Question 1

REST API or WPGraphQL — which should I use?

Accepted Answer

The REST API requires no extra plugins and works fine for straightforward content. WPGraphQL gives you precise, flexible queries and reduces over-fetching. For complex projects with multiple post types and relationships, WPGraphQL is the better long-term choice.

Question 2

Can WooCommerce work in a headless setup?

Accepted Answer

Yes. WooCommerce exposes a REST API for products, cart management, and orders. A React frontend can consume it to build a custom storefront. Some WooCommerce plugins that hook into the theme layer will not function, so plugin compatibility needs checking before you start.

Question 3

How does user authentication work?

Accepted Answer

Install the JWT Authentication for WP REST API plugin. Your React app posts credentials to the auth endpoint, receives a JWT token, and includes it as a Bearer header on requests that require authentication. The token has an expiry, so implement refresh logic for sessions that last longer than a few hours.

Question 4

What does it cost to build a headless WordPress site?

Accepted Answer

Managed WordPress hosting typically runs between $30 and $100 per month. Vercel and Netlify have generous free tiers for most frontend traffic levels. Development time is the bigger cost. A mid-scale project realistically takes 40 to 200 hours depending on complexity and design requirements.

Question 5

Do WordPress plugins still work in a headless setup?

Accepted Answer

Backend plugins work well. SEO plugins like Yoast manage meta data that the API exposes. Advanced Custom Fields structures your content. WPGraphQL extends the API. Frontend-rendering plugins tied to WordPress themes will not transfer to a headless frontend without custom development.

Tag: Headless WordPress With React

WordPress with React: How to Use Headless WordPress with React