How to choose an Adobe Commerce frontend: Hyva Theme vs. Progressive Web Apps

Magento (now Adobe Commerce) along with its community edition version, Magento Open Source is a flexible commerce platform built on a robust, modern PHP architecture that delivers great server-side performance. Even before, Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce was recognized for its regular updates, new features and evolving core functionality especially toward APIs and integrations.

As frontend technologies continued to evolve at a rapid pace, however, Magento’s default ‘LUMA’ frontend no longer stood out as a best-in-class solution for all firms. LUMA is seen by some as challenging to optimize, with a sharper learning curve and less flexibility in the modern digital landscape. As Adobe Commerce still uses a LUMA frontend, the question remains – can growing firms achieve better commerce outcomes by choosing a different frontend option?

Fortunately, Adobe Commerce maintains Magento’s modular design principles, making it easier to introduce new frontend solutions. In this article, we’ll explore two modern approaches to Magento/Adobe Commerce frontends: the Hyva theme and Progressive Web Applications (PWAs).

What is Hyva?

Hyva is more than just a frontend theme. It is a philosophy focused on simplicity, speed, and performance. By leveraging modern and lightweight frameworks like AlpineJS and TailwindCSS, Hyva replaces older technologies such as require.js, knockout.js, and Less CSS. It maintains Adobe Commerce’s proven frontend architecture with layout XMLs, PHTML templates, and caching, while simplifying the process for developers and merchants.

Hyva initially gained traction within a dedicated Magento community and remains popular for Adobe Commerce, with an increasing number of extension vendors now offering out-of-box integration support. This shift has boosted its competitiveness, providing a streamlined, modern frontend solution that integrates seamlessly with existing setups. The introduction of Hyva Checkout has further solidified its position to deliver a fast, lightweight, and highly customizable checkout experience – and one that significantly enhances performance compared to the ‘off the shelf’ checkout system. If simplicity and integration are your priority, Hyva is an excellent growth engine to apply to your frontend.

Pros and Cons of Hyva

Pros:

• Reduced complexity: Streamlines code and design for easier management.
• Improved performance: Faster page loads and smoother interactions.
• Better developer experience: Simplified architecture leads to faster development.
• Lower dependencies: Fewer third-party libraries to manage.
• Lower learning curve: Easier for new developers to grasp and implement.

Cons:

• While Hyva is easy to learn, a successful implementation still requires experienced developers.
• Managing compatibility with third-party modules can be tricky, particularly when using many extensions.

What is a Headless PWA?

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) push the boundaries of web development by combining the benefits of both web and mobile applications. A PWA is a single-page JavaScript web app that uses modern mobile and web technologies, such as push notifications, offline functionality, and app-like performance. PWAs are progressive, meaning if a feature isn’t supported on a given device or browser, the application falls back to legacy technology without sacrificing functionality. If your objectives prioritize employee and customer satisfaction, a headless PWA may be your route to providing modern best-in-class experiences.

Pros and Cons of Headless PWAs

Pros (compared to Traditional Websites):

• Faster browsing with no page refreshes
• Efficient API communication, reducing data and network traffic
• Smooth, app-like performance

Cons (compared to Traditional Websites):

• Requires server-side rendering (SSR) for fast initial page load
• More complexity than traditional websites

Pros (compared to Mobile Apps):

• Offline functionality and push notifications
• App-like behavior while remaining web-based
• SEO-friendly and linkable
• Built-in security features
• Cost-effective development
• Cross-platform compatibility

Cons (compared to Mobile Apps):

• Limited access to hardware features (e.g., camera, sensors)
• Restricted animations and certain advanced features

When to Choose Hyva

Hyva is ideal for projects that prioritize performance and simplicity. It gives your Adobe Commerce frontend a lightweight framework, making it a great option for firms prioritizing simple maintenance. Its performance and ease of use justify the upfront investment and make it a worthy selection where few third-party extensions are required. 

When to Choose Headless PWAs

Headless PWAs are the ideal solution for businesses seeking mobile app-like functionality on the web. They combine advanced features with high performance, and development requires experience with cutting-edge frontend technologies such as React.js, Vue.js, SSR, and APIs. 

PWAs are perfect for projects needing seamless web and mobile experiences, particularly for users who require consistent, app-like functionality across both desktop and mobile platforms.

Your Adobe Commerce frontend selection gives you access to efficiency-driving benefits that outperform the platform’s off-the-shelf options. Whether you choose Hyva for its simplicity and speed, or a headless PWA for its advanced functionality and app-like behavior, you can tailor your Adobe Commerce instance toward your business goals.