Headless Shopify and Hydrogen development
Someone has recommended a headless rebuild, and you want to know whether it pays for itself.
In short
Lintel plans and builds headless Shopify storefronts with Hydrogen, Shopify’s React-based framework, and the Storefront API. We build on Liquid by default and recommend headless only when it pays for itself: when a storefront needs a custom experience, content or performance that a theme cannot deliver.
Who it is for
Brands that have been told to go headless and want to know whether it is worth it, and teams with a clear need for a custom storefront: a highly interactive experience, content from several sources, or a shared frontend across web and app.
What we build
- A written recommendation: theme, headless or a mix, with the costs and trade-offs of each.
- Hydrogen storefronts on the Storefront API, with caching planned from the start.
- Hosting and deployment on Oxygen, Shopify’s hosting for Hydrogen, or on your own infrastructure when that fits better.
- Content and integrations: product data from Shopify, editorial content from a CMS or metaobjects, and the APIs around them.
When headless pays for itself
| Situation | Usually the better choice |
|---|---|
| A standard store with custom sections and apps | A Liquid theme, extended where needed |
| A custom, app-like shopping experience | Hydrogen |
| Content and commerce from several systems in one frontend | Hydrogen |
| A small team without developers to maintain a codebase | A Liquid theme |
See how a Hydrogen storefront is built in Snow / Motion, a technical showcase with lab performance metrics.
How an enquiry works
- Send a short briefTell us about the store and what isn’t working.
- We review itUsually within 24 hours.
- Scope and pricingWe discuss what the work involves and what it costs.
- Go ahead if there’s a fitThe project starts once scope and price are agreed.
Gencer KarakayaFounder & Shopify Engineer
Every brief is reviewed by the founder.
Questions
- Is headless faster than a Shopify theme?
- It can be, but not automatically. Speed depends on how the storefront is built and cached. A well-built theme is often fast enough.
- What is Hydrogen?
- Hydrogen is Shopify’s framework for building headless storefronts with React, designed to work with the Storefront API and Shopify’s Oxygen hosting.
- Can we keep our Shopify checkout?
- Yes. A headless storefront still uses Shopify for products, carts and checkout.