Best Headless CMS in 2026
Updated
When content needs to reach websites or apps through separate presentation layers, a headless CMS provides a way to manage that content independently. Compare API types, asset transformations, localization, and content preview to see which publishing needs are covered. Role permissions and webhooks offer further points to weigh for access and integrations, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help frame cost. ButterCMS, Prismic, and Sanity are among the entries, alongside options such as Strapi and Directus. Consider how your content workflow handles contributors, localized material, and delivery, then use the listed capabilities to judge which system aligns with those needs.
35ranked
17free plans on this page
$7.56/molowest paid tier
11 Oct 2026last checked
Recognised 40% · Phone app 26% · Documented 20% · Free plan 14% of the score
- 1 ButterCMS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 9.0$71/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 2 Prismic No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.2$10/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 3 Sanity No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1$15/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 4 Cosmic iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 8.1$99/mo API types: restContent localization: YesRole permissions: advanced
- 5 CoreMedia CMS iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumented 7.9 API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: advanced
- 6 Payload CMS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 7 dotCMS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.8Free API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 8 Strapi No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7$35/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 9 Storyblok No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.7$7.56/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 10 Directus No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.6$499/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 11 Bloomreach Content iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumented 7.6 API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 12 Contentful No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5$300/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 13 DatoCMS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.5€149,199/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 14 Cloud CMS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.4Free API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 15 Squidex No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3 API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 16 Webiny No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.3$79/mo API types: graphqlContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 17 CrafterCMS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.2 API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 18 Enonic XP No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1Free API types: graphqlContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 19 Umbraco Heartcore iPhone + Android RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 7.1 API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 20 Gentics Mesh No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.7Free API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 21 Hygraph No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.5$199/mo API types: graphqlContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 22 Modyo Content No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumented 6.4 API types: restContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 23 Contentstack No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$299/mo API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
- 24 TinaCMS No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.4$24/mo
- 25 Kontent.ai No phone app RecognisedPhone appDocumentedFree plan 6.3 API types: bothContent localization: YesRole permissions: custom
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | API types | Content localization |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ButterCMS | 9.0 | Free plan | $71/mo | Yes | $71/mo | both | Yes |
| 2 | Prismic | 8.2 | Free plan | $10/mo | Yes | $10/mo | both | Yes |
| 3 | Sanity | 8.1 | Free plan | $15/mo | Yes | $15/mo | both | Yes |
| 4 | Cosmic | 8.1 | Free plan | $99/mo | Yes | $99/mo | rest | Yes |
| 5 | CoreMedia CMS | 7.9 | both | Yes | ||||
| 6 | Payload CMS | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | both | Yes | ||
| 7 | dotCMS | 7.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | both | Yes | |
| 8 | Strapi | 7.7 | $35/mo | Yes | $35/mo | both | Yes | |
| 9 | Storyblok | 7.7 | Free plan | $7.56/mo | Yes | $99/mo | both | Yes |
| 10 | Directus | 7.6 | Free plan | $499/mo | Yes | $499/mo | both | Yes |
| 11 | Bloomreach Content | 7.6 | both | Yes | ||||
| 12 | Contentful | 7.5 | Free plan | $300/mo | Yes | $300/mo | both | Yes |
| 13 | DatoCMS | 7.5 | Free plan | €149,199/mo | Yes | both | Yes | |
| 14 | Cloud CMS | 7.4 | Free plan | Yes | $220/mo | both | Yes | |
| 15 | Squidex | 7.3 | Yes | both | Yes | |||
| 16 | Webiny | 7.3 | Free plan | $79/mo | Yes | $79/mo | graphql | Yes |
| 17 | CrafterCMS | 7.2 | Yes | both | Yes | |||
| 18 | Enonic XP | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Yes | graphql | Yes | |
| 19 | Umbraco Heartcore | 7.1 | No | No | both | Yes | ||
| 20 | Gentics Mesh | 6.7 | Free plan | Free | both | Yes | ||
| 21 | Hygraph | 6.5 | Free plan | $199/mo | Yes | $199/mo | graphql | Yes |
| 22 | Modyo Content | 6.4 | rest | Yes | ||||
| 23 | Contentstack | 6.4 | Free plan | $299/mo | Yes | $299/mo | both | Yes |
| 24 | TinaCMS | 6.4 | Free plan | $24/mo | Yes | $24/mo | ||
| 25 | Kontent.ai | 6.3 | No | No | both | Yes |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
More in Websites & Online Business
All websites & online business listsEcommerce platforms 277Print-on-Demand Platforms 178Content Management Systems 165Website Accessibility Tools 133Community Platforms 126Blogging Platforms 124Cookie Consent Management Platforms 123AI Website Builders 95Small Business Website Builders 88Membership Site Platforms 86Multichannel Ecommerce Software 82Portfolio Website Builders 81