Best Headless CMS for Static Site Generation

Static site generators have transformed how teams build fast, secure websites. But managing content in Markdown files quickly becomes unwieldy for non-technical editors and larger content operations. The right headless CMS bridges this gap, providing intuitive editing while preserving the performance benefits of static generation.

This guide compares 12 leading CMS platforms for static site projects, covering both API-driven and Git-based approaches across popular frameworks like Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, and Eleventy.

Quick Picks: Best Headless CMS by Framework & Use Case

API-Driven vs Git-Based CMS: Which Approach Fits Your Project?

Before evaluating specific platforms, understand the two fundamental approaches to content management for static sites.

API-Driven Headless CMS

Content is stored in a cloud database and delivered via REST or GraphQL APIs. During the build process, your static site generator fetches content from the API and generates HTML pages.

Examples: Contentful, Sanity, Storyblok, Strapi, Hygraph

Advantages:

• Rich editorial interfaces with visual editing
• Real-time collaboration features
• Advanced content modeling and relationships
• Scales well for large content volumes
• Webhooks trigger automatic rebuilds

Considerations:

• API costs can grow with traffic and usage
• Build times increase with content volume
• Requires internet connectivity for builds
• Potential vendor lock-in

Git-Based Headless CMS

Content is stored as Markdown, JSON, or YAML files directly in your Git repository. The CMS provides a visual interface for editing these files without touching code.

Examples: TinaCMS, Decap CMS, CloudCannon, Front Matter

Advantages:

• Content version controlled alongside code
• No external dependencies or API costs
• Offline builds possible
• Full data ownership and portability
• Often free or low-cost

Considerations:

• Less sophisticated content modeling
• Real-time collaboration is limited
• Media management can be challenging
• Build times may increase with large file counts

For most static site projects, Git-based CMS provides simpler architecture and lower costs. API-driven CMS becomes valuable when you need advanced editorial workflows, real-time collaboration, or omnichannel content distribution.

Selection Criteria for Static Site CMS

When evaluating CMS options for static site generation, consider these factors:

Framework Compatibility: Some CMS platforms offer official integrations or plugins for specific SSGs. Native support reduces configuration complexity and improves developer experience.

Build Process Integration: The CMS must trigger rebuilds when content changes. Look for webhook support, CLI tools, or native hosting integration.

Editorial Experience: Non-technical editors need intuitive interfaces. Visual editing, preview capabilities, and media management matter for content team adoption.

Content Modeling Flexibility: Simple blogs need basic fields. Complex sites require nested structures, references, and custom field types.

Performance Impact: API-driven CMS adds network requests during builds. Evaluate caching strategies and API response times for large sites.

Pricing at Scale: Free tiers work for small projects. Understand how costs scale with content volume, API calls, users, and bandwidth.

Detailed CMS Comparison

Git-Based CMS Options

1. TinaCMS

TinaCMS provides real-time visual editing with content stored in Git. The platform offers both self-hosted and cloud versions, making it flexible for different team sizes and requirements.

SSG Support: Next.js, Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, and any Markdown-based SSG

Key Strengths:

• Real-time content editing with instant preview
• Content stored as Markdown/JSON in your repository
• GraphQL data layer for querying content
• Self-hosted option available
• TypeScript schema definitions

Considerations:

• Cloud version required for some features
• Learning curve for schema configuration
• Newer platform with smaller community

Pricing: Free self-hosted. Cloud plans start at $29/month.

Best For: Teams wanting Git-based content with modern visual editing experience.

2. CloudCannon

CloudCannon is a Git-powered CMS specifically designed for static site generators. The platform offers visual editing, component libraries, and built-in hosting, making it particularly strong for Hugo and Jekyll projects.

SSG Support: Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, Next.js, Nuxt, Astro, SvelteKit, Gatsby

Key Strengths:

• Native support for Hugo with zero configuration
• Visual editor works directly on rendered pages
• Component-based page building (Bookshop)
• Built-in hosting with global CDN
• Team collaboration with publishing workflows

Considerations:

• Premium pricing compared to open-source alternatives
• Hosting tied to CloudCannon platform
• Some features require higher-tier plans

Pricing: Free tier available. Team plans start at $45/month.

Best For: Agencies and teams building client sites with Hugo or Jekyll who need professional editing interface.

3. Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS)

Decap CMS is an open-source, Git-based CMS that adds a content management interface to any static site generator. It runs as a single-page React application and requires minimal configuration.

SSG Support: Works with any static site generator (Hugo, Jekyll, Gatsby, Next.js, Eleventy, Astro)

Key Strengths:

• Completely free and open source
• Simple two-file setup (admin/index.html + config.yml)
• Works with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket
• Extensible with custom widgets and previews
• Large community and documentation

Considerations:

• Development has slowed since Netlify handoff
• UI feels dated compared to newer alternatives
• Limited real-time collaboration features
• Media management is basic

Pricing: Free (open source)

Best For: Developers seeking simple, free CMS for personal or small team projects.

4. Front Matter

Front Matter is a VS Code extension that provides CMS functionality directly in your editor. It works with local files and requires no external services or accounts.

SSG Support: Hugo, Jekyll, Hexo, Next.js, Gatsby, Astro, Docusaurus

Key Strengths:

• Runs entirely in VS Code
• No external services or accounts required
• Full control over content and media
• Powerful taxonomy and metadata management
• Free and open source

Considerations:

• Requires VS Code (no web interface)
• Not suitable for non-technical editors
• Single-user workflow only
• No real-time preview in browser

Pricing: Free (VS Code extension)

Best For: Solo developers who prefer working in their code editor.

API-Driven CMS Options

5. Storyblok

Storyblok is the official CMS partner for Astro, offering deep integration with visual editing capabilities. The platform's component-based approach aligns well with Astro's island architecture.

SSG Support: Astro (official partner), Next.js, Nuxt, Hugo, Jekyll, Gatsby

Key Strengths:

• Official Astro SDK with dedicated documentation
• Visual editor renders your actual components
• Component-based content (Bloks) matches modern frontend patterns
• Built-in image optimization via CDN
• Excellent localization support

Considerations:

• Higher price point for full features
• Visual editor requires JavaScript on the page
• Some features locked to Enterprise tier

Pricing: Free tier available. Growth plan at €90.75/month (annual).

Best For: Astro projects requiring visual editing and component-based content.

6. Sanity

Sanity provides flexible content modeling with a customizable React-based studio. For static sites, Sanity offers build plugins that transform API content into Markdown files Hugo and other SSGs can consume.

SSG Support: All major SSGs via API. Hugo-specific plugins available.

Key Strengths:

• GROQ query language for precise data fetching
• Real-time collaboration with presence indicators
• Portable Text for structured rich content
• Hugo + Netlify build plugins for seamless integration
• Generous free tier

Considerations:

• Studio customization requires React knowledge
• Learning curve for GROQ syntax
• API usage-based pricing at scale

Pricing: Free tier available. Growth plan at $15/seat/month.

Best For: Teams needing custom content structures with real-time collaboration.

7. Contentful

Contentful is an enterprise-grade headless CMS with mature APIs and extensive integration ecosystem. Webhooks enable automatic rebuilds when content changes.

SSG Support: All major SSGs via REST/GraphQL APIs

Key Strengths:

• Robust REST and GraphQL APIs
• Extensive webhook configuration
• Enterprise-grade security and compliance
• Rich ecosystem of integrations
• 99.99% uptime SLA available

Considerations:

• Complex pricing structure
• Steeper learning curve for content modeling
• Premium features require significant investment

Pricing: Free tier available. Team plan at $300/month.

Best For: Enterprise projects requiring proven infrastructure and compliance certifications.

8. Hygraph (formerly GraphCMS)

Hygraph specializes in GraphQL-native content management with content federation capabilities. The platform works well with SSGs that benefit from GraphQL data fetching.

SSG Support: All major SSGs via GraphQL API

Key Strengths:

• Native GraphQL with automatic schema generation
• Content Federation connects external data sources
• Hugo integration via GetRemote function
• Efficient data fetching minimizes build overhead
• Good documentation for SSG integration

Considerations:

• GraphQL-only (no REST API option)
• Steeper learning curve for non-GraphQL teams
• Pricing increases with API complexity

Pricing: Free tier available. Professional plan at $299/month.

Best For: Teams using GraphQL who need to aggregate multiple content sources.

9. Strapi

Strapi is the leading open-source headless CMS, offering self-hosted deployment with full backend control. Webhook support enables integration with any static site generator.

SSG Support: All major SSGs via REST/GraphQL APIs

Key Strengths:

• 100% open source with self-hosting option
• REST and GraphQL API generation
• Customizable admin panel
• Active plugin ecosystem
• Hugo integration guide available

Considerations:

• Self-hosting requires DevOps resources
• No built-in visual editor
• Cloud hosting adds additional cost

Pricing: Self-hosted free. Strapi Cloud starts at $45/month.

Best For: Teams wanting open-source CMS with full infrastructure control.

10. ButterCMS

ButterCMS positions itself as developer-friendly with simple APIs and quick integration. The platform provides specific SDKs and documentation for both Astro and Hugo.

SSG Support: Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, Gatsby, Next.js, Eleventy

Key Strengths:

• Dedicated Astro and Hugo documentation
• Simple REST API
• Built-in blog and page components
• Quick integration (claims 10 minutes or less)
• Responsive support

Considerations:

• Less flexible for complex content models
• Limited workflow features
• Smaller feature set overall

Pricing: Free trial available. Startup plan at $99/month.

Best For: Small teams needing quick CMS setup for blogs and marketing pages.

11. DatoCMS

DatoCMS offers a modern interface with strong image optimization and localization features. The platform provides good documentation for static site generation workflows.

SSG Support: All major SSGs via GraphQL API

Key Strengths:

• Excellent image optimization and CDN
• Intuitive content modeling interface
• Strong localization features
• Modular content blocks
• Good SSG documentation

Considerations:

• GraphQL-only API
• Pricing can escalate with usage
• Smaller community than major competitors

Pricing: Free tier available. Professional plan starts at $99/month.

Best For: Media-heavy sites requiring image optimization and localization.

12. Ghost

Ghost evolved from a blogging platform into a headless CMS focused on publishing. The Content API enables integration with static site generators for high-performance delivery.

SSG Support: All major SSGs via Content API

Key Strengths:

• Optimized for publishing workflows
• Built-in newsletter functionality
• Membership and subscription features
• Clean editing experience
• Self-hosted option available

Considerations:

• Limited to publishing use cases
• Less flexible content modeling
• Not suited for complex applications

Pricing: Self-hosted free. Ghost(Pro) starts at $9/month.

Best For: Publishers and newsletter-focused sites using SSG for performance.

Comparison Table

Recommendations by Scenario

Personal Blog / Portfolio

Recommended: Decap CMS or Front Matter

Free, open-source options work well for personal projects. Decap CMS provides web-based editing, while Front Matter suits developers comfortable in VS Code.

Small Business / Startup

Recommended: TinaCMS or ButterCMS

TinaCMS offers modern editing with Git-based storage and reasonable pricing. ButterCMS provides quick setup with dedicated documentation for common SSGs.

Agency / Client Projects

Recommended: CloudCannon or Storyblok

Professional editing interfaces matter for client handoff. CloudCannon excels with Hugo/Jekyll, while Storyblok works best for Astro projects.

Enterprise / Large Scale

Recommended: Contentful or Sanity

Enterprise requirements demand proven infrastructure, compliance features, and scalable APIs. Both platforms serve Fortune 500 companies with established track records.

Documentation Sites

Recommended: Decap CMS or TinaCMS

Documentation typically uses Markdown extensively. Git-based CMS preserves developer workflows while enabling non-technical contributions.

E-commerce / Marketing Sites

Recommended: Storyblok or Contentful

Complex content models, localization, and workflow approvals matter for commercial sites. Both platforms offer advanced features for marketing teams.

Framework-Specific Recommendations

Best CMS for Astro

Top Pick: Storyblok

Storyblok is Astro's official CMS partner with dedicated SDK, documentation, and tutorials. The component-based approach aligns with Astro's island architecture.

Runner-up: Sanity

Sanity's flexible content modeling and official Astro documentation make it a strong alternative for teams preferring code-defined schemas.

Best CMS for Hugo

Top Pick: CloudCannon

CloudCannon provides native Hugo support with visual editing on rendered pages. The Bookshop component library enables page building for non-technical editors.

Runner-up: Sanity with Hugo Build Plugins

For API-driven approach, Sanity's Hugo + Netlify build plugins transform content into Hugo-compatible Markdown files automatically.

Best CMS for Jekyll

Top Pick: CloudCannon

CloudCannon was originally built for Jekyll and maintains excellent support. Visual editing and Git-based storage align with Jekyll's philosophy.

Best CMS for Eleventy (11ty)

Top Pick: Decap CMS or TinaCMS

Both Git-based options work seamlessly with Eleventy's flexible templating. Decap offers simplicity, while TinaCMS provides modern editing features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which headless CMS is best for static site generation?

For Git-based approach, CloudCannon (Hugo/Jekyll) or TinaCMS (Next.js/Astro) provide the best editing experience. For API-driven approach, Storyblok (Astro) or Sanity (framework-agnostic) lead the market.

Can I use a headless CMS without hosting costs?

Yes. Git-based CMS like Decap CMS and Front Matter are completely free. Content stores in your repository and deploys through standard Git workflows on Netlify, Vercel, or GitHub Pages.

How do I trigger rebuilds when CMS content changes?

API-driven CMS platforms provide webhooks that notify your hosting platform (Netlify, Vercel) to rebuild. Git-based CMS commits changes directly to your repository, triggering automatic deployments.

What's the best free CMS for Hugo?

Decap CMS is the most popular free option for Hugo. Front Matter works well for developers who prefer VS Code. Both are open source with no usage limits.

Should I use API-driven or Git-based CMS?

Git-based CMS suits smaller teams, developer-focused workflows, and budget-conscious projects. API-driven CMS fits larger teams needing visual editing, real-time collaboration, and omnichannel content distribution.

How do build times scale with headless CMS?

Git-based CMS has minimal impact since content is local files. API-driven CMS adds network requests during builds. Implement caching, pagination, and incremental builds for large content volumes.

Conclusion

The best headless CMS for your static site project depends on your team composition, content complexity, and budget.

For Astro projects, Storyblok provides the most integrated experience with official partnership and visual editing. For Hugo sites, CloudCannon offers native support and the best editorial interface for non-technical users.

Teams prioritizing cost efficiency should evaluate Git-based options like TinaCMS or Decap CMS. Organizations requiring enterprise features should focus on Contentful or Sanity.

Before committing, build proof-of-concept implementations with 2-3 platforms. Test the full workflow from content creation through build and deployment. Most platforms offer free tiers sufficient for evaluation.