How to Choose the Right Open-Source Headless CMS for Your Project

There’s a growing number of open-source headless CMS options—like Strapi, Directus, Payload CMS, Keystone, and Decap CMS—and picking the right one can feel overwhelming.

Key Criteria to Consider

Developer control: Need full customiz…


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Hardeep singh

There’s a growing number of open-source headless CMS options—like Strapi, Directus, Payload CMS, Keystone, and Decap CMS—and picking the right one can feel overwhelming.

Key Criteria to Consider


  • Developer control: Need full customization and plugin support? Strapi excels here.
  • SQL flexibility: Want a database-first approach? Directus lets you layer content over your existing SQL tables.
  • Minimal setup: Prefer something lightweight and Git-based? Decap CMS is great for Markdown/JSON workflows and static sites.
  • Developer experience: Frameworks like Payload CMS and Strapi offer strong support for TypeScript, plugins, and modern APIs.
  • Community support: Strapi and Directus have active communities, which means help, frequent updates, and ecosystem tools.

When to Use Open Source vs SaaS


  • Open Source advantages: Full control, no vendor lock-in, and highly extensible.
  • Trade-offs: You manage hosting, updates, security, and backups yourself.
  • SaaS options: Offer enterprise-level features like SLAs, governance, and auto-updates at a recurring cost.

Quick Decision Flow


  1. Need to self-host and customize? → Strapi or Payload CMS.
  2. Have an existing SQL structure you want to reuse? → Directus.
  3. Building a static site with versioned content? → Decap CMS.
  4. Need strong editor tools and collaboration features? → Sanity or Storyblok.

Final Thought

The best headless CMS fits your team's workflow and goals—not the other way around. Try one or two with a real-world sample before diving in.

If you’d like a custom recommendation based on your stack and project goals, RW Infotech helps startups and dev teams choose and implement the right headless CMS.


This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Hardeep singh


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