Running a headless Shopify store gives you incredible flexibility and performance, but it also means traditional apps won't always work out of the box. You need tools specifically built or optimized for headless architecture.
Finding the right Shopify apps for your headless store can make the difference between a smooth operation and constant technical headaches. Some apps seamlessly integrate with headless setups through APIs, while others require workarounds or custom development.
This guide covers 10 essential Shopify apps that actually work well with headless stores. We've tested these with various headless frameworks like Hydrogen, Next.js, and Gatsby. You'll learn which apps handle inventory management, customer support, marketing automation, and promotions without breaking your decoupled setup.
Each app includes integration difficulty, pricing, and specific considerations for headless implementation. Whether you're building your first headless store or optimizing an existing one, these tools will help you deliver the shopping experience your customers expect.
I. What is a Shopify Headless Store?
A headless Shopify store separates your frontend (what customers see) from your backend (Shopify's commerce engine). Instead of using Shopify's default themes, you build custom frontends using frameworks like React, Vue, or Next.js while Shopify handles inventory, payments, and orders through APIs.
Benefits:
- Lightning-fast page loads and better performance
- Complete design freedom without theme limitations
- Better SEO control and Core Web Vitals scores
- Seamless omnichannel experiences across web, mobile, and IoT
Why app selection matters: Most Shopify apps expect a traditional store setup. They inject code into theme files or rely on Shopify's frontend structure. With headless, these apps often break or don't display at all.
You need apps that offer robust APIs, webhooks, or SDKs for frontend integration. Poor app choices mean spending weeks on custom development or losing critical features. The right apps work immediately through API connections, saving development time and maintaining your store's performance advantages.
II. Top 13 Shopify Apps for Headless Stores: Quick Overview
Here's a breakdown of the best Shopify apps that work smoothly with headless architectures. We've organized them by category to help you find what you need quickly.
Note: Pricing and features change frequently. Check each app's website for current details.
III. Detailed Overview
1. BOGOS - Best for Sales Promotions
Reviews: ⭐ 4.9/5 stars (3,000+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
BOGOS specializes in creating automatic promotions that actually work with headless stores. Unlike native Shopify discounts that often break in custom frontends, BOGOS handles everything through APIs. The app excels at complex promotion scenarios like "Buy 2 Get 1 Free" or "Spend $100 Get a Free Gift" without requiring customers to enter codes or take extra steps.
The app provides a JavaScript SDK specifically designed for headless stores, making integration much smoother than typical Shopify apps. What sets BOGOS apart is automatic gift addition directly to cart, customizable popups that match your brand, and real-time analytics to track promotion performance. For headless stores wanting professional promotions without weeks of custom development, BOGOS offers the most complete solution.
Key Features:
- Automatic gift addition without customer action
- BOGO campaigns with flexible Buy X Get Y conditions
- Bundle creation (fixed bundles and mix-and-match)
- Volume discounts with tiered pricing
- Gift with purchase at specific cart values
- Customizable popup widgets
- Advanced targeting by customer tags, location, or date
- Real-time analytics and conversion tracking
Pricing:
- Free Plan available
- Basic: $29.99/month
- Professional: $49.99/month
- Unlimited: $69.99/month
- Plus: $99.99/month
4. Yotpo - Enterprise-Level Reviews & UGC
Reviews: ⭐ 4.7/5 stars (2,800+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Yotpo goes beyond basic reviews to create a complete user-generated content ecosystem. The platform collects and displays product reviews, photos, and Q&As while using this content across email campaigns, social media, and Google Shopping ads. Their AI-powered review requests get 5x higher response rates than standard emails, and the visual UGC gallery turns customer photos into shoppable experiences that boost conversion rates.
Yotpo provides robust APIs and React components specifically for headless stores, with official Hydrogen documentation available. The platform's strength lies in its ability to syndicate reviews across multiple channels—your reviews appear in Google search results, social proof widgets, and even SMS campaigns. Advanced features like sentiment analysis, competitor benchmarking, and loyalty program integration make it ideal for brands serious about social proof.
Key Features:
- Product reviews with photo and video uploads
- Q&A functionality for customer inquiries
- Shoppable Instagram galleries
- Review syndication to Google Shopping
- AI-powered review collection
- Visual marketing with customer photos
- SMS marketing integration
- Loyalty program connection
- Sentiment analysis and insights
Pricing:
- Free: Basic reviews for up to 50 orders/month
- Growth: $15/month
- Pro: $119/month
5. Judge.me - Budget-Friendly Reviews
Reviews: ⭐5.0/5 stars (32,700+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Judge.me delivers enterprise-level review features at a fraction of the cost of premium alternatives. The app handles all review essentials—star ratings, photo reviews, review requests, and Google Shopping syndication—without the hefty price tag. Their aggressive review collection system, including in-mail forms and customizable follow-ups, typically achieves 15-25% response rates compared to the industry average of 2-3%.
The app offers a public API for headless stores, allowing you to fetch review data and build custom review displays in your frontend. What makes Judge.me particularly appealing is unlimited reviews on all paid plans, coupon incentives for reviewers, and built-in SEO features that help reviews appear in Google search results. For stores that want professional review management without enterprise pricing, Judge.me offers exceptional value.
Key Features:
- Unlimited product reviews on paid plans
- Photo and video reviews
- Review request automation
- In-email review forms
- Google Shopping review syndication
- Q&A functionality
- Coupon incentives for reviewers
- Review carousel widgets
- SEO-rich snippets markup
- Import reviews from other platforms
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 10 reviews/month
- Awesome: $15/month (unlimited reviews)
6. Rebuy - Smart Personalization & Upselling
Reviews: ⭐ 4.8/5 stars (700+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Rebuy transforms your store into a personalized shopping experience using AI-driven product recommendations and smart cart features. The platform analyzes customer behavior in real-time to suggest relevant products, increasing average order value by 10-30% for most stores. Beyond basic upsells, Rebuy creates complete merchandising experiences—from personalized homepages to post-purchase offers—all powered by machine learning that improves over time.
The app is one of the most headless-friendly options available, offering a dedicated JavaScript SDK (@rebuy/engine) for seamless integration. Rebuy's strength lies in its data engine that tracks customer interactions across your entire store, then uses that intelligence to power recommendations everywhere—product pages, cart drawers, checkout, even email campaigns. Features like A/B testing built into every widget and detailed analytics help you optimize what actually drives revenue.
Key Features:
- AI-powered product recommendations
- Smart cart with upsells and cross-sells
- Post-purchase upsell offers
- Personalized search results
- Bundle recommendations
- Subscription upsells with Recharge integration
- A/B testing for all widgets
- Advanced segmentation rules
- Mobile-optimized experiences
- Detailed revenue attribution reports
Pricing:
- Free plan available
- Build your own plan: Starting at $25/month
- Platform one: $538/month
7. Recharge - Subscription Management Platform
Reviews: ⭐ 4.8/5 stars (1,900+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Recharge powers subscription commerce for thousands of Shopify stores, handling everything from simple monthly deliveries to complex subscription boxes with rotating products. The platform manages the entire subscription lifecycle—sign-ups, billing, customer portals, and retention tools—while integrating seamlessly with Shopify's native checkout. Their analytics dashboard reveals crucial metrics like lifetime value, churn rates, and upcoming revenue, helping you make data-driven decisions about your subscription program.
For headless stores, Recharge works through API integration with Shopify's Selling Plan IDs, allowing your custom frontend to handle subscription options while Shopify manages checkout. The app's real strength is reducing subscription churn through smart features like skip/pause options, product swaps, and automated win-back campaigns. Advanced capabilities include build-a-box subscriptions, prepaid subscriptions for better cash flow, and SMS notifications that keep customers engaged between orders.
Key Features:
- Flexible subscription frequencies and billing
- Customer portal for self-service management
- Skip, pause, and swap product options
- Prepaid subscription plans
- Build-a-box subscriptions
- Automated dunning management
- Retention tools and win-back flows
- Advanced analytics and cohort analysis
- SMS notifications for subscribers
- Integration with major email platforms
Pricing:
- Standard: $50/month
- Starter: $99/month
- Pro: $499/month
8. Klaviyo - Advanced Email Marketing Automation
Reviews: ⭐ 4.6/5 stars (2,600+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Klaviyo is the email marketing powerhouse that most successful Shopify stores eventually adopt. The platform combines sophisticated segmentation with pre-built automation flows that generate 20-30% of total store revenue on average. Unlike basic email tools, Klaviyo pulls deep customer data from Shopify—browsing behavior, purchase history, predicted lifetime value—to create hyper-targeted campaigns that actually convert.
For headless stores, Klaviyo maintains server-side sync for order data while offering a Client API for custom forms and tracking. The platform's strength is its flow library with proven templates for welcome series, abandoned carts, win-back campaigns, and post-purchase sequences. Advanced features like predictive analytics (when someone will buy next), SMS marketing integration, and built-in A/B testing make it the most comprehensive marketing automation platform for growing stores.
Key Features:
- Pre-built automation flows for common scenarios
- Advanced segmentation with 100+ filters
- Predictive analytics and CLV calculations
- SMS marketing integration
- Drag-and-drop email builder
- A/B testing for campaigns and flows
- Product recommendations in emails
- Real-time revenue tracking
- Integration with reviews and loyalty apps
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 250 contacts, 500 email sends
- Email: Starting at $20/month for 251-500 contacts
- Email & SMS: Starting at $35/month
9. Smile.io - Points-Based Loyalty Programs
Reviews: ⭐ 4.7/5 stars (3,900+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Smile.io makes loyalty programs accessible for stores of all sizes, turning one-time buyers into repeat customers. The platform lets you create points-based rewards, VIP tiers, and referral programs that integrate seamlessly with your existing tech stack. Most stores see 15-25% of revenue come from loyalty members, who spend 4x more than regular customers on average.
Headless integration requires their Enterprise plan for full API access, which can be limiting for smaller stores. The platform excels at gamification—customers earn points for purchases, social shares, birthdays, and custom actions you define. Built-in features like points expiration, exclusive member pricing, and integration with email platforms help maintain engagement. Their analytics dashboard tracks program performance, showing exactly how loyalty impacts your bottom line.
Key Features:
- Points-based reward system
- VIP tiers with escalating benefits
- Referral program builder
- Customizable earning and redemption rules
- Points expiration settings
- Member-only pricing and products
- Birthday and anniversary rewards
- Integration with email and reviews apps
- Detailed loyalty analytics
Pricing:
- Free: Up to 200 orders/month
- Starter: $49/month (up to 500 orders)
- Growth: $199/month (up to 2,500 orders)
- Plus: $999/month (unlimited orders)
- Enterprise: Custom pricing with API access
10. Bon Loyalty - Simple Loyalty Programs
Reviews: ⭐ 5.0/5 stars (1,600+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Bon Loyalty offers a streamlined approach to loyalty programs without the complexity or high costs of enterprise solutions. The app focuses on essential features that actually drive retention—points for purchases, referral rewards, and VIP tiers—while maintaining a clean, easy-to-use interface. Their widget loads fast, doesn't slow down your site, and actually looks good out of the box.
The app specifically advertises Hydrogen SDK support, making it one of the better choices for headless stores on a budget. Bon Loyalty strikes the right balance between functionality and simplicity. You get all core loyalty features plus some clever additions like points for Instagram follows, product reviews, and email signups. The pricing structure is also refreshingly straightforward—no percentage fees or hidden costs based on revenue.
Key Features:
- Points for purchases and custom actions
- Referral program with social sharing
- VIP tiers with automatic upgrades
- Birthday rewards and bonuses
- Customizable loyalty widget
- Email notification system
- Points expiration options
- Import existing loyalty data
- Multi-language support
Pricing:
- Free plan available.
- Basic: $25/month.
- Growth: $99/month.
- Professional: $349/month
9. Shogun - Visual Page Builder for Headless
Reviews: ⭐ 4.7/5 stars (1,988+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Shogun bridges the gap between visual design and headless architecture, functioning more as a CMS than a traditional page builder. The platform lets non-technical teams create landing pages, blog posts, and content sections using a drag-and-drop interface, then delivers that content to your headless frontend via API. This means marketers can launch campaigns without developer involvement while maintaining your site's performance.
Unlike traditional page builders that generate theme code, Shogun outputs structured data that your React or Vue frontend can consume. The platform includes A/B testing built-in, mobile-responsive designs, and a library of conversion-optimized templates. Their frontend API makes it one of the few visual editors that actually works with headless stores, though initial setup requires more technical configuration than standard Shopify apps.
Key Features:
- Visual drag-and-drop editor
- Frontend API for headless stores
- A/B testing functionality
- Mobile-responsive templates
- Custom code elements
- Dynamic content sections
- SEO optimization tools
- Form builder with integrations
- Analytics and heat mapping
- Scheduled content publishing
Pricing:
- Build: $39/month
- Growth: $199/month
- Team: $499/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
10. Gorgias - Unified Customer Support Platform
Reviews: ⭐ 4.3/5 stars (700+ reviews on Shopify App Store)
Gorgias centralizes all customer communication—email, chat, SMS, social media—into one dashboard specifically designed for ecommerce. The platform pulls order data directly into support tickets, letting agents process returns, modifications, and refunds without leaving the helpdesk. Most stores reduce response time by 70% and increase customer satisfaction scores after implementing Gorgias.
For headless stores, Gorgias provides a JavaScript widget for chat functionality and APIs for custom integrations. The platform's automation handles 30-40% of inquiries automatically using AI and predefined rules. Features like macro templates, revenue tracking per ticket, and integration with all major Shopify apps make it the most complete support solution for growing stores.
Key Features:
- Unified inbox for all channels
- Live chat with proactive campaigns
- Automation rules and macros
- Order management within tickets
- Revenue tracking and reporting
- AI-powered auto-responses
- SMS and social media support
- Integration with 100+ apps
- Customer satisfaction surveys
- Team collaboration tools
Pricing:
- Starter: $10/month
- Basic: $60/month
- Pro: $360/month
- Advanced: $900/month
- Enterprise and custom plans available
Conclusion
Building a headless Shopify store offers great flexibility, but requires a careful tech stack selection. The 10 Shopify apps listed here have proven track records with headless architectures, saving you from integration nightmares. Start with essentials like search, reviews, and email marketing before layering in advanced features like subscriptions. Prioritize apps with robust APIs and SDKs to minimize custom development. Ultimately, ignore the flashy demos and choose tools with strong developer support that genuinely improve your customers experience.
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