Here’s what you need to know upfront:
Headless CMS platforms are transforming digital marketing, enabling faster page load times (up to 50% faster) and boosting conversions by 20%. They separate content management from presentation, delivering flexibility and scalability across devices. AI-powered workflows are also reducing admin tasks by 40%, saving teams time for strategic growth.
| Platform | Best For | Pricing (Starting) | Key Feature | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contentful | Enterprise, large teams | $300/month | Modular content modeling | High |
| Strapi | Development-heavy teams | $15/month | Open-source flexibility | High |
| Sanity | Dynamic collaboration | $10/seat/month | Real-time editing | Good |
| Storyblok | Marketing teams | $99/month | Visual editor | Good |
| Hygraph | GraphQL-heavy applications | $199/month | Federated content | Good |
| Midday | Full WebOps service | $2,700/month | Unlimited task requests | Flexible |
Each platform has unique strengths - choose based on your team’s technical skills, budget, and growth needs.
Contentful is a leading name in the headless CMS world, offering a cloud-based platform built with an API-first approach. Its tools have helped businesses achieve impressive results, including a 78% boost in conversion rates and a 10x increase in content production.
At the heart of Contentful's system is its content modeling feature, which organizes content into structural components like body text, images, headers, and author bios. This modular setup allows for the creation of reusable content blocks that can be applied across various channels, brands, and regions.
The platform provides an intuitive interface where developers can design content models, while editors populate them in a controlled environment. Updates made to these components are reflected instantly wherever they're used, ensuring consistency across all digital properties.
This structured method is ideal for organizations managing content across multiple brands or regions. However, some users note that the same rigidity can make it challenging to handle more complex, flexible projects. Even so, this modular approach lays the groundwork for Contentful's powerful API and integration options.
"The platform is extremely user-friendly for content creators. It frees my team from having to be content intermediaries so they can get back to designing." - Kris Hedstrom, Head of UX/UI Design, On Running
Contentful offers two key APIs to streamline workflows: the Content Management API (CMA) for creating and editing content, and the Content Delivery API (CDA) for distributing content to websites, apps, and other digital platforms.
These APIs enable smooth integration with CRMs, marketing automation tools, and social media platforms, all while maintaining a single, centralized content repository.
Additionally, Contentful's AI Actions feature enhances productivity by generating on-brand copy, suggesting audience-specific ideas, and personalizing experiences - all within existing workflows. This feature reduces manual editing time by up to 60% and boosts production speed by up to 4x, making it a valuable tool for scaling operations.
Contentful's composable architecture is designed to meet the needs of enterprise organizations looking to move beyond the limitations of traditional CMS systems.
Marketing teams can independently update content, accelerating the pace of updates and campaign launches. For instance, customers have reported a 77% increase in blog production after adopting Contentful's streamlined workflows.
Contentful offers three pricing tiers tailored to businesses of varying sizes:
Contentful supports efficient teamwork with user roles and permissions, ensuring content quality while enabling collaboration. These user roles apply across all Contentful products, including Personalization, Studio, and AI Actions.
As businesses grow, they can scale their use of Contentful by adding more spaces, increasing AI credits, and expanding Monthly Active Profiles (MAPs). This flexibility allows companies to start small and expand their Contentful setup as their needs evolve.
Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that gives developers full control over their content infrastructure. With over 62,000 stars on GitHub and more than 20 million downloads, it’s a popular choice for teams looking for flexibility and customization.
Strapi’s approach to content modeling revolves around its atomic content structure, which allows developers to create reusable content components. This modular system supports a variety of data field types, such as Text, JSON, Media, Boolean, Rich Text, and numeric fields. It offers non-repeatable components for unique content blocks and repeatable components for creating multiple entries with the same structure.
At StrapiConf 2025, the platform introduced the AI Content-Type Builder, a tool that converts project briefs, code repositories, or even Figma links into complete content models. This tool includes features like visual change-tracking and drag-and-drop reordering for easier customization.
"From real-time editing to AI-assisted schema design, we're closing the gap between idea and launch while keeping the freedom of a fully headless architecture", said Pierre Burgy, Strapi co-founder and CEO.
Strapi takes an API-first approach, making it easy to create custom APIs and integrate with marketing tools. The platform automatically generates RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints, which can be fully customized. Its decoupled architecture ensures efficient performance by serving content through APIs, reducing server strain and improving response times.
The modular design also supports microservices, making it ideal for organizations with complex technical needs. Additionally, Strapi works seamlessly with popular frontend frameworks and marketing automation tools, providing a unified content management experience. These features make it a solid choice for teams focused on scalability and performance.
Strapi is built to handle high-traffic environments without sacrificing performance. Its headless architecture allows the backend and frontend to scale independently, helping teams optimize resources based on traffic demands. The system supports databases like MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.
Strapi Cloud offers additional scalability options, with users noting that the platform "can handle increasing traffic and expanding product catalogs without performance issues". Teams also have the flexibility to deploy on platforms like AWS, Azure, and DigitalOcean, giving them control over their hosting choices. This scalability is paired with a straightforward pricing model.
Strapi updated its pricing in March 2025, separating CMS features from hosting to provide more transparent and affordable options:
Hosting options are available at an additional $50 per month for Pro plans and $250 per month for Scale plans.
"Strapi is a flexible, cost-effective solution", said Jeremy W., Senior Software Engineer.
Strapi’s draft-publish workflow helps teams maintain quality control while speeding up publication cycles. The platform supports unlimited CMS users on all plans, making it a cost-efficient option for larger teams. It has a 4.6/5 rating on Gartner Peer Insights, with scalability rated at 4.8/5.
Users frequently highlight its balance between ease of use and advanced capabilities, with 95% of users recommending it. Content teams can independently manage all types of content and distribute it across various channels - websites, mobile apps, or connected devices. This reduces bottlenecks and allows for quick responses to campaign needs. Similar to Contentful, Strapi’s API-first design streamlines workflows, making it a strong contender in the headless CMS market.
Sanity stands out for its flexible content modeling and real-time collaboration tools, earning the top spot on G2 with a 4.2 satisfaction rating.
Sanity allows teams to create custom content types, fields, and relationships tailored to their needs. This approach ensures structured content frameworks that support both scalability and consistency. For example, Davidson Homes leveraged Sanity’s custom data structures to handle complex relationships and large datasets for U.S. real estate listings. Similarly, Utilita Energy integrated Sanity into their WordPress marketing site and internal CRM, simplifying their digital product funnels.
With its API-first design, Sanity enables real-time content operations, enhancing AI-driven workflows and social media integration. Developers can choose between auto-generated GraphQL and REST APIs, accommodating different development preferences.
One major news publisher reported a 60% reduction in time spent on technical content tasks and a 40% improvement in cross-platform content consistency after implementing Sanity's AI features. A retailer saw a 23% increase in product page conversion rates within three months of using AI-optimized content. Additionally, Rolling Stone uses Sanity’s AI Agent to refine headlines, create SEO meta descriptions, and format content for mobile, web, and AMP.
"It's incredibly easy to push data into Sanity Content Lake from outbound systems. With the Sanity API, I'm not making 10,000 calls to update 10,000 items. I'm making one API call and the whole dataset is updated", said Kevin Harwood, CTO at Tecovas.
Sanity’s robust API capabilities make it a strong choice for scaling content infrastructure.
Sanity’s cloud-native, auto-scaling infrastructure handles high data volumes and traffic with ease. For instance, Morning Brew delivers content to over 4 million subscribers daily using Sanity’s seamless content operations.
"PUMA's E-Commerce lead confirms, 'With Sanity, scalability is virtually limitless'."
A fashion retailer managing 50,000 SKUs used Sanity’s AI Agent to simplify seasonal launches, auto-generate product descriptions, and tag products efficiently.
Sanity shines in real-time collaboration, allowing teams to work on content simultaneously without conflicts. Features like live collaboration and AI Assist streamline editorial workflows. This has proven effective for businesses like Siella Beauty, which integrated Sanity into their Shopify store, and Lyngen North, which customized their Studio setup.
Storyblok blends a visual editing experience with developer-friendly APIs, making it a go-to option for marketing teams. Its component-based design simplifies content creation without compromising technical performance.
Storyblok organizes assets through core content types and key attributes, creating a structured workflow that’s easy to navigate. This setup helps teams quickly grasp the purpose of any asset and reuse existing structures to build new content efficiently.
"Content modeling is the process of breaking your assets down into general content types and their individual attributes. Using this approach to define content structure makes it more organized, streamlined, and easy to work with", notes Gillian Mays.
The platform’s component-based system promotes collaboration between developers and creators, ensuring content works seamlessly across all channels. Customizing content types with specific attributes provides a clear framework that everyone can follow, which is especially beneficial since organized marketers are 674% more likely to report success.
Additionally, Storyblok includes a built-in Digital Asset Management (DAM) system, simplifying content organization. Unlike the chaos of handling unstructured, one-off content, this modular approach integrates smoothly with Storyblok’s APIs, ensuring consistency across platforms.
Storyblok’s APIs - Content Delivery, GraphQL, and Management - are designed for speed and reliability.
The platform also incorporates AI-driven tools to streamline workflows. For example, in March 2024, Storyblok launched the DeepL Content Translation App by Virtual Identity, which automates translations at both folder and field levels. The DALL-E integration allows users to generate images by simply entering descriptions, cutting down the time spent searching for stock images.
For SEO, Storyblok offers an AI-powered meta tag generator developed by take it_ agency. This tool auto-fills SEO fields and provides a Google Preview feature, making optimization more intuitive. These AI-driven tools address a common issue, as 40% of CMS users worldwide report their systems lack AI-powered content creation features.
E-commerce teams leveraging Storyblok’s AI tools process three times more products daily, while maintaining higher-quality content. This has led to a 25% boost in product page conversion rates, thanks to more consistent and engaging product descriptions. Media organizations also benefit, cutting routine content tasks by up to 40%.
Storyblok’s cloud-native infrastructure automatically scales through a distributed architecture, avoiding single points of failure. Its global network ensures efficient caching, even during heavy traffic.
Businesses using Storyblok have seen measurable success. Green Paper Products reported a 25% increase in direct traffic conversion rates and a 16% drop in bounce rates. Meanwhile, Hey Harper achieved a 17% boost in conversion rates, a 10% rise in product views, and a 2% lift in add-to-cart rates during a two-week A/B test after restructuring their site with Storyblok.
Storyblok also guarantees reliability with its ISO 27001 certification and a 99.99% uptime SLA, making it ideal for high-traffic marketing websites. Its headless architecture further enhances technical SEO, improving search engine rankings.
Storyblok’s tools are designed to empower teams, regardless of technical expertise. The visual editor allows non-technical users to update content without disrupting developer-defined structures.
Automation is another strength. The platform’s webhook system links external systems, automating tasks and triggering events as needed. Developers can also create custom JavaScript plugins to tailor functionality for specific business requirements.
With its combination of flexibility, automation, and collaborative tools, Storyblok ensures teams can work efficiently while maintaining high-quality content across all channels.
Hygraph stands out among headless CMS platforms with its federated content approach, which brings together various content sources through a single GraphQL API. With 91% of users recommending it and earning the top spot for User Satisfaction in G2's Spring 2025 Reports, Hygraph has proven itself as a reliable choice for marketing teams managing diverse content needs.
Hygraph’s content modeling strikes a practical balance between flexibility and structure. It uses two types of models: Subject Models for context-specific, less reusable content, and Specification Models for components that can be reused across projects. This setup prevents over-modularization while maintaining adaptability.
The platform supports dynamic content modeling with a variety of field and data types, allowing teams to adjust their structures as their needs change. Additionally, its multi-environment feature lets teams test changes in isolated areas without affecting live data.
"Hygraph's intuitive modeling unlocks extensive connectivity options", says David Smiling, CTO at BioCentury.
Hygraph’s GraphQL-first API is at the core of its ability to streamline modern marketing workflows. Its Content Federation feature consolidates data from multiple REST and GraphQL APIs into one endpoint, making it easier to manage and query content from different sources. This capability eliminates the need to duplicate content, enabling teams to pull data from systems like PIM platforms, CRMs, headless commerce solutions, and media asset management tools - all in a single query.
The API also supports automated workflows, such as content updates, data synchronization, and enrichment with external data. Teams can even automate content moderation or trigger workflows when content changes. For instance, Dr. Oetker used Hygraph’s API to connect with audiences in over 40 markets. The platform also supports real-time data integration, such as flight schedules, stock prices, or weather updates, making it ideal for delivering dynamic content.
Hygraph’s robust API infrastructure ensures it can handle enterprise-level demands. Its global CDN with extensive caching guarantees fast and reliable content delivery, even for high-traffic sites. Users on the self-serve plan can choose from nine hosting locations, including the US, Canada, Germany, India, and Japan, while enterprise customers have access to over 77 hosting regions.
Advanced caching methods enhance performance, and enterprise clients can opt for dedicated infrastructure to support even greater scalability. For example, Neat experienced a 5x boost in content velocity after rebranding with Hygraph. Travel Weekly also benefited from the platform’s no-code schema builder, quickly creating content models tailored to their specific needs.
Hygraph simplifies teamwork with its user-friendly interface and advanced workflow features. It earned high marks for User Satisfaction and Ease of Implementation in G2's Spring 2025 Reports, reflecting its intuitive design and straightforward configuration. The platform’s no-code schema builder allows development teams to create content models without extensive technical training, speeding up onboarding and implementation.
Midday is reshaping how marketing teams approach website operations, offering a robust WebOps solution under the leadership of Danny Elkhoury and Anyday Inc. Designed for mid-market and enterprise teams, Midday provides a comprehensive suite of services that align perfectly with the fast and scalable performance of headless systems.
At the heart of Midday's approach is its Content Engine, which takes content management to a new level. This system brings in dedicated content strategists who handle everything from researching and writing to publishing long-form blog posts, lead magnets, and thought leadership pieces. The result? High-performing content that stays aligned with marketing goals. Plus, senior developers and designers work closely with teams to ensure content is optimized for both performance and impact.
Midday's full-stack model makes API integration seamless, bridging marketing websites with existing tools effortlessly. With 78% of developers praising JAMstack for its flexibility and improved user experience, Midday capitalizes on modern architectures to streamline these connections. Senior full-stack developers manage API tasks as part of the service, and the platform allows unlimited integration requests - a major advantage as the B2B e-commerce market is projected to hit $20.9 trillion by 2027.
Scalability is a core strength of Midday, thanks to its flexible team capacity. The platform offers three plans - Maintain, Grow, and Scale - tailored to meet changing business demands.
"Midday gives you the best of all worlds - scalability, speed, and cost efficiency - without the overhead, hiring delays, or project management headaches."
The Scale plan, for example, includes 60 hours of senior-level support, which is equivalent to 90 hours of work by junior talent. This flexibility allows teams to adjust their plans - whether upgrading, downgrading, or pausing - without the constraints of traditional CMS licensing.
Midday's pricing reflects the depth of its WebOps services:
| Plan | Fullstack Development | Design Only |
|---|---|---|
| Maintain | $2,700/month | $2,200/month |
| Grow | $5,400/month | $4,200/month |
| Scale | $8,000/month | $5,900/month |
Each plan includes unlimited task requests, so businesses can submit as many as needed without worrying about extra fees. Pricing also covers essentials like page speed optimization, SEO audits, CMS upgrades, and ongoing WebOps strategy support.
Midday removes the typical headaches of project management by pairing marketing teams with senior developers, designers, and content strategists who integrate seamlessly into existing workflows. This collaboration model is enhanced by built-in tech optimization, ensuring teams benefit from the speed and efficiency of headless CMS solutions, such as faster load times. With features like unlimited requests, rollover hours, and no onboarding fees, Midday offers a workflow that adapts naturally to the rhythms of marketing teams.
When it comes to choosing a headless CMS, each platform brings its own set of perks and limitations. These differences can significantly impact your marketing team's efficiency, so weighing the pros and cons is key. Below, you'll find a breakdown of the strengths, challenges, and standout features of some popular platforms, helping you pinpoint the best fit for your goals and technical setup.
Contentful is a powerhouse for enterprise-level needs, offering flexible content modeling and a global CDN that supports large-scale operations. However, the $300/month starting price and a requirement for technical expertise may make it less accessible for smaller teams or those without dedicated developers.
Strapi shines as an open-source option, ideal for businesses with strong development resources. It’s highly customizable and costs just $29 per project per month, giving you full access to the source code. The downside? You’ll need in-house expertise to manage and maintain the system effectively.
Sanity sets itself apart with real-time collaboration tools and a customizable editing experience. At $10 per seat per month, it’s an affordable option for teams looking for dynamic collaboration. That said, its GROQ query language can be tough to learn, and advanced tasks might require extra effort.
"Coming from a traditional CMS like Sitecore, Sanity absolutely blew my mind...super easy to integrate and implement." - Gauvrav B., Sanity Reviewer
Storyblok is popular among content creators and marketing teams, thanks to its visual editor that provides real-time updates. It’s user-friendly and starts at $99/month, but the lower-tier plans lack robust backup options, and some JavaScript libraries can feel clunky.
"Storyblok's visual editor is a delight to all of our content authors...intuitive, fast, and provides immediate feedback." - Shea M., Storyblok Reviewer
Hygraph is a go-to for GraphQL-based applications, offering efficient data retrieval and flexible content modeling. Starting at $199/month, it’s a solid choice for developers. However, limited documentation and rising costs as you scale may pose challenges.
For teams looking for a full-service solution, Midday takes a different approach. Starting at $2,000/month, it offers a complete WebOps package, including senior developers, designers, and content strategists. This all-in-one service handles everything from technical optimization to content creation, eliminating the need for in-house technical management. With unlimited task requests and scalable support, it’s a great option for marketing teams focused on growth.
Here’s a quick comparison of the platforms:
| Platform | Content Modeling | API Integration | Scalability | Pricing (USD) | Workflow & Collaboration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Contentful | Flexible, enterprise-grade | Extensive marketplace | High, global CDN | $300/month | Strong team features |
| Strapi | Highly customizable | Complete API control | High with expertise | $29/month | Developer-focused |
| Sanity | Real-time, flexible | Easy integration | Good | $10/seat/month | Excellent real-time collab |
| Storyblok | Visual, intuitive | Standard integrations | Good | $99/month | Marketing-friendly |
| Hygraph | GraphQL-native | Reliable API | Good | $199/month | Developer-oriented |
| Midday | Strategic content engine | Unlimited integrations | Flexible team capacity | $2,000/month | Full-service WebOps |
Your choice will depend on your team’s technical skills, budget, and future growth plans. Open-source platforms like Strapi offer unmatched flexibility but demand technical know-how. Meanwhile, platforms like Contentful and Storyblok strike a balance between features and usability. For those who prefer to offload technical challenges entirely, Midday’s full-service model is worth exploring.
As the headless CMS industry grows - projected to jump from $3.94 billion in 2025 to $22.28 billion by 2034 with a CAGR of 21.42% - choosing a platform that can adapt to your evolving needs is more important than ever.
Picking the best headless CMS in 2025 boils down to your technical skills, budget, and growth objectives. With the market expected to reach $22.28 billion by 2034, the decision carries significant weight. Here's a breakdown of how different options stack up based on technical needs and costs.
If your team has strong development expertise, Strapi offers unparalleled customization options. On the other hand, platforms like Storyblok and Sanity shine with user-friendly visual editing tools and real-time collaboration features, though they come with their own learning curves for marketing teams.
For large enterprises, Contentful stands out with its robust infrastructure and global content delivery network (CDN). Meanwhile, all-in-one WebOps solutions like Midday provide a hands-off approach, reducing technical complexities and simplifying operations.
One key takeaway: technical complexity often drives the final decision. As your technical needs grow, so does the importance of reliable API integrations and scalable support. Many U.S.-based marketing teams face challenges with traditional headless CMS platforms, including ongoing maintenance, security updates, and integration hurdles.
When evaluating options, don’t just focus on upfront costs - think about long-term maintenance and scalability. Take advantage of free trials and involve your content team early in the process. A platform that seems ideal on paper might not align with your team’s day-to-day workflow.
Ultimately, the right CMS should grow with you. With headless commerce platforms reducing website bounce rates by 30% compared to traditional systems, the performance benefits can make the investment worthwhile - if your team can fully utilize the platform’s strengths.
A headless CMS brings more flexibility by separating the back-end content management system from the front-end design. This split structure gives developers the freedom to work with any front-end technology they prefer, speeding up the development process and allowing for more creative designs. By delivering content via APIs, it also enhances performance, leading to faster load times and a smoother experience for users.
Another advantage is its scalability, making it easier to distribute content across multiple channels, such as websites, mobile apps, and even IoT devices. This is a game-changer for businesses that need to keep their content consistent and engaging across various platforms. For companies focused on growth and efficiency, a headless CMS equips them with the tools to fine-tune their digital strategies and create high-performing websites.
The price of a headless CMS can differ greatly based on several factors, including licensing fees, API usage, hosting, and integration needs. Many platforms use tiered pricing models, where costs rise as you add features, increase usage limits, or opt for premium support. Upfront costs might include setup and custom development, while ongoing expenses typically cover hosting, maintenance, and updates.
When planning your budget, it’s essential to account for the total cost of ownership (TCO) - this includes both initial and recurring expenses. Factors like scalability, performance requirements, and integration complexity can heavily influence the overall cost. It’s also worth considering the long-term advantages, such as better content delivery and enhanced user experience, which can justify a larger upfront investment, especially for businesses looking to grow.
To successfully implement and manage a headless CMS within a marketing team, having the right technical skills can make all the difference:
With these skills in place, marketing teams can simplify workflows, improve how content is delivered, and sharpen their digital strategies.