What Headless CMS is and why it beats a traditional CMS
A traditional CMS like WordPress combines content storage and presentation in one system: every user request runs PHP, hits the database, and assembles the page. This is slow, requires plugins, and demands constant security updates. Headless CMS separates these roles: it stores content and delivers it via API, while a separate clean-code frontend decides how the site looks.
The result is the best of both worlds: a convenient admin panel for editing content and a statically fast site that loads instantly, ranks excellently, and does not crash under load.
Which Headless CMS platforms we use and when
We choose the specific CMS based on the task - content volume, team workflows, and budget:
| CMS | When it fits |
|---|---|
| Sanity | Flexible content, real-time edits, custom data structures - our most common choice |
| Strapi | When you need self-hosted and full data control on your own server |
| Contentful | Large teams with established workflows and a high content volume |
What the development includes
- Content model design. Content types, fields, and relationships - built around your structure.
- CMS setup. Sanity, Strapi, or Contentful with an admin panel configured for your editors.
- Clean-code frontend. Astro or Next.js pulling data from the CMS via API.
- SEO foundation. Heading semantics, meta tags, sitemap, schema markup, human-readable URLs.
- Integrations. Forms, analytics, CRM - as needed.
- Launch and documentation. Deploy, domain, content management guide.
Cost and timeline
A Headless CMS site starts from 800 EUR, with a development timeline of 2-4 weeks depending on the number of content types, pages, and integrations. This is the lower bound; we fix an exact estimate after a short brief once the structure and content scope are clear.
Related formats
Content is not frequently edited by non-developers? You may be better served by a clean-code website - even faster and simpler. Want a full format overview? Go back to the Website from Scratch hub. Already have a WordPress site and want to move to Headless? - migration to a modern platform.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Headless CMS?
A Headless CMS is a "headless" content management system: it stores and delivers content through an API but does not dictate how the site looks. The frontend (Astro, Next.js) is built separately and pulls data from the CMS. As a result you edit texts and images through a familiar admin panel while the site stays statically fast.
Why is Headless better than WordPress?
WordPress combines content and presentation in one heavy system: every request runs PHP and hits the database, requiring plugins and constant security updates. Headless delivers content via API while the frontend renders statically - the site loads instantly, ranks better, and does not crash under load. Fewer vulnerabilities, perfect Core Web Vitals.
Can I edit the content myself?
Yes. That is the whole point of Headless: you get a CMS admin panel where you update texts, images, pages, and blog posts without a developer. After saving, the site rebuilds and publishes the changes. We provide a content management guide for every project.
Which Headless CMS platforms do you use?
Sanity - for flexible content and real-time edits; Strapi - when you need self-hosted and full data control; Contentful - for large teams with established workflows. We select the specific CMS at the brief stage based on the task, content volume, and budget.
How much does a Headless CMS site cost?
A Headless CMS site starts from 800 EUR. The final price depends on the number of content types, pages, and integrations needed. We fix an exact estimate after a short brief.