# Best Headless CMS Software for Medium-Sized Businesses - Page 2 *By [Neeraja Prakash](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/neeraja-prakash)* Products classified in the overall Headless CMS category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, medium-sized business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Medium-Sized Business Headless CMS to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Medium-Sized Business Headless CMS category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Headless CMS Software category, to qualify for inclusion in the Medium-Sized Business Headless CMS Software category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a medium-sized business. ## Top Headless CMS Software at a Glance | # | Product | Rating | Best For | What Users Say | |---|---------|--------|----------|----------------| | 1 | [Storyblok](https://www.g2.com/products/storyblok/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (578 reviews) | Visual content editing with component reusability | "[Storyblok stands out in a crowded CMS landscape](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/storyblok-review-12563261)" | | 2 | [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) | 4.7/5.0 (902 reviews) | Developer-customized CMS with React-based Studio | "[The CMS that finally made a government website feel modern](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/sanity-review-12483460)" | | 3 | [Contentstack](https://www.g2.com/products/contentstack/reviews) | 4.3/5.0 (328 reviews) | Multi-locale content reuse with modular components | "[Collaborative Power with Room for UI Improvement](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/contentstack-review-13062049)" | | 4 | [Hygraph](https://www.g2.com/products/hygraph/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (729 reviews) | GraphQL-native content modeling with developer-first flexibility | "[Great CMS but can get even better](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/hygraph-review-8914469)" | | 5 | [Umbraco](https://www.g2.com/products/umbraco/reviews) | 4.5/5.0 (968 reviews) | .NET-native headless content with editor-friendly authoring | "[A Flexible CMS That Scales with Business Needs](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/umbraco-review-10731071)" | | 6 | [Prismic](https://www.g2.com/products/prismic/reviews) | 4.3/5.0 (361 reviews) | Component-driven content with Next.js integration | "[Great tool for managing a website and easily editing it and adding new pages](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/prismic-review-11794387)" | | 7 | [Contentful](https://www.g2.com/products/contentful/reviews) | 4.3/5.0 (311 reviews) | Modular content delivery across web and mobile | "[User-Friendly, MACH-Aligned CMS That Works Great for Marketers and Developers](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/contentful-review-12804527)" | | 8 | [Prepr CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/prepr-cms/reviews) | 4.4/5.0 (124 reviews) | Content personalization with built-in A/B testing | "[Easy Personalization and A/B Testing with an Intuitive UX](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/prepr-cms-review-13072642)" | | 9 | [Kontent.ai](https://www.g2.com/products/kontent-ai/reviews) | 4.3/5.0 (174 reviews) | Omnichannel content delivery with modular reuse | "[Kontent.ai’s Clean, Intuitive UI Makes Content Creation Seamless](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/kontent-ai-review-12597805)" | | 10 | [Optimizely Content Management System](https://www.g2.com/products/optimizely-content-management-system/reviews) | 4.0/5.0 (181 reviews) | .NET-native headless content with hybrid flexibility | "[User-Friendly CMS with Some Limitations](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/optimizely-content-management-system-review-12573955)" | ## G2 Grid® for Headless CMS Software ![G2 Grid® for Headless CMS Software plotting products by satisfaction and market presence](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/grids.png?focus%5B%5D=6293&focus%5B%5D=54403&focus%5B%5D=54400&focus%5B%5D=1689&focus%5B%5D=54402&focus%5B%5D=54398&focus%5B%5D=21044&focus%5B%5D=4941) Highlighted products: Contentstack, Storyblok, Hygraph, Umbraco, Sanity, Kontent.ai, Prismic, and Contentful. Underlying data: [Grid® JSON](https://www.g2.com/categories/headless-cms/grids.json?focus%5B%5D=contentstack&focus%5B%5D=storyblok&focus%5B%5D=hygraph&focus%5B%5D=umbraco&focus%5B%5D=sanity&focus%5B%5D=kontent-ai&focus%5B%5D=prismic&focus%5B%5D=contentful&segment=mid-market) ## How Many Headless CMS Software Products Does G2 Track? **Total Products under this Category:** 110 ### Category Stats (Jul 2026) - **Average Rating**: 4.42/5 The average rating of products in this category, based on all submitted ratings - **Top Trending Product**: Magnolia (+2.94%) - Among all products in this category, Magnolia recorded the largest rating increase compared to last month *Last updated: July 14, 2026* ## How Does G2 Rank Headless CMS Software Products? **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 9,200+ Authentic Reviews - 110+ 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. ## Which Headless CMS Software Is Best for Your Use Case? - **Best for Small Businesses:** [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) - **Best for Mid-Market:** [Contentstack](https://www.g2.com/products/contentstack/reviews) - **Best for Enterprise:** [Contentstack](https://www.g2.com/products/contentstack/reviews) - **Highest User Satisfaction:** [Hygraph](https://www.g2.com/products/hygraph/reviews) - **Best Free Software:** [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) --- **Sponsored** ### Contentstack 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. [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%5Bchosen_at%5D=2026-07-14T10%3A20%3A02Z&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=6293&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%3Fpage%3D2&secure%5Btoken%5D=60120bcfb0cbd365886b1c7aa254bc2537f9f17315987022f427dbae089c60e6&secure%5Burl%5D=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.contentstack.com%2Fplatforms%2Fheadless-cms%3Futm_campaign%3Dfy27_glb_cam_da_pr_4336_g2%26utm_medium%3Dpaid-review%26utm_source%3Dg2%26utm_content%3Dclicks_pilot%26utm_term%3Dheadless_cms&secure%5Burl_type%5D=custom_url) --- ## What Are the Top-Rated Headless CMS Software Products in 2026? ### 1. [dotCMS](https://www.g2.com/products/dotcms/reviews) dotCMS is a visual headless content management system (CMS) designed to assist compliance-led organizations in the creation, management, and publication of digital content across various sites, brands, and channels from a unified platform. This innovative solution combines the flexibility of a headless CMS with a user-friendly visual editing interface, making it suitable for both developers and content teams. The platform is particularly relevant for organizations that prioritize governance and compliance, such as those in financial services, healthcare, government, telecom, and manufacturing. It is ideal for use cases that involve managing multi-site brand and regional websites, intranets, customer portals, product and marketing sites, and localized content. By providing a centralized system, dotCMS allows users to maintain control over their content while ensuring that it meets regulatory requirements. Key features of dotCMS include its API-first design, which supports GraphQL, REST, and Page API, enabling developers to integrate with various front-end technologies like React, Next.js, and Angular. This flexibility allows for seamless integration with other systems, such as commerce, digital asset management (DAM), and product information management (PIM). Content editors benefit from a visual interface that includes drag-and-drop functionality and live preview capabilities, streamlining the content creation process. Governance and compliance are at the forefront of dotCMS's offerings, with built-in workflows, approval processes, audit trails, granular permissions, and version history. This ensures that organizations can maintain oversight of their content operations, with configurable roles and multi-step approval processes that enhance accountability. Furthermore, dotCMS is aligned with enterprise security and compliance standards, such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001, providing peace of mind for organizations handling sensitive information. Organizations like BNP Paribas, Telus, and various regional health systems utilize dotCMS to consolidate their content platforms, standardize governance practices, and reduce operational overhead. The platform is tailored for teams that require both content flexibility and stringent control over publishing processes, making it a robust solution for managing digital content in a compliant manner. **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 110 **How Do G2 Users Rate dotCMS?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 7.1/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 7.6/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind dotCMS?** - **Seller:** [dotCMS](https://www.g2.com/sellers/dotcms) - **Company Website:** https://dotcms.com - **Year Founded:** 2003 - **HQ Location:** Miami, Florida - **Twitter:** @dotcms (1,334 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/2307658/ (76 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Higher Education, Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 47% Enterprise, 44% Mid-Market #### What Are dotCMS's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Content Management (5 reviews) - Ease of Use (4 reviews) - Customer Support (3 reviews) - Integrations (3 reviews) - API Flexibility (2 reviews) **Cons:** - Learning Curve (3 reviews) - Developer Challenges (2 reviews) - Expensive (2 reviews) - Steep Learning Curve (2 reviews) - Bugs (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About dotCMS? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users value the **user-friendly content management** of dotCMS, enabling both novices and experts to manage content effortlessly. - Users enjoy the **ease of use** in dotCMS, making content creation accessible for everyone, including non-technical users. - Users rave about the **exceptional customer support** of dotCMS, always receiving quick and helpful assistance. - Users value the **robust integrations** of dotCMS, enabling flexible content management and diverse tooling options. - Users love the **API flexibility** of dotCMS, enabling various approaches to achieve their desired outcomes effortlessly. **Cons:** - Users find the **steep learning curve** of dotCMS challenging, especially for those without extensive coding knowledge. - Users face **developer challenges** due to inconsistency, sparse documentation, and the need for technical expertise in dotCMS. - Users find the pricing of dotCMS to be **high** , making it challenging for smaller businesses or startups. - Users find the **steep learning curve** of dotCMS challenging, requiring extensive knowledge for effective administration. - Users face **inconsistent Push Publish functionality** , highlighting the need for clear source and target demarcation. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of dotCMS? **"[Great service for flexible websites](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/dotcms-review-9635731)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Jennifer W.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/dotcms-review-9635731) --- **"[Efficient and Friendly, But with Room to Explore More](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/dotcms-review-12973359)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Jesus Eduardo G.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/dotcms-review-12973359) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About dotCMS? - [Why dotCMS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/why-dotcms) - [How much is dotCMS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-is-dotcms) - [Is dotCMS opensource?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-dotcms-opensource) - [What does dotCMS do?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-does-dotcms-do) ### 2. [DatoCMS](https://www.g2.com/products/datocms/reviews) DatoCMS is the headless CMS loved by developers and content creators across 25,000+ teams around the world. From early-stage tech startups and NGOs to global enterprises and governments, DatoCMS is trusted to deliver content at scale. Its powerful GraphQL and REST APIs, and no-code approach to schema management enables teams to focus on execution rather than configuration. With an uncompromising focus on Developer Experience and Editor Experience, devs can create powerful content structures, while editors effortlessly create and publish localized content to multiple sites, apps, and platforms independently. **Average Rating:** 4.7/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 48 **How Do G2 Users Rate DatoCMS?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.4/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 9.3/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 7.5/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.0/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind DatoCMS?** - **Seller:** [DatoCMS](https://www.g2.com/sellers/datocms) - **Year Founded:** 2017 - **HQ Location:** Milan, IT - **Twitter:** @datocms (2,681 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/datocms/ (12 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software, Financial Services - **Company Size:** 71% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market #### What Are DatoCMS's Pros and Cons? **Pros:** - Flexibility (4 reviews) - Customer Support (3 reviews) - Ease of Use (3 reviews) - Intuitive (2 reviews) - APIs (1 reviews) **Cons:** - Preview Issues (2 reviews) - Editor Limitations (1 reviews) - Limitations (1 reviews) - Not User-Friendly (1 reviews) - Poor Management (1 reviews) ### What Do G2 Reviewers Say About DatoCMS? *AI-generated summary from verified user reviews* **Pros:** - Users value the **flexibility** of DatoCMS, appreciating its ease of use for both developers and non-technical editors. - Users praise the **outstanding customer support** of DatoCMS, noting its helpfulness and quick response times. - Users find DatoCMS to be **easy to use** , appreciating its intuitive interface and efficient content management features. - Users value the **intuitive and flexible interface** of DatoCMS, which simplifies daily workflows and enhances productivity. - Users appreciate the **fast API** of DatoCMS, making it ideal for developer-driven projects with modern frameworks. **Cons:** - Users desire a better **preview function** and spell checker in DatoCMS for a smoother editing experience. - Users find the **editor limitations** frustrating, lacking a preview function and spell checker for better quality control. - Users find the **limits on storage** somewhat frustrating, impacting their overall experience with DatoCMS. - Users find DatoCMS **not user-friendly** , facing challenges throughout their experience from start to finish. - Users face issues with **poor management** , such as unexpected charges and inadequate live preview functionality, affecting their workflow. #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of DatoCMS? **"[Mature headless CMS, user and developer friendly](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/datocms-review-11685068)"** **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars *— Michael N.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/datocms-review-11685068) --- **"[DatoCMS: Flexible, Fast API, and a Reliable Fit for Modern Developer-Driven Projects](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/datocms-review-12252655)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— leandro c.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/datocms-review-12252655) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About DatoCMS? - [What is DatoCMS used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-datocms-used-for) ### 3. [Craft CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/reviews) Craft CMS is a focused content management system for developers, designers, and web professionals that blends flexibility, power, and ease of use for clients. **Average Rating:** 4.2/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 47 **How Do G2 Users Rate Craft CMS?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.1/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.6/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Craft CMS?** - **Seller:** [Pixel & Tonic](https://www.g2.com/sellers/pixel-tonic-1549c114-8e5f-411b-8c5e-cbccb53508e0) - **HQ Location:** Bend, OR - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/712975/ (7 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Marketing and Advertising, Internet - **Company Size:** 53% Small-Business, 37% Mid-Market #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Craft CMS? **"[Flexible, modern, secure and high-performance](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/craft-cms-review-9892288)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Verified User in Internet* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/craft-cms-review-9892288) --- **"[Full control of the content model and front end](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/craft-cms-review-13088517)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— Anthony K.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/craft-cms-review-13088517) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Craft CMS? - [What is Craft CMS used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-craft-cms-used-for) - 1 comment - [Is CMS Open Source craft?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-cms-open-source-craft) - 1 comment - [What language is craft CMS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-language-is-craft-cms) - [Is Craft CMS any good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-craft-cms-any-good) - 1 comment - [What is craft CMS?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-craft-cms) ### 4. [Content.One](https://www.g2.com/products/content-one/reviews) Content.one is an enterprise-grade composable content and digital experience platform designed to empower organizations to scale content with confidence. It brings together automation, structured workflows, governance, visual editing, AI-driven capabilities and security — so content teams, IT, marketing and enterprise functions can collaborate seamlessly. With Content.one, you can publish across channels, maintain strong governance, accelerate production, and ensure your content infrastructure supports both global scale and mission-driven agility. Key Features & Benefits: Visual editing tools plus generative AI for faster authoring Structured workflows and governance to manage teams, languages, versions Enterprise-grade security, encryption, hosting, and compliance readiness Scalable architecture for growing content volumes and multi-channel needs **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 37 **How Do G2 Users Rate Content.One?** - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 10.0/10 (Category avg: 9.0/10) - **Content Performance:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.5/10) - **AR/VR Capability:** 6.7/10 (Category avg: 6.8/10) - **Form Builder:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 7.9/10) **Who Is the Company Behind Content.One?** - **Seller:** [Content.One](https://www.g2.com/sellers/content-one) - **Company Website:** https://www.content.one/ - **Year Founded:** 2010 - **HQ Location:** San Diego, CA - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/contentdotone/ (9 employees on LinkedIn®) **Who Uses This Product?** - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services - **Company Size:** 50% Mid-Market, 34% Small-Business #### What Are Recent G2 Reviews of Content.One? **"[Effortless Website Management with Intuitive Interface](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/content-one-review-12646432)"** **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars *— Ashley P.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/content-one-review-12646432) --- **"[Flexible CMS with Excellent Support and Performance](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/content-one-review-12680476)"** **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars *— JJ B.* [Read full review](https://www.g2.com/survey_responses/content-one-review-12680476) --- #### What Are G2 Users Discussing About Content.One? - [How much does Zesty cost?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-much-does-zesty-cost) - 1 comment - [What is Zesty website?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-zesty-website) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [Is zesty legit?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-zesty-legit) - 1 comment, 1 upvote - [What is Zesty cms?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-zesty-cms) - 1 comment, 1 upvote ## What Is Headless CMS Software? [Content Management Systems](https://www.g2.com/categories/content-management) ## What Software Categories Are Similar to Headless CMS Software? - [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) --- ## How Do You Choose the Right Headless CMS Software? ### 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.