DEV Community: Magdalena Sobantka

Headless CMS Guide 2025, Part 2: Top platforms and how to choose the right one

Magdalena Sobantka — Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:43:23 +0000

Choosing the right headless CMS can make or break your content strategy. In this second part of our guide, we dive into 13 leading platforms, explore the role of APIs in omnichannel delivery, and share best practices for implementation. We’ll also highlight why Flotiq is a powerful option for teams that need speed, flexibility, and value.

Introduction

In Part 1, we examined the rise of headless CMS and why traditional platforms fall short. Now, let’s look at the top 13 headless CMS platforms, explore the concept of API-driven omnichannel delivery, outline steps for successful implementation, and see why Flotiq stands out as a leading solution.

Top 13 Headless CMS platforms in detail

Below is a closer look at thirteen leading headless CMS platforms, each with strengths that address different use cases. While Flotiq brings many of these capabilities together, it’s valuable to understand the wider landscape.

ButterCMS – Best for quickly adding blogs

ButterCMS began as a hosted headless blog engine aimed at making it easy to drop a blog into an existing site without the pains of WordPress. Today, it’s a full-fledged API-first CMS that integrates with any framework. Developers get content via REST APIs and SDKs, while editors enjoy an intuitive dashboard. It’s a SaaS solution with features like custom content types, media library, CDN, WYSIWYG editor, and content previews.

DatoCMS – Fast performance, Jamstack favorite

DatoCMS is a cloud-based CMS known for speed and a clean UI. It supports multilingual content, a rich media library, responsive image APIs, and video streaming. Developers get GraphQL and REST APIs, custom modeling, and SDKs. Particularly popular in the Jamstack community, it powers static sites needing dynamic content.

Sanity – Real-time collaboration

Sanity is an open-source headless CMS with Sanity Studio, a customizable React-based editor. Editors benefit from a rich-text editor with structured “portable text.” Sanity also offers live previews, versioning, and fine-grained access control. Developers use GROQ and GraphQL APIs for flexible queries. Sanity excels at custom workflows and real-time teamwork.

Strapi – Open-source, developer-first

Strapi is a popular Node.js-based CMS that’s self-hosted or available via Strapi Cloud. It gives developers full control of the content model and API. Features include REST/GraphQL APIs, plugins, role-based access, and a media library. Its open-source nature avoids vendor lock-in, making it ideal for projects requiring customization.

Builder.io – Visual editing meets headless

Builder.io bridges developers and marketers with a drag-and-drop Visual Editor. Developers register components, and marketers visually build pages, while Builder outputs structured JSON behind the scenes. It supports scheduling, A/B testing, personalization and integrates with any modern framework. Ideal for teams wanting no-code editing with developer freedom.

Kontent.ai – Enterprise-ready SaaS

Kontent.ai focuses on enterprise workflows and governance. It features structured content modeling, versioning, localization, workflow approvals, and SLA-backed uptime. It integrates with e-commerce, DAM, and analytics tools. Editors enjoy a strong WYSIWYG interface, and developers get GraphQL/REST APIs. AI-powered authoring assistance is a recent innovation.

Contentstack – Enterprise-grade, MACH Alliance member

Contentstack is a leading enterprise CMS, part of the MACH Alliance (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, Headless). It balances developer APIs with a drag-and-drop editor for marketers. Features include multi-language, roles/permissions, extensions, and real-time previews. Pure SaaS with premium pricing, it’s trusted by global brands like Chase and Cisco.

Contentful – The pioneer of headless CMS

Often credited with popularizing headless CMS, Contentful offers robust REST and GraphQL APIs backed by a global CDN. Developers define custom content models, while editors use a structured UI for entries. Features include staging, preview, rich text editor, and a strong marketplace of integrations. It serves both startups and enterprises.

Magnolia – Hybrid CMS/DXP

Originally a Java-based CMS, Magnolia evolved into a hybrid DXP with strong integration capabilities. It consolidates content from multiple systems into one interface. Editors can manage products, analytics, and third-party data in one view. Features include personalization, multi-site/multi-language, and low-code-friendly configuration. Popular with enterprises requiring complex content hubs.

Storyblok – Headless CMS with a visual editor

Storyblok combines headless architecture with an in-context visual editor. Developers define reusable blocks, and editors compose pages visually by dragging components. It supports multilingual content, workflows, roles/permissions, and a robust GraphQL API. With a generous free tier, Storyblok is loved by marketers for its WYSIWYG editing and by developers for its flexibility.

Payload CMS – Code-first, performance-focused

Payload is a TypeScript-based CMS where schemas are defined in code. It appeals to dev teams wanting version-controlled configuration. Self-hosted (Node.js, Express, MongoDB), it’s fast and API-driven, supporting REST and GraphQL. Unique features include in-context editing (edit directly on your live front-end). A strong choice for dev-centric teams.

Prismic – Slice-based content authoring

Prismic pioneered “Slices” — reusable content sections editors combine to build pages. Editors enjoy a slick document-style editor with scheduling and versioning. Developers use REST/GraphQL APIs and SDKs. Integration fields connect external data like e-commerce. Used by companies like Google and Netflix, Prismic balances editor simplicity with developer reliability.

Hygraph (GraphCMS) – GraphQL-native headless CMS

Hygraph is built entirely around GraphQL. It instantly generates a GraphQL API for defined content models and relationships, making it powerful for complex queries. Features include localization, granular permissions, and API federation (connecting external APIs as remote fields). Hygraph is ideal for GraphQL-heavy projects and composable architectures.

API-Driven content and omnichannel experiences

At the heart of headless CMS is the concept of API-driven content. Content is accessible via REST or GraphQL, typically as JSON.

This means any application or device can consume the same content in real time.

📌 Omnichannel example: A news organization publishes once → instantly updates website, mobile app, email, push notifications, and Alexa flash briefings. This ensures consistency, speed, and broad reach.

Implementing a headless CMS successfully

Switching to a headless CMS is a strategic move. Success requires:

Plan your content model: Define structured content types instead of page-based layouts.
Choose the right platform: Balance editor UX and developer APIs. Evaluate scalability, integrations, and pricing.
Empower your team: Educate devs on API-first workflows and train editors on new interfaces.
Develop the Front-End(s): Choose frameworks (React, Vue, native apps) or use starters from CMS vendors.
SEO & marketing considerations: Ensure SSR/prerendering for SEO. Configure structured data and preview links.
Migration strategy: Migrate core content first. Run legacy and headless in parallel until stable.

Flotiq: Powering headless CMS success

When it comes to choosing a headless CMS, Flotiq offers the best of both worlds: developer power and editor simplicity, without enterprise pricing overhead

Key advantages

Easy content modeling: Create custom content types in minutes, no coding required.
Auto-generated APIs & SDKs: REST & GraphQL endpoints plus typed SDKs (JS, Python, PHP, .NET).
Omnichannel by design: Deliver to JAMstack sites, mobile apps, portals, IoT.
Performance at scale: CDN delivery + static site generator support for global speed.
Integrations: Zapier, Make, and starter kits for Next.js/Gatsby.
Cost-effective: Free tier and scalable plans, unlike premium-only enterprise CMS.
Support & Community: Fast support responses and active resources (docs, tutorials, Discord).

Conclusion: Embrace the future of content

Modern content delivery demands are only going to grow. Customers will expect even more personalized, immediate experiences on new devices, and businesses will need to orchestrate content across all touchpoints.

Embracing a headless CMS now future-proofs your content strategy. It provides flexibility to adapt, speed to seize opportunities, and consistency to build trust.

By leveraging a platform like Flotiq, organizations can turn content management from a bottleneck into a competitive advantage. Developers gain freedom, marketers gain speed, and customers gain cohesive experiences.

👉 It’s time to break free from legacy limitations. Go headless, and let Flotiq help lead the way.

New feature: Content scheduling in Flotiq

Magdalena Sobantka — Thu, 28 Aug 2025 09:52:40 +0000

Managing content can feel like juggling flaming torches, especially when you're trying to keep a consistent publishing schedule across blogs, news updates, or product announcements. That’s where Flotiq’s Publication Scheduling feature steps in to save the day. Whether you're planning posts weeks in advance or just want to avoid the midnight publishing scramble, this tool helps you stay organized, timely, and stress-free. Let’s walk through how it works, why it matters, and how to make the most of it.

Why scheduling publication matters

Let’s face it, manually publishing content can be a hassle. Whether it’s waking up at 3 a.m. to hit “publish” or dragging your laptop on vacation just to keep your blog alive, it’s not exactly the dream workflow.

Set the exact date, time, and time zone for your content to go live - no manual clicks required.
Sleep soundly knowing your midnight post is already queued and ready to go.
Take a real holiday, no laptop, no stress, and let Flotiq handle the publishing while you unwind.
Say goodbye to last-minute rushes and awkward timing.
Focus on creating great content, not worrying about when it needs to be published.

With Flotiq, your editorial calendar runs like clockwork, even when you’re off the grid or deep in dreamland. It’s like having a publishing assistant who never takes a break and always shows up on time.

Scheduling a publication in Flotiq

Using publication scheduling in Flotiq is straightforward. Here’s a quick walkthrough:

Create content - start by creating or editing your content object as usual.
Open the Scheduling Modal - Click the clock icon next to the Publish button. This opens the scheduling window.
Set date and time - choose your desired publication date, time, and time zone. Your scheduled time must be more than 5 minutes in the future.
Confirm the schedule - click Set Schedule.

That's all! The status of your content changes to scheduled. When the set date/time arrives, Flotiq automatically publishes your content and updates the status to public.

Editing or canceling a schedule

The UI also gives you clear info about your scheduled content:

To edit the schedule, click the pencil icon next to the scheduled time.
To cancel it, click the trash icon.
If you change the content after scheduling, the schedule is automatically canceled and the status reverts to Draft - this ensures only the latest version gets published.

Instant publishing option

Sometimes, you don’t want to wait, you just want your content live now.

Flotiq makes that easy with its instant publishing feature. Once your content is ready and you're confident it's good to go, simply click the Publish button. A confirmation modal will appear to ensure you want to publish immediately.

This extra step helps prevent accidental publishing and gives you a final moment to review.

Troubleshooting & key considerations

Scheduling content in Flotiq is super handy, but like any powerful tool, there are a few things to keep in mind to make sure everything runs smoothly.

Timing Matters

You can’t schedule something to publish immediately. The system needs at least 5 minutes of lead time.

Always double-check your time zone settings. If your audience is global, this helps avoid awkward timing surprises.

*Editing after scheduling
*

If you make changes to your content after scheduling it, Flotiq will automatically cancel the schedule and switch the status back to draft.

This is a safety feature to prevent outdated or unfinished content from going live. Just reschedule once your edits are done.

*Want to publish right away?
*

If you decide not to wait, you can hit the Publish button anytime. Flotiq will ask for confirmation before publishing immediately — just to make sure you’re ready

Managing scheduled content

You’ll see a clear status label showing that your content is scheduled.

Use the pencil icon to tweak the schedule or the trash icon to cancel it altogether if plans change.

Wrapping up

Scheduling publication in Flotiq is a powerful yet simple way to stay ahead in the content game. It frees you from manual publishing chores and helps guarantee your audience gets fresh content right on time. If you love the idea of planning your editorial calendar with precision while keeping editing flexible and controllable, this feature is a perfect fit. Give it a try on your next project and feel the difference it makes!

Ready to simplify your content workflow and never miss a publication deadline?

Try Flotiq’s scheduling feature today and experience seamless, automated publishing. Head over to your Flotiq dashboard, start scheduling your content, and take control of your editorial calendar like a pro!

📣 Haven’t tried Flotiq yet? You can sign up for free and start scheduling smarter today.

Headless CMS Guide 2025, Part 1: What it is and why it matters

Magdalena Sobantka — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:15:47 +0000

The way businesses deliver content is changing fast. Traditional CMS platforms can’t keep up with today’s multichannel demands, from apps and websites to IoT and AR/VR. In this guide, we explore what a headless CMS is, why it’s revolutionizing digital content, and how it unlocks new opportunities for organizations.

Introduction

In today’s hyper-connected world, businesses face mounting pressure to deliver content seamlessly across websites, mobile apps, social media, and emerging digital platforms. Customers expect consistent, up-to-date information whether they’re browsing on a laptop, scrolling on a phone, or interacting with a smart device.

Traditional Content Management Systems (CMS) often struggle to meet these modern content delivery challenges – they can create silos, slow down updates, and limit multichannel reach.

This is where headless CMS comes in, revolutionizing how we manage and distribute content. A headless CMS decouples the backend content repository from any specific “head” (presentation layer), allowing content to be delivered via APIs to any channel. The result? Faster time-to-market, consistent omnichannel experiences, and the freedom to innovate in delivering content.

In this first part, we’ll explore how headless CMS unlocks your organization’s digital potential – and how Flotiq, as a leading headless CMS solution, empowers teams to overcome modern content challenges with ease.

The modern content delivery challenge

Every day, marketing and development teams grapple with delivering content to a growing array of platforms. Maintaining a coherent brand message on a website, mobile app, email newsletter, and IoT devices simultaneously is no small feat.

Content silos are a common hurdle: 9 out of 10 organizations report their content is fragmented across different systems. This siloed approach means updating content in one place doesn’t automatically update it elsewhere, leading to inconsistency and extra work.

Moreover, many legacy CMS platforms make it difficult to expose content for use in new digital services – in fact, 77% of companies say that difficulty accessing and reusing content has directly hurt their revenue opportunities.

Businesses also face speed and agility issues: traditional CMS architectures can slow down content updates. Nearly half of users of older CMSs say publishing changes takes over an hour. In a fast-paced digital environment, these delays and inefficiencies translate to lost market opportunities.

📌 Example: Imagine a retail brand launching a new product. Using a traditional CMS, the marketing team might update the product page on the website, but then developers need to separately update content in the mobile shopping app and the in-store digital displays. This duplication is time-consuming and error-prone.

A modern solution is needed to “create once, publish everywhere”. That’s exactly the challenge headless CMS was designed to solve.

What is a Headless CMS?

A headless CMS is a content management system that manages and stores content in a backend repository and makes it available via APIs, without a predefined front-end or presentation layer.

In simpler terms, it’s a CMS that cuts off the “head” (the website or app front-end), leaving just the body (the content hub), which can feed any “head” you attach. Content is stored in a structured format (think entries with fields like title, images, body text, etc.), and developers retrieve that content using API calls to display it in any user interface they choose.

Because the content backend is frontend-agnostic and API-driven, you could use the same content to power your website, mobile applications, smartwatches, voice assistants, or even a fridge display, whatever channel comes next. This flexibility is a game-changer for delivering omnichannel content.

Flotiq example

To illustrate, consider how Flotiq works as a headless CMS: content creators use Flotiq’s intuitive interface to input and organize content, and that content is instantly available through Flotiq’s API. Developers can then fetch and render that content on any platform or device.

The CMS doesn’t impose how the content should look or where it should go – that’s entirely up to your front-end design and logic. This decoupling means your content is no longer trapped in a single website; instead, it’s liberated for use anywhere.

As a result, adopting a headless CMS like Flotiq brings enormous agility. Teams can redesign or rebrand front-end experiences independently, without migrating or restructuring the content repository. And when a new channel (say, an AR/VR application or the next big social platform) becomes relevant, you can plug it into the same content pool via API, future-proofing your content strategy.

Analogy: A streaming service for content

Think of a headless CMS as a high-quality streaming service for your content. Your content is stored in one central library (the backend), but subscribers (different devices and applications) can stream that content on demand through an API.

Much like how Netflix delivers the same movie to a phone, a smart TV, or a laptop, a headless CMS delivers the same structured content to a website, mobile app, or smart device. The content remains consistent, while the viewing experience is tailored to each device.

Traditional vs. Headless CMS

In a traditional (monolithic) CMS, the front-end and back-end are tightly integrated. Platforms like WordPress, Drupal, or Joomla were originally built to both store content and control exactly how it is presented on a web page (using themes or templates).

This all-in-one approach made it simple to set up basic websites, but it comes with significant limitations in today’s multichannel world.

Key differences

Tightly coupled vs. decoupled: Traditional CMS ties database, code, and design together; headless CMS separates content from presentation.
Limited channels vs. omnichannel: Traditional CMS was built for websites only; headless CMS delivers to any platform that can make web requests.
Slower updates vs. rapid publishing: Traditional CMS is slower to update; headless CMS enables parallel dev + content workflows.
Performance: Traditional CMS often requires rendering for each request; headless CMS uses CDNs and static generation for speed.
Developer & editor experience: Traditional CMS locks developers into frameworks and burdens editors with design decisions; headless CMS gives devs freedom and editors a cleaner experience.

📊 Stat: 69% of organizations that switched to a headless CMS reported improved time-to-market for content and campaigns.

Why legacy CMS falls short

Ultimately, legacy coupled CMS were not designed for today’s explosion of channels and devices. They can become bottlenecks for innovation – for example, over half of companies said their old CMS prevented them from quickly bringing new services to market.

📌 Case Study: When Autoweb, an automotive marketing company, moved from a custom traditional CMS to a headless approach, they significantly sped up content production and saw monthly page views jump by 95%.

How Headless CMS unlocks digital potential (key benefits)

Adopting a headless CMS unlocks a wide range of benefits that empower developers, marketers, and decision-makers alike.

Omnichannel content delivery: Deliver consistent content across any channel.
Faster time-to-market & agility: Decoupling accelerates dev cycles and publishing.
Flexible, API-driven integrations: Works seamlessly with other tools.
Consistent user experience & personalization: Structured content enables tailored experiences.
Improved performance & scalability: CDN + static generation = fast load times and scale.
Enhanced security: API-only reduces attack surface.
Empowering content teams & editors: Workflows, versioning, permissions free editors from template constraints.
Lower maintenance & operational costs: Cloud-hosted headless CMS reduces IT overhead.

Closing Part 1

The case for headless CMS is clear: it’s faster, more flexible, more scalable, and future-proof.

👉 In Part 2, we’ll explore the top 13 headless CMS platforms, dive deeper into omnichannel and API-driven strategies, and show how Flotiq brings all these benefits together.

Partner with Flotiq: a strategy for long-term success

Magdalena Sobantka — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 11:07:45 +0000

Strong, long-term partnerships don’t emerge by chance, they grow when both sides share values, direction, and trust. At Flotiq, we’ve seen that the most meaningful growth happens when technology supports people, not the other way around. That insight shapes how we build and nurture our partner ecosystem, from the strategy and support we offer to the way we work as a team. In this article, we share the principles behind our Partner Program, explain how it reflects our company's identity, and discuss why growing with our partners is just the beginning.

Chapter I: My Journey to Partnership Program Management

My name is Magdalena Sobantka, and ever since 2016, I have been immersed in the dynamic world of IT. I began my career as a Project Manager, mastering frameworks, timelines, and stakeholder communication. Over time, however, I discovered that what energizes me most isn't just delivering projects on time and within scope — it's building lasting relationships, aligning diverse perspectives, and creating collaborative value that goes beyond individual assignments. That realization marked the beginning of my shift toward partnership management.

Through various personal-development assessments, I uncovered my core strengths: Gallup’s Woo, Communication, Activator, Strategic, and Responsibility; FRIS’s relational Partner style paired with an Enthusiast action mode; and MindSonar’s balanced drive across multiple motivational dimensions. Each insight confirmed one truth: my passion lies in nurturing relationships.

As the Flotiq partnership program started to take shape, we set out to build something genuinely valuable for our future partners, not just a label, but real support, technical know-how, and opportunities to grow together. That direction aligned perfectly with my experience in relationship management and community building. When the need for a dedicated role emerged, I stepped in as Partnership Manager, a natural continuation of my professional path.

This role also complements my voluntary work as a Board Member and VP of Membership at PMI Poland Chapter, where I act as an associate, collaborating closely with the project-management community I deeply care about.

Partnership Manager role, combined with my project management background, allows me to effectively connect people and business opportunities, supporting Flotiq’s growth through meaningful partnerships.

Chapter II: Flotiq – A flexible, enterprise-ready Headless CMS

Flotiq is an enterprise-ready headless CMS designed to marry modern developer agility with the governance enterprises require. Born in 2019 from 17 years of engineering expertise at CodeWave, Flotiq accelerates innovation and scales with your growth trajectory.

Whether you’re building a website, mobile app, or any digital experience, Flotiq’s API-first architecture delivers consistent content, ready to integrate with your favourite tools. This API-first design positions Flotiq perfectly within the growing trend of composable architectures, offering partners the flexibility to build tailored solutions that evolve with market demands.

Initially crafted by developers for developers, Flotiq has evolved to serve content creators and marketers, unifying all stakeholders in a single, future‑proof platform. Such technical flexibility and reliability underpin the strong, trust-based partnerships we cultivate.

This flexibility and openness make Flotiq an ideal foundation for strong, long-term partnerships. Our partners can confidently integrate Flotiq into diverse environments, knowing the platform adapts to their workflows, scales with their projects, and empowers their clients. It’s this technical confidence that allows us to focus on what matters most: shared growth through meaningful collaboration.

Chapter III: Why strategic partnerships drive success

At Flotiq, we know that strong partnerships are a win for everyone involved, especially for the developers, content teams, and clients who rely on modern, scalable solutions.

Strategic collaborations help our partners grow their offerings, reach new markets, and deliver better results to their customers. Well-structured partner programs ensure mutual benefits and effective collaboration, setting the stage for long-term success. Whether it’s through joint integrations or implementation support, partnerships amplify what individual teams can achieve on their own and strengthen our collective market position.

Benefits of Partnership Programs

Accelerated innovation - Working with expert partners means faster, more creative outcomes. Together, we combine tools and insights to deliver solutions that make a real difference to end users.
Expanded market access - Solution partners can offer Flotiq as a modern, composable CMS, opening new opportunities for digital projects across industries.
Shared resources, lower risk, and profits - Co-creating value means reducing friction, sharing responsibility, and sharing the resulting profits. Our partners get technical support, direct access to the product team, and a stable foundation to build on.
Continuous learning - Through every collaboration, there’s knowledge exchange: technical know-how, UX feedback, best practices - all leading to stronger, more competitive services.

Flotiq Partnerships Types

We distinguish between two core partner types:

**Technology Partners **These partners integrate Flotiq into their existing tech stacks or work with us to co-develop plugins and native integrations that benefit the wider user base. For example, our partnership with Surfer enables content teams to optimize content directly within the CMS, eliminating switching costs and streamlining workflows.
**Solution Partners **Agencies and software houses - like Alergeek Ventures, Iteo, or Mad Devs - rely on Flotiq to power digital products for their clients. They choose Flotiq because it’s easy to integrate, flexible to scale, and supported by a responsive, knowledgeable team. We, in turn, support them with training, extra priority support, and technical onboarding to help them succeed.

At the core of every successful partnership is shared value. Our partners get a reliable product, real collaboration, and space to grow. Our users get better integrations, expert support, and trusted teams to build with. And together, we all move faster, as everyone shares in the rewards and strengthens their position in the market. Ultimately, our partner program is designed to drive mutual growth and lasting success.

Want to become a Flotiq Partner? Join our partner program

Chapter IV: The Flotiq Partner Program - real support, real results

We believe that strong partnerships are built on trust, shared goals, and everyday collaboration. That’s why the Flotiq Partner Program goes far beyond a signed agreement, it’s a hands-on experience designed to help you grow your capabilities, deliver successful projects, and build long-term value with confidence.

We’ll support you from the start and help you grow into an independent expert who can lead even the most complex Flotiq implementations.

Empowering you with knowledge and confidence

To help you hit the ground running, we provide structured onboarding, live workshops tailored to both developers and business teams. You’ll also have direct channels to our engineers, plus regular Q&A sessions to ask questions, share feedback, and stay ahead of new features.

We make sure you understand not just how Flotiq works, but how to use it strategically across different client scenarios.

Certification that proves your expertise

When you're ready, you can complete the official Flotiq certification path, built around practical exercises and real-world use cases. Once certified, your team receives official Flotiq diplomas and digital badges that validate your skills.

They’re perfect for building trust with clients, showcasing your qualifications, and strengthening your service offering.

Support across every project phase

From initial scoping to project launch, we’re right there with you. We offer tailored support at every step: consultations on architecture and integrations, feedback on proposals, and, if needed, we’ll join your calls with clients.

During implementation, our Technical Success Managers, Solution Architects, and Developers provide hands-on assistance for PoCs, MVPs, and advanced builds.

As you gain experience, you’ll rely on us less and lead more on your own. But when your project deserves the spotlight, we’ll be proud to co-create blog posts, case studies, or interviews to celebrate your success.

A partnership that grows with you

We understand how important reliability and responsiveness are for your clients. That’s why we offer critical support options, extended backup and recovery plans, and custom SLAs that match enterprise requirements.

And the more projects you deliver, the more you gain, from progressive license discounts to increased visibility in our ecosystem and partner directory.

Promoting success together: Co-Marketing with Flotiq

We believe great work deserves recognition. That’s why we actively promote our partners' achievements through co-marketing opportunities, including:

case studies
joint webinars
blog posts
product showcases

You’ll also have the chance to present your work during events or community spotlight sessions. Whether it’s a standout implementation or a creative use case, we’ll help you share it with a broader audience and strengthen your brand alongside ours.

TL;DR: What you get as a Flotiq Solution Partner

Structured onboarding for your dev & business teams
Live training workshops tailored to your use cases
Official certification with diplomas & shareable badges
Direct access to Flotiq engineers via Discord & Q&A sessions
Tailored project support — from scoping to rollout
Architecture & proposal consultations
Co-marketing opportunities — case studies, blog posts, interviews
Progressive license discounts for active partners
Increased visibility in our ecosystem & partner directory

Who can join the Flotiq Solution Partner Program?

Our Solution Partner Program is open to digital/web agencies, software houses, and independent consultants who design and deliver digital solutions from simple websites to advanced, API-first architectures.

Whether you're an established team with enterprise clients or a smaller studio just starting your journey with headless CMS platforms, you’re welcome here. We provide the tools, training, and support to help you grow at your own pace.

If you're committed to building reliable, future-ready solutions and want a partner who treats your success as their own, this program is for you.

What are our Tech Partnerships all about?

Our ecosystem already includes collaborations with major cloud providers like AWS and Microsoft, as well as specialized partners like Surfer SEO, with whom we co-developed a plugin to help content teams optimize SEO directly in the CMS.

We’re always looking to deepen our ecosystem by partnering with:

Web builders (e.g., Webstudio, Builder.io)
Automation, localization, and AI tools
Analytics and optimization platforms
Developer-friendly services that align with headless architectures

Whether you're building tools for editors, enabling seamless frontend integrations, or developing capabilities that complement Flotiq, we’re open to co-creating plugins, joint documentation, mutual promotion, and deeper platform alignment.

Let’s grow our ecosystems together - and make content workflows smarter, faster, and more connected.

Chapter V: Relationships built to last

At the core of every successful partnership is one simple truth: people make it work.While tools, platforms, and integrations matter, what truly sustains long-term collaboration is trust, empathy, and genuine connection.

But strong relationships alone aren’t enough. In the Flotiq Partner Program, we combine that human factor with clear business value, helping you build a competitive edge, expand your offering, and win more projects.

“Empathy is not just about what you would do if you were in the other person’s situation, but how you would respond based on their worldview.” – Carl Rogers

This quote perfectly captures our approach. We respect the perspectives of our partners and their clients, valuing their expertise and context. Partnership with Flotiq means collaboration rooted in understanding, not control.

Great tech needs great partners, and great partners deserve the right support to grow with it. If you’re ready to be part of a partnership where your voice matters, your expertise is truly valued, and your success is celebrated, I invite you to connect with me, Magdalena Sobantka, Flotiq Partnership Manager. Let’s shape the future together.

Join the Flotiq Partner Program and gain access to expertise, tools, and support that drive real impact.

Why Content Editors Love In-Place Relation Editing

Magdalena Sobantka — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 11:04:04 +0000

Alright, listen up, content editors, because this one's for you. You know that feeling when you're knee-deep in editing a product description, and then you remember you need to link it to a new category, which means clicking out, finding the category, connecting it, and then coming back? Yeah, it's a pain - a real buzzkill for your flow.

Well, at Flotiq, we've always had this brilliant trick up our sleeve called in-place relation editing. And honestly, it's been around since, like, day one. The whole idea was to make your life easier – no more jumping through hoops just to connect your content. You do it right there, on the spot, where you're already working. It's properly clever, if you ask us.

The OG Idea: Keeping Everything Connected, Simply

From the very beginning, we at Flotiq got it. Content isn't just a bunch of isolated bits and bobs. Your blog post needs an author, some tags, maybe a few related articles. A product needs its categories, the brand, and all those lovely images. Most CMSs treat these connections like separate chores you have to do later. Not Flotiq.

The whole point of in-place relation editing was to let you build and manage these links intuitively. Say you're fiddling with a "Product" entry. You click on the "Categories" field, and boom! Instead of being sent off to a whole different page, you get this neat little pop-up right there. You can pick existing categories, or if you're feeling fancy, even knock up a new one on the fly. It's like having all your crucial bits of content just... there. So handy.

After clicking the Pick tags button, you see and can choose all of the tags that you need:

Or you can check if, for example, you need to update the author, and by clicking here on the pencil icon:

You see all the info about them:

Honestly, this one feature has saved content teams so much faffing about. It speeds things up massively and cuts down on those annoying little mistakes. It just lets you focus on, you know, writing good content, instead of wrestling with the system. And if you're a bit of a nerd like me and want to see how it all hangs together under the bonnet, the Flotiq documentation on relations is pretty solid.

The latest polish: more info, more power

Now, while this in-place editing has always been a star feature, we're always tinkering, always trying to make things even better. And recently, we've given this beloved function a proper glow-up.

When you're using that in-place relation editing pop-up now, you'll see a right-hand panel slide in. This little addition brings a ton of helpful info right into your workspace, so you don't have to go digging around in other tabs or tools.

For us content editors, this means:

Quick Version Checks

Ever linked something and then thought, "Hang on, is that the latest version of that article?" Or maybe you need to grab an older draft? Now, the right panel shows you the version history of the item you're looking to link. No more guessing games, just quick, confident linking.

See where objects are used

This is super handy! Now you can quickly see where an object is being used across your content. Before linking, or even just for a quick check, you can get a clear picture of all the other content items that are currently referencing the one you're looking at. It helps you avoid accidental unlinks or just get a better sense of your content ecosystem.

Plugin insights on demand

If you're using Flotiq's plugins for things like SEO or live preview, this is a neat touch. The right panel now shows you the output from relevant plugins for the content you're about to link. Imagine seeing the SEO score of a potential related blog post all without leaving the modal! It just gives you that extra bit of context to make smarter choices.

Publish related stuff right there

This is a proper lifesaver, honestly. Before, if you wanted to link to something that was still a draft, you'd have to save your work, go find the draft, publish it, then come back. What a drag! Now, you can publish related content directly from within that same modal. It means you can make sure everything you're linking to is live and ready, all without breaking your stride. Talk about control and efficiency!

Good news for the Devs too!

Yeah, this update is mainly for the content editors, but it's got some subtle wins for the developers who are building stuff with Flotiq:

Easier Debugging: If you're a developer building integrations or custom plugins, having direct access to version history and plugin output right in the editing screen is super helpful for checking things and making sure data is behaving. It provides a much fuller picture of what's going on with the content.
Better Workflow Understanding: Seeing how all these content connections work in the UI, complete with versions and plugin effects, and now publishing capabilities, helps us developers really grasp the content workflows. This new ability to publish related content in-line means we can design solutions where content editors have more autonomy, potentially cutting down on extra publishing steps in our custom tools.

Keeping our connections tight

Flotiq's always been about making content management simple and effective, and this in-place relation editing feature is a prime example. From being a core part of the platform from day one to these latest, powerful updates, it's clear we're dead set on making content editors' lives smoother. With version history, plugin insights, and the ability to publish related content now readily available, handling all those connections has never been easier or more transparent. It's a proper step forward for content creators and the clever people who build the tools for them.

Curious to see it in action? Log in to Flotiq and use in-place relation editing right away - it's all there, waiting for you.

Don’t have an account yet? Register for free and start connecting your content your way.

Flotiq Live Preview Plugin + Next.js: Complete Setup Guide

Magdalena Sobantka — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 08:12:35 +0000

Looking to streamline your content editing and development workflow with a headless CMS platform? Discover how Flotiq’s Live Preview plugin enables real-time content updates, empowering developers and editors to collaborate seamlessly. In this guide, you’ll learn how to quickly set up a blog project for Next.js application, connect it to Flotiq, and unlock instant content previews - so you can build content more efficiently than ever.

A developer’s journey

Hi! My name is Dalia, and I’m a frontend developer at Flotiq. As developers, we often focus on code and performance, but I believe the experience of creating content should feel just as seamless and joyful.

That’s why, at Flotiq, our product development team focuses on building features that are practical and useful for both developers and content creators. I’m glad I had the chance to contribute by creating one of them - the Live Preview plugin and the integration package for Next.js that you’ll read about in this post.

This guide walks you through integrating the Live Preview plugin with a Next.js blog project. Whether you're a developer or someone who wears both hats, I hope this makes your workflow a little more magical and unlocks the power of live previews right inside the Flotiq editor.

Behind the scenes

When I first started working on the Live Preview plugin and the Next.js integration, I had no idea how challenging it would be. Honestly? It was tough. I hit roadblocks that made me question whether I could pull it off - bugs that refused to be squashed, configurations that made no sense, and moments where I just stared at my screen thinking, “Why isn’t this working?”

But I kept going!

I pushed through the frustration, learned from every obstacle, and slowly started to see things come together. And when it finally worked, when I saw the live preview updating in real time, it was one of the most rewarding moments of my development journey. I was proud. Not just of the code, but of the persistence it took to get there. Now, I used the live preview to write this blog post. It’s incredibly helpful to see exactly how my content will look as I write it. No more switching tabs or guessing how things will render. It’s fast, intuitive, and makes the whole process feel seamless.

Want to see how it all began?

Take a look at this early demo video where Paweł first showcased the Live Preview plugin in action.

Sure, it wasn’t perfect - switching to a new browser tab was still part of the process - but it gave our community an early look at what was coming. Some users even got to test the initial version and experience real-time updates before publishing.

Since then, we’ve come a long way. The current version of the Live Preview Plugin offers a much smoother and more satisfying experience, including full integration with the Flotiq editor, so you can preview your content live as you write.

What is the Flotiq Live Preview Plugin?

The Flotiq Live Preview plugin enables real-time transmission of content changes from the Flotiq editor to your Next.js application. As you edit content objects (like blog posts), you can see changes reflected instantly on your site, without publishing or refreshing manually.

Features:

Real-time content updates via WebSocket connections
Multi-user editing indicators showing who's currently editing each field
Auto-scroll to active fields when editors focus on content
Relation field hydration supporting 2 levels of hydration
Smart relation cache invalidation with Next.js cache tags
Flotiq iframe support for seamless CMS integration
Throttled updates to prevent excessive re-renders
Customizable UI components for editor indicators

Now, you know what the live preview integration can achieve, so it's time to integrate it with your app! It’s one of those tools I wish I had years ago, and now I can’t imagine working without it.

Step 1: Create a new Blog Project

The fastest way to bootstrap your project is with the flotiq-nextjs-setup package. This scaffolds a Next.js app tailored for Flotiq integration. This CLI tool saved me hours of setup - I highly recommend starting here!

Run the following commands to create a new Next.js project and integrate it with Flotiq:

npx create-next-app@latest \[path-to-nextjs-project\]
cd \[path-to-nextjs-project\]
npx flotiq-nextjs-setup

Supported create-next-app options:


Feature	Yes	No
Next.js version >= 15	✅	❌
TypeScript?	✅	✅
Tailwind CSS?	✅	✅
code inside a src/ directory?	✅	✅
App Router?	✅	❌
customized the import alias (@/* by default)?	✅	✅

The CLI has an option to configure the Content Preview plugin. For live preview purposes, this plugin is not needed.

You now have a Next.js blog scaffolded and connected to your Flotiq workspace.

Flotiq API SDK

The CLI will configure the Flotiq API SDK for you. It is dedicated js/ts client for Flotiq Headless CMS API, which focuses on type safety and IDE autocompletion of user data types. With types generated, it enables fast and type-safe development with Flotiq as a data backend.

Once you make changes to your content types, you'll need to regenerate the SDK. To regenerate your SDK, go to the root of your project and run:

npm exec flotiq-api-typegen

Step 2: Add Live Preview plugin to your Blog space

Once you add the Live Preview plugin to your space, click the Manage button. It will open the plugin settings. Fill up the form and click Save Changes.

As Client Authorisation Key, you can provide anything you want. This is the key that will be passed from the plugin to your application to validate the live preview enable request. Flotiq nextjs setup CLI configured the key for you. Find the FLOTIQ_CLIENT_AUTH_KEY variable and paste it into the plugin settings.

Step 3: Add and configure Next.js Middleware for Live Preview

To enable live preview, you need to enhance the Flotiq SDK with middleware from the @flotiq/nextjs-live-preview package.

Requirements

React: 19.0.0 or higher
Next.js: 15.0.0 or higher
Flotiq API SDK: 0.6.0 or higher

Installing and configuring the package

Install the package:

npm install @flotiq/nextjs-live-preview

Configure the Flotiq API SDK with Live Preview middleware (src/flotiq-api-client.ts file):

import { Flotiq } from "@flotiq/flotiq-api-sdk";
import { createNextMiddleware } from "@flotiq/nextjs-addon";
import { createNextLivePreviewMiddleware } from "@flotiq/nextjs-live-preview";

export const flotiqApiClient = new Flotiq({
    middleware: \[createNextLivePreviewMiddleware(), createNextMiddleware()\],
});

Step 4: Add live preview route

Create the API route that handles live preview mode toggling in src/app/api/flotiq/live-preview/route.ts:

import { NextRequest } from "next/server";
import { redirect } from "next/navigation";
import { livePreview } from "@flotiq/nextjs-live-preview/server"; 

export async function GET(req: NextRequest) {
    const redirectPath = req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("redirect") || "/"; 

    // Request validation so only the right people can see the live preview
    const clientAuthKey = req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("editor\_key");
    if (clientAuthKey !== process.env.FLOTIQ\_CLIENT\_AUTH\_KEY) {
        return new Response("Unauthorized", { status: 401 });
    }

    const livePreviewState = await livePreview();
    const newLivePreview = req.nextUrl.searchParams.has("live-preview")
        ? req.nextUrl.searchParams.get("live-preview") === "true"
        : !livePreviewState.isEnabled;

    if (newLivePreview) {
        livePreviewState.enable(req);
    } else {
        livePreviewState.disable();
    }

    redirect(redirectPath);
}

Step 5: Integrate Live Preview components

Add live preview UI components to your app for a complete editor experience.

Show Live Preview status:

import { livePreview } from "@flotiq/nextjs-live-preview/server";  
import { LivePreviewStatus } from "@flotiq/nextjs-live-preview/client";

// Fonts, metadata

export default async function RootLayout({
    children,
}: {
    children: React.ReactNode;
}) {
    const { isEnabled } = await livePreview();
    return (
        <html>
            <body>
                {isEnabled && (
                    <LivePreviewStatus editorKey={process.env.FLOTIQ\_CLIENT\_AUTH\_KEY} />
                )}
                <main>{children}<main />
            </body>
    </html>
    );
}

Display who’s editing a field:

Wrap the field for which you want to show editor indicators in the LivePreviewBox component. Go to src/app/blog_post/[slug]/page.tsx and wrap the blogpost fields in the live preview box component. Example of wrapping the title field:

import { LivePreviewBox } from "@flotiq/nextjs-live-preview/server";

export default async function PostPage({
    params,
}: {
    readonly params: Promise<{ readonly slug: string }>;
}) {   
    // Blogpost request code
    return (
        <div>
            {/\* Some code \*/}
            <LivePreviewBox
                objectId={blogpost.id}
                ctdName="blogpost"
                fieldName="title"
            >
                <h1>{blogpost.title}</h1>
            </LivePreviewBox>
            {/\* Some code \*/}
        </div>
    );
}

Step 6: Using Live Preview in the Flotiq Editor

Now that your application is set up, it’s time to see the Live Preview in action!

Build and start your app

First, make sure your Next.js app is running locally:

npm run build
npm run start

This will compile and serve your application so it’s ready to receive live updates.

Open the Flotiq Editor

Go to your Flotiq dashboard.
Navigate to the Blog Post content type.
Create a new blog post or open an existing one.

In the right-hand sidebar of the editor, you’ll see a Live Preview button. Click it to activate the preview mode. Now, as you make changes to your blog post - like editing the title or content - you’ll see those updates reflected instantly in your running Next.js app. No need to publish or refresh manually!

And just like that, you’ve got a live preview running!

There is an example of using live preview in our demo: link.

Want to customize the preview UI?

You can tweak the look and behavior of the Live Preview components. Check out the Live Preview package README for customization options and advanced usage.

Troubleshooting

If something’s not working, don’t panic, I’ve been there. Here are a few things that helped me debug.

Ensure cookies are enabled in your browser
Check that the API route is correctly implemented
Verify the Client Authorisation Key matches in both Flotiq and the application
Verify your page URL in the Live Preview plugin settings

Conclusion

Integrating Flotiq’s Live Preview with Next.js transforms your content editing workflow, providing instant feedback and reducing friction between editors and developers. With a few simple steps, you can scaffold a new blog, connect it to Flotiq, and empower your team to preview changes in real time, leading to faster iterations and higher quality content.

I’m so excited to see what you’ll create with it. If you want to share feedback or ideas, just reach out - you’ll find me on our Discord channel here.

Why delaying your CMS Upgrade costs more than you think

Magdalena Sobantka — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 08:46:53 +0000

We all start simple - a basic website, a free content management system, and the hope that it’ll “do for now.”

But sooner or later, your business growth starts hitting walls. Your website slows down. Customer experience suffers. Your team works around constant limitations, patching and compromising instead of focusing on what matters - growing your business.

Sound familiar? I felt the same on the bike trails - until I upgraded my gear. That’s when it hit me: the right setup doesn’t just feel better, it helps you grow faster, safer, and with way more confidence.

Same goes for your tech stack. Especially when choosing the right headless CMS platform. So… when’s the right time to switch to something better? And does “professional” always mean “expensive”?

Parallels between downhill Biking and Business

To my surprise, downhill biking has more in common with business than I initially thought. When I first got into biking, I didn’t invest in professional gear. I rode a basic hardtail, wore a standard helmet, and used pads that started chafing the moment I broke a sweat or the temperature climbed. But hey, common sense says don’t go all-in with top-shelf gear when you’re not sure if the sport will really pull you in, right?

Later, I upgraded to a slightly better bike, which, as it turned out, was great for paved or forest trails. Still not ideal for downhill, but some improvement.

When the gear finally clicked

Last year, I switched to a full-suspension setup. And wow! What a difference! For the first time, I truly understood what makes downhill biking so addictive. The bike felt like an extension of my body - responsive, smooth, intuitive.

That’s when I realized:

The sooner you invest in quality tools, the more freedom and confidence you gain.

Looking back, I wish I had upgraded sooner. My current gear is lighter, better-fitting, and way more comfortable. I now use flexible pads that don’t chafe (just imagine raw, burning elbows rubbing with every bend – and yes, you bend your arms a lot while riding!), and this season I added a jersey with built-in armor.

Of course, I didn’t buy everything at once. It’s been a multi-year process of trial and error, figuring out what works best.

That vacation made me reflect:

If I had upgraded sooner, would I have progressed faster and saved money on all those not-quite-right purchases? Probably yes! I covered nearly 180 km in those two weeks, with more speed, confidence, and fun.

Better tools really make a difference?

I’m still far from being a Godziek-level pro confidently flying over every berm and drop, but I’ve learned this much: investing in better gear isn’t just for the pros. Uphills are no longer pure agony. Natural trails full of roots and rocks no longer scare me - my bike handles them like a champ. Now I can focus on progress. Every smoother turn, every climb that leaves me less breathless - that’s growth!

Check out the short video here.

So, how does this relate to Headless CMS platforms?

It's actually quite similar to choosing the content management system that powers your business. At first, you might go with an entry-level CMS or free solution to build a simple site, and sure, it works. But it's limited, it doesn't feel secure, you're vulnerable to downtime or attacks, and you end up making a lot of compromises. And that's understandable when you're just testing the waters or validating your concept... and don’t mind a bit of chaos.

But if you’re serious about your project, you’ll need something more solid. Something that supports you when the trail gets tough and helps you build real momentum. That’s when a professional solution, like Flotiq, makes all the difference.

Test, test, and test again

And this is where the biking metaphor ends. In the biking world, you can’t test pads or helmets during a ride before committing to them.

Sure, you can rent a bike, but that’s not exactly cheap.

In the headless CMS world, though? You get full freedom to test your content management platform before you commit. Flotiq offers a 14-day free trial on every premium plan, and I strongly recommend starting with the Basic plan.

It’s the perfect opportunity to explore the platform and see how it fits your workflow.

You’ll have time to find out if it supports you when things get tricky, and if it gives you the stability and speed you need as your project grows.

We’ve got an awesome team ready to help tailor the platform to your needs, a network of partners who can “build your business bike” for you, and a friendly Discord community where you can share projects or just chat.

Does professional always equal expensive?

Nope. Flotiq grows with you, at your pace. We offer monthly and annual subscriptions, starting from just $37/month.

And because you made it to the end of the article (👏 high five!), here’s something special:

Use the code BIKE50 to get 50% off your first month on the Basic plan.

No strings attached. Just a great way to test Flotiq in real conditions - without a big upfront commitment.

See how it handles your curves, climbs, and sprints, and whether it helps you pick up speed.

TL;DR

Investing in the right tools early can accelerate your progress on the trails and in your digital projects. Just like switching to a full-suspension bike unlocked new levels of downhill fun, upgrading to a professional headless CMS platform can help your business grow faster, with more confidence and less friction. And no, it doesn’t have to be expensive - especially when you can test it first.

Flotiq vs Contentful: Headless CMS Guide 2025

Magdalena Sobantka — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 11:38:26 +0000

Finding the right headless CMS can determine the success of your digital strategy. Both Flotiq and Contentful deliver powerful APIs, elastic scalability, and rich toolsets, yet they serve different audiences and project goals. Whether you’re a developer craving instant, standards-compliant APIs; an editor seeking intuitive workflows and built-in localization; or a leader balancing budget, compliance, and growth, understanding their trade-offs is essential.

Why choose Flotiq as an alternative to Contentful?

Flotiq and Contentful both adopt an API-first headless CMS approach to streamline content management for teams and developers.

1. API foundations: Both platforms are API-first CMS systems. Flotiq generates RESTful endpoints for each content type with OpenAPI documentation and multi-language SDKs for seamless delivery. Contentful offers both REST and GraphQL APIs for content delivery and uses separate REST endpoints for content management, which can add complexity to backend workflows. Flotiq’s unified, JSON-ready APIs aim to simplify development, while Contentful requires managing multiple APIs and credentials for different operations.

2. Visual and flexible content modeling: Both platforms provide visual schema editors to create custom content types and fields. Flotiq supports defining rich field types (text, media, geolocation, etc.), relationships between content, and automatic versioning via API. Contentful allows content types definition through a web UI and supports references for modular content design, including robust localization with multiple locales per content and a rich text field that can embed entries. Contentful's powerful schema and localization features may require more upfront planning to avoid complex migrations later, whereas Flotiq encourages quicker iteration with less governance.

3. Intuitive content editing for teams: Both platforms offer modern editorial interfaces. Flotiq emphasizes a streamlined experience with a clean UI, built-in SEO extensions, draft/publish workflows, field-level permissions, and live preview integration, facilitating autonomous content team workflows. Contentful provides a feature-rich editorial experience suited for larger teams with a rich text editor, inline entry and asset links, and collaboration tools such as comments and tasks. Contentful’s interface includes advanced collaboration features suitable for enterprise settings, though smaller teams might find it more complex to configure. Flotiq is designed for out-of-the-box usability with minimal setup for basic workflows.

4. TypeScript and Next.js support: Flotiq integrates end-to-end with TypeScript and frontend readiness, synchronizing CMS schema changes to TypeScript types, ensuring type-safe API usage, and providing a Next.js plugin with Draft Mode and live previews. In practice, Flotiq’s SDK facilitates pulling content types into a Next.js app with minimal configuration. Contentful supports TypeScript indirectly through official JavaScript/TypeScript SDKs and GraphQL schemas but requires manual generation of type definitions using tools or CLI scripts. Configuring Next.js preview also demands setting up draft mode and preview tokens - making Flotiq's significantly more automated.

Comparing Flotiq and Contentful: Headless CMS Capabilities

Please refer to the following side-by-side comparison of high-level headless CMS capabilities. Further details on features for content teams and developers are provided below.

Capability	Flotiq	Contentful
API	REST (OpenAPI), GraphQL, JSON-ready APIs auto-generated for each content type	REST and GraphQL APIs for content delivery (GraphQL schema auto-generated per space) + separate REST Content Management API for writes
Content Modeling	Visual builder, relations, metadata, geolocation, versioning	Visual model editor for content types and fields; supports reference fields, rich text, and multi-locale content
Editorial Features	Clean UI, markdown/WYSIWYG, basic and custom roles, field-level permissions, drafts & publishing flow	Rich editing interface; inline comments and team presence; tasks and multi-step workflow; advanced RBAC in enterprise tiers
Deployment Models	SaaS (shared), Hybrid (private cloud), Full Enterprise (on-premise or private cloud)	SaaS cloud service only
Digital Asset Management	Built-in DAM, image optimization, CDN delivery (Cloudflare), basic video streaming	Built-in asset management with robust Image API; CDN via Fastly; requires third-party for video
Community & Resources	Growing community, Discord, examples, tutorials, vetted development agencies	Large ecosystem; extensive docs; Marketplace for integrations
Plans & Pricing	Free forever plan, transparent pricing, custom plans available	Free community space; Basic plan starts at $300/month; Enterprise custom pricing
Security & Compliance	ISO 27001, GDPR, supports on-premise and private cloud deployments	Enterprise-grade security; SSO; audit logs; 99.99% SLA on enterprise
Support & SLA	Support available for all plans, enterprise SLAs	Standard support on basic; priority support on enterprise; 99.99% SLA on enterprise
Learning Curve	🚀 Fast for developers and editors - REST + visual tools	Moderate to steep; strong docs
Developer Ecosystem	Certified development agencies vetted by Flotiq	Official SDKs for major languages; community libraries
User Roles & Permissions	Basic + custom roles, field-level access control	Granular RBAC and field-level permissions on Enterprise plans

Key differences for business decision makers

Pricing Transparency and Predictability

Contentful offers a free community tier, limited to one space with restricted content types, entries, locales, and users. The Basic plan starts at $300/month, while enterprise features require a Premium plan (about $81k/year). Costs increase based on usage, making budgeting challenging.In short, Contentful’s pricing skews toward large enterprise budgets, whereas Flotiq aims to remain accessible as you scale.

Flotiq provides a free tier suitable for small projects. Paid plans start at $39/month, including advanced features like daily backups and role-based permissions. Flotiq’s fixed pricing tiers ensure predictable expenses without needing sales negotiations for enterprise features.

Business continuity and data protection

Contentful is a cloud-based service that manages data durability internally. The platform replicates all content across multiple servers and performs daily backups to ensure high availability. Contentful offers version history on content entries and a Preview API for safely reviewing unpublished changes. However, there is no single-click backup export option for users; instead, content export requires using their APIs or CLI tools. Deleted content in Contentful is not recoverable unless previously exported or relying on internal backups. Contentful advises users to manually export content via the Content Delivery API for offsite backups if needed.

Flotiq offers automatic daily backups with a 30-day retention period starting from its Basic plan, along with an easy restore feature in the user interface. This provides smaller teams with self-service recovery options if issues arise. Additionally, Flotiq’s on-premise deployment option allows enterprises to maintain in-house backups or comply with strict data residency requirements. Flotiq incorporates business continuity features such as backups, data export, and recovery tools into its product, providing these capabilities even for mid-tier customers, whereas Contentful's backup and retention processes are managed internally with limited customer visibility.

Platform uptime SLA

Contentful boasts a strong uptime record, often over 99.9% for its APIs. Enterprise plans include a contractual guarantee of up to 99.99% uptime SLA, while lower-tier plans lack an explicit SLA. Although reliable, smaller customers must rely on the standard service without financial guarantees.

Flotiq guarantees 99.9% uptime on all paid plans and 99.99% on higher “Growth” tiers, without needing an enterprise contract. This allows growing startups to rely on formal uptime commitments. While both platforms are reliable, Flotiq’s SLA at lower price points sets it apart for business risk management.

Flotiq vs Contentful – deployment models overview

One strategic consideration is deployment model. Flotiq offers flexible deployment: multi-tenant cloud, single-tenant instances, or on-premise installations. This suits organizations with regulatory or data residency needs. You can choose your environment or let Flotiq host it.

Contentful, however, is only available as a SaaS in its own cloud. Self-hosting or running it on a private cloud isn't an option. Contentful handles scaling and updates but limits deployment control. This works for most digital businesses, but those needing an on-prem CMS might prefer Flotiq.

Feature	Flotiq	Contentful
Shared Cloud (Multi-tenant SaaS)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Dedicated Cloud (Single-tenant)	✅ Yes	❓ Limited*
On-Premise Installation	✅ Yes	❌ No
Custom Infrastructure & SLAs	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (Enterprise only, on Contentful’s cloud)

* Contentful’s enterprise plans may offer some dedicated infrastructure aspects (e.g. choosing regional data residency), but there is no fully private self-hosting option.

Flotiq vs Contentful for Engineering Teams

Flotiq and Contentful both offer robust tools for developers, but the specifics vary. Flotiq has an official TypeScript SDK that auto-generates Type definitions from content models. Its Next.js plugin supports Draft Mode and real-time previews for a smooth development experience. Using Flotiq’s API keys, developers can quickly fetch content by including a read-only key in environment variables.

Contentful, on the other hand, supports multiple languages with extensive tools but may require more manual setup compared to Flotiq. Below, we compare key engineering-focused features:

Feature	Flotiq	Contentful
Programming languages	All popular programming languages – JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, PHP, .NET, Dart, Go	Official SDKs covering JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, Ruby, PHP, .NET, Java, Swift, Kotlin, etc., plus community libraries for additional languages.
Typescript support	Full native support, automated typing	Partial. The JS SDK includes base typings, but model-specific types must be manually regenerated (e.g., with contentful-typescript-generator) after each schema change, adding an extra step.
Frameworks	Supports any framework (Next.js is a primary focus, with a starter and live preview plugin)	Compatible with any framework via APIs. Offers starter repos (e.g. Next.js) and Draft Mode docs, but no Next.js plugin—live previews demand manual preview-route setup and the Live Preview SDK.
Native GraphQL Content APIs	Efficient, type-enriched content retrieval via GraphQL	Contentful provides a GraphQL Content Delivery API (read-only) for each space.
REST API with OpenAPI support	RESTful API generated based on your data model (auto-documented via OpenAPI)	Contentful provides two REST APIs—Content Delivery for published data and Content Management for writes/drafts—each with its own endpoint and credentials.
Rich Set of Developer Tools	SDKs for multiple languages Automatically generated API documentation and code samples Integrated API sandbox Generated Postman collections Typescript integration	Command Line Interface (CLI) for migrations and space exports Web GraphiQL Playground app available via the marketplace Asynchronous webhooks to trigger external actions on content events App Framework for building custom field editors or dashboard widgets in the CMS UI
Global CDN and Advanced Caching	✅	✅
Flexible Content Modeling	✅	✅
Large Set of Field Types	✅	✅
Reusable Components	✅	✅
Management tools	Management CLI (supports on-prem deployments) Content & settings import/export tools	Command-line interface for content operations (bulk publish, import/export, clone stacks, etc.)
Environment Management	We support complex environment-based workflows through our space separation	Native environment branching within each space (e.g. create “staging” or “feature” branches off your main content set)
Granular Permissions and Workflows	Basic roles Custom roles Field-level access permissions	Basic and custom roles on all plans Advanced, environment- and locale-scoped RBAC (field- and content-type level) on enterprise plans
Extend Platform with Custom Plugins	User interface customization/extensions are possible through Flotiq Plugin framework Business logic extension through hosted code Webhooks and synchronous webhooks	App Framework for custom field editors, sidebar widgets, dashboards Marketplace integrations (e.g. translation, analytics) New Contentful Functions (serverless code on Premium plans)
Webhooks Configuration	Async webhooks Synchronous webhooks Hosted webhook code	Asynchronous webhooks (per environment/branch) that notify external services on content changes.

Typescript Support in action

Flotiq’s TypeScript integration synchronizes your code with CMS models directly, unlike Contentful which needs an extra generation step for model changes.

Aspect	Flotiq	Contentful
Type Generation	✅ Automatic – Flotiq auto-generates and updates TypeScript definitions with every schema change, requiring no manual steps.	⚠️ Manual – You must regenerate TypeScript interfaces after every schema change (e.g., export JSON and run a CLI tool); it’s not automated.
Sync Frequency	Instant - Types are updated in real-time as soon as a content model is changed, ensuring your IDE always reflects the latest schema.	On-Demand - Developers have to re-run the type generation script whenever content types change. If this step is skipped, your app’s types may become stale until regenerated.
IDE Experience	Full IntelliSense—new fields show up instantly in your IDE (VS Code/WebStorm) with type info and OpenAPI-powered docs.	Good IntelliSense after you generate types, but no live updates—IDE hints lag until you rerun the generator.
Setup & Maintenance	Minimal – Just install Flotiq’s TypeScript SDK and import your auto-generated types. The build process is straightforward since Flotiq handles type publishing.	Moderate – You must install and run a type-generator (e.g., a CLI tool) in your build/CI whenever models change, or risk stale types.
Bottom Line	Flotiq reduces friction for TypeScript users by baking type safety into the platform. Fewer manual steps means less room for error.	Contentful supports TypeScript, but full type safety demands extra tooling and build steps—plan for this to prevent runtime mismatches.

Key Takeaways for Engineering Teams

Feature	Flotiq	Contentful
API approach	✅ Unified & auto-documented: Instant REST/JSON APIs for all content (with OpenAPI docs), plus optional GraphQL API for query flexibility.	✅ Robust but split: REST and GraphQL content APIs are available , but writes use a separate management API. Documentation is thorough, though integrating both APIs adds complexity.
TypeScript workflow	✅ Seamless: Native TypeScript SDK with types that auto-sync on schema changes – no manual upkeep.	⚠️ Extra steps: No auto-sync for types – developers run generators or craft types manually after schema updates.
Next.js Integration	✅ First-class: Official Next.js starter kits, plus out-of-the-box Draft Mode preview support via plugin. Minimal setup for previews and revalidation.	⚠️ DIY setup: Next.js can absolutely be used, but devs must configure Draft Mode and Preview API by following guides. No dedicated plugin means more custom code for preview.
Custom logic extensions	✅ Built-in: Supports synchronous and async webhooks, a plugin framework for adding custom processors, and on-premise code injection if needed.	⚠️ Limited – async webhooks and a UI App Framework for client-side extensions. True server-side code was unavailable until enterprise-only Contentful Functions, which offer limited in-platform execution.
Learning curve	⭐ Developer-friendly: Quick to get started due to simple REST APIs and automatic tooling (great for smaller dev teams or hackathons).	📚 Enterprise-depth – a steeper learning curve as content modeling and GraphQL add flexibility but demand time to master. Robust docs and community support help ease onboarding.

Flotiq vs Contentful for Content Teams

Content teams require intuitive tools that facilitate creation, collaboration, and publishing. Both Flotiq and Contentful provide user-friendly authoring experiences, but they address different needs and levels of complexity. Flotiq's streamlined workflows and out-of-the-box simplicity enable smaller teams to operate efficiently with minimal configuration. Contentful, on the other hand, offers an extensive array of editorial features suitable for enterprise use – though some features may necessitate setup or higher-tier plans.

Flotiq facilitates content delivery across various platforms (websites, mobile apps, smart devices) by providing content in a presentation-neutral format. Similarly, Contentful supports comprehensive omnichannel strategies and has been widely utilized to publish content across web, mobile, and voice applications, among others. The primary distinction lies in the degree of effort required from content creators versus developers to implement these workflows.

This comparison will examine how each platform supports content editors and marketers:

Feature	Flotiq	Contentful
Independent Content Publishing	Individual permissions to access content can be defined Subsets of the REST API can be published	Editors can schedule and publish via the UI and trigger builds with webhooks, but true autonomous site updates need developer-configured preview URLs or CI pipelines.
Granular Permissions	Basic roles Custom roles Field-level access permissions	Basic roles are available on all plans; custom roles, ACLs, and SSO/SCIM require Premium/Enterprise upgrades and extra setup.
Workflow	✅	✅
Collaboration Tools	Presence information Versioning	Inline comments work out of the box; assignable tasks and live presence indicators need the Tasks app on Lite+.
Bulk Operations	One-click bulk create/update/delete via API or UI - streamlined for high-volume edits	Multi-select publish/delete is in the web UI; large imports or edits rely on the CLI or Management API—no built-in CSV importer.
Rich Editing Experience	Intuitive Markdown/WYSIWYG editor with SEO previews and custom field descriptions - editor-first design	Structured form-based editing with rich-text and basic image tools is standard; visual page builders require paid Compose/Studio add-ons.
Digital Asset Management built-in	Built-in DAM with real-time image transformations and edge caching via Cloudflare CDN	Built-in media library offers CDN-delivered assets with URL transforms; advanced DAM features need third-party integrations.
Content Versioning and Validations	Automatic version history and field-level validation rules - no-add-ons required	All published entries are versioned, and field validations (required, regex, size) are configured in the model on every plan.
Drafts and Live Previews	Out-of-the-box live preview (Next.js ready) and draft mode - no custom setup	Draft content publishes on demand; live preview via API/iframe is possible but requires developer setup.
Localization / Multilingual	Native multi-locale support with DeepL integration for fast translations	Side-by-side locales are supported (limits by plan); independent language rollouts and locale workflows are Enterprise-only.
AI translations	DeepL integration included - automate translations with minimal configuration	No native machine translation; add AI or translation apps from the Marketplace, each requiring separate configuration.
Platform Customization and Extensions	Unified plugin framework for UI extensions, hosted code hooks, sync & async webhooks - fully in-platform	Powerful App Framework, webhooks, CLI, and 100+ apps exist, but installing and coding them is manual and plan-limited.
Custom UI Modifications	First-class plugin support for custom UI components and dashboards - seamless, single-framework development	Core UI can’t be re-skinned—any custom widgets or dashboards must be built as apps or via the separate Studio product.

In summary, content editors at smaller organizations or those without dedicated operations staff may find Flotiq’s straightforward, ready-to-use approach appealing, as it addresses all the fundamental needs with minimal configuration. Conversely, larger organizations, or those managing complex multilingual content and formal approval processes, will benefit from Contentful’s extensive feature set for content governance (including localization, roles, workflows, etc.). It should be noted that some of Contentful's most advanced collaboration features are available in its higher-tier plans (e.g., advanced roles, unlimited locales), while Flotiq offers substantial functionality even in its basic plans.

Final Thoughts: your CMS should grow with you

Selecting the appropriate headless CMS platform involves balancing current requirements with future growth potential. Flotiq simplifies the creation and deployment of content-driven applications, streamlining content management and reducing complexity for both developers and editors. Whether your needs include seamless developer workflows, expeditious content publishing, or reasonable pricing as you scale, choosing the right platform is crucial.

Contentful offers a robust, enterprise-level solution with an extensive ecosystem and comprehensive feature set. It is particularly beneficial for large teams that can invest in the setup and are prepared for higher ongoing costs. Nevertheless, Contentful often requires more initial setup, higher budgets, and specialized expertise to fully optimize its advanced capabilities. Teams may need proficiency in GraphQL, meticulous content modeling, and vigilance regarding usage limits to utilize Contentful efficiently.

Developer-first APIs: Auto-generated REST endpoints and OpenAPI specifications (with optional GraphQL) enable developers to start coding against Flotiq immediately using familiar tools, thus eliminating the need for extensive API configuration.

Instant TypeScript support: The platform maintains synchronization of your types, removing manual steps and reducing errors during development. This results in lower maintenance overhead as your project expands.

Next.js readiness: Official starters and built-in Draft Mode/preview integration offer an impeccable editorial feedback loop straight out of the box. There is no need to assemble preview solutions; Flotiq provides this functionality from the outset.

Built-in business continuity: Features such as daily backups, flexible deployment options (cloud or on-premises), and transparent SLAs and support across all price tiers ensure that your CMS scales with enterprise-grade reliability. Moreover, this is achieved at more modest price points compared to Contentful's enterprise plans.

With Flotiq, agility does not have to be sacrificed for power, nor budget for features. It is designed to expand alongside your needs. You can begin today at no cost to discover how a modern headless CMS like Flotiq can accelerate development, enhance the satisfaction of your content teams, and grow with your ambitions from day one.

👉 Start with Flotiq’s free plan today and experience how a modern headless CMS can support your team, your workflows, and your ambitions - from day one.

New to Flotiq? Here’s what you need to know before you register

Magdalena Sobantka — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:54:30 +0000

If you’re looking for a flexible, modern CMS that gives content editors room to move, without overwhelming them with complexity, Flotiq might be exactly what you need. But before you hit “Create Account” let us show you how to start smart.

You can start using Flotiq for free by clicking “Start for free” on any button at flotiq.com. This gives you 14 days of full access to the Basic plan - no credit card required.

Check out the short video: here.

Here’s why the Basic plan is the best place to begin, especially if you’re a content creator.

The Basic Plan: small name, big potential

The name might sound modest, but Flotiq’s Basic plan is packed with features that support real content teamwork:

Up to 3 users - perfect for small teams, and you can easily add more seats if your team grows
Use up to 5 plugins at once
Choose from 15+ plugins in our Marketplace
Upload 2 custom plugins tailored to your workflow

How Plugins work in Flotiq

You have 5 plugin slots available at any time. Think of it like a power strip - you can plug in any combination of tools from our plugin toolbox, and switch them whenever your workflow changes.

Need SEO tools today and live preview tomorrow? No problem.

Just unplug one and plug in the other - no extra steps, no downtime. You’re not locked into a fixed setup, and you’re never overwhelmed with too many options at once. It’s your environment, your priorities, your pace.

No bloat. No overload. Just what you need, when you need it.

Bonus: Bring (or build) your own plugins!Have a developer on your team? Even better. With the Basic plan, you can upload 2 custom plugins to fit your workflow — whether it’s a content approval flow, translation support, or something built just for your team.

Meet your friendly guide

Right after you log in for the first time, we’ll ask you to complete a quick setup form to finish configuring your account. It only takes a moment, and right after that, you’ll meet our cheerful onboarding mascot (no name yet, but we might ask for your help choosing one soon!).

He’ll ask if you’d like to create a Demo Space, and we recommend saying yes. This option sets up ready-to-use content types and sample entries, like blog posts or product listings, so you can dive straight into editing without needing to build everything from scratch.

You can edit, remove, or completely rebuild the demo content at any time.

Check out the short video: here.

Your Quick Tech Checklist

To get the most out of your trial, we suggest checking a few essentials. If you're working with a developer, share this list with them:

Are your content types (like Blog Post, Article, Product) defined?
Do you have the right plugins selected and enabled? (more info: Superpowers for Content Creators: make sure to turn them on!
Is your media library connected and ready for uploads?
Have user roles and permissions been set?
Are you using the Demo Space to explore Flotiq’s structure?

Even if you’re working solo, this checklist will help you explore faster and avoid setup friction later on.

What happens after the trial?

When the 14-day trial ends, your account will automatically switch to the Free plan (unless you decide to subscribe and continue using the Basic plan). You won’t lose access to your account or content, but features like plugin usage and multi-user support will become limited.

That’s why we encourage you to make the most of your trial: test your workflow, invite teammates, try different plugins, and see how Flotiq fits into your content process.

That said, we strongly recommend continuing with the Basic plan if you’re working with a team or want to get the most out of Flotiq. It offers the right balance of flexibility, collaboration, and feature access, without unnecessary complexity.

Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide:


	Basic Plan	Free Plan
Team members	Up to 3 users (team can grow)	Up to 2 users (fixed limit)
Plugin slots	5 plugins	1 plugin
Custom plugins	2	0
Usage limits	Higher	Limited
Backup frequency	Daily	Weekly
Support	Flotiq support team	Community only

👉 See the full comparison.

TL;DR – try before you buy

Start for free - no strings attached
Full access to the Basic plan for 14 days
Use up to 5 plugins and collaborate with your team
Upload your own plugins or explore our Marketplace
Get hands-on experience before you commit

👉 Ready to see how Flotiq fits your workflow?

Click Start for free on any page at flotiq.com - and start creating your way.

Flotiq vs Contentstack: Headless CMS Guide 2025

Magdalena Sobantka — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 08:13:29 +0000

Choosing the right headless CMS platform can define the success of your digital strategy. Flotiq and Contentstack each deliver performance, scalability, and rich features, but they cater to different audiences and priorities. Whether you’re a developer craving instant, standards-based APIs, a content editor focused on efficient workflows, or a decision‑maker monitoring costs and compliance, understanding how these platforms compare is crucial.

Why choose Flotiq as an alternative to Contenstack?

Flotiq’s API-first headless approach fosters innovation and simplifies content management for modern teams and developers.

1. Strong API foundations

Flotiq and Contentstack are both API‑first CMSs. Flotiq is an API-first headless CMS that automatically generates RESTful endpoints for each content type, complete with OpenAPI docs and multi‑language SDKs, enabling seamless omnichannel content delivery across any channel.

Contentstack emphasizes GraphQL for delivery, but its write operations require separate REST calls, creating more endpoint complexity.

**2. Visual and flexible content modeling

**Both platforms offer visual schema editors to craft custom content types. Both platforms offer visual schema editors to craft custom content types. Flotiq’s builder excels at defining fields, metadata, relationships, geolocation, and versioning, all instantly available via API. Flotiq headless enables flexible content modeling for multiple frontends, supporting content delivery to websites, mobile apps, and other channels.

Contentstack supports modular blocks and localization out of the box, but its GraphQL‑centric model sometimes demands more upfront planning and governance.

**3. Intuitive content editing for teams

**Flotiq and Contentstack provide modern editorial interfaces. Flotiq prioritizes a streamlined experience, SEO extensions, simple draft/publish workflows, field‑level permissions, and live preview integration, so content teams can work autonomously without developer hand‑holding. Flotiq simplifies collaboration and content sharing within an organization, making it easy to manage access and workflows across teams. Contentstack delivers advanced collaboration (inline comments, multi‑stage approvals) best suited to large, regulated organizations.

**4. Typescript and Next.js support

**Flotiq offers end‑to‑end TypeScript integration: CMS schemas automatically sync to your codebase, eliminating manual type generation. Its Next.js plugin supplies built‑in Draft Mode and real‑time previews. The Flotiq SDK and Flotiq API ts make it easy to install, configure, and fetch content types in TypeScript projects.

Contentstack supports TypeScript and Next.js, but the setup is manual and preview tools require additional configuration.

Comparing Flotiq and Contentstack: Headless CMS Capabilities

See below for a side-by-side comparison of high-level headless CMS capabilities. Scroll down for more details on features for content teams and developers.

Capability	Flotiq	Contentstack
API	REST (OpenAPI), GraphQL, JSON-ready APIs auto-generated for each content type	Primarily GraphQL Content Delivery API + separate REST Management API for writes (requires dual endpoint management)
Content Modeling	Visual builder, relations, metadata, geolocation, versioning	Visual schema editor, modular blocks, multi‑locale support
Editorial Features	Clean UI, markdown/WYSIWYG, basic and custom roles, field-level permissions, drafts & publishing flow	Rich UI, inline commenting, multi‑step workflows, advanced RBAC
Deployment Models	SaaS (shared), Hybrid (private cloud), Full Enterprise (on-premise or private cloud)	SaaS only
Digital Asset Management	Built-in DAM, image optimization, CDN delivery (Cloudflare), basic video streaming	Asset uploads, Fastly CDN, integrations for advanced handling
Community & Resources	Growing community, Discord, examples, tutorials, vetted development agencies	Established ecosystem, official support, GraphQL learning hub
Plans & Pricing	Free forever plan, transparent pricing, custom plans available	Custom quotes, tiered plans unlocked after sales engagement
Security & Compliance	ISO 27001, GDPR, supports on-premise and private cloud deployments	Enterprise security, SSO, audit logs, encryption
Support & SLA	Support available for all plans, enterprise SLAs	Priority support in upper tiers, enterprise SLAs
Learning Curve	🚀 Fast for developers and editors - REST + visual tools	Steeper: GraphQL‑first model
Developer Ecosystem	Certified development agencies vetted by Flotiq	Large partner network, GraphQL specialists
User Roles & Permissions	Basic + custom roles, field-level access control	Advanced RBAC, locale‑ and environment‑based roles

Key differences for business decision makers

Pricing Transparency and Predictability

Contentstack offers a 14-day free trial but does not provide a free-forever tier. Their Growth plan typically starts around $995/month (or roughly $799/month billed annually). Core enterprise features, such as audit logs, scheduled publishing, and backup recovery, are reserved for upper-tier plans, which can drive costs above $3,000/month as API calls and user counts rise.

Flotiq offers a free-forever tier, ideal for hobby projects or prototyping at no cost. For production use, and to access advanced features like daily backups (30-day retention), audit logs, and role-based permissions, we recommend the Basic plan, starting at $39/month (or $37/month billed annually). With clearly published tiers, businesses can forecast expenses accurately.

Business continuity

Contentstack maintains multiple backup layers: incremental backups every six hours (2-day retention), daily backups (7-day retention), and weekly backups (30-day retention). Deleted content is held in the Trash for 14 days and can be restored by customers directly. For data older than 14 days, the Contentstack support team can assist with recovery on request.

Flotiq provides automatic daily backups with 30-day retention starting on the Basic plan, and includes a straightforward restore feature in its UI, ensuring smaller teams benefit from continuous data protection.

Platform uptime SLA

Contentstack’s uptime commitment is tiered: 99.99% availability for Start and Grow plans (24×5), and 99.99% availability for Scale (enterprise) plans (24×7) as calculated monthly.

Flotiq guarantees 99.9% uptime on all paid tiers and 99.99% uptime on Growth and above, without requiring an enterprise contract.

Flotiq vs Contentstack – deployment models overview

Flotiq supports a variety of deployment options, including shared multi-tenant SaaS, dedicated single-tenant instances, and fully on‑premise/private cloud installations, to meet strict compliance, data residency, and infrastructure requirements.

Contentstack, while delivered as a SaaS platform, provides both multi-tenant and dedicated cloud instances but does not offer on‑premise installations.

Feature	Flotiq	Contentstack
Shared Cloud (Multi-tenant SaaS)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Dedicated Cloud (Single-tenant)	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
On-Premise Installation	✅ Yes	❌ No
Custom Infrastructure & SLAs	✅ Yes	✅ Yes (Enterprise only)

Flotiq vs Contentstack for Engineering Teams

Flotiq and Contentstack equip developers with robust toolsets, but the details matter. For TypeScript projects, Flotiq offers the Flotiq SDK and Flotiq API ts, making it easy to integrate content APIs into your project. When connecting to the API, always include your read-only api key in environment variables to securely authenticate your project.

Below, we compare key engineering‑centric features:

Feature	Flotiq	Contentstack
Programming languages	All popular programming languages – JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, PHP, .NET, Dart, Go	Official SDKs for major languages (JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, .NET, Python, PHP, Ruby, iOS, Android, etc.)
Typescript support	Full native support, automated typing	Provided via a TypeScript SDK; type definitions can be generated using a CLI plugin (manual step)
Frameworks	Supports any framework (Next.js is a primary focus, with a starter and live preview plugin)	Supported via APIs/SDKs for any framework; Next.js live preview is available but requires integrating Contentstack’s Live Preview SDK
Native GraphQL Content APIs	Efficient, type-enriched content retrieval via GraphQL	Yes – GraphQL Content Delivery API (read-only) with schema introspection for exploring available types and fields
REST API with OpenAPI support	RESTful API generated based on your data model (auto-documented via OpenAPI)	Comprehensive REST APIs for content delivery and management; OpenAPI JSON specs and Postman collections are provided for easy testingManagement API (REST) and Delivery API (REST)
Rich Set of Developer Tools	SDKs for multiple languages Automatically generated API documentation and code samples Integrated API sandbox Generated Postman collections Typescript integration	GraphQL playground, CLI, apps & integrations
Global CDN and Advanced Caching	✅	✅
Flexible Content Modeling	✅	✅
Large Set of Field Types	✅	✅
Reusable Components	✅	✅
Management tools	Management CLI (supports on-prem deployments) Content & settings import/export tools	Command-line interface for content operations (bulk publish, import/export, clone stacks, etc.)
Environment Management	We support complex environment-based workflows through our space separation	✅
Granular Permissions and Workflows	Basic roles Custom roles Field-level access permissions	Basic & custom roles
Extend Platform with Custom Plugins	User interface customization/extensions are possible through Flotiq Plugin framework Business logic extension through hosted code Webhooks and synchronous webhooks	Apps & integrations
Webhooks Configuration	Async webhooks Synchronous webhooks Hosted webhook code	Standard asynchronous webhooks to send real-time updates to external services (configurable per content branch)

Typescript Support in action

Flotiq’s TypeScript integration is designed to keep your codebase and CMS schema perfectly in sync, whereas Contentstack requires a separate generation step whenever your models change.

Aspect	Flotiq	Contentstack
Type Generation	✅ Automatically generates and syncs .d.ts files with every content-type change	⚠️ Requires running the tsgen CLI plugin or Developer Tools app to generate TypeScript definitions after schema changes manually
Sync Frequency	Instant: type definitions update immediately when you modify a content type in the dashboard	Manual: developers must re-run the type generator each time the schema is updated
IDE Experience	Full IntelliSense, inline field hints, and documentation immediately available in VS Code, WebStorm, etc.	Comprehensive IntelliSense once types are generated, but no live updates, so definitions can drift out of sync if not regenerated promptly
Integration Setup	🚀 One-step: install Flotiq’s TS SDK and import your types	⚙️ Two-step: install the SDK, configure tsgen, and add a build script to invoke type generation
Maintenance Overhead	Minimal: schema changes propagate automatically, reducing manual work	Moderate: requires remembering to trigger type generation in local workflows or CI/CD pipelines to keep types current

Key Takeaways for Engineering Teams

Feature	Flotiq	Contentstack
API Type	✅ REST & auto-generated OpenAPI specs + optional GraphQL	✅ REST (OpenAPI JSON files available) + GraphQL Content Delivery API
TypeScript Support	✅ Native TS SDK with types that auto-sync on schema changes	⚠️ Manual: run tsgen CLI plugin or Developer Tools app to generate typings after each schema update
Next.js Integration	✅ First-class support: official Next.js starters, Draft Mode & live preview plugin	⚠️ DIY setup: use general SDK & REST/GraphQL Live Preview guides—no dedicated Next.js plugin (requires manual config)
Business Logic Extensions	✅ Webhooks + built-in plugin system + REST hooks	⚠️ Async-only webhooks; UI apps/extensions via Marketplace (no in-platform code execution)

Flotiq vs Contentstack for Content Teams

Content teams need intuitive tools that streamline creation, collaboration, and publishing. While both Flotiq and Contentstack deliver strong capabilities, Flotiq’s streamlined workflows and out-of-the-box features often let teams move faster with less configuration.

Flotiq also enables seamless content delivery across multiple channels, including websites, mobile apps, and smart devices, supporting true omnichannel strategies.

Feature	Flotiq	Contentstack
Independent Content Publishing	Individual permissions to access content can be defined Subsets of the REST API can be published	Delivery tokens per environment or type - managing multiple tokens across environments adds overhead
Granular Permissions	Basic roles Custom roles Field-level access permissions	Advanced RBAC available, but field-level ACL and true custom roles only in higher-tier plans
Workflow	✅	✅
Collaboration Tools	Presence information Versioning	Inline comments and notifications; more powerful but come with a steeper learning curve
Bulk Operations	✅ One-click bulk create/update/delete via API or UI - streamlined for high-volume edits	✅ Bulk operations via CLI or Management API - useful but spans multiple tools
Rich Editing Experience	✅ Intuitive Markdown/WYSIWYG editor with SEO previews and custom field descriptions - editor-first design	✅ Advanced rich text editor with annotations - feature-rich but can feel overwhelming
Digital Asset Management built-in	✅ Built-in DAM with real-time image transformations and edge caching via Cloudflare CDN	✅ Asset library with Fastly CDN - reliable, though transformation and optimization often require external integrations
Content Versioning and Validations	✅ Automatic version history and field-level validation rules - no-add-ons required	✅ Full versioning and validations - enterprise-grade but gated behind tier restrictions
Drafts and Live Previews	✅ Out-of-the-box live preview (Next.js ready) and draft mode - no custom setup	✅ Preview mode via APIs - requires manual integration and configuration
Localization / Multilingual	✅ Native multi-locale support with DeepL integration for fast translations	✅ Built-in localization; translation integrations available but often require additional setup
AI translations	✅ DeepL integration included - automate translations with minimal configuration	✅ AI translation apps in Marketplace
Platform Customization and Extensions	✅ Unified plugin framework for UI extensions, hosted code hooks, sync & async webhooks - fully in-platform	✅ Marketplace apps & legacy UI Extensions via iframes - functional but fragmented
Custom UI Modifications	✅ First-class plugin support for custom UI components and dashboards - seamless, single-framework development	✅ App Framework for widgets; UI Extensions deprecated soon, migration to Marketplace Apps required

Key Insights for Content Teams

Faster Preview Cycles: Flotiq’s robust Next.js integration delivers near-instant content previews, reducing back‑and‑forth with developers.

Streamlined Publishing: Simple workflows in Flotiq speed up content delivery, while Contentstack’s advanced approvals support large teams.

Budget-Friendly Features: Flotiq includes backups, audit logs, and role controls at lower tiers; Contentstack reserves these for premium plans.

Final Thoughts: your CMS should grow with you

Flotiq simplifies the process of building and deploying your site, streamlining content management and reducing complexity for developers and teams. Whether you need seamless developer workflows, rapid content publishing, or pricing that aligns with your growth, the right platform can make all the difference.

While Contentstack delivers a robust, enterprise-focused solution, it often requires more setup, higher budgets, and specialized expertise in GraphQL and enterprise workflows. In contrast, Flotiq empowers teams of any size with:

Developer-first APIs: Auto-generated REST and OpenAPI specs, plus optional GraphQL, so you can build faster with familiar tools.

Instant TypeScript support: Native type sync directly from your schema, eliminating manual steps and reducing errors.

Next.js readiness: Official starters, Draft Mode, and live preview plugins that integrate out of the box for a flawless editorial feedback loop.

Built-in business continuity: Daily backups, flexible deployment (including on-prem or private cloud), transparent SLAs, and support tiers that start at modest price points. Flotiq's API-first, flexible approach fosters innovation in digital content delivery, enabling modern, future-ready solutions for your site.

With Flotiq, you don’t trade off agility for power or budget for features. Start free today to see how a modern headless CMS can accelerate your development, delight your content teams, and scale alongside your ambitions - right from day one.

👉 Start with Flotiq’s free plan today and experience how a modern headless CMS can support your team, your workflows, and your ambitions - from day one.

Superpowers for Content Creators: make sure to turn them on!

Magdalena Sobantka — Thu, 29 May 2025 08:27:59 +0000

Flotiq is packed with features that make content creation faster, smoother, and way more fun. The catch? Some of them aren’t on by default. Time to check if your dev remembered to flip the right switches. No pressure. (Okay, maybe a little.)

Welcome to #FeatureDay – our new series showcasing the features that make your content life easier.

Picture this:You’ve just migrated your project to Flotiq. The switch from your old CMS? Surprisingly smooth - we know, that’s not usually the case. Welcome to our world! Your dev team handled the technical bits like pros. Now it’s your turn. You log in, and boom - everything is clean, clear, and just works. No more digging around to figure out where content lives. You’re ready to roll.

But here’s the real question:

Do you know about the features designed specifically to make your job as a content creator easier, faster, and less frustrating?

Let’s talk about the tools that go beyond the basics. These must-haves will level up your content workflow from day one.

1. Live Preview Plugin: Edit with Confidence

Editing content without knowing exactly how it looks on the page? No thanks.

With the Live Preview Plugin, you see your changes as you type - no need to hit save, no switching tabs, no guessing.

Why it’s a game-changer:

Instantly see the results of your work - no extra clicks
Prototype new ideas and layouts without publishing
Cut down on publishing mistakes
Train new team members faster
Understand how your content maps to your site in real time

💡 Example:

You’re tweaking a blog post draft. Before saving it, you hit the Live Preview button in the editor’s sidebar. Your changes pop up instantly in the real layout of your site - without needing to publish or reload.

👉 See how it works now: video in the original article.

🛠️ Sneak peek: We’re currently redesigning the Live Preview panel for an even better experience.

Want early access and the latest updates? Join our Discord community.

2. SurferSEO Plugin: Built-in Optimization

Why switch tools when you can optimize directly in your CMS?

The SurferSEO plugin brings SEO best practices into your writing workflow. As you type, you get live recommendations to help your content rank higher, right inside Flotiq.

What you get:

Instant SEO score updates
Keyword density tips
Easy-to-follow improvement suggestions
No more guesswork - just publish smarter

👉 See how it works in this demo: video

3. Google Search Console Plugin: One-Click Index Check

You’ve nailed the content. It’s optimized and published. Now what?

Flotiq’s Google Search Console plugin lets you check index status and request re-indexing without leaving your CMS. You don’t need the help of any dev here

What it does:

Integrates with your Google Search Console API
Shows real-time indexing status in the editor
Let you request re-indexing with a click
Helps speed up search visibility - no more waiting weeks

Perfect for SEO-savvy creators who want more control without bothering the dev team.

👉 You may also want to check:

How to quickly index your blog post article or website on Google after publishing

Why isn't my website indexed in Google? Common problems and errors

4. Multilingual Made Easy: With DeepL Magic

Ready to go global? Managing multilingual content in traditional CMS platforms can be messy - multiple entries, confusing interfaces, and endless copy-pasting. Not in Flotiq.

Our Multilingual Plugin (plus optional, but highly recommended, DeepL integration) lets you create, edit, and preview multilingual content from one place.

What makes it powerful:

Centralized multilingual content management
Automatic, high-quality translations with DeepL
Preview localized versions in real time
Reduce manual rework and ensure consistent brand messaging

Whether you’re crafting landing pages, product descriptions, or blog posts, Flotiq makes international publishing smooth and scalable.

👉 See how it works in action: video.

5. Webhooks That Just Work: Auto-Refresh Blog Cache

Imagine this: you’ve published a new article, but it’s not live yet because the cache hasn’t refreshed. You’d usually ping a dev, wait, maybe follow up again... Not anymore.

With Flotiq’s Cache Refresh Webhook, your blog updates go live instantly - no extra steps, no waiting, no developer needed.

Why it matters:

Automates blog refreshes post-publish
Saves time and removes bottlenecks
Let you focus on what matters - creating

And this is just the beginning...These five features are just the start of what Flotiq has to offer for content creators. In the upcoming #FeatureDay articles, we’ll dive deeper into even more tools that boost productivity for editors and developers alike.

Stay tuned - and if you’re already using Flotiq, make sure you’re getting the most out of it.

→ Got questions or want to suggest a feature? Join us on Discord and be part of the conversation.

Why choose Flotiq over WordPress or Drupal?

Magdalena Sobantka — Mon, 26 May 2025 10:29:00 +0000

If you're looking for the best content management system, comparing the top options is crucial. In this article, we break down why Flotiq stands out compared to WordPress and Drupal, focusing on security, performance, scalability, ease of use, developer experience, content modeling, and integration. Discover why Flotiq is a modern, secure, scalable, and enterprise-grade choice for your digital projects.

Security: why is Flotiq safer?

Flotiq: Fully managed and secure by design. No plugin risks mean you’re not vulnerable to common hacks. Regular updates are handled for you. Flotiq also offers enterprise-grade security with SLA-backed support, ensuring reliability for large-scale implementations.

WordPress: High risk of security breaches due to outdated plugins and weak setups. Requires constant monitoring.

WordPress is a prime target for cyberattacks due to its widespread use and reliance on third-party plugins. According to the 2024 Patchstack report, 5,948 new vulnerabilities were identified in WordPress, marking a 24% increase from 2023.

👉 Read more about WordPress security risks in our recent post:

'Migrating a WordPress website to a headless CMS: a step-by-step guide.'

Drupal: Known for strong security, but requires manual maintenance and updates.

Performance: Flotiq makes it faster

Flotiq: API-first design means super-fast websites and apps, perfect for modern frameworks like Next.js and Astro.

'If you're building blazing-fast, SEO-optimized, and scalable web projects, you need the right tools working together in harmony. Astro, the modern frontend framework focused on performance, and Flotiq, a robust headless content management system, are a perfect match for developers who care about speed, structure, and simplicity.

Together, they offer a seamless workflow to build statically rendered or server-rendered websites with clean architecture, fully typed content, and effortless scalability. Whether you’re building a blog, product site, or dynamic landing page - Flotiq & Astro will help you get there faster, smarter, and with less friction.'

👉 Check the article about the power of Flotiq & Astro.

WordPress: Can be fast, but performance drops when overloaded with plugins. Needs extra optimization.

Drupal: Scalable, but requires technical expertise to maintain speed.

Scalability: Growing your project with ease

Flotiq: Automatically scales in the cloud, but also offers on-premise and private cloud deployment options, giving enterprises full control over infrastructure, data residency, and compliance requirements - perfect for rapidly growing projects!

Enterprise-ready with scalable infrastructure and SLAs - Flotiq provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee starting from the lowest-paid tier and 99.99% in higher paid tiers. Decoupling the frontend from the backend also makes it simpler to scale.

WordPress: Scaling can become complex, relying on caching and high-performance hosting.

Drupal: Scales well for large projects but demands advanced DevOps skills.

No backend hosting overhead: Focus on content, not infrastructure

Flotiq: Fully managed, API-first headless CMS in the cloud - no backend servers to install, configure or maintain. You don’t need to worry about PHP versions, database backups, OS patches or server provisioning, letting you focus entirely on content and features.

WordPress: Requires you to host and secure your own web and database servers (or pay for managed hosting), manage updates, backups and scaling configurations.

Drupal: Self-hosted by default, so you must handle server setup, patching, database maintenance and DevOps to keep performance and security in check.


Platform	Infrastructure Burden	Notes
Flotiq	Minimal	Fully managed - no servers or maintenance
WordPress	Moderate	Requires server setup, plugins, caching layers
Drupal	Significant	Self-hosted with complex DevOps requirements

Ease of use: simple and clean with Flotiq

Flotiq: User-friendly interface designed for content editing without clutter.

We have excellent support via Discord: Our responsive and helpful support team is highly appreciated by users, providing quick and effective assistance whenever you need it.

👉 Join our Discord community.

WordPress: Non-technical users find it easy initially, but plugin overload can complicate management.

Drupal: Powerful, but complex and challenging for beginners.

Developer Experience: modern and flexible

Flotiq: API-first approach, flexible tech stack, and auto-generated SDKs make it a developer’s favorite. Enterprise-level support and scalable architecture streamline complex projects.

'At the end of 2023, Bank Credit Agricole effectively integrated the Flotiq Content Management System within its intranet. The platform offers a standardized method for accessing content and serves as the foundation for an all-encompassing intranet search engine that gathers information from various sources. Since the implementation, we have seen a significant improvement in performance metrics. Thanks to Flotiq’s scalability, we can enjoy our service accessed by a few thousand employees without the risk of the system crashing.' - Magdalena Tarnas-Kaczmarek, Director of Internal Communications, Credit Agricole Bank Polska S.A.

👉 Explore the case study of an intranet project for Credit Agricole.

WordPress: Legacy PHP architecture can feel outdated. Plugin-heavy development.

Drupal: Great for experienced developers but requires specialized knowledge.

Content Modeling: flexibility without complexity

Flotiq: Easily create custom content types without coding. Instant API generation. (Read more)

WordPress: Custom content needs plugins, leading to inconsistent structures.

Drupal: Powerful content modeling, but requires an in-depth setup.

Integration: connecting your digital ecosystem

Flotiq: Ready for omnichannel content delivery through API access, Zapier, Power Automate, and webhooks. Built for enterprise scenarios requiring seamless integration with business applications.

WordPress: Plenty of plugins for integrations, but managing them can be complex.

Drupal: Supports enterprise integrations but often needs custom coding.

Who should choose Flotiq?

Freelancers: Efficient project delivery with less maintenance and top performance.
Small/medium Businesses: Peace of mind with secure, easy-to-update content management.
Enterprises: Scalable, headless setup with integration capabilities, SLAs, and enterprise-grade support.

Flotiq is the top choice if you’re looking for a modern, secure, scalable, and enterprise-grade CMS platform. It’s easy to integrate, manage, and maintain, while WordPress is ideal for quick setups and Drupal for complex, highly customized sites. Choose Flotiq if you value security, speed, and future-ready architecture, especially for large-scale, mission-critical projects.

Flotiq = Modern. Secure. Scalable.

Start for free today!