Introduction
Content management systems are highly praised when it comes to web design, right? And that too, talking about the headless CMS, is creating a boom in the market. This is the content system that allows full flexibility to create valuable and unique content. The user plays a vital role in using the Headless CMS, as users can control the entire interface on their own. Whereas for traditional CMS, there is a converse relationship. The traditional CMS comes with various restrictions on creating websites. It supports the backend and the front end, but again, limitations are there to hurdle your work. Here’s the ultimate list of the 10 best open source headless CMS to build customizable content models.
Publishing valuable content that is unique and compelling is the motive of the Headless CMS. And we highly recommend you visit the blog if you are one of those looking to create websites. The below list of the best open-source headless CMS will surely help you out.
What is a Headless CMS?
You must have heard that the Content Management System refers to managing content. Content can be easily added, edited, stored, or modified by the users. And that too, with the advancements, is made with a no-code policy. This means users with zero coding skills can use them to create innovative websites. WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal are some of the best CMSs that work in both the backend and frontend.
Whereas a headless CMS is a content software system that only works for the backend surface, avoiding the front end. This is why the name is Headless. A headless CMS lacks the presentation layer and works only on the backend surface. This means developers are highly praised when it comes to headless CMSs.
Interested to know about should you use WordPress as headless CMS? Go through our previous blog to get knowledge about use WordPress headless CMS.
The Importance of Using a Headless CMS on your Website
Although headless CMS only works on the backend interface, it has so many benefits to know. Let’s check them out:
- Headless CMSs offer high flexibility, granting developers complete control over how and where to display content.
- They are designed to be scalable. This allow easy management of content under a single roof.
- Headless CMS minimizes security breaches with minimal scope for threats or digital attacks.
- They are future-proof, operating solely from the backend, separating the front-end layer for customizable structuring as needed.
- Developers greatly benefit from headless CMSs, enabling them to create customized content modules.
- Additionally, they are cost-effective compared to traditional CMSs.
List of the Best Open Source Headless CMS
1. Strapi CMS
We are presenting you with one of the most powerful open-source headless CMSs on our list. The Strapi CMS is a leading platform that is developer-friendly and customizable. That means developers can easily build up applications within no time when they have Strapi. Since it is open-source, the codes are easily visible to end users. Strapi runs with complete JavaScript enabled, which helps build a performant self-hosted content API in no time.
The code panel in Strapi is visible to the public and easily available on GitHub. The work is simply the best with Strapi, as you can create the content structure in just 2 minutes. Creating a flexible content structure is easier and suits the user’s needs, no matter which business you opt for. Content management can be easily extended using plugins. This professional CMS connects with various dev tools like React, Next.js, Angular, Flutter, and more.
Key Features :
- Strapi comes with a completely customizable design.
- Its highly flexible and graceful design is truly loved by many users.
- It is developer-friendly and comes with multiple databases.
2. Ghost CMS
Introducing you to one of the most beneficial and best open source headless CMS on the web, Ghost CMS. It remains at the forefront of web development, offering open-source features. This highly intuitive and creative CMS is tailored for bloggers and heavily content-loaded websites. Its completely responsive and user-friendly interface ensures the best web output.
Creating impactful web designs is made easier with its integration with its custom and in-built features. That means users can easily create compelling designs and templates on their own. Also, its configuration is quite simple, so building themes and web applications is never a complicated task. Ghost sets an excellent boundary when it comes to SEO. In short, when you have Ghost as a CMS, there is no need to put extra SEO factors on your web application. Also, there is no need to add structured data that keeps search engines stuck on your website. Additionally, it comes with multiple languages, custom branding, and web hooks.
Key features :
- Ghost CMS is made for bloggers and heavy-content websites.
- Customization and a flexible interface are vital features to add.
- Ghost CMS integrates with professional SEO measures along with structured data.
3. Netlify CMS
Next up is the unique best open source headless CMS, Netlify, with its creative single-page React interface. Netlify seamlessly integrates with Git platform APIs, supporting UI widgets, editor plugins, and more. Creating customized and flexible web applications is simplified with Netlify, which operates under Git, handling content storage and publishing multi-channel applications within the Git repository.
Netlify operates on three fundamental layers: create, core, and connect. The create layer facilitates smooth creation, editing, and publishing of web applications. The core aspect involves building and deploying future-proof web solutions. The Connect section consolidates all content sources and applications, managing content delivery on the web.
Furthermore, Netlify CMS is tailored for enterprise solutions, enabling the creation and customization of various web applications and designs to advanced levels. Netlify CMS manages everything from design, security, and architecture to marketing.
Key features :
- Netlify runs on the create, core, and connect principles.
- It works on the enterprise level, supporting every business and content-loaded website.
- Speed is highly spaced, with Netlify bringing faster marketing and content load times.
4. Directus CMS
We are presenting you with the modern open-source headless CMS Directus, filled with advanced content properties. Directus can turn a normal database into a web application in no time. That’s all about Directus, and it can help you build a complete web application easily.
Packed with modern features, Directus empowers developers to design their dream applications. Its codebase utilizes Javascript, ensuring compatibility and flexibility. Speed and performance are optimized through Vue.js 3 and Node.js, delivering faster speeds and enhanced extensibility. Additionally, Directus offers users complete control over managing, editing, and customizing the database, eliminating the need to rely on third-party platforms.
Content is managed for almost every web model, like websites, kiosks, digital signage, and more. Directus turns out to be the flexible CMS that provides creative solutions to even SAAS platforms. What else could you ask for? Customization is again a big factor that influences more users to use Directus. It lets you create and manage personalized dashboards for your web applications. Not only this, some tools and plugins make designing done in days rather than months and years.
Experience the freedom of customization and scalability while harnessing the power of these cutting-edge CMS platforms. With the added versatility and functionality of premium WordPress themes, you can elevate your website’s aesthetics and performance to new heights.
Key features
- Directus holds a complete panel to transform a usual database into no-code applications.
- Speed and performance are highly supported on Directus.
- Then there is customization to peaks that lets you build innovative web applications in no time.
5. Tina CMS
Tina CMS is one of the renowned CMSs connecting developers and content creators. This highly intuitive CMS is Git-based and works on a React code base. Creating customized and innovative web pieces is a thing of the past for developers. It is made developer-friendly, giving customization and a visual editing experience. Websites designed using Tina CMS are unique and have access to recent updates for users. Not just developers, but content creators also highly benefit when collaborating with Tina.
Tina CMS is entirely best open source headless CMS and developers love it because it doesn’t rely on any third-party interference. It offers visual editing with live preview features, allowing users to see changes as they’re made. While customization is an option, Tina CMS enables the creation of fully reusable blocks. It facilitates the seamless creation of web pages and content pages while maintaining performance. Moreover, the information saved is stored in sources like Markdown and JSON files.
Key features :
- Tina CMS allows developers and clients to use the website interface for the latest updates.
- It allows real-time editing and managing customized blocks.
- Also, it allows the creation of highly intuitive pages without any limit to the performance metrics.
6. WebinyJs CMS
Webiny CMS is another highly qualified and compelling open-source headless CMS to preserve content models. This is the finest, most flexible, and most scalable solution to create content models easily. Webiny CMS works on GraphQL, providing various solutions that build up to a sophisticated content piece. It perfectly relies on various business requirements, providing high-end tools for developers and marketers. It also comes with powerful GraphQL and permission controls to build innovative landing pages in no time. Plus, Webiny’s interface comes with support for various languages and website designs with built-in tenancy.
Further, it supports the creation of different types of content models, like serverless applications and omnichannel content. Also, it allows filter operations and queries for fast searching on your websites. The Customization API is a handy tool that lets you make changes to the content anytime. Also, it lets you control the entire content model professionally and modify it without any hassle. Webiny proves to be completely affordable, with so many features to unlock. Security and scalability are the two most vital factors counted under Webiny CMS.
Key features :
- This headless CMS supports creating and deploying serverless applications easily.
- It supports various languages and multiple website-building languages.
- It has a low cost and gives complete ownership to the content creators and developers.
7. Keystone CMS
Build faster and highly scalable content platforms using Keystone, an open-source headless CMS. Simply describe the schema, and you’ll receive a managed UI and GraphQL API to store your content. Align your code seamlessly with the elegant API without impacting the backend code. Its admin interface is fully customizable and flexible, easily tailored to the user’s needs.
Keystone supports next-generation rich text deployment across various infrastructures. It seamlessly integrates with git-based workflows and provides automation and CI tooling features.
For users needing quick solutions, Keystone CMS is a complete treasure trove. It offers session management, access control, pagination, sorting, and more. In essence, it’s a comprehensive toolkit for web design and content management. Customization options are extensive, allowing users to easily build what they need. Various filter options enhance customization capabilities. Additionally, it offers multiple fields, session management, relational data, event hooks, and more.
Key features :
- Keystone is a highly flexible and scalable CMS to build online content platforms.
- There is customization for the peaks, offering the best features and filtering options.
- Again, it is a Git-based CMS offering automation and CI tooling.
8. Payload CMS
Packing one more highly best open source headless CMS with a developer-first approach. It is a completely typescript CMS that is friendly to developers. Not only this, it is the most extensible and the best CMS when it comes to the best developer experience. And so, it lets you build whatever suits your needs using the content blocks. Thus, it can be used for SAAS apps, niche websites, native apps, and more. Also, its backend interface works best when built for SAAS websites and gaming platforms. Not only this, it even comes in support for any portfolio websites and enterprise firms.
It features advanced and complex web apps that users require for any shape or size. Everything from layouts and other features can be easily built, giving the editors the best user experience. A rich text editor, multiple language support, and content blocks are its additional features.
Key features :
- Payload CMS comes with a rich text editor that allows developers to hassle-freely customize content platforms.
- It comes with multiple language support.
- Payload CMS supports enterprise, and more website designs are to be formed using Git-base.
9. Cockpit CMS
Now let’s talk about the most profitable content management system, Cockpit CMS, which is also headless. It’s open source and designed specifically to handle complex content types. Integrating content with Cockpit is a breeze thanks to its intuitive interface, making even complicated content lighter within minutes.
Configuration, installation, and usage of Cockpit are incredibly easy, simplifying the process of storing content and building elegant platforms. Moreover, it supports various devices with fully responsive design capabilities.
Installation being simple means usage is also straightforward. Even non-techy individuals can easily manage content. Data can be stored in a single place, reducing the time required for distribution across different sections. Cockpit excels in customization, allowing users to easily build functions to suit their needs. It provides straightforward code generation for various functions, including adding a search panel.
Overall, Cockpit is a professional platform designed to deliver well-organized websites.
Key features :
- Cockpit is completely customizable and flexibly strong for content models.
- Data can be listed in a single place so that users can easily manage it.
- It comes with a simple and quick installation process.
10. Apostrophe CMS
Listing the last one, but not the least one, in our considered Best Open Source Headless CMS. It is the Apostrophe CMS, which is open-source and supports building tech-savvy websites. Users can build website models for SAAS, enterprise, and digital agency websites using Apostrophe CMS. All your website content and elements are easily managed on a single dashboard. That too uses the best-customized features, giving a no-code policy for the clients.
Apostrophe CMS offers a visually appealing drag-and-drop feature that allows users to create websites effortlessly. It includes various design tools and styling features to craft compelling website content. Users highly praise its speed, ensuring the best user experience. Boosting user experience automatically enhances scalability. Additionally, it integrates seamlessly with various content API modules such as MongoDB, npm, Vue.js, and Node.js.
Key features :
- Apostrophe CMS is highly supported for building tech-savvy websites like SAAS and digital agencies.
- It comes with a drag-and-drop editor that helps in building visually appealing websites.
- The interface is completely flexible and supports speed-enhancing factors.
Conclusion
Finding the best open source headless CMS is right here in the above blog. You must have thoroughly charged about knowing what headless CMS is. It is the software system that only works in the backend, fading the front-end interface. These are the highly professional CMSs that developers love to work with. They need their content to be stored uniquely, so they prefer using a headless CMS.
Here, we have listed out some top-ranked open-source headless CMS for you to look at. Get your modern and advanced content models preserved using these headless CMSs.
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