset to a smart, automated workstation.
Yes, there’s a transition—but the long-term gains in flexibility, performance, and peace of mind far outweigh the short-term adjustments.
Technical Discovery and Business Analysis
We begin with a full technical audit of your current eCommerce platform. This includes analysis of custom modules, plugin dependencies, category logic, and SEO configurations. We map all business rules, identify platform limitations, and define what can be improved or removed in the new Shopware environment.
Shopware silver &
extension partner
80+ Shopware Certificates
200+ E-commerce Projects
50+ Developers
Data Mapping, Cleanup, and Transformation
All data is migrated through custom-mapped pipelines. We extract and clean product information, customer records, order history, categories, CMS content, and SEO metadata. Redundant or corrupted entries are removed. Legacy URLs are rebuilt into SEO-friendly Shopware routes based on structured logic.
Platform Architecture and Theme Rebuild
We evaluate which frontend approach suits your business best. This could be a traditional Storefront, a headless frontend, or a PWA. Our design team recreates or upgrades your UI while focusing on usability, accessibility, and conversion rate optimization. All themes are custom-coded and performance tested.
Third-Party System Integration
External services such as ERP, CRM, payment gateways, shipping providers, and marketing platforms are reconnected through Shopware’s API. We use middleware if needed to ensure synchronization between systems. This step also includes setting up services like content delivery networks or advanced caching tools.
SEO Recovery and Structured Data Preservation
We implement 301 redirects to protect your existing SEO performance. All structured data is validated and migrated, including schema markup and metadata. Our team runs a full SEO audit after migration and corrects any technical SEO issues that may arise.
Go Live and Quality Assurance
Before launch, we perform cross-device testing, data integrity validation, transactional testing, and stress testing. During the go-live phase, our team monitors all system functions in real time and handles final adjustments. After launch, we conduct post-launch QA and provide performance reporting.
solution25 Delivers More Than a Migration
System testing is executed across environments to ensure stability. This includes mobile responsiveness, transaction flow, third-party sync, and data accuracy. Launch is supported with real-time monitoring, error tracking, and fast rollback options if needed. Post-launch includes a QA round and early performance tuning.
This guide explores the benefits of running Shopware on Platform.sh’s PaaS, a Git-driven, container-based infrastructure designed for modern e-commerce. Shopware PaaS offers developers full control of their Shopware environments while offloading infrastructure and DevOps tasks. Key features include auto-scaling, CI/CD pipelines, multi-cloud support, built-in services (like Redis, Elasticsearch, and RabbitMQ), and high availability, enabling seamless deployment, rapid development, and reliable performance.
Each Git branch becomes a live environment, allowing fast testing and feature releases. Platform.sh handles routing, SSL, and provisioning for all services, while developers focus on code and plugins. Setup involves configuring YAML files, defining build/deploy hooks, and pushing code to trigger automatic deployments and migrations. The architecture isolates app, DB, and service containers for better performance and fault tolerance.
Success stories from agencies like basecom and solution25 demonstrate dramatic reductions in DevOps effort and improved scalability. Compared to SaaS or self-hosted options, Shopware PaaS offers the best balance of flexibility and ease, ideal for large, customizable shops. Best practices include using Composer for plugins, enabling caching/CDNs, and tracking performance with Blackfire. Ultimately, Shopware PaaS empowers teams to scale faster and manage complex e-commerce projects more efficiently.
Shopware silver &
extension partner
80+ Shopware Certificates
200+ E-commerce Projects
50+ Developers
Deployment Models
- Self-hosted: Full control via your own server (AWS, Hetzner, etc.)
- Shopware Cloud: Fully managed, suitable for smaller businesses
- Shopware PaaS: Hybrid option with CI/CD pipelines and staging support
At solution25, we offer tailored Shopware cloud setups that combine performance, security, and ease of maintenance for scaling businesses.
Shopware Integrations for the US Market solution25 builds advanced Shopware plugins tailored to the needs of modern e-commerce stores. From payment gateways to logistics and customer engagement tools, our solutions help Shopware merchants optimize performance, streamline operations, and increase conversions. Each integration is developed with scalability, compliance, and real business impact in mind.
Each plugin title below is clickable and links to a dedicated page with more details, features, and installation instructions. - Shopware 6 BlueSnap Integration Accept global payments with BlueSnap. This plugin supports recurring billing, multi-currency processing, and advanced fraud protection—ideal for international Shopware merchants.
- Shopware 6 CyberSource Integration Secure credit card payments, guest checkout, and real-time fraud prevention—fully managed from your Shopware admin panel.
- Shopware 6 Abandoned Cart SaverRecover missed sales by tracking and converting abandoned carts from logged-in users—boosting revenue with one-click order recovery.
- Shopware 6 Store Credit Issue refunds as store credit, apply balances at checkout, and encourage repeat purchases while reducing return rates.
- Shopware 5 Optimizely Campaign Grow your email list and send personalized campaigns with real-time subscriber sync and GDPR-compliant opt-ins.
- Shopware 6 Optimizely Campaign Automate marketing emails, sync product data, and personalize offers using customer behavior—directly from your Shopware backend.
- Shopware 6 PayTrace Integration Enable fast, secure credit card and ACH payments with tokenization and full transaction control in your Shopware admin.
- Shopware 6 NMI Payment Integration Accept cards and direct debits with recurring billing, secure vaulting, and full PSD2 compliance.
- Shopware 6 MaxMind Fraud Prevention Prevent chargebacks with real-time risk scoring. Automatically flag high-risk orders and monitor fraud scores in your admin panel.
- Shopware 6 Quotes & Customer Pricing Offer personalized B2B pricing and manage quote requests with full control over discounts and pricing rules.
- Shopware 6 Subscription Integration Sell products on a subscription basis with flexible billing intervals, automated reorders, and discount incentives.
- Shopware 6 Listrak Integration Sync customer, cart, and order data with Listrak for powerful abandoned cart recovery and personalized marketing.
- Shopware 6 Multi Channel Content Customize product content per sales channel to improve engagement and conversion across storefronts and marketplaces.
- Shopware 6 Partial Delivery Manage split shipments by assigning tracking to partial packages and viewing delivery details per order.
- Shopware 6 AgeChecker.net Verify customer age at checkout using real-time database checks or ID upload—perfect for regulated industries.
- Shopware 6 PUDO Integration Let customers choose pick-up and drop-off points during checkout for more flexible, eco-friendly, and cost-effective deliveries.
Choosing the Right Shopware Agency
A good agency ensures your Shopware project is delivered on time, within scope, and built to grow. Look for certified Shopware partners with relevant case studies, technical depth, and end-to-end support offerings.
What to look for?
- Shopware certification and plugin contributions
- Portfolio with similar projects (B2B, migration, mobile-first)
- Services like design and SEOs
Why solution25 is a Trusted Shopware Partner
When it comes to launching, migrating, or scaling a Shopware project, your agency partner can make or break the outcome. solution25 is not just a Shopware agency; we’re a certified partner with years of proven experience helping clients leverage the full potential of Shopware 6 across both B2B and B2C projects.
Proven Experience with Shopware
solution25 has been developing with Shopware since its early releases and has a deep understanding of both the platform’s core and the custom solutions that today’s businesses require. From startups needing a clean launch to large enterprises seeking advanced features and ERP integrations, our team has delivered scalable, high-performing stores across industries.
What Sets Us Apart?
- Certified Shopware Expertise Our team includes certified Shopware developers and architects who stay updated on platform advancements and contribute to the ecosystem.
- Custom Plugin Development Need features you can’t find in the marketplace? We build secure, scalable plugins tailored to your business logic—from product configurators to B2B account management tools.
- Design and UX/UI Excellence Our in-house designers create intuitive and conversion-optimized user experiences that reflect your brand and delight your customers.
- Technical SEO and Performance Optimization We don’t just build Shopware sites—we optimize them for discoverability, speed, and structure. Our SEO and Core Web Vitals expertise helps our clients rank and convert.
- End-to-End Project Management From initial discovery workshops to go-live and post-launch support, our team works closely with yours using agile methodologies and clear documentation.
- Migration Experts We’ve migrated businesses from Magento, Shopify, WooCommerce, and proprietary systems to Shopware—preserving SEO rankings, customer data, and backend integrations along the way.
- B2B Commerce Readysolution25 has developed B2B portals with custom pricing, multi-user company accounts, order approval workflows, and ERP/PIM connections tailored to manufacturers, wholesalers, and industrial clients.
A Focus on Long-Term Growth
- Flexible maintenance packages
- Ongoing CRO/UX audits
- Roadmap planning for future upgrades
- Custom dashboards and analytics tracking
Why Developers Choose Shopware
Behind every successful eCommerce platform is a team of developers who either love it—or hate it.
Fortunately, Shopware is designed with developers in mind, which is one of the main reasons agencies like solution25 recommend it so often.
At the heart of Shopware’s developer appeal is its API-first architecture.This approach allows teams to build completely custom frontends—whether that’s a progressive web app (PWA), headless storefront, or mobile-first experience.Unlike monolithic platforms that force developers to work within rigid templates, Shopware offers flexibility and control without compromising structure. Developers also appreciate Shopware’s use of Symfony and Twig, both modern frameworks that are widely supported and well-documented.This means quicker onboarding for new devs and easier maintenance over time. Plus, its modular structure allows teams to build and maintain features like plugins, themes, and workflows independently, minimizing cross-dependencies and reducing bugs.
During interviews with our own team, one insight stood out: Shopware’s plugin system is incredibly well-thought-out.It allows for scalable customization that doesn’t break with every update—something developers dread in platforms like WooCommerce or even Shopify (especially when using third-party apps). Shopware also provides developers with a full test suite, detailed logging, and built-in performance tools.With tools like the Administration API, Store API, and Flow Builder, teams can automate everything from order workflows to shipping logistics—all while preserving clean code and business logic separation. And for developers working on US-based projects, the ability to integrate local tax providers, payment processors (like PayPal and Stripe), and fulfillment services is a huge plus.The platform is already equipped to handle US-specific needs like sales tax calculation, multi-state inventory, and compliance standards.
- So why does this matter for your business?
Because a happy developer team means faster delivery times, cleaner code, fewer bugs, and easier long-term scaling.
Shopware reduces the friction between business goals and technical execution, enabling your tech team to focus on innovation instead of constant patching.
Results That Speak for Themselves
From enhancing site performance by 80% to tripling conversion rates through UX and SEO improvements, our case studies demonstrate the measurable value we bring to Shopware projects. Clients across Europe and the US trust solution25 to deliver not only on time and on budget, but beyond expectations. If you’re seeking a certified, reliable, and innovative Shopware agency to bring your next project to life—solution25 is your ideal partner. Get in touch today and let’s build something extraordinary with Shopware.
FAQ
- What is Shopware? An open-source eCommerce platform built for flexibility and scalability.
- Why migrate? Shopware improves performance, flexibility, and B2B support.
- Is it good for B2B? Yes. It has a full B2B Suite with custom pricing and workflows.
- Cloud available? Yes. Self-host, VPS, Shopware Cloud, or PaaS options.
- Migration time? Usually 4–12 weeks depending on project scope.
- SEO-friendly? Extremely. Built-in SEO tools and structured data support.
- Headless support? Yes. Fully API-first and frontend-flexible.
- Best for? Retail, B2B, fashion, electronics, automotive, and more.