headless CMS / content management
Strapi is an open-source, self-hosted headless CMS built in JavaScript/TypeScript that generates REST and GraphQL APIs from content models with an admin panel for content editors.
Same problem, same approach. Swapping one for another is a config change, not a rewrite.
Choose for a code-first, Next.js-native headless CMS with TypeScript end-to-end, preferred by teams already in the Next.js ecosystem.
Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications.
Choose if you want to create a headless API from an existing SQL database with an intuitive admin rather than defining models in Strapi.
The flexible backend for all your projects 🐰 Turn your DB into a headless CMS, admin panels, or apps with a custom UI, instant APIs, auth & more.
Choose for a GraphQL-native, code-first headless CMS with a React admin UI, ideal for GraphQL-first projects.
The superpowered headless CMS for Node.js — built with GraphQL and React
Solves the same problem with a different architecture or at a different layer. Expect to rewrite the integration.
Choose for Git-based content storage without a database, giving versioning and statically built frontends.
Leading Git-based headless CMS. Successor to Netlify/Decap CMS. Modern UX, first-class i18n support, mobile support + numerous improvements. Framework-agnostic, open source & free.
Choose for an AI-agent-oriented visual CMS that fits agent-generated site workflows.
Agent-native visual CMS. Build sites with Claude/Codex/whatever, manage them visually.
Choose for edge-rendered content APIs on Cloudflare Workers for sub-100ms responses and zero cold starts.
SonicJS - The edge-native headless CMS for Cloudflare Workers. Sub-100ms response times, zero cold starts, TypeScript-first. Built on D1, R2, and Hono.
Choose if you need both in-context page editing and headless APIs in a full-stack JS CMS.
A full-featured, open-source content management framework built with Node.js that empowers organizations by combining in-context editing and headless architecture in a full-stack JS environment.
Choose if your stack is PHP/Laravel and you want a cloud-native CMS with JSON:API, GraphQL, and AI features.
Easy, flexible and powerful cloud-native Laravel CMS package powered by AI with JSON:API, GraphQL API, templates, and themes
Choose for an enterprise Java CMS with multi-tenancy, scalability, and built-in visual editing at large scale.
The Visual Headless Content Management System for Enterprises
Choose for a Laravel/Vue headless CMS and admin panel generator, especially in a PHP development workflow.
Laravel Vue headless CMS / admin panel / dashboard / builder / API CRUD generator, anything !
Choose for a used-focused, minimal CMS that is simpler and lighter than Strapi for smaller projects.
Content management, streamlined
Choose for Git-backed Markdown content with visual editing, keeping content in your repository.
TinaCMS is the leading open-source headless CMS that supports Markdown and Visual Editing. Your content is stored in your own GitHub repo 🦙 ❤️
Choose for a mature Git-based CMS for static sites, framework-agnostic, with no backend dependency.
A Git-based CMS for Static Site Generators
Choose for a flexible PHP CMS with strong content modeling and a polished editing experience.
Build bespoke content experiences with Craft.
Choose for a Git-backed, code-first CMS without a database, using TypeScript and Markdown.
First class CMS experience, TypeScript API, Markdown & YAML/JSON based, no DB
Choose for a Laravel application development platform that includes a headless CMS if you need beyond content management.
VaahCMS is a laravel based open-source web application development platform shipped with a headless content management system (CMS).
Choose for a .NET Core headless CMS with customizable APIs, ideal for .NET shops.
🚀 A future-proof enterprise web CMS supporting both headless and decoupled approaches. Build any type of app with customizable APIs on ASP.NET Core/.NET Core. Completely open-source and designed for flexibility. Since 2018.
An earlier or more limited way to do the job. Still the right call when you need something small, proven, or CPU-only.
Choose for a minimal Hono/Drizzle-based CMS, but it's sporadically maintained and limited in features.
A headless CMS framework using Hono + Drizzle + Zod + Vite
Choose for a dependency-free flat-file PHP CMS with no database, but it's unmaintained and for legacy needs.
Modern Open Source Flat Files Content Management System.
Choose for a developer-oriented content platform for docs and blogs, not a general-purpose CMS.
Open-source developer content platform
Choose for a GraphQL-only CMS if you're maintaining a legacy project, as it's now abandoned.
✨Open Source GraphQL CMS
Legacy predecessor of Directus; use only if you're maintaining an existing Directus v8 deployment.
Directus Database API — Wraps Custom SQL Databases with a REST/GraphQL API
These projects were analysed and named strapi among their alternatives. The relationship is not symmetric — how strapi rates them is a separate judgement, made when strapi is analysed in its own right.
calls strapi “For a standalone headless CMS with a large plugin ecosystem and no Next.js lock-in.”
Payload is the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, giving you instant backend superpowers. Get a full TypeScript backend and admin panel instantly. Use Payload as a headless CMS or for building powerful applications.
calls strapi “Choose when you need a mature Node.js headless CMS with a large plugin ecosystem and want to deploy outside AWS serverless.”
Open-source, self-hosted CMS platform on AWS serverless (Lambda, DynamoDB, S3). TypeScript framework with multi-tenancy, lifecycle hooks, GraphQL API, and AI-assisted development via MCP server. Built for developers at large organizations.
calls strapi “Choose for a developer-first Node.js headless CMS with a plugin ecosystem, even though you must define content types instead of introspecting a database.”
The flexible backend for all your projects 🐰 Turn your DB into a headless CMS, admin panels, or apps with a custom UI, instant APIs, auth & more.
calls strapi “headless CMS with DB and admin API; choose for API-driven content rather than Git-based static content”
A Git-based CMS for Static Site Generators
calls strapi “Choose when you prefer a popular, self-hosted headless CMS with a database and REST/GraphQL APIs.”
TinaCMS is the leading open-source headless CMS that supports Markdown and Visual Editing. Your content is stored in your own GitHub repo 🦙 ❤️
calls strapi “Choose if you prefer an admin-first Node.js headless CMS with REST/GraphQL rather than a schema-first GraphQL API.”
The superpowered headless CMS for Node.js — built with GraphQL and React