Hey everyone! 
I wanted to bring up something that I believe many developers and creators in this community can relate to.
Right now, accessing the Headless app on Shopify requires a Basic plan subscription, which honestly feels like overkill for a specific type of user. Let me explain why.
A growing number of people — myself included — are using Shopify purely as a backend. We don’t need the native Shopify storefront at all. What we need is access to Shopify’s robust infrastructure (products, orders, inventory management) through the Storefront API, so we can then connect it to a custom frontend built with tools like Framer, Webflow, or other modern frameworks.
For this kind of workflow, the Starter plan at $5/month would be the perfect fit. Yet, we’re currently forced to pay for an entire plan full of features we simply don’t use.
Here’s why I think this change makes sense:
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Developers building headless storefronts don’t need Shopify’s frontend
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No-code creators using Framer or Webflow just need the API access
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Cost efficiency — why pay for features you’ll never use?
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Business opportunity for Shopify — attract a wider dev community
It would be a win-win situation. Shopify would attract more developers and technical users, while those users would get access to exactly what they need at a fair price.
Has anyone else felt this way? And is there anyone from the Shopify team who could tell us if this is something on the roadmap? Would absolutely love some visibility on this! 
Looking forward to the discussion!
Hi @Darackk,
I agree, this would be a useful option for developers using Shopify only as a backend.
Right now, the Starter plan is mainly built for simple selling links/social selling, not full custom storefront or headless workflows. For headless builds, Shopify usually expects the Headless channel / Storefront API setup, which is why the Basic plan requirement can appear.
That said, your suggestion makes sense:
- Developers don’t need the Shopify theme storefront
- Framer/Webflow/custom frontend users mainly need API access
- A low-cost headless-only plan could attract more builders
The best next step is probably to submit this through Shopify Support as a feature request, because the Community can discuss it, but plan/app eligibility is something only Shopify can change.
A limited “Starter Headless” plan would definitely be valuable for small custom builds.
Hey @brisk_code thank you so much for your reply! 
You’ve perfectly summarized the core issue. The Starter plan, as it stands, is clearly designed for a very specific use case social selling and simple payment links which is great for that audience, but leaves headless developers in an awkward middle ground.
What’s frustrating is that the gap between $5 and $25/month might seem small on paper, but for indie developers, freelancers, or creators just starting out with a headless project, it’s actually a significant barrier to entry. Especially when you consider that we’re essentially paying for a full storefront we’ll never use.
Your point about submitting a formal feature request to Shopify Support is well taken, and I’ll definitely do that. I’d encourage anyone reading this thread who feels the same way to do it as well the more requests they receive, the more likely it is to get traction. 
Ideally, what I’d love to see is something like a “Starter Headless” tier that includes:
Storefront API access
Basic product & inventory management
Order processing
No native Shopify storefront (since we don’t need it)
This would be a perfect entry point for developers building with Framer, Webflow, or any custom frontend, without forcing them to pay for features that are completely irrelevant to their workflow.
If anyone from the Shopify team is reading this, this is genuinely a business opportunity. The headless space is growing fast, and making it more accessible at a lower price point would bring a whole new wave of developers into the Shopify ecosystem. 
Thanks again for engaging with this let’s keep the conversation going!
Hey @Darackk
You’ve nailed it. Go ahead and submit it as a feature request — the more of us who back it, the better the chance Shopify listens. A “Starter Headless” tier would be perfect for builders like us. Fingers crossed!