Shopware logo

Shopware

API‑first, headless e‑commerce platform built on Symfony.

Shopware 6 is a Symfony‑based, Vue.js‑driven, API‑first e‑commerce platform offering a ready‑to‑use cart, headless capabilities, and a marketplace of over 3,100 extensions.

Shopware banner

Overview

Highlights

API‑first architecture for seamless integrations
Built on Symfony 7 and Vue.js 3
Extensible via plugins and lightweight apps
Headless mode supports custom front‑ends

Pros

  • Strong global community and extensive extension marketplace
  • Modern tech stack enables high performance
  • Flexible extension system (plugins & apps)
  • Scalable headless and traditional storefront options

Considerations

  • Steeper learning curve for Symfony/PHP newcomers
  • Advanced features may require commercial plan
  • Complex setup for on‑premise deployments
  • Resource‑intensive for very small shops

Managed products teams compare with

When teams consider Shopware, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.

Adobe Commerce logo

Adobe Commerce

Enterprise e-commerce platform (formerly Magento Commerce) for building customizable online storefronts with rich features

BigCommerce logo

BigCommerce

Cloud-based SaaS e-commerce platform for creating and scaling online stores across B2C and B2B

commercetools logo

commercetools

Headless commerce platform (MACH) for building custom storefronts

Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.

Fit guide

Great for

  • Mid‑size to large retailers needing customizable commerce
  • Developers preferring Symfony/PHP ecosystem
  • Businesses requiring headless architecture for omnichannel
  • Merchants wanting access to 3,000+ extensions

Not ideal when

  • Tiny shops with minimal budgets
  • Teams lacking PHP or Symfony expertise
  • Projects that need a pure SaaS solution without self‑hosting
  • Organizations preferring proprietary vendor‑locked platforms

How teams use it

Headless storefront with custom React front‑end

Deliver a fast, brand‑specific UI while reusing Shopware’s API for product and order management.

Integrate ERP system via Shopware API

Synchronize inventory, pricing, and order data automatically between ERP and the shop.

Add custom checkout logic through a plugin

Implement bespoke payment rules or loyalty calculations without altering core code.

Deploy on‑premise with commercial plan

Gain access to premium features and professional support while hosting the platform on own infrastructure.

Tech snapshot

PHP62%
JavaScript23%
Twig9%
TypeScript4%
SCSS2%
HTML1%

Tags

headless-cmsonline-storesymfonyexperience-commerceshoponline-shopecommercehacktoberfestapifirststorefrontphpmagentoprestashopexperience-managershopping-cartapi-first-cmsvuejsshopwareecommerce-platformdigital-commerce

Frequently asked questions

What programming language does Shopware use?

Shopware is written in PHP and built on the Symfony framework, with a Vue.js front‑end.

Is Shopware API‑first?

Yes, the platform exposes a comprehensive REST/GraphQL API for all core functionalities.

How can I extend Shopware?

You can create plugins for deep integration or lightweight apps for adding features with minimal Shopware‑specific code.

Can Shopware be used headlessly?

Absolutely; the API‑first design allows you to decouple the front‑end and build custom experiences.

What hosting options are available?

Shopware offers a fully managed cloud plan, on‑premise installation via the Flex template, and a network of hosting partners for pre‑installed setups.

Project at a glance

Active
Stars
3,269
Watchers
3,269
Forks
1,152
LicenseMIT
Repo age7 years old
Last commit23 hours ago
Primary languagePHP

Last synced 23 hours ago