Headless CMS splits between API-first commercial (Contentful, Sanity, Storyblok), open-source (Strapi, Payload, Directus), and Git-based (Decap CMS, TinaCMS, Outstatic). The choice depends on content structure complexity, team authoring needs, and budget. Editor's pick Read our hand-curated buyer's guide: Best Headless CMS Platforms → In-depth analysis with named leaders, real pricing, and decision framework. The ranked list below shows the top 10 of the 49 tools we evaluated in this category. ## Top 3 headless CMS tools 1. [Sanity](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity) #1 Top pick Structure content as data for any applicationStarting priceFrom $15 /moCheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 20264.7 /5 on G2 · 924 ratings, Sep 2026Our takeBest overall[Read the review](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity) 2. [Umbraco](https://toolradar.com/tools/umbraco) #2 The flexible open-source .NET CMS for building and scaling digital solutions with speed, simplicity, and scale.PricingContact sales4.5 /5 across SourceForge and G2 · 1,031 ratings, Sep 2026[Read the review](https://toolradar.com/tools/umbraco) 3. [Hygraph](https://toolradar.com/tools/hygraph) #3 Federated content platform with GraphQLStarting priceFrom $199 /moCheapest paid plan, monthly, as of November 20264.5 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 745 ratings, Sep 2026[Read the review](https://toolradar.com/tools/hygraph) ## 10 top headless CMS tools compared | Tool | Starting price (Nov 2026) | Rating | Watch out for | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Sanity](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity) | Price: $15/mo | 4.7 out of 5, from 924 ratings on G2 G2 4.7 | Watch out: API request overages at $1/25K (non-CDN) can spike with server-side rendering patterns | | [Umbraco](https://toolradar.com/tools/umbraco) | Price: Contact sales | 4.5 out of 5, from 1,031 ratings across SourceForge and G2 G2 4.5 · SourceForge 5.0 | Watch out: Developer licensing for certain add-ons | | [Hygraph](https://toolradar.com/tools/hygraph) | Price: $199/mo | 4.5 out of 5, from 745 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.7 | Watch out: Overage fees for content entries/models | | [Storyblok](https://toolradar.com/tools/storyblok) | Price: $99/mo | 4.5 out of 5, from 592 ratings on G2 G2 4.5 | n/a | | [Contentful](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentful) | Price: $300/mo | 4.4 out of 5, from 409 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.5 | Watch out: The Free-to-Lite jump is €0 to €300/month with no intermediate tier. Many startups outgrow Free (25 content types, 2 locales, 2 environments) within months but struggle to justify €3,600/year for a CMS alone. | | [Kontent.ai](https://toolradar.com/tools/kontent-ai) | Price: Not published | 4.4 out of 5, from 263 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.3 · Capterra 4.5 | Watch out: Potential overage fees for API calls or content items. | | [Prismic](https://toolradar.com/tools/prismic) | Price: $10/mo | 4.3 out of 5, from 361 ratings on G2 G2 4.3 | n/a | | [Strapi](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi) | Price: $35/mo | 4.5 out of 5, from 272 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.6 | n/a | | [ButterCMS](https://toolradar.com/tools/buttercms) | Price: $71/mo | 4.6 out of 5, from 209 ratings across G2 and Capterra G2 4.6 · Capterra 4.7 | Watch out: Overage fees for exceeding limits | | [Agility CMS](https://toolradar.com/tools/agility-cms) | Price: $699/mo | 4.3 out of 5, from 259 ratings across TrustRadius, G2 and Capterra G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.4 | n/a | ## Headless CMS pricing compared | Tool | Cheapest paid plan | Free plan | Billing basis | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Sanity](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity) | Cheapest paid plan: Growth, $15/mo | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Per user, billed monthly | | [Umbraco](https://toolradar.com/tools/umbraco) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: No | Billing: Not published | | [Hygraph](https://toolradar.com/tools/hygraph) | Cheapest paid plan: Growth, $199/mo | Free plan: Yes (Hobby) | Billing: Billed monthly | | [Storyblok](https://toolradar.com/tools/storyblok) | Cheapest paid plan: Entry, $99/mo | Free plan: Yes (Community) | Billing: Billed monthly | | [Contentful](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentful) | Cheapest paid plan: Lite, €300/mo | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Billed monthly | | [Kontent.ai](https://toolradar.com/tools/kontent-ai) | Cheapest paid plan: Not published | Free plan: No | Billing: Not published | | [Prismic](https://toolradar.com/tools/prismic) | Cheapest paid plan: Starter, $10/mo (billed yearly) | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Billed yearly | | [Strapi](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi) | Cheapest paid plan: Starter, $35/mo | Free plan: No | Billing: Billed monthly | | [ButterCMS](https://toolradar.com/tools/buttercms) | Cheapest paid plan: Basic, $71/mo | Free plan: Yes | Billing: Billed monthly | | [Agility CMS](https://toolradar.com/tools/agility-cms) | Cheapest paid plan: Essentials, $699/mo | Free plan: No | Billing: Billed monthly | Toolradar pricing data, last verified November 2026. Prices are the cheapest paid plan converted to a monthly figure; "Not published" means the vendor publishes no price for a self-serve paid plan. 8 of 10 tools publish a paid price; median cheapest paid plan $85/mo. Toolradar data ## The headless CMS tools market in numbers **Toolradar data:** Toolradar tracks 49 headless CMS tools as of November 2, 2026. 80% of the headless CMS tools on Toolradar are free, freemium or open source. Toolradar re-checked the pricing of 84% of headless CMS tools in the last 90 days. Toolradar aggregates 6,292 public user reviews (G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and other review sites) across 34 rated headless CMS tools. The most cross-shopped headless CMS tool is Strapi, listed as an alternative to 44 other tools on Toolradar. The most compared headless CMS tool on Toolradar over the last 90 days is Strapi, with 212 side-by-side comparisons. Computed from the Toolradar catalog and on-site activity. - 49 headless CMS tools tracked - 80% are free, freemium or open source - 84% of prices re-checked in the last 90 days - 6,292 public user reviews aggregated across 34 rated tools | Rank | Tool | Listed as an alternative to | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Strapi](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi) | 44 tools | | 2 | [Contentful](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentful) | 42 tools | | 3 | [Payload](https://toolradar.com/tools/payload) | 32 tools | | Rank | Tool | Comparisons | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [Strapi](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi) | 212 | | 2 | [Payload](https://toolradar.com/tools/payload) | 206 | | 3 | [Contentful](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentful) | 195 | Source and method: [live headless CMS tools statistics](https://toolradar.com/statistics/headless-cms) ## Headless CMS leaderboards from Toolradar data Toolradar ranks Headless CMS tools on one measure at a time, only where at least 8 tools have data. As of Nov 2026. CSV download of these Headless CMS leaderboards, licensed CC BY 4.0 ### Lowest entry price, plans with no stated unit Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. Counted among 17 tools with no stated price unit, verified price. | # | Tool | Entry plan | | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [CloudCannon](https://toolradar.com/tools/cloudcannon) | $10/mo, billed monthly | | 1 | [Prismic](https://toolradar.com/tools/prismic) | $10/mo, billed yearly | | 3 | [Squidex](https://toolradar.com/tools/squidex) | $20.54/mo, billed monthly | | 4 | [Payload](https://toolradar.com/tools/payload) | $35/mo, billed monthly | | 5 | [Caisy](https://toolradar.com/tools/caisy) | $49/mo, billed monthly | A position exists only when at least 8 tools have data for that metric. 17 of 49 Headless CMS tools have a verified price; the others publish none we could read (often "contact sales"). Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source. [How we compute this](https://toolradar.com/how-we-rate#toolradar-data). Cite this: Toolradar, “Headless CMS leaderboards”, Nov 2026. Data licensed CC BY 4.0. [All Headless CMS statistics](https://toolradar.com/statistics/headless-cms). ## How the top headless CMS tools compare 6 of the 10 headless CMS tools listed here have a free plan (Sanity, Hygraph, Storyblok, Contentful, Prismic, ButterCMS); the other 4 (Umbraco, Kontent.ai, Strapi, Agility CMS) are paid only. Teams on a budget should start with Sanity, our free pick. Rankings are computed from G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions. [Editorial policy](https://toolradar.com/editorial-policy) ## Top headless CMS tools Order: Toolradar ranking score, which is the public review volume times the average rating on G2, Capterra, Trustpilot and other review sites, plus media mentions (recent ones count more). Paid placements are labelled and never change the score. [How we rank](https://toolradar.com/how-we-rate). ### Sanity Free plan Structure content as data for any application 4.7 /5 on G2 · 924 ratings, Sep 2026 Sanity is a headless CMS known for its real-time collaboration, flexible content modeling, and developer-friendly approach. Unlike traditional CMSs, Sanity treats content as structured data that can be used anywhere. The open-source Sanity Studio provides a customizable editing experience, while the hosted content lake handles storage and delivery. Sanity is popular among developers building modern web applications and agencies serving multiple clients with different content needs. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity) [Visit website](https://www.sanity.io) [Sanity alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/sanity) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Sanity? Rate it - Pro: Excellent developer experience - Pro: Real-time collaboration - Pro: Highly flexible schema - Con: GROQ learning curve - Con: Can get expensive at scale Good value Sanity Free with 20 seats is the most generous free CMS tier in the market, Contentful and Hygraph cap at 5-10. Watch out API request overages at $1/25K (non-CDN) can spike with server-side rendering patterns ### Umbraco Paid The flexible open-source .NET CMS for building and scaling digital solutions with speed, simplicity, and scale. 4.5 /5 across SourceForge and G2 · 1,031 ratings, Sep 2026 Umbraco is a highly flexible, open-source content management system (CMS) built on the modern Microsoft .NET stack. It's designed to solve content challenges for enterprises and content teams by providing a secure, cloud-ready, and scalable platform without vendor lock-in. Umbraco empowers marketers and content creators with intuitive tools for content authoring, rich media management, and scheduled publishing, while offering developers unparalleled freedom through its customizable architecture, API-driven flexibility, and support for both traditional and headless CMS approaches. Beyond its core CMS capabilities, Umbraco offers Umbraco Compose, a data orchestration layer that streamlines data from various sources (CMS, PIM, CRM, ERP, DAM) into a single, headless GraphQL API output. This allows for rapid integration and delivery of data, making it ideal for complex tech stacks and AI-readiness. Umbraco aims to provide a robust foundation for digital experiences, enabling businesses to adapt fast, integrate freely, and scale their digital presence effectively. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/umbraco) [Visit website](https://umbraco.com) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Umbraco? Rate it - Pro: Highly flexible and customizable for specific project requirements. - Pro: User-friendly interface for content editors, requiring minimal training. - Pro: Open-source nature provides transparency and avoids vendor lock-in. - Con: Pricing for Umbraco Compose can be significant for larger enterprises. - Con: Requires .NET development knowledge for full customization. Watch out Developer licensing for certain add-ons ### Hygraph Free plan Federated content platform with GraphQL 4.5 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 745 ratings, Sep 2026 Hygraph (formerly GraphCMS) is a headless CMS that pioneered GraphQL-first content APIs. The platform focuses on content federation - connecting and unifying content from multiple sources. Hygraph is known for its powerful GraphQL API, content localization, and flexible content modeling. The platform is popular among teams building complex content architectures that need to combine content from different systems into a unified API. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/hygraph) [Visit website](https://hygraph.com) [Hygraph alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/hygraph) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Hygraph? Rate it - Pro: Best-in-class GraphQL - Pro: Content federation unique - Pro: Strong localization - Con: GraphQL-only (no REST) - Con: Smaller ecosystem Fair value The Hobby tier is generous for personal projects, but the jump to Professional is significant. Watch out Overage fees for content entries/models ### Storyblok Free plan Headless CMS with visual editor 4.5 /5 on G2 · 592 ratings, Sep 2026 Storyblok is a headless CMS that combines API-first architecture with a visual editor for content creators. The visual editor shows a real-time preview of content on the actual website, bridging the gap between headless flexibility and WYSIWYG simplicity. Storyblok is popular for marketing websites, landing pages, and content-heavy applications where non-technical users need to see their changes immediately. The platform supports components, localization, and powerful content scheduling. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/storyblok) [Visit website](https://storyblok.com) [Storyblok alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/storyblok) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Storyblok? Rate it - Pro: Best visual editing experience - Pro: Real-time preview on site - Pro: Great for marketing teams - Con: Can be expensive - Con: Learning curve for setup Good value Storyblok's pricing is fair, offering a generous free tier for personal use. ### Contentful Free plan Manage and deliver digital content across all channels via APIs 4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 409 ratings, Sep 2026 Contentful is a composable content platform that enables enterprises to create, manage, and deliver digital content across websites, apps, and devices via APIs. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentful) [Visit website](https://www.contentful.com) [Contentful alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/contentful) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Contentful? Rate it - Pro: Flexible content model - Pro: Great API - Pro: Strong ecosystem - Con: Can be expensive - Con: Learning curve Fair value Contentful is the market-leading headless CMS, and its pricing reflects that position. Watch out The Free-to-Lite jump is €0 to €300/month with no intermediate tier. Many startups outgrow Free (25 content types, 2 locales, 2 environments) within months but struggle to justify €3,600/year for a CMS alone. ### Kontent.ai Paid The headless CMS built for speed, control, and the future of content with AI-powered automation. 4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 263 ratings, Sep 2026 Kontent.ai is a headless Content Management System (CMS) designed to accelerate content publishing, provide developers with flexibility, and offer complete control over content at scale. It leverages AI agents for tasks like audits, governance, and localization, freeing up content teams to focus on creativity and strategic work. This approach, termed "Agentic CMS," aims to redefine content operations by automating time-consuming processes. The platform empowers business users with brand control without slowing down, while developers benefit from open APIs and a composable stack. Leaders can optimize performance by consolidating disparate tools into one secure hub. Kontent.ai enables faster launches, experimentation, and instant publishing to various channels, all while maintaining governance and security. It's built for organizations looking to streamline content creation, manage multiple websites, and deliver consistent experiences across all channels and devices, including support for localization and SEO. Kontent.ai is ideal for content teams, developers, and business leaders in organizations that need to manage large volumes of content, publish quickly, and maintain brand consistency across multiple platforms and languages. It's particularly beneficial for companies looking to reduce operational costs through consolidation and automation, and those requiring robust security and compliance standards. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/kontent-ai) [Visit website](https://kontent.ai) [Kontent.ai alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/kontent-ai) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Kontent.ai? Rate it - Pro: Significantly faster content creation and publishing - Pro: Increased web traffic and improved ROI reported by users - Pro: Flexibility for developers with open APIs and composable architecture - Con: Pricing is not transparently listed and requires a custom quote - Con: May have a learning curve for teams transitioning to a headless CMS model Fair value However, headless CMS platforms, especially those with AI automation like Kontent.ai, typically cater to enterprise-level clients and can be quite expensive. Watch out Potential overage fees for API calls or content items. ### Prismic Free plan Empower marketers, delight developers with reusable content 4.3 /5 on G2 · 361 ratings, Sep 2026 Prismic is a headless CMS that focuses on giving marketers independence while keeping developers happy. The platform offers Slice Machine, a component-based approach where developers build reusable content components (slices) that marketers can assemble into pages. This balance makes Prismic popular for marketing sites and corporate websites. Prismic offers strong preview capabilities, scheduling, and a generous free tier for small projects. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/prismic) [Visit website](https://prismic.io) [Prismic alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/prismic) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Prismic? Rate it - Pro: Good marketer/developer balance - Pro: Generous free tier - Pro: Slice Machine is innovative - Con: Less flexible than Sanity - Con: Slice Machine learning curve Good value Prismic's pricing is very generous, especially with its robust free tier which is excellent for personal projects and small businesses. ### Strapi Paid Build content APIs fast with a customizable, self-hosted headless CMS 4.5 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 272 ratings, Sep 2026 Strapi is the leading open-source headless CMS, enabling developers to build content APIs quickly using a customizable admin panel. Self-hosted by default, Strapi gives teams full control over their content infrastructure. The platform supports REST and GraphQL APIs, custom content types, role-based access control, and a plugin ecosystem. Strapi is popular among developers who want CMS flexibility without vendor lock-in, and it's often used for blogs, e-commerce, and enterprise content applications. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi) [Visit website](https://strapi.io) [Strapi alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/strapi) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Strapi? Rate it - Pro: Free and open source - Pro: Full data ownership - Pro: Highly customizable - Con: Self-hosting complexity - Con: Requires developer setup Great value Strapi's pricing is very generous, offering a full-featured Community (Self-hosted) tier for free. ### ButterCMS Free plan The headless CMS that fuels fast-moving teams, enabling developers to build their way and marketers to publish in... 4.6 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 209 ratings, Sep 2026 ButterCMS is an API-first headless Content Management System designed to help high-growth organizations build, launch, and scale high-performance websites, e-commerce sites, and mobile apps. It separates content management from content display, providing developers with the flexibility to use any tech stack (React, Vue, Next.js, etc.) while empowering marketers to create, update, and optimize content across various channels without developer intervention. The platform offers a comprehensive suite of features for content modeling, creation, and delivery, including modular content blocks, custom page types, a built-in blog engine, and robust SEO tools. It also supports multi-site and multi-language content management, collaborative workflows with role-based access and content approvals, and media asset management. With AI and automation capabilities for content creation, translation, and migration, ButterCMS aims to boost efficiency and accelerate content production for marketing and e-commerce teams. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/buttercms) [Visit website](https://buttercms.com) [ButterCMS alternatives →](https://toolradar.com/alternatives/buttercms) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used ButterCMS? Rate it - Pro: Empowers marketers to publish and update content independently, reducing dev bottlenecks. - Pro: Offers developers flexibility to use any modern tech stack with an API-first approach. - Pro: Supports multi-site and multi-language content management for global scalability. - Con: No explicit free tier mentioned, only a "Start for Free" button which likely refers to a trial. - Con: Requires technical understanding for initial setup and integration due to its headless nature. Good value ButterCMS offers a fair pricing structure, especially with its generous Free tier and a clear progression of features. Watch out Overage fees for exceeding limits 10 ### Agility CMS Paid Empower teams to launch digital experiences faster with intuitive tools and flexible integrations. 4.3 /5 across TrustRadius, G2 and Capterra · 259 ratings, Sep 2026 Agility CMS is an enterprise-grade Composable Headless CMS designed to provide total flexibility for building, editing, publishing, and scaling digital experiences. It offers a decoupled architecture, allowing content editors to work independently of developers, accelerating content delivery across various channels. This platform goes beyond traditional headless CMS by integrating robust page management capabilities, enabling users to easily build and manage sitemaps and layouts alongside individual content pieces. It's built for enterprises requiring high security, guaranteed uptime, and personalized support, making it suitable for managing multiple websites, omnichannel experiences, and e-commerce platforms. Agility CMS is ideal for organizations seeking a scalable, secure, and future-proof content management solution that supports complex content structures, Jamstack architectures, and seamless integration with other best-of-breed tools. [View details](https://toolradar.com/tools/agility-cms) [Visit website](https://agilitycms.com) Thanks, your review is with our moderators.Used Agility CMS? Rate it - Pro: Decouples content from code, allowing faster launches and independent team work. - Pro: Provides comprehensive page management alongside headless content, offering more control than typical headless CMS. - Pro: Offers enterprise-grade security, guaranteed uptime, and personalized support. - Con: The term "Headless CMS" is used ambiguously, sometimes referring to the product name and sometimes to the general concept, which could be confusing. Good value Agility CMS's pricing is on the higher end compared to some market alternatives, especially for smaller teams. ## Why other headless CMS tools didn't make our top 10 We evaluated 49 tools in this category and these 20 ranked 11 through 30. They're solid options that fell short on one or two axes (review depth, pricing transparency, feature parity), but worth a look if the leaders don't fit your stack or budget. [MagnoliaComposable DXP and Headless CMS for global enterprises to deliver exceptional digital experiences.](https://toolradar.com/tools/magnolia)[Prepr CMSThe headless CMS for B2B lead-gen websites with built-in personalization and A/B testing.](https://toolradar.com/tools/prepr-cms)[Optimizely CMSEmpower developers and marketers to create, launch, and scale digital experiences with a headless CMS.](https://toolradar.com/tools/optimizely-cms)[Craft CMSEmpower your creative process with a flexible and customizable content management system.](https://toolradar.com/tools/craft-cms)[PayloadHeadless CMS and application framework](https://toolradar.com/tools/payload)[WebinyComposable open-source content platform for enterprises, hosted within your AWS account.](https://toolradar.com/tools/webiny)[FlotiqAPI-first headless CMS for developers and content editors to create, collaborate, and publish content.](https://toolradar.com/tools/flotiq)[DirectusOpen-source headless CMS and data platform](https://toolradar.com/tools/directus)[DatoCMSHeadless CMS for modern web projects](https://toolradar.com/tools/datocms)[CloudCannonA Git-based CMS built for speed, security, and zero headaches, scaling with your website needs.](https://toolradar.com/tools/cloudcannon)[Visitor profiles and timeline by CroctA headless CMS for optimizing user experiences through personalization and A/B testing.](https://toolradar.com/tools/visitor-profiles-and-timeline-by-croct)[WagtailThe leading open-source Python CMS for content management at enterprise scale.](https://toolradar.com/tools/wagtail)[EnonicHeadless flexibility and editorial freedom for building secure, scalable, and engaging digital experiences.](https://toolradar.com/tools/enonic)[CockpitBuild anything, your way, with a self-hosted, API-first headless content platform.](https://toolradar.com/tools/cockpit)[Builder.ioVisual headless CMS and page builder](https://toolradar.com/tools/builder-io)[StatamicThe award-winning CMS built on Laravel, designed for developers and content teams.](https://toolradar.com/tools/statamic)[PlasmicVisual page building for React components](https://toolradar.com/tools/plasmic)[KeystoneJSHeadless CMS and GraphQL API framework](https://toolradar.com/tools/keystonejs)[MakeswiftEmpower marketers with visual freedom and developers with full control for modern frontends.](https://toolradar.com/tools/makeswift)[OutstaticA static site CMS for Next.js with AI completion and no database.](https://toolradar.com/tools/outstatic) ## Popular headless CMS comparisons See how the leading headless CMS tools stack up head-to-head. - [Sanity vs Contentful](https://toolradar.com/compare/contentful-vs-sanity) - [Umbraco vs Strapi](https://toolradar.com/compare/strapi-vs-umbraco) - [Umbraco vs Payload](https://toolradar.com/compare/payload-vs-umbraco) - [Umbraco vs DatoCMS](https://toolradar.com/compare/datocms-vs-umbraco) - [Umbraco vs Builder.io](https://toolradar.com/compare/builder-io-vs-umbraco) - [Hygraph vs Contentful](https://toolradar.com/compare/contentful-vs-hygraph) - [Hygraph vs Sanity](https://toolradar.com/compare/hygraph-vs-sanity) - [Hygraph vs Strapi](https://toolradar.com/compare/hygraph-vs-strapi) - [Hygraph vs Prismic](https://toolradar.com/compare/hygraph-vs-prismic) - [Hygraph vs Kontent.ai](https://toolradar.com/compare/hygraph-vs-kontent-ai) - [Hygraph vs Storyblok](https://toolradar.com/compare/hygraph-vs-storyblok) - [Storyblok vs Contentful](https://toolradar.com/compare/contentful-vs-storyblok) Compare all 49 headless CMS tools side by side ## Pricing breakdowns for headless CMS tools Real plans and the hidden costs for each tool. - [Sanity pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity/pricing) - [Umbraco pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/umbraco/pricing) - [Hygraph pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/hygraph/pricing) - [Storyblok pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/storyblok/pricing) - [Contentful pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentful/pricing) - [Kontent.ai pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/kontent-ai/pricing) - [Prismic pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/prismic/pricing) - [Strapi pricing](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi/pricing) ## Browse all headless CMS tools 49 tools Pricing - [100% free](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?pricing=free#browse) - [Free plan](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?pricing=freemium#browse) - [Paid](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?pricing=paid#browse) Platform - [Web](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=Web#browse) - [iOS](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=iOS#browse) - [Android](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=Android#browse) - [Windows](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=Windows#browse) - [macOS](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=macOS#browse) - [Linux](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=Linux#browse) - [Chrome](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?os=Chrome#browse) Industry - [E-commerce 4](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=ecommerce#browse) - [Media & Entertainment 3](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=media#browse) - [Retail 3](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=retail#browse) - [Education 2](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=education#browse) - [Finance & Banking 2](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=finance#browse) - [Government 2](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=government#browse) - [SaaS & Technology 2](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=saas#browse) - [Hospitality & Travel 1](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=hospitality#browse) - [Manufacturing 1](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=manufacturing#browse) - [Marketing & Advertising 1](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms?industry=marketing#browse) [CosmicHeadless CMS with AI to build and deploy applications 10x faster.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/cosmic)[CaisyThe fastest, enterprise-grade headless content management system for easy, scalable, and powerful content delivery.Free plan · Web, Android, iOS](https://toolradar.com/tools/caisy)[ContentrainA headless CMS combining Git and Serverless for optimized content management.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/contentrain)[React BricksVisual headless CMS for React, Next.js, and Remix, empowering developers and content editors.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/react-bricks)[TinaCMSVisual editing for static sites, committed to GitFree plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/tinacms)[ZestyBuild and manage digital experiences with a composable, drag-and-drop, AI-assisted headless CMS.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/zesty)[Front MatterManage static site content and Markdown files directly within your code editor.100% free · Web, Windows, macOS, Linux](https://toolradar.com/tools/front-matter)[ForestryThe Forestry.io team is now focused on TinaCMS, a Git-backed headless CMS for developers.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/forestry)[SiteleafA friendly CMS for static sites, empowering content creators and developers alike.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/siteleaf)[SquidexAn OpenSource Headless CMS with powerful APIs and flexible content management.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/squidex)[Crafter CMSOpen-source, Java-based headless CMS for high-performance, scalable digital experiences.100% free · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/crafter-cms)[Visual CMSVisually build and manage content for any digital experience.Free plan](https://toolradar.com/tools/visual-cms)[BaseBuddyTransform your Supabase or Postgres database into a WordPress-like content editor.100% free · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/basebuddy)[Netlify CMSOpen-source content management for your Git workflow with any static site generator.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/netlify-cms)[Strapi MCPAI-powered content management for your Strapi projectFree plan](https://toolradar.com/tools/strapi-mcp)[Pages CMSThe no-hassle CMS for static site generators, running straight on top of GitHub.100% free · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/pages-cms)[Sanity MCPContent management for AI agents via chat and coding assistantsFree plan](https://toolradar.com/tools/sanity-mcp)[Decap CMSOpen-source content management for your Git workflow, designed for static sites and Jamstack projects.Free plan · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/decap-cms)[UniformThe composable DXP that unifies content, orchestration, personalization, and AI for exceptional digital experiences.Paid · Web](https://toolradar.com/tools/uniform) Showing the top 19 of 49. Filter to narrow down. ## How to choose headless CMS software 1. Match CMS to content complexityMarketing pages, blogs: Sanity, Storyblok, or Decap CMS suffice. Multi-language, complex content models, multi-channel publishing: Contentful, Sanity, Strapi. Code-defined schemas: Payload, Sanity. Each has different opinions on content modeling. 2. Audit editor experienceMarketers and content editors must enjoy using the CMS. Sanity Studio and Storyblok's visual editor are strong; some headless CMSes (Strapi) feel more dev-oriented. Demo with a real editor before committing. 3. Plan for self-hosted vs SaaSSelf-hosted (Strapi, Payload, Directus): full control, ops burden. SaaS (Contentful, Sanity): zero ops, vendor lock-in, can get expensive at scale. Match to ops capacity. ## Honorable mentions Tools that didn't crack the headline list but deserve a look depending on what you optimize for. - [WordPress](https://toolradar.com/tools/wordpress) Best legacy alternativeWordPress with WPGraphQL can serve as headless CMS. For teams already on WordPress, the migration cost to a true headless CMS often isn't worth it. ## Best Headless CMS for - [Headless CMS for Startups](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms/for/startups) - [Headless CMS for Small Businesses](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms/for/small-businesses) - [Headless CMS for Freelancers](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms/for/freelancers) - [Headless CMS for Enterprises](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms/for/enterprises) - [Headless CMS for Solopreneurs](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms/for/solopreneurs) - [Headless CMS for Nonprofits](https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms/for/nonprofits) ## How we ranked these headless CMS tools We rank by real-world signal: G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions (volume and recency). Pricing is re-checked and the ranking refreshed monthly. Tools evaluated49 With free plan80% Last updatedNovember 2026 Toolradar Research ## The data behind headless CMS tools First-party analyses built from our full catalog, methodology published. - [Which software categories are actually free](https://toolradar.com/reports/free-software-report-2026) - [What B2B software really costs per month](https://toolradar.com/reports/saas-price-points-2026) - [The most crowded software markets](https://toolradar.com/reports/most-crowded-software-markets-2026) All Toolradar research Ask your AI assistant Toolradar works inside Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and VS Code. Every price comes with the date it was read on the vendor's page. No API key needed. “What is the best headless CMS tool for a 5-person team under $50 a month? Give me a short list with prices.” [Add to Cursor](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=toolradar&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3Rvb2xyYWRhci5jb20vYXBpL21jcCJ9)[Add to VS Code](vscode:mcp/install?%7B%22name%22%3A%22toolradar%22%2C%22url%22%3A%22https%3A%2F%2Ftoolradar.com%2Fapi%2Fmcp%22%7D)[Claude, ChatGPT and others](https://toolradar.com/for-agents?src=category) claude mcp add --transport http toolradar https://toolradar.com/api/mcp ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the best headless CMS tool in 2026? Based on our analysis of 49 headless CMS tools, Sanity is our overall headless CMS pick. The next tools on the list are Umbraco, Hygraph, Storyblok. Rankings use G2/Capterra review volume and rating, and media mentions. ### What are the top 3 headless CMS tools? The top 3 headless CMS tools in 2026, ranked by Toolradar, are: 1) Sanity, Structure content as data for any application. 2) Umbraco, The flexible open-source .NET CMS for building and scaling digital solutions with speed, simplicity, and scale. 3) Hygraph, Federated content platform with GraphQL. ### Are there free headless CMS tools? Yes. Sanity is our free headless CMS pick (free plan alongside paid plans). 6 of the 10 tools on this page have a free plan. Among the 49 headless CMS tools we rank, 39 have a free plan. ### How do I choose the right headless CMS tool? Start by defining your team size, budget, and must-have features. Sanity is our overall headless CMS pick. Compare all 49 options side by side on Toolradar. Cite this page: Toolradar, "Best Headless CMS Tools in 2026", updated November 2026, https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms [Headless CMS statistics catalog size, ratings and pricing data, updated monthly](https://toolradar.com/statistics/headless-cms) For headless CMS vendors ## Selling a headless CMS product? Reach 930K+ buyers through Toolradar & Dupple. Newsletter ads and directory listings: the same surfaces buyers use to shortlist. Maximum 3 sponsors per issue, native layout, no ad design needed. Self-serve advertising Book a Spotlight, Primary Ad, or Native Advertorial yourself. Live in 1-2 weeks. See ad pricing → Full-service: let us run it Our agency owns the media + executes the campaigns. Demand, SEO, content, end-to-end. How the agency works → Some offers on this page may be paid placements or contain affiliate links. --- Source: https://toolradar.com/best/headless-cms