# Best Headless CMS Software *By [Gauri Pawsey](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/gauri-pawsey)* A headless CMS is a back-end-only content management system that decouples content storage from front-end delivery, storing content in the cloud and serving it via API to any front-end framework or platform, enabling businesses to deliver content beyond websites and apps to channels such as smartwatches and virtual reality headsets. ### Core Capabilities of Headless CMS Software To qualify for inclusion in the [Headless CMS](https://learn.g2.com/best-headless-cms) category, a product must: - Offer content modeling - Allow for the creation, reading, updating, and deleting of content - Facilitate content production workflows - Organize content in a cloud-based repository - Give businesses the opportunity to repurpose content across multiple channels ### Common Use Cases for Headless CMS Software Development teams and digital marketers use headless CMS platforms to manage and distribute content flexibly across any channel or device. Common use cases include: - Delivering content simultaneously to websites, mobile apps, and emerging platforms via API - Enabling developers to use their preferred front-end frameworks while centralizing content management - Supporting multilingual content delivery by translating and distributing content across global markets ### How Headless CMS Software Differs from Other Tools Unlike [web content management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/web-content-management), a headless CMS removes the front-end delivery layer entirely, giving developers full freedom over presentation. It also differs from business content management software (BCM), where an API allows content to be published on any platform while BCM's open-source nature enables multi-location collaborative editing. A headless CMS should integrate with [WYSIWYG editors](https://www.g2.com/categories/wysiwyg-editors) to provide content authors with a familiar editing experience. ### Insights from G2 on Headless CMS Software Based on category trends on G2, API flexibility and omnichannel content delivery stand out as standout capabilities. Faster front-end iteration and reduced content delivery complexity stand out as primary benefits of adoption. ## Category Overview **Total Products under this Category:** 109 ## Trust & Credibility Stats **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 8,900+ Authentic Reviews - 109+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Best Headless CMS Software At A Glance - **Leader:** [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) - **Highest Performer:** [OneEntry](https://www.g2.com/products/oneentry/reviews) - **Easiest to Use:** [Umbraco](https://www.g2.com/products/umbraco/reviews) - **Top Trending:** [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### Contentful Contentful is a digital experience platform (DXP) designed for marketers, developers, and digital teams who need to build, personalize, and deliver impactful experiences across every channel—quickly and at scale. By combining its headless CMS with native, contextual AI, Contentful enables rapid creation, seamless management, and consistent omnichannel delivery of on-brand, data-driven content. Contentful empowers teams to adapt, reuse, personalize, and publish modular content and design components without reliance on developers, enabling rapid iteration and real-time targeting, experimentation, and optimization at the component level. Complemented by a robust ecosystem, and built on an infinitely-extensible, API-first platform, Contentful gives teams the freedom to easily build or deploy new experiences and integrations quickly to meet the ever-evolving needs of their brand. Trusted by global market leaders, Contentful is engineered for enterprise reliability, extensibility, and future-proof growth—helping organizations maximize ROI and outperform in today’s competitive digital landscape. [Visit website](https://www.g2.com/external_clickthroughs/record?secure%5Bad_program%5D=ppc&secure%5Bad_slot%5D=category_product_list&secure%5Bcategory_id%5D=1205&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_id%5D=1205&secure%5Bdisplayable_resource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bmedium%5D=sponsored&secure%5Bplacement_reason%5D=page_category&secure%5Bplacement_resource_ids%5D%5B%5D=1205&secure%5Bprioritized%5D=false&secure%5Bproduct_id%5D=4941&secure%5Bresource_id%5D=1205&secure%5Bresource_type%5D=Category&secure%5Bsource_type%5D=category_page&secure%5Bsource_url%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.g2.com%2Fcategories%2Fheadless-cms%2Fmid-market&secure%5Btoken%5D=d2d0dbb47ce082b0c67c46d9395395adf899bc9c19fd2263ee32c74715344aad&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.contentful.com%2Fproducts%2Fpersonalization%2F%3Fnt_experiences%3D9BZdShPA4TYFUwHsEmNZi%3D0%26utm_source%3Dg2%26utm_medium%3Dpaid%26utm_campaign%3Dfy27-q1-global-inbound_competitor&secure%5Burl_type%5D=book_demo) --- ## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score) ### 1. [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) The Content Operating System—a fully customizable all-code backend for content-driven websites and apps. Power all your content operations from a single platform with a feature-rich content workspace, interactive visual editing, serverless functions, AI agent, and the database optimized for content. Learn more: https://www.sanity.io/ Try it out: https://www.sanity.io/get-started Join the community: https://snty.link/community Get work-ready: https://www.sanity.io/learn Questions? hello@sanity.io **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 901 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 5.7/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Sanity.io](https://www.g2.com/sellers/sanity-io) - **Company Website:** https://www.sanity.io - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, California - **Twitter:** @sanity_io (14,821 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/18400536/ (277 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Web Developer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 73% Small-Business, 18% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Customizability (93 reviews) - Features (85 reviews) - Flexibility (84 reviews) - Ease of Use (81 reviews) - Customization (76 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (66 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (32 reviews) - Poor Documentation (26 reviews) - Lack of Tutorials (21 reviews) - Missing Features (20 reviews) ### 2. [Storyblok](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblok/reviews) Storyblok is a headless CMS that enables marketers and developers to create with joy and succeed in the AI-driven content era. It empowers you to deliver structured and consistent content everywhere: websites, apps, AI search, and beyond. Legendary brands like Virgin Media O2, Oatly, and TomTom use Storyblok to make a bigger, faster market impact. It’s Joyful Headless™, and it changes everything. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 563 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.0/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Storyblok](https://www.g2.com/sellers/storyblok) - **Company Website:** https://www.storyblok.com - **Year Founded:** 2017 - **HQ Location:** Linz, Oberösterreich - **Twitter:** @storyblok (9,251 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/17989065/ (292 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Frontend Developer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 56% Small-Business, 30% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (111 reviews) - Intuitive (71 reviews) - Content Management (69 reviews) - Features (60 reviews) - Easy Setup (48 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (37 reviews) - Expensive (22 reviews) - Missing Features (19 reviews) - Lack of Features (18 reviews) - Pricing Issues (18 reviews) ### 3. [Hygraph](https://www.g2.com/products/hygraph/reviews) Whatever you imagine – whether it’s a global news platform, an ecommerce experience, a learning app, a content hub, or something entirely unique – you can build it with Hygraph. Hygraph is the leading headless CMS for enterprises building content-rich websites, apps, and digital products. It gives teams the tools to create, manage, and deliver structured content anywhere – across web, mobile, or any other platform. With a powerful GraphQL API, flexible content modeling, and fine-grained permissions, both developers and content teams can move faster and work better together. Hygraph is built to handle complex content needs while staying easy to use, so your team can focus on delivering great digital experiences. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 713 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.3/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Hygraph](https://www.g2.com/sellers/hygraph) - **Company Website:** https://hygraph.com/ - **Year Founded:** 2017 - **HQ Location:** Berlin - **Twitter:** @hygraph (5,114 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/18152461/ (65 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Founder - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 65% Small-Business, 28% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (133 reviews) - Content Management (91 reviews) - API Integration (82 reviews) - Integrations (73 reviews) - Flexibility (72 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (86 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (42 reviews) - Expensive (37 reviews) - Difficult Usability (36 reviews) - Pricing Issues (32 reviews) ### 4. [Contentstack](https://www.g2.com/products/contentstack/reviews) Contentstack is redefining how modern digital experiences are built and managed. As the pioneer of the Agentic Experience Platform (AXP), Contentstack brings together structured content and brand governance (Content Cloud), real-time customer data, omnichannel personalization (Data Cloud) and autonomous AI orchestration (Agent OS) into one unified system. While many organizations adopted headless CMS or standalone AI tools expecting transformation, they often found themselves managing disconnected systems and manual workflows. Contentstack helps enterprises move beyond that complexity by connecting content, data and AI in a way that makes digital experiences faster to launch, easier to manage and more adaptive in real time. Leading brands including Steve Madden, LG Electronics, Subaru of America, Dolce & Gabbana, 1-800-Flowers, Decathlon, and Caesars Entertainment rely on Contentstack to reduce operational friction and deliver personalized, scalable digital experiences with confidence. The company is known for its customer-first culture and commitment to the communities it serves through the Contentstack Cares program. Learn more at https://www.contentstack.com. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 300 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 5.8/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Contentstack](https://www.g2.com/sellers/contentstack-0aa0d25e-6949-4e56-897b-9403491128f0) - **Company Website:** https://www.contentstack.com - **Year Founded:** 2018 - **HQ Location:** Austin, TX - **Twitter:** @Contentstack (2,401 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/18395537/ (683 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Product Manager - **Top Industries:** Retail, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 43% Mid-Market, 37% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (59 reviews) - Content Management (48 reviews) - Intuitive (39 reviews) - Flexibility (31 reviews) - Features (28 reviews) **Cons:** - Content Management (29 reviews) - Limited Features (17 reviews) - Missing Features (16 reviews) - Limited Customization (15 reviews) - Learning Curve (14 reviews) ### 5. [Prismic](https://www.g2.com/products/prismic/reviews) Prismic is the headless page builder that lets developers use their favourite stack to build modern websites and empowers marketers to launch on-brand website pages independently. **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 361 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 5.2/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 6.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Prismic](https://www.g2.com/sellers/prismic) - **Company Website:** https://prismic.io - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** Paris, FR - **Twitter:** @prismicio (14,001 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3338789/ (99 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Web Developer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 63% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (60 reviews) - Intuitive (24 reviews) - Easy Setup (19 reviews) - Ease of Learning (16 reviews) - Content Management (15 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (12 reviews) - Limited Features (11 reviews) - Missing Features (9 reviews) - Limitations (7 reviews) - Software Bugs (6 reviews) ### 6. [Umbraco](https://www.g2.com/products/umbraco/reviews) Umbraco is a leading open-source .NET Core CMS with over 700,000 active installs worldwide and a vibrant community of over 220,000 members. Since its inception on February 16, 2005, Umbraco has remained an open-source project backed by a dedicated commercial company. At Umbraco, we pride ourselves on staying at the forefront of technology. Our alignment with Microsoft’s .NET release schedule ensures that Umbraco is always up-to-date with the latest .NET version. Umbraco CMS offers unparalleled flexibility, giving you full control over your website and its features. Beyond the core CMS, we provide two unique products to cater to your specific needs: Umbraco Cloud: The ideal environment for your Umbraco projects, featuring Azure Cloud hosting, automated upgrades, and streamlined workflows to maximize your productivity and project potential. Umbraco Heartcore: Our headless CMS option, equipped with fully managed APIs, GraphQL support, CDN capabilities, and more, providing a robust solution for omnichannel content delivery. Why choose Umbraco? Developers appreciate Umbraco for its flexibility and scalability. It integrates seamlessly with your code, allowing you to create a website that looks, feels, and operates exactly as you envision. With open-source code and APIs, Umbraco is easily extendable and adaptable to meet diverse requirements. For content editors and marketers, Umbraco delivers an exceptional editing experience. Our CMS includes intuitive features and workflows designed to enhance content creation and management. If you have specific needs, Umbraco’s backend can be customized by developers to fit perfectly. Our mission is to provide a platform that empowers you to manage your projects your way. By keeping our system open and adaptable, we ensure that Umbraco remains relevant and efficient for a wide range of project requirements. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 933 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.4/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Umbraco](https://www.g2.com/sellers/umbraco) - **Company Website:** https://umbraco.com - **Year Founded:** 2005 - **HQ Location:** Odense - **Twitter:** @umbraco (3,524 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/804354/ (182 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Developer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 51% Small-Business, 35% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (109 reviews) - Content Management (67 reviews) - Intuitive (55 reviews) - Features (51 reviews) - Customizability (44 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (26 reviews) - Limited Features (23 reviews) - Poor Usability Design (22 reviews) - Difficult Usability (19 reviews) - Editor Limitations (19 reviews) ### 7. [Contentful](https://www.g2.com/products/contentful/reviews) Contentful is a digital experience platform (DXP) designed for marketers, developers, and digital teams who need to build, personalize, and deliver impactful experiences across every channel—quickly and at scale. By combining its headless CMS with native, contextual AI, Contentful enables rapid creation, seamless management, and consistent omnichannel delivery of on-brand, data-driven content. Contentful empowers teams to adapt, reuse, personalize, and publish modular content and design components without reliance on developers, enabling rapid iteration and real-time targeting, experimentation, and optimization at the component level. Complemented by a robust ecosystem, and built on an infinitely-extensible, API-first platform, Contentful gives teams the freedom to easily build or deploy new experiences and integrations quickly to meet the ever-evolving needs of their brand. Trusted by global market leaders, Contentful is engineered for enterprise reliability, extensibility, and future-proof growth—helping organizations maximize ROI and outperform in today’s competitive digital landscape. **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 305 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.7/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Contentful](https://www.g2.com/sellers/contentful) - **Company Website:** https://www.contentful.com - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** Berlin - **Twitter:** @contentful (31,840 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2562699/ (1,031 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, CTO - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 39% Mid-Market, 33% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (14 reviews) - Content Management (11 reviews) - Features (9 reviews) - Ease of Creation (8 reviews) - Easy Creation (8 reviews) **Cons:** - Complexity (7 reviews) - Expensive (6 reviews) - Learning Curve (5 reviews) - Limited Features (5 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (5 reviews) ### 8. [Kontent.ai](https://www.g2.com/products/kontent-ai/reviews) Kontent.ai is the world’s first Agentic CMS and the only platform that helps organizations intelligently operate content at scale. By embedding AI agents into content workflows, Kontent.ai empowers organizations to automate operations, enforce governance, and accelerate time to market, without adding headcount. Kontent.ai features two core AI capabilities. The AI Agent is activated through natural language prompts and can execute complex tasks such as launching large-scale campaigns, restructuring content in bulk, or supporting content migrations, reducing the need for developer involvement.  Expert Agents operate as always-on, fully customizable digital teammates. Once created by using a natural language prompt, they trigger automatically, eliminating manual steps and ensuring consistency across processes. They can support business specific use cases, from enforcing brand and compliance standards to content audits and localization. You can integrate them with your existing tech stack to extend automation beyond the CMS and coordinate actions across systems. Multiple agents can also be combined to work together, eliminating workflow steps in complex tasks and reducing operational complexity.  Kontent.ai Agentic CMS helps you: - Expand to new markets faster - Improve team productivity - Reduce compliance risk - Improve content performance With a demonstrated ROI of 320%, Kontent.ai customers, including WebMD Ignite, Elanco, Zurich Insurance, PPG, and Oxford University, see measurable improvements in content velocity, operational efficiency, and risk reduction. Kontent.ai is a Microsoft partner recognized by Gartner and Forrester. Learn more at kontent.ai.  **Average Rating:** 4.3/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 171 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.6/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Kontent.ai](https://www.g2.com/sellers/kontent-ai-002cd013-3ff3-42c4-af22-40e7fe42fb3c) - **Year Founded:** 2015 - **HQ Location:** Brno - **Twitter:** @Kontent_ai (3,904 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/kontentai/ (131 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Developer - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 42% Mid-Market, 37% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (10 reviews) - Content Management (9 reviews) - Customer Support (8 reviews) - Easy Integrations (7 reviews) - Intuitive (7 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (4 reviews) - Limited Features (4 reviews) - Missing Features (4 reviews) - CMS Limitations (3 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (3 reviews) ### 9. [Optimizely Content Management System](https://www.g2.com/products/optimizely-content-management-system/reviews) Optimizely's Content Management System (CMS) is purpose-built for marketers, and fully composable for developers. It’s the only CMS that supports the end-to-end content lifecycle, making it easy to deliver on-brand, high-impact digital experiences that 'wow' audiences. User-friendly tools let marketers build channel-specific experiences in a few clicks (no coding needed), creating, previewing and publishing directly from the Visual Builder while Optimizely's modern GraphQL service enables content delivery from anywhere, to anywhere, so you can meet customers where they are. Store and organize brand-approved content for easy reuse with Optimizely's fully-integrated DAM, and apply data-driven personalization with AI-guided insights to deliver consistent, on-brand content that's optimized for individuals, in real-time. **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 181 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.4/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Optimizely](https://www.g2.com/sellers/optimizely-a5a01825-75d4-4ab9-84c1-3a421d75af81) - **Company Website:** https://www.optimizely.com/ - **Year Founded:** 1994 - **HQ Location:** New York - **Twitter:** @Optimizely (28,826 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimizely/ (1,613 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 49% Mid-Market, 33% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Flexibility (17 reviews) - Ease of Use (16 reviews) - Features (16 reviews) - Content Management (15 reviews) - Customizability (15 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (11 reviews) - Expensive (9 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (9 reviews) - Complexity (6 reviews) - Developer Challenges (5 reviews) ### 10. [Prepr CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/prepr-cms/reviews) Prepr CMS: The headless CMS for lead-gen and commerce. Prepr CMS is a headless content management system for teams that need their website to capture and convert leads, not just publish pages. It combines structured content with built-in personalization and A/B testing, so marketers can ship changes fast and see what works. Most teams run into the same problems: - Websites show the same content to everyone and underperform. - Simple changes require developer time and slow release cycles. - Web and CRM data live in different systems, making personalization hard. Prepr CMS solves these by connecting content, data, and delivery in one place: - Personalization built in — tailor content by behavior, campaign source, or segment. - Visual editing — build and adjust pages without developer handoffs. - A/B testing — validate headlines, layouts, and offers with clear results. - Integrated data layer — track content performance and tie it to leads and pipeline. - Default CRM integrations — use CRM fields for targeting, send buying signals back. Prepr CMS is designed for marketing and growth teams, content editors, and developers at B2B companies and digital organizations that run lead-gen campaigns. The platform supports multi-channel delivery (websites, apps, and other touchpoints) and scales with traffic and content volume. Primary use cases: - Improve conversion rates — test key pages and personalize for different visitor groups and audiences. - Generate better leads — capture behavior signals and sync qualified interest to the CRM. - Personalize buyer journeys — continue campaign context beyond the landing page. - Future-proof the marketing stack — flexible and scalable headless content model with clean APIs. - Manage multiple brands — share schemas and components for easy development and consistency while keeping access controlled. What this looks like in practice: - Personalization: Launch a campaign page, then tailor follow-up pages by source (e.g., LinkedIn vs. search), visitor behavior, firmographics, or buying stage. - A/B testing: Test and optimize messaging by adjusting proof points, offers, or CTAs for different audience segments. - Buying signals: Send events like "viewed pricing," "downloaded guide," or "visited integration page" directly to your CRM. - Zero code website updates: Let marketers ship copy and layout changes in minutes, without developer support. Prepr CMS provides the structure developers want and the control marketers need. The result is a site that adapts to visitors, learns from every interaction, and turns more traffic into qualified demand—without stitching together multiple tools. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 98 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 5.0/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Prepr](https://www.g2.com/sellers/prepr) - **Company Website:** https://prepr.io/ - **Year Founded:** 2016 - **HQ Location:** Utrecht, NL - **Twitter:** @preprcms (622 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/10002420 (24 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Broadcast Media - **Company Size:** 61% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (25 reviews) - Customer Support (19 reviews) - Intuitive (11 reviews) - User Interface (9 reviews) - Flexibility (8 reviews) **Cons:** - Limited Features (6 reviews) - Poor UI (6 reviews) - Learning Curve (5 reviews) - Preview Issues (4 reviews) - Poor Documentation (3 reviews) ### 11. [Bloomreach](https://www.g2.com/products/bloomreach-bloomreach/reviews) Bloomreach is the agentic platform for personalization. Powering autonomous search, conversational shopping, and autonomous marketing, Bloomreach personalizes the entire customer experience. From retail to financial services, hospitality to gaming, businesses create experiences that drive higher growth and lasting loyalty. Bloomreach drives personalization for 1,400+ brands around the world, including American Eagle, Sonepar, and Pandora. The target audience for Bloomreach encompasses commerce businesses of all sizes that are looking to optimize customer interactions and drive sales growth. Its suite of products is particularly beneficial for marketers, content creators, and ecommerce managers who aim to improve customer engagement and conversion rates. Bloomreach is well-suited for brands operating across multiple channels, as it provides a cohesive strategy to connect with customers effectively. Use cases include personalized marketing campaigns, enhanced product discovery, streamlined content management, and AI-driven customer service, making it a versatile tool for various business needs. Key features of Bloomreach include its Engagement platform, which offers robust marketing automation capabilities that enable businesses to deliver personalized messages and offers based on customer behavior. The Discovery solution enhances the search experience on ecommerce sites, ensuring that customers can easily find products that match their interests. Additionally, the Content product functions as a headless content management system (CMS), allowing for flexible content delivery across various platforms. The Clarity tool, an AI-powered conversational shopping assistant, further enriches the customer experience by facilitating real-time interactions and support. The integration of Loomi, Bloomreach's AI for ecommerce, significantly amplifies the platform's capabilities by enabling rapid data processing and analysis. This results in new pathways for customers to engage with products, ultimately leading to increased profitability and accelerated business growth. Bloomreach is designed to simplify complex tasks, offering advanced customer journeys, social ad retargeting, omnichannel support, and AI-powered optimization. This comprehensive feature set provides a holistic view of the customer, optimizing experiences across all channels. The platform is also cost-effective and faster to deploy compared to competitors, reducing reliance on third-party solutions and lowering the total cost of ownership. With high ratings in customer reviews, Bloomreach is recognized for the quality of its user guides, support, and overall reliability, making it a valuable asset for businesses seeking to enhance their ecommerce strategies. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 749 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Bloomreach](https://www.g2.com/sellers/bloomreach) - **Company Website:** https://www.bloomreach.com - **Year Founded:** 2009 - **HQ Location:** Mountain View, CA - **Twitter:** @bloomreach_tm (10,410 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/bloomreach/ (1,124 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** CRM Manager, Marketing Manager - **Top Industries:** Retail, Marketing and Advertising - **Company Size:** 49% Mid-Market, 28% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (116 reviews) - Features (106 reviews) - Helpful (94 reviews) - Customer Support (90 reviews) - Customer Engagement (79 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (91 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (61 reviews) - Missing Features (59 reviews) - Limited Features (54 reviews) - Difficult Learning (51 reviews) ### 12. [Experro](https://www.g2.com/products/experro/reviews) Experro is a one-of-a-kind agentic product discovery and personalization platform built to optimize eCommerce experiences. Powered by Generative AI, it’s redefining how brands deliver search, discovery, and content — hyper-personalized for every shopper and automatically optimized to drive key business KPIs. Trusted by leading B2C, B2B, and DTC brands, Experro creates intelligent, intent-driven journeys by analyzing real-time shopper behavior and surfacing high-performing products through advanced text and image search. Built to maximize AOV, profitability, and customer satisfaction, Experro empowers eCommerce teams with AI-driven tools and automation, eliminating busywork and accelerating growth. **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 46 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [RapidOps, Inc.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/rapidops-inc) - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** Charlotte, North Carolina - **Twitter:** @rapid_ops (994 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/rapidops-inc (321 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Apparel & Fashion - **Company Size:** 65% Mid-Market, 20% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (35 reviews) - Features (21 reviews) - Search Functionality (19 reviews) - Analytics (18 reviews) - Results (18 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (11 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (10 reviews) - Poor Documentation (9 reviews) - High Learning Curve (8 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (8 reviews) ### 13. [Agility CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/agility-cms/reviews) Agility CMS is a headless content management system designed to empower teams in managing and delivering content seamlessly across various digital platforms, including websites, mobile applications, and other digital channels. With its API-first architecture, Agility CMS provides a flexible solution that caters to the diverse needs of both marketing and development teams, facilitating efficient content management without the constraints of traditional CMS platforms. Targeted primarily at marketing teams and developers, Agility CMS enables users to create and update content effortlessly. Marketing professionals can utilize a visual interface to build pages and preview changes in real time, allowing for a hands-on approach without the need for coding expertise. This capability ensures that marketing teams can maintain control over their content while responding quickly to changing demands. On the other hand, development teams benefit from the freedom to work with any framework of their choice, accessing content through RESTful or GraphQL APIs. This flexibility allows for the creation of tailored solutions that meet specific project requirements without being hindered by platform limitations. Agility CMS is equipped with several key features that enhance its functionality and usability. The integrated Content Delivery Network (CDN) ensures that content is published quickly and consistently across all channels, while enterprise-grade security measures safeguard sensitive information. The composable architecture allows organizations to adapt and scale their content management strategies as needed, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. These features collectively contribute to a streamlined content delivery process, ensuring that users can focus on creating impactful content rather than getting bogged down by technical challenges. What sets Agility CMS apart from other content management systems is its commitment to security, extensive industry experience, and dedicated customer support. With over 20 years of expertise in the CMS space, the Agility team has a deep understanding of the challenges organizations face and designs solutions that address these needs effectively. Additionally, the human support offered by Agility CMS is a significant differentiator; customers can expect prompt assistance from knowledgeable representatives who are genuinely invested in their success. This combination of robust security, industry experience, and personalized support makes Agility CMS a reliable choice for enterprises like Collabria Financial and Mitsubishi, who require secure and scalable content delivery across multiple channels. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 194 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Agility Inc](https://www.g2.com/sellers/agility-inc) - **Company Website:** https://www.agilitycms.com - **Year Founded:** 2002 - **HQ Location:** Toronto - **Twitter:** @AgilityCMS (2,632 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1865246 (26 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Web Developer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 49% Small-Business, 46% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (22 reviews) - Content Management (16 reviews) - Flexibility (15 reviews) - Features (14 reviews) - Integrations (12 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (15 reviews) - Complex Setup (7 reviews) - Technical Expertise Required (7 reviews) - Limited Flexibility (6 reviews) - Customization Difficulty (5 reviews) ### 14. [CoreMedia](https://www.g2.com/products/coremedia/reviews) CoreMedia is a composable Digital Experience Platform (DXP) designed to help enterprises create and manage personalized, omnichannel customer experiences across various platforms. This includes websites, mobile applications, chatbots, messaging services, and even human-assisted interactions through video or phone. By offering a comprehensive solution, CoreMedia enables businesses to engage their customers effectively at every touchpoint, ensuring a seamless experience regardless of the channel used. The CoreMedia Experience Platform is anchored by a hybrid headless Content Management System (CMS) that integrates content management with real-time data and brand-aware artificial intelligence. This innovative architecture allows organizations to leverage intelligent automation and user-level personalization, facilitating marketing efforts at scale while ensuring global content delivery. The platform's flexibility also supports localization to meet regional needs, all managed through a single, user-friendly interface. This capability is particularly beneficial for enterprises looking to maintain a consistent brand voice while catering to diverse customer preferences. CoreMedia is trusted by notable brands such as Henkel, Deutsche Telekom, and MASORANGE, demonstrating its effectiveness in bridging online and offline experiences. The platform combines AI-driven tools with human interaction to support customers throughout their journey, enhancing engagement and satisfaction. By automating routine tasks and optimizing content operations, CoreMedia allows teams to manage their digital experiences more efficiently while retaining control over their content strategies. One of the key features of CoreMedia is its built-in AI capabilities, which adapt interactions in real time based on user behavior and preferences. This not only streamlines content management processes but also enhances the overall customer experience by providing timely and relevant information. Additionally, the platform's ability to integrate seamlessly into existing technology stacks offers organizations full flexibility in deployment options, whether on-premise, in a private or public cloud, or through a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. This adaptability makes CoreMedia a valuable asset for enterprises aiming to enhance their digital presence and drive customer engagement across multiple channels. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 78 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 5.9/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 6.1/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [CoreMedia](https://www.g2.com/sellers/coremedia) - **Company Website:** https://www.coremedia.com/ - **Year Founded:** 1996 - **HQ Location:** Hamburg, Germany - **Twitter:** @CoreMedia (1,758 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/coremedia-ag/ (175 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Apparel & Fashion, Marketing and Advertising - **Company Size:** 44% Enterprise, 28% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (26 reviews) - Integrations (23 reviews) - Content Management (22 reviews) - Customizability (21 reviews) - Customization (21 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (20 reviews) - Complexity (14 reviews) - Complex Features (12 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (12 reviews) - Difficult Usability (11 reviews) ### 15. [Directus](https://www.g2.com/products/directus/reviews) Directus is a CMS that sits beside any new or existing SQL database, instantly providing a powerful toolkit of features for managing, visualizing, and connecting data. Engineers get a self-documenting REST and GraphQL API, event hooks for logic, granular access control, data workflows, and much more, all out of the box. Our modern and fully-customizable TypeScript codebase is completely open-source and built to be extended, so there is no feature ceiling to outgrow. To fully democratize this data access, all the power of our robust developer tooling is also available via an intuitive no-code application, enabling self-service for even the most non-technical of business users. The Directus front-end includes flexible database content management, drag-and-drop dashboards and charts, digital asset management, and end-to-end internationalization (supporting 50+ languages) for global teams. Most importantly, all of this happens without any database migration or vendor lock-in. Directus introspects the database schema at runtime, delivering a dynamic API and App based on your project’s existing architecture, with database abstraction allowing migration fluidity and feature parity across all major SQL vendors. You maintain total control over your database and the ability to write pure SQL queries, allowing Directus to be incrementally adopted based on business requirements. Leveraging the flexibility and potential of the database itself, common use cases include everything from headless CMS, business intelligence, IoT data, back-office tools, and building no-code internal apps. With nearly two decades of real-world product development, 38+ million docker downloads, and an enormous developer community across startups and Fortune 100 companies alike, Directus is a proven data solution at any scale. **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 51 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 4.4/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Directus](https://www.g2.com/sellers/directus) - **Year Founded:** 2011 - **HQ Location:** Brooklyn, NY - **Twitter:** @directus (52,546 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/ranger-studio-llc (2 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** CEO - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Program Development - **Company Size:** 51% Small-Business, 31% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Flexibility (7 reviews) - API Integration (6 reviews) - Integrations (6 reviews) - Customer Support (5 reviews) - Platform Flexibility (5 reviews) **Cons:** - Developer Challenges (3 reviews) - Learning Difficulty (2 reviews) - UI Problems (2 reviews) - API Issues (1 reviews) - Compatibility Issues (1 reviews) ### 16. [OneEntry](https://www.g2.com/products/oneentry/reviews) OneEntry was built to eliminate the typical pain points of Headless CMS, Headless e-commerce, and backend platforms: complexity, plugin reliance, and hidden costs. Unlike tools that require separate services for logic, integration, and infrastructure, OneEntry provides an all-in-one backend for content, commerce, and business logic from day one. • Out-of-the-box modules for user management, authentication, headless e-commerce, forms, image optimization, notifications, events, and more • Built-in calendar for scheduling, bookings, and internal event management • Email marketing tools for campaigns, automations, and transactional messages • No plugin dependencies — all features are native and maintained by the platform • Custom Module support — extend logic with NodeJS, Python, or PHP • API-first and frontend-agnostic — works with any modern framework, library, or runtime: web, mobile, or custom • Real-time configuration of data structures and workflows via UI • Private cloud containers for every project, ready to scale automatically • Built-in CI/CD, monitoring, and automated backups for full reliability • Enterprise-grade security with mTLS, data isolation, and DDoS protection • Low-code integrations with external systems (CRM, ERP, payments, logistics), no DevOps required • Multilingual-ready for global teams and markets • Transparent pricing that fits any stage — startup to enterprise • Free Plan available — explore without setup or commitment **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 57 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 5.7/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [OneEntry Portal LLC](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oneentry-portal-llc) - **Year Founded:** 2022 - **HQ Location:** Dubai, AE - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/oneentry-paas/ (8 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software - **Company Size:** 52% Small-Business, 2% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (25 reviews) - Content Management (10 reviews) - Easy Integrations (8 reviews) - Creation Ease (7 reviews) - Customer Support (7 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (11 reviews) - Not User-Friendly (6 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (6 reviews) - Lack of Tutorials (5 reviews) - Lack of Educational Resources (4 reviews) ### 17. [Croct](https://www.g2.com/products/croct/reviews) Croct is a headless component-based CMS with built-in AB testing and personalization. It simplifies product optimization and helps product teams scale experimentation without over-relying on developers. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 47 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Croct](https://www.g2.com/sellers/croct) - **Year Founded:** 2020 - **HQ Location:** Denver, Colorado, US - **Twitter:** @croct_tech (132 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/croct (13 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Financial Services, Marketing and Advertising - **Company Size:** 53% Mid-Market, 30% Enterprise #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Customer Support (20 reviews) - Personalization (12 reviews) - Ease of Use (11 reviews) - Implementation Ease (11 reviews) - A/B Testing (9 reviews) **Cons:** - Difficult Setup (5 reviews) - Complexity (4 reviews) - Learning Curve (4 reviews) - Limitations (4 reviews) - Technical Expertise Required (4 reviews) ### 18. [Butter CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/butter-cms/reviews) ButterCMS is a headless content management system (CMS) designed specifically for growth-oriented businesses. It enables users to create, manage, and scale digital experiences quickly and efficiently, eliminating the challenges associated with traditional, hard-coded, or fragmented systems. By adopting an API-first approach, ButterCMS provides a flexible and robust solution that caters to the diverse needs of modern developers and marketers alike. Targeted at businesses looking to enhance their digital presence, ButterCMS is particularly beneficial for developers who require a streamlined and efficient way to integrate content management into their applications. The platform's well-documented APIs, software development kits (SDKs), and starter projects make it easy for developers to implement and customize content solutions across various technology stacks. This flexibility allows teams to focus on building high-quality digital experiences without being bogged down by the complexities of traditional CMS platforms. ButterCMS is versatile in its use cases, supporting everything from high-converting websites to global e-commerce platforms and mobile applications. Marketers can leverage the platform to publish new content across multiple channels instantly, ensuring that their messaging remains consistent and timely. This capability is particularly valuable for businesses that need to adapt quickly to market changes or launch new campaigns without delays. Key features of ButterCMS include its lightning-fast performance, seamless integrations with popular frameworks and tools, and a user-friendly interface that simplifies content management. The platform's scalability ensures that as businesses grow, their content management capabilities can expand without the typical headaches associated with legacy systems. By providing a reliable and efficient solution for content delivery, ButterCMS empowers organizations to focus on their core objectives while maintaining a strong digital presence. Overall, ButterCMS stands out in the headless CMS category by offering a comprehensive solution that meets the demands of both developers and marketers. Its combination of speed, flexibility, and ease of use positions it as a valuable asset for businesses aiming to enhance their digital strategies and drive growth. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 202 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.5/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Butter CMS](https://www.g2.com/sellers/butter-cms) - **Company Website:** https://buttercms.com - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @ButterCMS (822 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/buttercms/ (19 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, CEO - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 65% Small-Business, 28% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Content Management (16 reviews) - Ease of Use (15 reviews) - Customer Support (10 reviews) - Content Creation (7 reviews) - Integrations (7 reviews) **Cons:** - Limited Features (8 reviews) - Missing Features (6 reviews) - Expensive (5 reviews) - App Integration Issues (4 reviews) - API Issues (3 reviews) ### 19. [Payload CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/payload-cms/reviews) Payload is a free and open-source Headless CMS built with React and TypeScript. It's the happy medium between application framework and CMS, boosting your development process, while staying out of your way as your apps get more complex. **Average Rating:** 4.9/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 59 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.8/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Payload](https://www.g2.com/sellers/payload) - **Year Founded:** 2022 - **HQ Location:** Grand Rapids, US - **Twitter:** @payloadcms (12,623 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/payload-cms/ (10 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 85% Small-Business, 14% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Community Support (3 reviews) - Ease of Use (3 reviews) - Easy Integration (3 reviews) - Integrations (3 reviews) - Documentation (2 reviews) **Cons:** - Lack of Customization (1 reviews) - Limited Community Support (1 reviews) - Slow Loading (1 reviews) - Slow Performance (1 reviews) - Update Issues (1 reviews) ### 20. [Squiz DXP](https://www.g2.com/products/squiz-dxp/reviews) Websites of the future are intelligent. Users no longer want high-effort browsing, they want predictive experiences that deliver tailored information and enable instant action. Squiz Digital Experience Platform (DXP) empowers organizations to rapidly build, test and optimize websites – transforming static sites into intelligent experiences that meet user expectations and drive results. Here's how: 1. Give users accurate answers, wherever they’re searching. Get your content and website AI-ready so users get the answers they need, whether they’re asking AI search platforms or using your on-site conversational search. 2. Deepen engagement by personalizing every user journey. Create and update content quickly to deliver engaging, personalized journeys. 3. Drive conversions by moving from browsing to action. Leverage data to optimize experiences that encourage self-service and successful task completion. 4. Manage scale to maximize your site's ROI. Do more with less through intelligent automation, streamlined processes, and reusable assets. Explore the Squiz website to discover the core capabilities and included products that make it possible: • Squiz Content Intelligence • Squiz Funnelback Search • Content Management • Digital Asset Management • Data Management • Integrations • Component Service • API Suite • Visual Page Builder • Forms • Personalization • Behavioral Analytics • Optimization • Delivery • Platform **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 27 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Squiz](https://www.g2.com/sellers/squiz) - **Year Founded:** 1998 - **HQ Location:** Sydney, New South Wales - **Twitter:** @SquizGlobal (989 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/24580/ (396 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Higher Education, Education Management - **Company Size:** 44% Mid-Market, 30% Enterprise ### 21. [Brightspot](https://www.g2.com/products/brightspot/reviews) Brightspot is the leading content management solution for delivering brilliant digital experiences through a fast, flexible and secure platform. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Brightspot has spent more than 15 years helping organizations transform how they manage and deliver content. Today, the platform powers mission-critical digital experiences for some of the world’s most recognized brands, including AP News, NPR, Walmart and FedEx. Built to support the needs of both non-technical users and developers alike, Brightspot removes the friction that slows content teams down. With support for headless, hybrid and decoupled architectures, the platform gives you the flexibility to scale your digital operations without the limitations of legacy systems or rigid infrastructure. From multisite and multilingual publishing to role-based workflows, modular content models and seamless integrations, Brightspot enables you to manage even the most complex content ecosystems — all from one centralized hub. Brightspot’s AI-powered features and automation tools accelerate your publishing process, freeing teams to focus on what matters most: creating high-impact content. Intuitive authoring tools, pre-built templates, customizable workflows and built-in SEO and translation tools make it easier than ever to create. Beyond the product, Brightspot is known for its unmatched customer partnership. From onboarding to innovation, Brightspot works closely with your team to ensure your CMS evolves with your business. Whether you're growing your audience, adding new brands, expanding to global markets or integrating with the latest technologies, Brightspot is with you every step of the way. That’s why 97% of customers return year after year. With Brightspot, content becomes a competitive advantage — not a roadblock. Launch faster. Scale smarter. And lead fearlessly with a CMS that adapts to your business, not the other way around. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 71 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.1/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Brightspot](https://www.g2.com/sellers/brightspot) - **Company Website:** https://www.brightspot.com - **Year Founded:** 2008 - **HQ Location:** Reston, US - **Twitter:** @TeamBrightspot (503 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/brightspot/ (204 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Online Media, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 60% Mid-Market, 28% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (18 reviews) - Content Management (14 reviews) - Customization (10 reviews) - Customizability (9 reviews) - Flexibility (8 reviews) **Cons:** - Missing Features (6 reviews) - Feature Limitations (5 reviews) - Learning Curve (5 reviews) - Limited Customization (5 reviews) - Limited Functionality (5 reviews) ### 22. [Bold](https://www.g2.com/products/quintype-bold/reviews) Bold is the CMS that understands your content. Unlike a traditional CMS, Bold separates the presentation of the content from the content itself. This makes it effortless to create, curate and distribute content for modern consumption across different screens and screen-less voice devices. With a content workflow that is modelled after an effective newsroom, Bold makes it easy for authors to tell stories better with built-in support for reusable content cards, story elements and story types. All content added on Bold is optimized for distribution across channels such as SEO, Social and Mobile. Third-party integrations include Apple News, Google News, Facebook Instant Articles, AMP, PWA, Push notifications, email marketing, RSS feeds and others. As a hosted SaaS CMS, Bold manages server management, performance, security and upgrades for its clients so that digital publishers can focus on creating great content for their audience. Bold offers developers well-documented APIs, starter kits and design consulting services to jumpstart their own front-end development. Bold offers free onboarding, migration services, 24/7 chat/email support, auto-scaling infrastructure, 95.95% uptime guarantee and regular backups. Pricing for bold begins at $99/mo. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 36 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Quintype](https://www.g2.com/sellers/quintype) - **Year Founded:** 2014 - **HQ Location:** Bengaluru, India - **Twitter:** @quintype_inc (1,009 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/4788674/ (107 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Media Production, Online Media - **Company Size:** 62% Mid-Market, 33% Small-Business ### 23. [Strapi](https://www.g2.com/products/strapi/reviews) Strapi is the leading open-source headless CMS: 100% JavaScript, extensible, and fully customizable. Strapi enables developers to build projects faster by providing a customizable API out of the box and giving them the freedom to use their favorite tools. Content teams use Strapi to autonomously manage all types of content and distribute it from one CMS to any channel be it websites, mobile apps, or connected devices. Loved by developers and supported by a global community of members and partners, Strapi brings together an ecosystem of 150 000+ enthusiasts, 700+ contributors, and innovative companies like IBM, NASA, Walmart, eBay, Rakuten, Toyota. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 201 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 4.3/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Strapi](https://www.g2.com/sellers/strapi) - **Year Founded:** 2016 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, California, United States - **Twitter:** @strapijs (21,730 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/11251903/ (85 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Student - **Top Industries:** Non-Profit Organization Management, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 78% Small-Business, 16% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (14 reviews) - Flexibility (10 reviews) - APIs (9 reviews) - Content Management (9 reviews) - API Integration (8 reviews) **Cons:** - Developer Challenges (5 reviews) - Learning Curve (5 reviews) - Poor Documentation (5 reviews) - Plugin Issues (4 reviews) - Upgrade Issues (4 reviews) ### 24. [Gridly](https://www.g2.com/products/gridly/reviews) Gridly is a platform for managing and localizing content in digital experiences. By enabling teams to pull content from any source and push it directly into their projects, Gridly streamlines the localization pipeline with a single source of truth for content of all types. With Gridly, organizations can manage, localize, and ship content while shortening publishing cycles and enhancing quality. Flexible content structures, automatic status tracking, granular access control, and a plethora of supported data types including digital assets or code — these are just a few of the ways in which Gridly enables teams to ship multilingual content updates faster and with greater confidence. With Gridly you can: ✓ Get the whole team up to speed with ease using Gridly’s spreadsheet UI, where columns and rows feel instantly familiar. This intuitive layout makes managing localization data - like source and target languages - accessible for everyone, streamlining collaboration across the board. ✓ Simplify your translation process with dependencies - automatically highlight dependent columns when changes are made to source data, ensuring updates are reflected across all target languages quickly and accurately. ✓ Ensure quality and consistency by utilizing translation memory, glossaries, and localization QA features, all built right into the platform. ✓ Stay in sync with your team through real-time collaboration, managing discussions with ease via the comment dashboard and controlling access with granular permissions. ✓ Streamline your localization process with TMS/CAT tools integrations, machine translation, and automated workflows that reduce manual tasks. ✓ Integrate Gridly with your favorite tools and platforms - like Unreal and Unity game engines, Figma - and set up webhooks or use the developer-friendly API to automate processes. For more information visit www.gridly.com **Average Rating:** 4.8/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 34 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.7/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 6.4/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Gridly](https://www.g2.com/sellers/gridly) - **Company Website:** https://www.gridly.com - **Year Founded:** 2022 - **HQ Location:** Helsingborg, SE - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/gridly-app/ (42 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Games, Translation and Localization - **Company Size:** 56% Mid-Market, 38% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (13 reviews) - Collaboration (8 reviews) - Easy Integrations (8 reviews) - Customer Support (7 reviews) - Features (7 reviews) **Cons:** - Bugs (4 reviews) - Missing Features (4 reviews) - Bug Issues (2 reviews) - Integration Issues (2 reviews) - Learning Curve (2 reviews) ### 25. [Jahia DXP](https://www.g2.com/products/jahia-dxp/reviews) Jahia is a content management system (CMS) and digital experience platform (DXP) designed to assist organizations in creating modern websites and portals. This robust solution is particularly well-suited for businesses operating in multisite and multilingual environments, enabling them to manage diverse content and user experiences efficiently. Jahia streamlines the content management process, allowing users to focus on delivering engaging digital experiences rather than getting bogged down by technical complexities. Targeted at enterprises and organizations that require a flexible and scalable solution, Jahia caters to a wide range of industries, including retail, finance, and education. Its capabilities are ideal for teams that need to manage multiple websites or portals while ensuring consistency in branding and user experience across different languages and regions. Jahia’s user-friendly interface and powerful features make it an attractive option for content creators, marketers, and IT professionals alike, facilitating collaboration and enhancing productivity. One of the standout features of Jahia is its emphasis on personalization and A/B testing, which are essential for optimizing user engagement and conversion rates. The platform allows organizations to leverage customer data effectively, enabling them to create tailored experiences that resonate with their target audiences. By integrating advanced analytics and insights, Jahia empowers users to make informed decisions about content strategies and marketing efforts, ultimately driving better results. In addition to its core functionalities, Jahia offers 10,000+ no-code integrations, making it a versatile addition to any tech stack. This extensive library of integrations allows users to connect with various third-party applications and services seamlessly, enhancing the platform's capabilities without requiring extensive coding knowledge. This flexibility ensures that organizations can adapt and evolve their digital strategies as needed, making Jahia a future-proof solution for content management and digital experiences. Overall, Jahia stands out in the CMS and DXP landscape by providing a comprehensive, user-friendly platform that simplifies content management while enhancing personalization and user engagement. Its ability to support multisite and multilingual contexts, combined with a wealth of integrations, positions Jahia as a valuable tool for organizations looking to create impactful digital experiences. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 598 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 7.2/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Jahia](https://www.g2.com/sellers/jahia) - **Company Website:** https://www.jahia.com - **Year Founded:** 2002 - **HQ Location:** Geneva, Switzerland - **Twitter:** @Jahia (5,738 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/103891/ (71 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Product Owner, Business Analyst - **Top Industries:** Insurance, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 33% Enterprise, 32% Small-Business #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (130 reviews) - Content Management (107 reviews) - Flexibility (95 reviews) - Integrations (94 reviews) - Intuitive (94 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (129 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (71 reviews) - Difficult Learning (61 reviews) - Complexity (59 reviews) - Technical Expertise Required (54 reviews) ## Parent Category [Content Management Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/content-management) ## Related Categories - [Web Content Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/web-content-management) - [Digital Experience Platforms (DXP)](https://www.g2.com/categories/digital-experience-platforms-dxp) - [WebOps Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/webops-platforms) --- ## Buyer Guide ### What You Should Know About Headless CMS Software ### What is Headless CMS Software? A headless CMS, also known as API-first CMS, is a back-end exclusive content management system where the content repository “body" is decoupled from the front-end presentation layer. The architecture of a headless CMS differs from traditional CMS architecture. Instead of a static front-end display, content is pulled from the repository via a RESTful API (web services that implement a REST API), which allows it to be displayed on any type of device. Since content is pulled from a RESTful API, the front-end presentation is generated on the end user’s side and developers can create digital experiences without creating bespoke front-end displays for different types of devices.  The ability to avoid the development of unique, device-specific front-end displays is the main purpose of a headless CMS. Traditional web content management systems (WCMS), also known as monolithic CMS, struggled in this regard, and developers were often tasked with creating multiple, device-specific user interface displays for their websites and other digital experiences. While some traditional B2B CMS are advertised as being mobile friendly and ready to be viewed on mobile apps, many are unable to take into account all the types of devices a web page could be viewed from, including smartwatches, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and other internet of things (IoT) devices. Since a headless CMS is entirely device agnostic, it can deliver and format content to any of the above devices and more. With a headless CMS, developers can develop as many front-end layers as they would like in whatever coding language they prefer. Further, because the back-end is decoupled from the front-end, headless CMS allows for real-time editing and collaboration. Decoupled content management systems are also discussed alongside headless CMS; both have similarities, but the differences are stark. Both headless and decoupled content management systems separate the back-end content repository from the front-end presentation layer of a website or application. However, a decoupled CMS will provide traditional WCMS features like content templates and what you see is what you get (WYSIWYG) editors to create front-end content experiences. This can be beneficial for marketers who may find headless CMSs too technical to use for publishing content. **What Does Headless CMS Stand For?** Headless CMS stands for headless content management system. A content management system is a software application that manages web content and allows multiple contributors to create, edit, and publish content. In a traditional CMS, the content is stored in a database and users can select templates and extensions to design and customize the front-end. Headless CMS is a type of content management system that only deals with content. Once the content is created, it is published through an API. #### What Types of Headless CMS Software Exist? Headless CMS providers offer the same core features across most solutions. There can be variation in functionality if the headless CMS is part of a larger software solution like a digital experience platform (DXP), but most standalone options are very similar. The key difference between headless CMS solutions is how they are licensed. Headless CMS, like many other content management systems, are either open source or software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions. **Open source** Some headless CMS options are completely open-source software solutions, meaning developers can access the source code if need be. Open-source content management systems are easier to customize and tailor to a business’ needs. Since open-source software can be modified, developer communities tend to build around them, allowing programmers to collaborate and solve problems together. Open-source solutions are great options for developers looking for community support and collaboration for their software of choice. **SaaS** Many headless CMS options are available as SaaS products that can either be hosted in the cloud or on site. In either case, SaaS solutions require a license to use, so businesses must purchase the product. Since the software is licensed, developers won’t be able to modify the source code. However, one key benefit of SaaS headless CMS options is their focus on business use cases, and typically SaaS headless CMS options provide some specific, predefined modifications so businesses have some customization options. Another benefit to SaaS solutions is access to vendor-provided technical support—something open-source solutions very rarely have. ### What are the Common Features of Headless CMS Software? The following are features that make managing content using a headless CMS efficient for an organization. **RESTful API:** REST stands for representational state transfer, an architectural style for communications utilized in web services. An API is a set of procedures or functions that allow programmers to access features or data of an application, operating system, or database within their application. A RESTful API uses HTTP calls to GET, PUT, POST, and DELETE resources from a content repository. A RESTful API is the backbone of a headless CMS. Without it, device and channel-agnostic content delivery wouldn’t be possible since developers would need to create bespoke front-end layers for every device and channel. With a RESTful API, how content should be displayed is already built into the code and isn’t dictated by a static presentation layer. **Editor interface:** Like other web CMS software, a headless CMS provides an editor interface or dashboard where users can draft content, upload and manage assets, and view different project layers. **Content repository:** A core component of a headless CMS is its content repository. The content repository houses all content that will be delivered through a website or application via the RESTful API, including written content, images, video, and audio files. **Content taxonomy and tagging:** A headless CMS often provides a comprehensive taxonomy and tagging system for content added to the content repository. This provides structure to the content repository for ease of navigation and simplifies reusing assets. **Versioning:** Headless CMS options also provide content versioning akin to versioning features in other content management systems. This feature allows content authors to keep track of changes and revert edits to content if the need arises. **User permissions:** User permissions features allow administrators to designate access to specific features or permission to view and edit particular projects and content. Permissions and roles are standard features in content management systems, including headless CMSs. Every user working within a headless CMS does not need access to every project or piece of content; locking specific features or access to content is a practical solution to ensure security and prevent mistakes. **Workflows:** Many headless CMS providers provide built-in agile workflows to enhance efficiency within the application. This allows teams to delegate tasks and keep track of the different stages of a project. Other features of headless CMS software: [AR/VR Capabilities](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/f/ar-vr-capability), [Content Performance](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/f/content-performance), [Form Building](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/f/form-builder), and [Unlimited Environments](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/f/unlimited-environments). ### What are the Benefits of Headless CMS Software? **Multi-platform and omnichannel content delivery:** A headless CMS allows for omnichannel content delivery, meaning that it gives companies the ability to distribute content to users through various channels and build a cohesive user experience across multiple platforms. A headless CMS streamlines operations and allows for content management to occur from a single location, making content optimization and delivery efficient.  **Flexibility for developers while developing front-end layers:** Using a traditional CMS structure can be extremely limiting for developers because the front-end layers are dependent on the back-end, meaning that there needs to be separate code for each type of device that the content will be displayed on. With a headless CMS, the front-end presentation layer is decoupled from the content repository, giving the user freedom to build a front-end framework that makes sense for the project. Headless CMS allows users to focus on content creation as opposed to content management, allowing for more freedom and scalability.  ### Who Uses Headless CMS Software? **Developers and programmers:** While a headless CMS provides many benefits over a traditional CMS, it does require more technical coding knowledge. In a traditional CMS, marketers would be provided a WYSIWYG editor to draft content for publishing or a functionality of website builder software to design and publish a website. Since headless CMS removes the static front-end delivery of a WCMS, presentation layers must be built before content can be delivered. While developers and programmers have always had a hand in creating their business’s web experiences, marketers have less knowledge of what they can typically do in a headless CMS. As a result, the majority of a workforce’s time spent in a headless CMS belongs to development teams. **Marketers and content creators:** While developers and programmers will likely spend the most time within a headless CMS, marketers, content creators, and content editors still leverage some features within one. In particular, written content and assets still need to be added to the CMS’s content repository. Since marketers and other content creators handle writing text-based content or designing assets, they might also be tasked with adding their new content (text, images, or videos) to a headless CMS’s content repository. ### What are the Alternatives to Headless CMS Software? Alternatives to headless CMS can replace this type of software, either partially or completely: **Traditional CMS:** A traditional CMS is similar to a headless CMS in that they are both forms of content repositories and are used to manage web content. The main difference between the two types of CMS is that headless CMS doesn’t have a presentation layer, meaning that using a headless CMS requires more development knowledge. Users of headless CMS can switch to a traditional CMS if they find the development process using headless CMS to be too complex and want something quicker and simpler. While a traditional CMS is better for simpler websites, such as blogs, a headless CMS is better for more complex material, such as e-commerce sites. A traditional CMS may be better suited for smaller organizations that don’t have the required resources to effectively use a headless CMS. **Hybrid CMS:** A hybrid CMS is a CMS that is decoupled from the front-end, similar to a headless CMS. However, unlike a headless CMS, a hybrid CMS includes a presentation layer similar to a traditional CMS. Because it has features of both a headless CMS and traditional CMS, a hybrid CMS gives developers some flexibility and freedom to deliver content across multiple channels while allowing for a marketer-user friendly interface and a content publishing experience that includes WYSIWYG editing. [Website builder software:](https://www.g2.com/categories/website-builder) Website builders are another common way to build websites. Unlike headless CMS, using website builders does not require coding and developing knowledge as they utilize ready-made templates and drag-and-drop options instead to create simple websites. ### Challenges with Headless CMS Software Headless CMS options can come with their own set of challenges.  **No WYSIWYG functionality:** The main drawback of a headless CMS is the lack of WYSIWYG functionality. Marketers accustomed to formatting their content within a CMS in a provided WYSIWYG editor don’t have that luxury with a headless CMS. Instead, developers code formatting protocols into their website or application, so marketing and development teams will have to work together closely to ensure they have a cohesive vision of how content should appear to customers and visitors. While this functionality can better guarantee formatting consistencies, it removes marketers’ ability to change formatting styles themselves. As mentioned above, a decoupled CMS provides the benefits of a headless CMS while still providing the WYSIWYG editing marketers lean on to publish content. If hands-on, immediate content formatting permissions are a must for a marketing team, a decoupled CMS can be a great compromise. **Security:** There are security concerns with headless CMS because it’s difficult to decide the level of access different users need. The code in the client’s browser along with the data transferred from APIs is an open book, meaning that anyone has access to this data and there is a risk of delivering confidential information to non-authorized users. **Preview:** Because the presentation layer is decoupled from the content repository, there is no built-in way to preview how the presentation layer will react to coding changes in the CMS.  **SEO:** Most of the SEO work has to be implemented manually using a headless CMS because there's usually no plugin or add-ons that can do it for the user. Further, most headless CMS and front-end frameworks at the moment are Javascript-based, so SEO for these environments can be complicated to use because crawlers aren't able to render Javascript easily.  ### How to Buy Headless CMS Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Headless CMS Software Purchasing a headless CMS is a significant purchase that needs to be made carefully as the chosen product is a long-term decision. The first step is evaluating the needs of the business and the functionality that the website needs to have. Because there are alternatives to headless CMS (traditional CMS and hybrid CMS) which are often simpler to set up and implement, it’s important to decide if using a headless CMS is necessary for creating an effective website. Once it is decided that an organization needs a headless CMS, here are additional areas to evaluate: **How content needs to be managed in the CMS:** It is important to look at the type of content that will be managed on the CMS. This will ensure that the selected solution allows matching the data types to the required content structure. If data types are complex and frequently changed, a user-friendly builder should be prioritized.  **How file assets need to be managed from the CMS:** Some websites include rich media assets, such as images and videos. In that case, the CMS needs to provide an asset management capability along with the ability to store files through the CMS in a cloud storage environment. Different headless CMS solutions will have varying limitations on these parameters, so it’s important to consider factors such as size limit per asset, included bandwidth, and total storage amount.  **Integration extensions:** A headless CMS needs to have extensions that allow it to integrate with third-party applications such as CRM, PIM, email marketing programs, localization tools, and more. These extensions allow for the [personalization](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/f/personalization) of content. **How many support resources are needed:** Depending on the level of development expertise that the organization has, it will need more or less support resources, such as solid documentation, a customer service team, and community support (e.g., Slack, forums, etc.) #### Compare Headless CMS Software Products **Create a long list** There is an extensive amount of options when it comes to headless CMS software. Once buyers understand the requirements, they should search for solutions by browsing the internet. Most product websites will have a ‘Features’ page that will provide a high-level picture of what the software encompasses. G2.com is a good place to start. **Create a short list** Next, buyers should research further into the long list of solutions to create a short list. There is lots of research (articles and videos) that explain and review different products from different perspectives. Buyers should find research that caters to their industry. G2.com’s ‘Compare’ feature will help to stack software up side by side to compare specific features and learn how real users rate them. **Conduct demos** Demos are a great way to get a firsthand look at potential solutions and the ability to ask the right questions to determine which product is right for the organization. Buyers should prepare for each demo by having a standard list of questions and clarifications to ask each vendor.  #### Selection of Headless CMS Software **Choose a selection team** Given the complex and technical nature of operating a headless CMS, it will be developers and programmers who will be most involved with the use of a headless CMS. Thus, they need to be included in the conversation when choosing a solution. Content creators and marketers should also be included in the selection process as they are most familiar with the type of content that will be managed through the CMS. **Negotiation** At this stage, it is important to discuss pricing and ask if any discounts are available, whether it be for purchasing a larger number of licenses or for a longer duration. Buyers should explore payment options and implementation and onboarding services at this time as well.  **Final decision** Now that buyers know which software solution they want to purchase, they should ask for a trial run of the product to test how it will be implemented and adopted by their teams. If it is well integrated with existing technology and the teams receive it well, the buyer can be confident that the purchase will be successful. ### Headless CMS Software Trends **More copycat headless CMS products popping up:** With the rapid growth of the headless CMS market and new solutions coming to market faster than ever, legacy CMS solutions are struggling to compete. Oftentimes, traditional CMS players will market themselves as headless, when in reality, these platforms only offer APIs and not a true decoupled experience that allows for the flexibility that actual headless CMS solutions offer. Buyers should be cautious of this.