Best Headless CMS in 2026
Updated
In short: Prismic is ranked #1 of 33 as of 29 September 2026, ahead of Cloud CMS and Strapi. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Cloud CMS. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Prismic at $10/mo.
When content needs to reach more than one website or app, a headless CMS separates content management from the presentation layer. Compare API types, asset transformations, localization, and preview capabilities to see how each option may support your publishing workflow. Role permissions and webhooks add considerations for access and integrations, while free-plan availability and paid-from pricing help frame cost. Prismic is first in the ranking, followed by Cloud CMS and Strapi; Sanity and TinaCMS are also among the early entries. Focus on the capabilities your team needs to organize, review, and deliver content, and assess pricing alongside the workflow details.
33 headless CMS ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | API types | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prismic | 8.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $10/mo | Yes | $10/mo | both | View |
| 2 | Cloud CMS | 8.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | $220/mo | both | View |
| 3 | Strapi | 7.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $35/mo | Yes | $35/mo | both | View |
| 4 | Sanity | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $15/mo | Yes | $15/mo | both | View |
| 5 |  TinaCMS | 7.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $24/mo | Yes | $24/mo | — | View |
| 6 | Squidex | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | both | View |
| 7 | Agility CMS | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | $699/mo | both | View |
| 8 | CrafterCMS | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | both | View |
| 9 | Storyblok | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $99/mo | Yes | $99/mo | both | View |
| 10 | Directus | 7.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $499/mo | Yes | $499/mo | both | View |
| 11 | Contentful | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $300/mo | Yes | $300/mo | both | View |
| 12 | ButterCMS | 6.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $71/mo | Yes | $71/mo | both | View |
| 13 | DatoCMS | 6.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €149/mo | Yes | — | both | View |
| 14 |  Webiny | 6.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $79/mo | Yes | $79/mo | graphql | View |
| 15 |  Enonic XP | 6.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | graphql | View |
| 16 | Payload CMS | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | both | View |
| 17 | Cosmic | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $99/mo | Yes | $99/mo | rest | View |
| 18 | Cockpit CMS | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | both | View |
| 19 | Hygraph | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $199/mo | Yes | $199/mo | graphql | View |
| 20 | Contentstack | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $299/mo | Yes | $299/mo | both | View |
| 21 | Kontent.ai | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | both | View |
| 22 | Amplience | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | No | — | both | View |
| 23 | CoreMedia CMS | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | both | View |
| 24 |  Modyo Content | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | rest | View |
| 25 |  Zesty.io | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $475/mo | Yes | $475/mo | both | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which headless CMS is ranked first on Inferse?
Prismic is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 8.9. Cloud CMS is second and Strapi third.
How many of these have a free plan?
16 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Prismic has the lowest first paid tier we found: $10/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.