Top Free Headless CMS to Power Your Website

Flexible and scalable solutions without cost

Explore the top free headless CMS platforms to accelerate your digital projects, integrate with modern frameworks, and scale effortlessly.

101 Free Headless CMS systems

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Strapi

68886 stars
8724 forks
970 issues

Strapi is the leading open-source headless CMS. It's 100% Javascript, fully customizable, support TypeScript and developer-first. It saves API development time through a beautiful admin panel anyone can use.

API Driven Open Source Self Hosted +9

Ghost

50059 stars
10675 forks
51 issues

A fiercely independent platform for professional publishers. Headless Node.js REST API for developers, beautiful Ember.js admin client for editors. Used by Apple, NASA, Sky News, OpenAI & many more.

API Driven Open Source Self Hosted +4

Payload

36650 stars
2733 forks
381 issues

Payload is a free and open-source headless CMS aimed sharply at providing the best, developer-first experience possible to build out APIs and admin UI.

API Driven Open Source Self Hosted +3

In the fast-moving digital landscape, businesses and developers need tools that provide flexibility, scalability, and speed. Traditional CMS platforms like WordPress often limit projects with monolithic architectures and complex maintenance. This is where headless CMS solutions shine. They decouple content management from front-end delivery, giving developers the freedom to deliver content seamlessly across websites, apps, and IoT devices.

The best part? Many powerful headless CMS platforms are available for free, making them ideal for startups, SMBs, and enterprise experiments. Below, we’ll explore the top options and highlight their strengths to help you choose the right fit.

Why Choose a Free Headless CMS?

Publisher
Dmytro Antonyuk 2025-09-05
  • Cost efficiency – perfect for small teams and startups.
  • Flexibility – integrate with any front-end (React, Next.js, Vue, mobile apps).
  • Scalability – APIs allow content distribution at any scale.
  • Developer-first approach – modern tech stack, faster deployments.
  • Community support – active ecosystems ensure continuous growth and plugins.

Top Free Headless CMS Platforms

1. Strapi

One of the most popular open-source headless CMS options, Strapi is built with Node.js and offers a developer-friendly experience.

  • Pros: Full customization, self-hosted control, REST/GraphQL APIs, large plugin ecosystem.
  • Best for: Teams needing flexibility and control over hosting and architecture.

2. Sanity

Sanity stands out with its real-time collaboration and customizable content studio. While its free tier has limits, it’s robust enough for many projects.

  • Pros: Flexible schema, live collaboration, powerful APIs, strong documentation.
  • Best for: Content-heavy projects where teams need structured workflows.

3. Contentful (Community Plan)

As one of the early leaders in the headless CMS space, Contentful provides a reliable cloud-hosted solution. Its free community plan is suitable for small websites.

  • Pros: Cloud-native, stable infrastructure, strong enterprise adoption.
  • Best for: Startups or businesses planning future scalability with enterprise-grade tools.

4. Netlify CMS

An open-source project maintained by the Netlify team, Netlify CMS integrates seamlessly with Git-based workflows.

  • Pros: Simple setup, Git-based version control, strong JAMstack integration.
  • Best for: Static site projects and developers who love Git workflows.

5. Directus

Directus transforms any SQL database into a headless CMS and data API. It’s powerful, especially for projects that already rely on relational databases.

  • Pros: Database-first approach, open-source, intuitive dashboard.
  • Best for: Teams that need granular database control with a user-friendly interface.

Choosing the Right CMS

When selecting a free headless CMS, consider:

  • Technical expertise: Does your team prefer self-hosted or cloud-based solutions?
  • Scalability needs: Will your content grow significantly in volume or complexity?
  • Integration requirements: Do you need APIs, GraphQL, or Git-based workflows?
  • Collaboration: Will multiple editors or marketers use the platform daily?

Final Thoughts

Free headless CMS platforms have democratized content management by making enterprise-grade tools accessible to everyone. Whether you’re a developer building modern web apps, a startup launching an MVP, or a marketing team scaling digital presence, these platforms can provide the foundation you need.

At Alpina Tech, we help businesses integrate and scale with headless CMS solutions like Strapi, Sanity, and Contentful. If you’re ready to upgrade your content strategy, we can guide you in choosing and implementing the right system tailored to your needs.

Top Free Headless CMS to Power Your Website

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Headless CMS HTML CSS +5

Alpina tech did a good job during the discovery phase of our project

4.9 / 5
Headless CMS CMS Strapi +9

I had the opportunity to work with Alpina Tech and the experience was very positive. He successfully achieved the goals set, demonstrating talent and commitment at every stage of the work. Moreover, he was always attentive to my instructions and consistently available, which greatly facilitated communication and the development of the project. I highly recommend his work without hesitation.

5.0 / 5
Headless CMS CMS React.js +12

Working with Alpina Tech on a headless CMS project built with Strapi, Node.js, and Next.js was a great experience. His deep understanding of modern frontend frameworks, API development, and server-side rendering (SSR) ensured a smooth and efficient development process. Alpina Tech showcased excellent React.js and Next.js skills, implementing dynamic UI components with optimal performance and seamless API integrations. His expertise in RESTful and GraphQL APIs, combined with a solid grasp of backend development in Node.js, made the project highly scalable and maintainable. Additionally, his proficiency in frontend optimization, component-based architecture, and responsive design ensured that the final product was both fast and user-friendly. I highly recommend Alpina Tech to anyone looking for a skilled full-stack developer who excels in headless CMS solutions, Next.js development, and API-driven web applications.

5.0 / 5
Headless CMS CMS JAMstack +10

I hired Alpina Tech to build a custom Hugo website. He was a pleasure to work with. He took the time to understand exactly what I wanted at the beginning of the project, and he then proposed a much better way of achieving that. He communicated regularly, provided clear and timely updates, offered ongoing support with my website, and took a 'customer first' approach. Overall, I'm really happy with the website and I would definitely work with Alpina Tech again if I need more web development in the future.

5.0 / 5
Headless CMS CMS Next.js +7

Alpina Tech was incredibly helpful and a pleasure to work with! He not only assisted with improving the SEO of my startup but also fixed a challenging Sanity bug with great patience and professionalism. His expertise and attention to detail were invaluable, and he did an excellent job overall. Highly recommended!

4.9 / 5
Next.js React JavaScript +5

Alpina Tech is not only a very talented dev, but he's a fantastic partner who has a rich business acumen and is quick to complete anything you throw at him. He knocked out work in a single day that I wasn't expecting for a week. Will definitely work with him again.

5.0 / 5
React Native React Node.js +7

Alpina Tech always responded promptly and got a lot done in the limited environment we had. If things weren’t clear, he’d message and make sure he has the scope right. I highly recommend him for full stack development.

5.0 / 5
UX/UI Design Figma Landing Pages +4

I had the opportunity to work with Alpina Tech on the design of several landing pages and a UI kit, and I couldn’t be happier with the results. He managed to deliver high-quality designs in a very short time. The landing pages were beautifully crafted, and the UI kit was exactly what we needed to streamline the project. On top of that, he generously created ad banners at no extra cost, which was a great bonus. Throughout the entire process, communication was smooth, and he was always quick to make adjustments based on my feedback. I’m thrilled with the final outcome and would definitely love to work with him again. Highly recommend!

5.0 / 5
Swift SwiftUI UIKit +8

We worked with Alpina Tech, a top-tier Apple ecosystem developer specializing in Swift, SwiftUI, UIKit, and Combine. Delivered a seamless, high-performance app with Core Data, iCloud Sync, AVKit, MapKit, and Push Notifications. Optimized for iOS, watchOS, and macOS, ensuring smooth performance and App Store compliance. We were very happy with the outcome of the app we commissioned to develop and look forward to working again with this developer.

5.0 / 5
UI/UX Design Figma Web Design +3

I had the pleasure of working with Alpina Tech on the UI/UX design for my public website, and I am extremely impressed with his work. He significantly expanded and improved upon the original design I already had, seamlessly integrating enhancements that perfectly matched the existing style. His ability to develop great-looking features while staying true to the original concept was remarkable. Communication with Alpina Tech was excellent throughout the project. He was responsive and accommodating, making several tweaks based on my requests to ensure everything was just right. I am thoroughly satisfied with the outcome and wouldn't hesitate to collaborate with him on future projects. Highly recommend!

5.0 / 5
Jekyll JAMstack HTML +5

Working with Alpina Tech was a great experience. He is knowledgeable and delivers high-quality work. The agency boasts a wide range of talent, making it a good choice for various projects. Communication was consistently excellent, and Alpina Tech ensured that every aspect of the project worked as expected. The work was completed on time, which was greatly appreciated. I highly recommend both Alpina Tech and the agency for future collaborations.

5.0 / 5
UI/UX Design Figma Landing Pages +4

Alpina Tech and the team have completed the design quickly and it looks great. They are very responsive and were able to quickly make adjustments that I have requested.

5.0 / 5
iOS Swift SwiftUI +3

Alpina Tech is awesome, he fixed a complicated bug on VPN iOS app in two hours.

5.0 / 5
React Native React iOS +5

Tyler V.

5.0 / 5
Hugo JAMstack HTML +3

Alpina Tech did an excellent job guiding us through the process and helping us achieve our project goals.

5.0 / 5
GitHub Pages HTML CSS +4

Alpina Tech helped us launch a research project website. Thank you for being available on short notice!

5.0 / 5
Technical SEO Web Strategy Management

I had the pleasure of working with Alpina Tech on leadership and technical projects. The team is highly motivated, strategically minded, and has exceptional technical SEO expertise. Their approach significantly boosted our digital presence. I highly recommend Alpina Tech for engineering and leadership-driven projects – a truly valuable partner.

5.0 / 5
HTML CSS JavaScript +4

Alpina Tech demonstrates all the right qualities of a strong development team – deep frontend expertise, great communication, and a proactive work attitude. A reliable partner for any technical project.

5.0 / 5
Web Development Frontend HTML +3

Alpina Tech is a very professional and reliable team. Working together on web projects was extremely successful. The team showed strong technical knowledge and excellent organizational skills.

5.0 / 5
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