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Best CMS for web developers in 2024.

When it comes to selecting a content management system, a traditional CMS is not the only game in town. This page will help you discover the best CMSs for developers in 2024.

What do developers need to build engaging digital experiences?

Let’s face it, working with traditional CMSs can be frustrating. Developers are dependent on the layout templates that let them build only standard digital experiences, while redesigning the website is complicated.

You might have come across another alternative to a headless CMS—a website builder. This software enables its users to build websites without any coding knowledge. 

However, developers are seeking other options which will enable them to work at scale, fast, and with ease. A headless CMS lets developers build their websites and applications on the fly, using any technologies they want.

We’ve compiled a list of the most popular headless CMSs for website development that your company can benefit from. Let’s find out more!

A Headless CMS enables you to:

  • Choose your content models, services, and technology stack to create engaging online experiences.
  • Deliver best-of-breed content.
  • Reuse content across multiple channels, websites, and devices.
  • Marketers can focus on content while developers focus on building digital experiences.
  • Work with modern technologies—Software-as-a-Service, microservices, and static site generators.


Pre-Rendered, Server-Rendered, or Hybrid: Which Should I Use?

7 best headless CMSs for developers

Kontent.ai

Kontent.ai enables content managers to create, manage, and publish websites without having to know about HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Kontent.ai delivers an intuitive user interface for non-technical users, yet still offers advanced capabilities for developers. It frees them from having to worry about the core technologies associated with content management systems. They can focus solely on creating engaging functionality for their users instead of bogging them down with complex implementation details.

Contentful 

Contentful allows you to manage content in the cloud and deliver it to all channels with powerful APIs. This headless CMS platform is great for developers who want to use open-source software to power their web apps but avoid the unpredictability of maintaining their own server. Contentful enables you to organize your content by topic and make it easier for visitors to find whatever it is they’re looking for. It also allows visitors to submit comments on your articles, which makes social media integration easy!

Contentstack

Contentstack is an open-source, headless CMS solution. It’s ideal for teams who need to build their own custom front-end. It empowers developers to manage websites, mobile applications, and IoT devices. Contentstack comes with an intuitive UI that provides a WYSIWYG editor, drag & drop uploads, image resizing, templates, and more. It also supports templates based on Blade templates.

Magnolia 

Magnolia is a Switzerland-based content management system that helps enterprises build their websites and unify content across multiple channels and devices. Apart from that, Magnolia enables your developers to integrate other front-end frameworks— like Vue, React, or Angular—with the backend.

Agility CMS 

Agility CMS is flexible enough to meet the needs of large enterprise companies while also being simple enough for anyone in your organization to use. This content platform gives developers all of the flexibility they need to get things done faster. Agility CMS includes a lightweight, server-side JavaScript framework that allows users to add and remove content from the browser without refreshing the page. You can use it in single-page applications where user actions such as adding and removing items from a list are updated in real-time.

Butter CMS 

Butter CMS is an open-source headless CMS with a robust API that makes it easy to build fully customized content applications. This content management solution makes it easy to create high-performing websites, apps, and emails that are consistently functional and fast.

Strapi 

With Strapi you can seamlessly create and distribute your content to any channel. This self-hosted content management system allows you to build powerful API-first web applications quickly. Strapi will enable developers to create an API from a blank canvas and manage its content through the same user-friendly interface they use for the front-end.

3 things to consider when choosing a headless CMS for developers

If you want to build your website using a headless CMS solution, here are some key points to consider before you take the plunge.

  • An easy-to-use API and documentation

If multiple developers create and maintain your site, it’s crucial to choose a headless CMS solution with an easy-to-use API and documentation. This will make it easier for them to learn how to use and maintain your site and allow them to work on it independently if needed.

  • Personalization capabilities

When choosing a headless CMS, don’t forget to ask yourself also these questions: Does the headless CMS allow you to create unique user experiences? Can you personalize the content on a per-user level? With the right platform, you will deliver dynamic and personalized experiences with ease.

  • Built-in Analytics

Built-in analytics will give you the ability to track your site’s performance and measure how well your content marketing is doing. The best headless CMS solutions will also allow you to integrate with Google Analytics, giving you access to detailed information about visitor behavior on your website.

Summary 

Web developers need the right tool to build engaging digital experiences fast and without frustrations. With a headless CMS, you can choose any front-end tech you like, you’re not bound to work with templates, and it’s way easier to update the website. Our list with the best headless CMSs out there can help you get the picture and decide which solution would be best for you.

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