Summary: Headless CMS platforms separate content from presentation. They suit some organisations perfectly and add complexity for others.
A traditional CMS manages content and displays it. A headless CMS only manages content and delivers it through an API to any front end — website, app, kiosk or smart device.
Good reasons to go headless
- Publishing to several channels from one place
- Very high performance requirements
- Complex, structured content
- Multi-region or multi-language publishing
Reasons to stay traditional
- A small team that needs simple editing
- A straightforward marketing website
- Limited development resources
Popular platforms
Strapi, Sanity, Contentful and headless WordPress are widely used, often with Next.js front ends.
Editor experience
Live previews and clear content models are essential for editors.
FAQs
Is headless better for SEO?
It can be very fast, but SEO depends on implementation.
Is it more expensive?
Initial development usually costs more.
Can we migrate later?
Yes, content can be moved with planning.
