Does the wishlist work with headless or custom storefronts?
Overview
Yes — Wishlist Club can work with headless storefronts, custom storefronts, and mobile apps through its API integration, which is available on the Enterprise plan.
This setup is designed for stores that do not use a standard Shopify theme on the storefront. Instead of relying on theme-based wishlist widgets, your team can use the API to power wishlist features in a custom shopping experience while keeping wishlist data connected to the customer account.
API access for headless and custom storefronts is available on the Enterprise plan.
When this applies
This article is for you if your store uses any of the following:
A headless storefront built with a custom frontend
A fully custom storefront that does not use Shopify theme templates
A mobile app that needs to show and manage customer wishlists
A separate customer experience that still needs access to wishlist data
If you use a standard Shopify theme, you usually do not need the API for normal wishlist functionality.
What the API lets you do
With the API, you can build wishlist functionality outside of a Shopify theme and decide exactly how it looks and behaves in your storefront or app.
Show a customer’s saved items in a custom wishlist page
Let customers add products to their wishlist from custom product pages or collection pages
Remove products from a wishlist
Sync wishlist activity between your storefront, app, and customer account
Use wishlist data in custom experiences such as saved-item reminders, personalized recommendations, or customer-facing dashboards
Wishlist Club provides the wishlist data and actions. Your custom storefront or app is responsible for how that experience is displayed to shoppers.
How it works
In a standard Shopify theme, Wishlist Club can add storefront elements for you. In a headless or custom setup, your storefront does not use those theme-based components, so your team connects to Wishlist Club through the API instead.
This means:
Your wishlist experience can match your exact storefront design
Your developers can choose where wishlist buttons, pages, and saved-item views appear
Customers can still use wishlist features in a custom storefront experience
Before you start
Make sure all of the following are in place before setup:
Your store is on the Enterprise plan
You have access to the Wishlist Club app in Shopify admin
You know which domain or app environment will connect to the API
You have a secure server or backend where API requests can be made safely
Do not place your API access token directly in browser code or a mobile app bundle. It should be stored and used securely on your server or backend.
Set up API access
In Shopify admin, go to Apps → WC Wishlist & Back in Stock → Settings → APIs.
Click Generate Token.
Copy the token and save it in a secure location. Treat it like a password, because it allows access to your wishlist data.
In the Allowed Domains section, add the domains that should be permitted to use the API.
Examples:
https://yourstore.com
https://app.yourstore.comSave your changes after adding them.
Your development team can now connect your custom storefront, headless frontend, or mobile app to Wishlist Club using the token and approved domain settings.
Before going live, test the full customer journey:
Add an item to a wishlist
View saved items
Remove an item
Confirm the correct wishlist appears for the correct customer
Allowed domains: recommended setup
Allowed domains help protect your API access by limiting which storefronts or environments can send requests.
If you add allowed domains, requests from other domains are rejected
If you leave this blank, requests may be accepted from any origin
This can be helpful during testing, but it is usually not the best choice for a live store
For the best security, add only the domains you actively use, including your production storefront and any approved staging environment.
What customers can expect
Once the API is connected correctly, customers can use wishlist features in your custom storefront much like they would in a theme-based store. Depending on how your team implements it, customers may be able to:
Save products from product pages or listing pages
View a dedicated wishlist page
Access their wishlist across devices when signed in
Manage saved items from a mobile app or custom account area
The exact appearance and placement of these features depend on your custom storefront design.
Best practices
Use a secure backend for API requests
Restrict access with allowed domains
Test wishlist actions on both desktop and mobile experiences
Confirm the signed-in customer always sees the correct wishlist
Review your wishlist flow after storefront updates or app changes
Common questions
Yes. Wishlist Club supports headless storefronts through the API on the Enterprise plan.
Yes. If your storefront does not use a standard Shopify theme, you can still offer wishlist functionality by connecting through the API.
Yes. Mobile apps can use the API to display and manage customer wishlist data.
Usually no. Most stores using a standard Shopify theme can use Wishlist Club without building a custom API-based wishlist experience.
No. The token should be kept private and used only in a secure backend environment.
Troubleshooting checklist
If the wishlist is not working in your custom storefront or app, check the following:
Your store is on the Enterprise plan
Your API token was generated successfully
The token is being stored securely
Your live domain is listed in Allowed Domains
Your custom storefront is sending requests from the expected domain
You have tested with a customer account that should have wishlist access
If requests work in development but fail on your live storefront, the most common cause is missing or incorrect allowed domain settings.
Need help?
If you are not sure which file to edit, or you would rather have us handle the installation, contact our support team:
Email: [email protected]
Live chat: available from the app admin
Free onboarding 1:1 call