Headless content management systems (CMS) have been gaining rapid popularity over the last few years. This popularity is a direct result of the greater operational and marketing flexibility offered by headless CMS to publishers and brands.
Research has shown that many businesses have dumped the traditional CMS model and have adopted a headless CMS. The reasons for the switch are multiple. Headless CMS enables you to publish high-quality digital content consistently across channels, leading to a better user experience and journey.
Thus, the headless CMS software market is growing and will continue to grow.
This article explains what a headless CMS is and then lists the top 12 CMS available today.
What is a Headless CMS?
A headless content management system (CMS) serves as a platform for storing and editing content – but it lacks a presentation layer (frontend). Thus, you can store and edit raw content on a headless CMS platform and then publish it to multiple channels – a website, a social media network, or any other digital medium.
The term headless is a metaphor referring to how the front end (head) of a CMS is removed from its backend (body). A headless CMS uses application programming interfaces (APIs) to pull data from the backend and publish it to any digital platform. Hence, a CMS is often called an “API-driven headless CMS”.
Benefits of a Headless CMS:
Some of the major benefits of employing a headless CMS include:
- Greater levels of flexibility for content creators and publishers.
- Enables you to publish high-quality content (images, videos, audio, etc.) across various platforms.
- Content creation and management can be carried out simultaneously, enabling your teams to be agile.
- Your content is secure because it is stored in the cloud.
- Scalable and easy to use.
- Low cost.
- Excellent omnichannel customer experience.
Top 12 Headless CMS in 2023
1. WordPress VIP
WordPress VIP is a decoupled CMS that enables users to choose a single stack, hybrid or headless approach for creating digital content. Automatic hosts WordPress VIP and its codebase are connected to GitHub. Moreover, it uses GraphQL, REST, Cache, Gatsby, Frontity, and Next.js APIs. Not only that but it also offers integration with WooCommerce, D20, and Salesforce.
Its main features include:
- Data insights and content analytics.
- Gutenberg content creation tools.
- Centralized performance optimization and content hub.
- eCommerce store management.Hygraph
2. Hygraph
Hygraph was earlier known as GraphQL. It is a native GraphQL headless CMS with an emphasis on content federation (bringing data together from various sources using API). It is a front and backend agnostic platform that offers total independence to content developers and editors.
Its codebase is accessible on GitHub, and it supports Vue, Gatsby, React, Apollo, Gridsome, and a few others. Many leading companies choose Hygraph as their CMS, including Philips, Samsung, and Telenor.
Its main features are:
- Custom permissions.
- Custom roles.
- Webhooks.
- Schema builder.
- Scheduled publishing.
3. Contentful
Contentful claims to increase your conversion rate by 60% and loading times by a whopping 400%. Amazon Web Services (AWS) hosts Contentful and it integrates with various platform libraries like Gatsby Cloud, Bynder, Cloudinary, and Google Analytics.
Moreover, Contentful’s repository is on GitHub and it uses server-side languages like Python, C#, .NET, PHP, and Ruby. Leading companies like Staples, Atlassian, and Equinox use Contentful as their CMS.
Some of its significant features include:
- Open-source libraries.
- Mobile-friendly content optimization.
- Customizable interface and administrator page.
- Channel-agnostic content editing.
4. Quintype
Quintype Bold is a headless CMS offering incredible freedom and digital publishing features. As with other CMS platforms mentioned above, Quintype also has its data repository on GitHub.
It supports multiple frameworks like React, Malibu, Bridgekeeper, and Node.js. Quintype employs Swagger UI to enable its users to work with REST APIs.
Moreover, Quintype offers Metype, Access type, and Ahead frontend technologies. These technologies help your content creators, developers, and publishers to publish and monetize their content without facing tech issues.
It supports integration with various popular platforms like Alexa, Google Analytics, Instagram, and AWeber.
Its main features include:
- SEO recommendations and validations.
- Content categorization and geo-tagging.
- Live blogging.
- Customizable workflows.
5. Magnolia CMS
Magnolia is an enterprise content management system (CMS) founded in 1997 in Switzerland. It employs a modular architecture and tied-in personalization to enable easy channel management.
Magnolia can be hosted on-prem or on the cloud. It also offers integration with commerce tools, Netlify, and Salesforce, in addition to supporting REST and Java APIs. Users can pull light modules using GitHub, npm, and Maven.
Leading companies like Nissan, American Express, and The New York Times use Magnolia.
Here are some of its major features:
- Data analytics and multi-site management.
- WYSIWYG and single-page app editing.
- A/B/n testing.
- Customizable workflows.
6. Strapi
Strapi stands as a robust headless content management system that offers a new dimension of flexibility and control. This open-source solution lets you craft, manage, and distribute content through a customizable API. It is built on Node.js and MongoDB and uses a RESTful API to deliver content to any frontend.
Developers find solace in its ability to create tailored APIs, while content authors enjoy an intuitive interface that helps them deliver content-rich experiences.
Some of its noteworthy features include the following:
- Content modeling functionality to help you shape content structures according to specific requirements.
- Allows for API creation that perfectly aligns with your project’s needs.
- Enables seamless teamwork with defined user roles and permissions.
- Allows you to leverage a spectrum of plugins for expanded functionalities.
- Lets you modify and publish content in real time without disruptions.
- Enables content publishing across diverse platforms effortlessly.
7. Agility CMS
Agility CMS aims to be the best-performing CMS out there, focusing on speed. It’s easy to use, has great flexibility, and provides an easily customizable interface. Your marketing team will love it as it allows marketers to pursue multi-channel marketing at scale.
Its key features include:
- Flexible content modeling.
- An API-driven CMS, enabling easy integration with other apps and systems.
- It is cloud-based and offers a scalable architecture.
- Agility has a large community of developers and is developer friendly.
- Agility offers content preview, and its role-based access improves collaboration.
8. Bloomreach
Bloomreach is a California-based scalable cloud headless CMS solution. It provides an amazing drag-and-drop page builder that you can use to build intuitive pages and place content wherever you like. Bloomreach is an excellent choice for companies looking to enhance their search capabilities, drive customer engagement, and boost online sales.
Its key features include:
- AI-powered content personalization features, including features for personalizing search results, such as relevance ranking, faceted search, and synonyms.
- Provides a unified content hub that enables efficient content organization and distribution.
- Bloomreach lets you preview the content before publishing it.
- It is scalable and seamlessly handles high traffic volumes.
- It offers user account management, paywall support, and permission control.
9. Decap CMS (Netlify)
PM TechHub now owns Netlify CMS with the aim of improving its versatility. It has been rebranded as Decap CMS – an open-source, git-based, easy-to-use content management system. PM aims to launch npm packages with the latest names. It will also overtake all the Netlify CMS assets, including its website and Git repos.
Netlify already offers great headless CMS features, including the following:
- Automatically deploys content changes from your CMS to the web.
- Generates instant previews of new content or updates before they’re published.
- Associates custom domains with your projects for a professional touch.
- Integrates serverless functions for dynamic and interactive content.
- Delivers content with low latency using Netlify’s global content delivery network (global CDN).
10. Kontent.ai
Kontent.ai is a SaaS headless CMS solution that enables streamlined content management, letting businesses deliver unique digital customer experiences. It lets your developers choose their tech stack and quickly create online experiences. Moreover, Kontent.ai emphasizes collaboration and allows users to improve their consistency.
Some of its important features include:
- Real-time collaboration and project management features.
- Content modeling features that let you design and structure content elements to align with specific project needs.
- An API-first approach that lets you integrate content into various apps.
- A content versioning functionality that enables you to track changes in content.
- Advanced analytics that offers insights into content performance and user engagement.
11. Superdesk
Superdesk is an innovative headless content management system designed specifically for newsrooms and media organizations, providing comprehensive tools for efficient content creation, collaboration, and distribution.
The top features of Superdesk include:
- Tailored features for journalists, editors, and content producers, making it a newsroom-centric headless CMS platform.
- Effective content planning with intuitive scheduling tools.
- Enables seamless collaboration among editorial teams.
- Offer multiplatform support to create content for various platforms, from web to print.
- Streamlines editorial processes with automated workflows.
- Allows you to keep track of breaking news and updates in real time.
- Offers a modular and API-centric design that allows news outlets to tweak the platform to suit their needs.
12. Ghost
Ghost is an open-source headless CMS based on Node.js and MongoDB. It aims to enable independent writers and bloggers to grow and enhance their businesses. However, its clientele extends beyond small-time writers all the way to large media organizations.
Here are some of its notable features:
- A content-centric design that emphasizes creating and managing content with minimal distractions.
- Lets you write and format content using the popular Markdown language.
- Offers a variety of themes to help you customize your blog’s appearance.
- Subscription and membership features to monetize your blog.
- Functionality extension through easy third-party integrations and tools.
Other Headless CMS You Should Know
This list of 12 top CMS may seem too small to some. This is why we’re listing a few more headless content management systems you might want to consider for your company.
- Sanity
- Contentstack
- Directus
- Optimizely
- Acquia CMS
- Storyblok
- Butter CMS
Conclusion
Choosing a best headless CMS over a traditional CMS is a better option if you want to scale your business. It enables you to offer personalized customer experiences and reach a greater number of customers.
However, this would require more lavish IT spending from you if you don’t already have in-house developers. Nevertheless, the decision really depends on your long-term strategy. If you want to grow and have the wherewithal to manage the extra costs, consider the twelve best headless CMS options we have mentioned above.
If you need any help in deploying a headless CMS, contact us at [email protected].
FAQs
Q1. Is a headless CMS just an API?
Ans. No, a headless CMS is not just an API. An API is a set of rules that define how two pieces of software can communicate with each other. A headless CMS is a content management system that exposes its content through an API. This means that any software that can understand the API can access and use the content.
Q2. What are the key differences between traditional, headless, and decoupled CMS?
Ans. Here are the major differences between traditional, headless, and decoupled CMS
- Traditional CMS: A traditional CMS is a fully featured system that includes a content management interface (or editor), a database, and a presentation layer. The presentation layer is responsible for displaying the content to users. A conventional CMS is easy to use, and you can utilize it to create a variety of websites and applications. However, it can be inflexible and difficult to scale.
- Headless CMS: A headless CMS is a content management system that exposes its content through an API. This means that the content can be accessed and used by any software that can understand the API. Headless CMSs are more flexible and scalable than traditional CMSs, but they can be more complex to set up and use.
- Decoupled CMS: A decoupled CMS is a CMS that separates the content management layer from the presentation layer. This means that the content can be managed independently of how it is displayed. Decoupled CMSs offer the flexibility of a headless CMS with the ease of use of a traditional CMS.
Q3. What is the backend of a headless CMS?
Ans. The backend of a headless CMS is the system that manages the content and provides it through an API. It typically consists of a database, an API server, and a content management interface (or editor).
The database stores the content in a structured format. The API server exposes the content through an API that other systems can access. The content management interface (or editor) allows users to create and manage content.
The backend of a headless CMS is responsible for the following tasks:
- Storing content
- Providing content through an API
- Managing content permissions
- Logging content changes
- Securing content