SFRA, the Storefront Reference Architecture, is the traditional template-based delivery model for Salesforce Commerce Cloud. The Composable Storefront, built on the PWA Kit and Managed Runtime, is the headless React-based architecture. The choice between them is one of the most expensive architectural decisions on an SFCC program — Composable adds 25–60% to implementation cost and 4–12 weeks to timeline versus SFRA.

What SFRA is

SFRA is Salesforce Commerce Cloud's template-based delivery model built on Salesforce-hosted ISML templates and JavaScript controllers. SFRA storefronts run entirely on Salesforce's managed infrastructure with limited front-end customization compared to a true headless model, but with substantially lower implementation cost, faster time-to-launch, and simpler operating model post-launch.

What the Composable Storefront is

The Composable Storefront, built on the PWA Kit (Progressive Web App Kit) and Managed Runtime, is SFCC's headless commerce architecture. It enables a React-based progressive web app front end that consumes SFCC's Commerce APIs while running on Salesforce's managed runtime infrastructure. Composable Storefront enables full front-end customization, edge rendering, and decoupling from SFCC's hosted template layer.

When Composable Storefront is justified

Composable Storefront is justified when one or more of three conditions applies:

Aggressive page-speed optimization is a primary KPI. If page-speed measurably impacts conversion rate and the SFRA performance ceiling is insufficient, Composable's edge-rendered React front end delivers material page-speed improvements.
Deep custom UX requires escape from SFRA template constraints. If the storefront design demands UX patterns that cannot be cleanly executed within SFRA's template architecture, Composable's full React front-end flexibility justifies the investment.
A unified front end is required across SFCC and other commerce backends. If the brand operates multiple commerce backends (SFCC + a separate marketplace platform, for example) and requires one front-end codebase across them, Composable's headless architecture enables this.

When SFRA is the right choice

For most SFCC programs, SFRA remains the more pragmatic choice:

Lower implementation cost (typically $300K–$800K versus $600K–$1.6M for comparable Composable scope).
Faster time-to-launch (4–7 months versus 8–14 months).
Simpler post-launch operating model — front-end changes flow through standard SFCC release processes.
Smaller front-end engineering team requirement on the client side.
Lower vendor lock-in risk on front-end engineering capability.

Decision framework

Question	If yes	If no
Is page-speed a top-3 KPI with measurable conversion impact?	Composable likely justified	SFRA likely sufficient
Does the UX design require patterns SFRA cannot deliver?	Composable justified	SFRA sufficient
Will the brand operate multiple commerce backends behind one front end?	Composable justified	SFRA sufficient
Does the brand have in-house React engineering capability for ongoing maintenance?	Composable feasible	SFRA preferred
Is build budget below $600K?	SFRA strongly preferred	Composable feasible if other conditions met

Watch for advisory bias. SFCC-pure-play partners with substantial Composable Storefront case study revenue have commercial incentive to recommend Composable when SFRA would have served the program adequately at lower cost. Multi-platform partners with non-SFCC headless track records (such as Elogic Commerce) face less commercial bias on this specific decision. Get a second opinion from a partner without Composable commercial incentive before committing.

Cost differential summary

SFRA standard B2C single-region: $200K–$400K implementation cost, 4–7 months.
Composable B2C single-region (equivalent scope): $400K–$700K implementation cost, 7–10 months.
SFRA enterprise B2B: $600K–$1.2M, 10–14 months.
Composable enterprise B2B: $1M–$2M, 12–18 months.

For partner selection advice on Composable Storefront programs, see the best SFCC partner for headless & Composable Storefront scenario page.

SFRA vs Composable Storefront / PWA Kit — Decision Guide