There’s a growing number of open-source headless CMS options—like Strapi, Directus, Payload CMS, Keystone, and Decap CMS—and picking the right one can feel overwhelming.
Key Criteria to Consider
- Developer control: Need full customization and plugin support? Strapi excels here.
- SQL flexibility: Want a database-first approach? Directus lets you layer content over your existing SQL tables.
- Minimal setup: Prefer something lightweight and Git-based? Decap CMS is great for Markdown/JSON workflows and static sites.
- Developer experience: Frameworks like Payload CMS and Strapi offer strong support for TypeScript, plugins, and modern APIs.
- Community support: Strapi and Directus have active communities, which means help, frequent updates, and ecosystem tools.
When to Use Open Source vs SaaS
- Open Source advantages: Full control, no vendor lock-in, and highly extensible.
- Trade-offs: You manage hosting, updates, security, and backups yourself.
- SaaS options: Offer enterprise-level features like SLAs, governance, and auto-updates at a recurring cost.
Quick Decision Flow
- Need to self-host and customize? → Strapi or Payload CMS.
- Have an existing SQL structure you want to reuse? → Directus.
- Building a static site with versioned content? → Decap CMS.
- Need strong editor tools and collaboration features? → Sanity or Storyblok.
Final Thought
The best headless CMS fits your team's workflow and goals—not the other way around. Try one or two with a real-world sample before diving in.
If you’d like a custom recommendation based on your stack and project goals, RW Infotech helps startups and dev teams choose and implement the right headless CMS.
Top comments (0)