What is a headless CMS?
In traditional CMS platforms like WordPress or Drupal, content and layout are tightly connected. You write content and determine how it looks in the same place. That means the front end and back end are intertwined.
A headless CMS decouples that connection. It focuses purely on managing content (the "body") and leaves presentation (the "head") to a separate front-end application. The content is served via an API, making it easy to use across different platforms: websites, apps, digital displays, or even voice assistants.
Why use a headless CMS?
- Multi-channel flexibility
One content source, many outputs. Reuse the same content for your site, mobile app, newsletter, and more. - Developer freedom
Front-end teams can build in frameworks like React, Vue, or Astro without CMS constraints. - Faster performance
Headless websites are often statically generated, leading to faster load times and better Core Web Vitals. - Improved security
With no public back-end, there's a smaller attack surface compared to traditional CMS platforms. - Future-proof and scalable
Want to add a new front-end channel? No need to rebuild your entire stack.
When is a headless CMS the right choice?
A headless CMS works best when:
- You want to publish content across multiple platforms or channels
- You need freedom to build your own front end
- Speed and security are top priorities
- Your team prefers an API-first, modular development approach
For simpler sites with one language and a fixed design, a traditional CMS might be enough. But if you want to future-proof your stack and scale content efficiently, headless is a smart choice.
Popular headless CMS platforms
- Storyblok (our go-to at Forge)
- Contentful
- Sanity
- Strapi
- Prismic
In summary
A headless CMS gives you flexibility, scalability, and modern performance. It requires a shift in mindset — away from templates, toward content as a reusable building block.
Wondering if headless fits your setup? Let’s talk .