What Is Headless WordPress? (& How to Develop a Headless Website) 

Slow, inflexible WordPress sites reduce visitor experience and limit growth. Heavy themes and plugin conflicts drag down performance, and rigid templates don’t give you complete flexibility. Every extra second of load time costs the potential conversion that could happen.

Headless WordPress separates content management from the frontend. This gives you more flexibility when developing a website.

In this blog, we’ll understand what exactly the headless development approach is and how it works. We’ll cover its advantages and when WordPress development companies use it. With that said, let’s get started!

What is Headless WordPress​?

You’ve probably heard the term ‘Headless WordPress’ floating around. It sounds technical, but the idea is actually pretty simple. Normally, WordPress handles both your content (backend) and how it looks (frontend).

In the WordPress headless setup, WordPress serves as the backend, managing content creation, organization, and storage. And the presentation layer is built using frontend technologies, such as React, Vue.js, Angular, and more. This separation of backend and frontend gives you more flexibility when developing a website.

How Does Headless WordPress Work?

In traditional WordPress, everything is connected. The backend (where you create content) and frontend (what visitors see) work together. WordPress themes control the design.

Here is how the backend and frontend work separately in the headless WordPress approach:

1. Content is Stored in WordPress

• You still use the WordPress admin dashboard.
• Create posts, pages, and products like normal.

2. The Frontend of WordPress is Not Used

• WordPress doesn’t render your site anymore.
• No themes. No templates.

3. API Works as the Bridge

• WordPress exposes your content through an API.
• Usually REST API or GraphQL.
• It’s just raw data—no formatting.

4. Custom Frontend Fetches Content

• A separate application (built with React, Vue, etc.) calls this API.
• Grabs your content.
• Displays it exactly how you programmed it to look.

5. Visitors See the Custom Frontend

• Visitors interact with your React/Vue/Next.js site.
• WordPress stays hidden in the background.

This is how headless works with WordPress. Now that we know how, let’s jump to the benefits of using the headless approach.

Advantages of Using Headless WordPress

Headless WordPress isn’t just a development trend – it solves real problems. Here’s why smart teams are making the switch.

Faster Performance

Your site loads instantly without bulky theme code slowing it down. Headless delivers just your content without the WordPress frontend baggage. Visitors get snappy page loads that keep them engaged. Search engines reward this speed with better rankings.

Enhanced Security

With no WordPress frontend exposed, hackers have fewer attack surfaces to target. Your content stays protected in the backend while the frontend runs separately. No plugins or themes mean fewer vulnerabilities. It’s security by simplification.

Greater Flexibility

Break free from restrictive WordPress themes and templates. Design exactly what you imagine using modern frameworks like React or Vue. Change your frontend without touching content. The possibilities are truly limitless.

Better Scalability

Handle traffic spikes effortlessly since your frontend and backend scale independently. No more crashes during traffic surges. Your content stays available no matter how many visitors arrive. It grows seamlessly with your audience.

Omnichannel Content Delivery

Push content anywhere – websites, mobile apps, digital displays – all from one WordPress backend. Maintain consistency across every platform. Update once and publish everywhere effortlessly.

Headless WordPress gives you speed, control, and flexibility that traditional setups can’t match. It’s perfect for large websites where performance matters.

When is Using Headless WordPress the Best Option?

Not every site needs to go headless—but for many projects, it’s a useful and preferred approach. It’s worth considering when…

• You Need Blazing Speed: If your site must load instantly (like eCommerce or news sites), headless cuts out the WordPress frontend limitations. Every millisecond counts.
• You Want a Custom Experience: Tired of cookie-cutter WordPress themes? Headless lets you build exactly what you imagine with modern tools like React or Vue. No compromises.
• Your Top Priority is Security: For sensitive sites (like member portals), separating the frontend from WordPress reduces hackable surfaces. Less exposure = less risk.
• You Expect Big Traffic Spikes: If your site could go viral (or you’re planning a big launch), headless handles surges better. The frontend won’t drag down your backend.
• Your Content Lives in Multiple Places: Running a website + app + digital displays? Headless means one WordPress backend feeds them all. Update once, publish everywhere.

These are the scenarios where the headless approach is one of the best choices. Now let’s discuss when you should not use headless WordPress for developing your website.

When Should You Avoid Using Headless WordPress?

Headless sounds great, but it’s not perfect for every situation. Here’s when you might want to stick with traditional WordPress:

• Your Budget is Tight: Headless costs more upfront. You’ll need developers who know modern frameworks – not just WordPress skills.
• You Run a Simple Site: Got a basic blog or small business site? The extra speed and flexibility probably aren’t worth developing a headless website.
• You Need Plugins to Work Normally: Many WordPress plugins won’t function properly in a headless setup. If your site depends on them, think twice.
• Your Team Isn’t Technical: You’ll need a team with skills in using multiple web technologies. Plus, managing a headless site becomes much harder for non-coders.
• You Need Quick Changes: With headless, simple design tweaks often require developer help. Traditional WordPress lets you make edits instantly.

Headless is powerful, but it’s like buying a race car when you just need a reliable sedan. For most small sites, traditional WordPress is simpler, cheaper, and easier to manage.

How to Create a Headless WordPress Site?

Creating a headless WordPress website is not simple. Here we’ll discuss only the overview of headless development without going much into the complexities. 

1. Set Up Your WordPress Backend

This is where your content lives. We’ll keep WordPress but strip out what we don’t need.

Step 1: Install WordPress normally on any hosting (SiteGround, WP Engine, or even localhost).

Step 2: Go to Appearance > Themes and remove all active themes (you won’t need them).

Step 3: Verify the REST API is working by visiting yoursite.com/wp-json.

Step 4: Create your content as usual – this will become your data source.

Tip: Use custom post types if you need more content flexibility.

2. Choose Your Frontend Tech

Now we’ll build what visitors actually see – the frontend.

Step 1: If you are a beginner, use Next.js. Conversely, if you need more control, React/Vue can be a good choice.

Step 2: Install Node.js and create your project folder.

Step 3: Add axios or fetch to handle API requests to WordPress.

Step 4: Connect to WordPress REST API using your site’s /wp-json endpoint.

Tip: Try the WPGraphQL plugin if you prefer GraphQL over REST.

3. Fetch and Display Content

Time to bring your content to life in your custom frontend.

Step 1: Call the API to get posts: yoursite.com/wp-json/wp/v2/posts.

Step 2: Map through the data to display titles, content, and images.

Step 3: Style with CSS modules or Tailwind for a unique look.

Step 4: Add features like search or filters using JavaScript.

Tip: Start with basic post display before adding complex features.

4. Deploy Your Frontend

Let’s get your creation live on the internet.

Step 1: Choose a host (Vercel is easiest for Next.js, Netlify works too).

Step 2: Push your code to GitHub (create an account if needed).

Step 3: Connect your repo to your web hosting service.

Step 4: Set up a custom domain if you have one (DNS settings).

Tip: Enable automatic deploys when you push changes.

5. Configure for Production

Final touches to make your site fast and secure.

Step 1: Set up caching (Vercel/Netlify do this automatically).

Step 2: Add security headers in your hosting settings.

Step 3: Install analytics (Google Analytics or Plausible).

Step 4: Optimize images with the Imagify plugin or similar tools.

Tip: Test your site with Lighthouse for performance checks.

This isn’t a weekend project if you’re new to development. Take it step by step. The development will be complex and time-taking, but the control and performance of the website will be worth it.

Best Plugins for Developing Headless WordPress Website

Here are three powerful plugins that make headless WordPress development smoother:

1. Headless Mode

This plugin completely disables the WordPress frontend, forcing all traffic to your headless frontend. It’s perfect when you want to ensure no one accidentally accesses the default WP interface.

Key Features:

• Disables theme rendering and frontend access.
• Redirects all frontend requests to your headless URL.
• Works seamlessly with REST API and GraphQL.
• Lightweight with minimal performance impact.
• Easy setup with no complex configuration.

Best for: Developers who want to enforce a pure headless setup.

2. Faust.js

Created by WP Engine, Faust.js is a React framework designed specifically for headless WordPress. It handles all the complex stuff so you can focus on building.

Key Features:

• Pre-built templates for quick starts.
• Automatic image optimization.
• Built-in GraphQL support.
• Preview mode for content editors.
• Server-side rendering out of the box.

Best for: Teams using React along with WordPress who want an all-in-one solution.

3. CoCart

This plugin supercharges WooCommerce for headless setups. It gives you full cart functionality through the API – something standard WooCommerce struggles with.

Key Features:

• Complete cart functionality via REST API.
• Real-time cart updates.
• Supports all WooCommerce product types.
• Session handling for guest users.
• Extensive developer documentation.

Best for: Headless eCommerce stores using WooCommerce.

All three are actively maintained and solve specific pain points in headless development. Try them out and see which ones you need.

Headless WordPress Vs. Traditional WordPress

Feature	Traditional WordPress	Headless WordPress
Frontend	Uses WordPress themes (PHP-based)	Custom frontend (React, Vue, Next.js, etc.)
Performance	Slower (due to themes & plugins)	Faster (optimized frontend, static site possible)
Flexibility	Limited by themes & plugins	Full design & functionality control
Content Delivery	Only for websites	Websites, apps, IoT, digital displays (omnichannel)
Security	More vulnerable (PHP & plugins)	More secure (no direct WP frontend exposure)
Development	Easy for beginners (no-code options)	Requires JavaScript/API knowledge
SEO	Built-in SEO (plugins like Yoast)	Needs manual SEO setup (but can be better optimized)
Cost	Lower cost (themes & plugins)	Higher cost (custom development)
Best For	Blogs, small business sites	High-performance sites, apps, large-scale projects

FAQs About Headless WordPress

Wrapping Up

Headless WordPress is an approach that allows you to build fast and flexible websites without losing the ease of WordPress. By splitting the backend and frontend, you get the best of both worlds: a familiar content system paired with modern frontend development technology.

It’s not for every project, though. If you love drag-and-drop editors or run a simple blog, traditional WordPress might still be the better fit. But for developers and businesses needing speed and scalability, going headless can be the best option.

Need help going headless? Check out our list of top WordPress development companies that can build headless websites that align with your needs.