CMS & Headless
Content management systems, headless CMS platforms, and content APIs for building websites and applications
Key Considerations
- ✓ Content modeling flexibility and complexity
- ✓ Developer experience and SDK quality
- ✓ Editorial workflow and collaboration features
- ✓ Pricing model (per seat vs per content vs bandwidth)
- ✓ Self-hosting option availability
Appsmith
Open-source platform for building internal tools. Connect to databases and APIs, build UI with drag-and-drop, and deploy in minutes.
Builder.io
Builder.io is an AI-powered visual development platform combining a headless CMS, design-to-code tools, and application generation. Visual Copilot converts Figma designs to production code, while the visual editor enables no-code content creation with developer components.
Contentful
Enterprise headless CMS with powerful content modeling. GraphQL and REST APIs with excellent SDK support. Used by Spotify, Shopify, and major enterprises.
Contentstack
Contentstack is an enterprise headless CMS platform combining API-first content management with real-time customer analytics and omnichannel personalization. A founding MACH Alliance member, it powers brands like ASICS, Walmart, and Cisco.
Decap CMS
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) is an open-source, Git-based content management system for static site generators. It provides a web-based editor with rich-text editing, real-time preview, and drag-and-drop media uploads while storing content in your Git repository.
Directus
Open source data platform that wraps any SQL database with a real-time GraphQL+REST API. Instantly turn your database into a headless CMS.
Ghost
Professional publishing platform for bloggers and newsletters. Beautiful editor, built-in membership and subscriptions. Open source with managed hosting.
Hygraph
GraphQL-native headless CMS (formerly GraphCMS). Content federation for connecting multiple data sources. Strong enterprise features.
KeystoneJS
Open source headless CMS built on Prisma. Schema-first design with auto-generated GraphQL API. Simple configuration with powerful output.
Payload CMS
Code-first headless CMS built with TypeScript. Full Next.js integration with config-based content modeling. 100% type-safe APIs.
Prismic
Headless CMS with slice-based page building. Strong React/Next.js integration with Slice Machine. Great for marketing sites and landing pages.
Sanity
Real-time headless CMS with GROQ query language. Customizable open source studio. Excellent developer experience with React-based content editing.
Storyblok
Visual headless CMS with real-time visual editor. See your changes live as you edit. Strong multi-framework support with visual editing SDK.
Strapi
Open source headless CMS built with Node.js. Self-hostable with Strapi Cloud option. Auto-generated APIs with customizable admin panel.
TinaCMS
TinaCMS is an open-source, Git-backed headless CMS with visual editing for Markdown and MDX content. It provides in-context editing while maintaining full Git integration for version history, enabling developers and content creators to collaborate effectively.
Webflow CMS API
The Webflow Developer Platform provides REST APIs for building custom integrations with Webflow sites. The CMS API enables programmatic content management, while additional APIs cover sites, forms, ecommerce, and user management.
WordPress REST API
The WordPress REST API provides an interface for applications to interact with WordPress sites using JSON. It powers the Block Editor and enables developers to build custom admin experiences, interactive front-ends, and integrate WordPress content into external applications.