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When I first started building with Next.js, I quickly realized that the CMS choice is just as important as the frontend framework.
Sure, you can hardcode JSON files or Markdown, but as soon as your project grows — whether it’s a mobile app, a blog, or a SaaS dashboard — you need a headless CMS that balances speed, scalability, and a great development experience.
This guide is my personal take on the best CMS for Next.js in 2025. I’ll cover both open source headless CMS options (like Payload and Strapi) and enterprise favorites (like Contentful). I’ll also share which CMS is best for application development, dynamic content, and static site generation.
Why Use a CMS with Next.js?
Next.js is brilliant for front end development, but it’s not designed to manage content.
A headless CMS solves this by:
- Delivering content via a content API (REST or GraphQL).
- Using a global content delivery network (CDN) for performance.
- Helping editors update web pages without touching code.
- Powering both static sites and dynamic web apps.
- Scaling easily across multiple devices, from web servers to mobile apps.
In short: Next.js handles the presentation layer, while the CMS manages the backend and content distribution.
Payload CMS: Full Control for Developers
Payload is one of the fastest-growing open source headless CMS options right now. It’s developer-first, self-hosted, and written in TypeScript. If you want full control over your project, Payload is the best place to start.
Why Payload is the best CMS for Next.js developers:
- Custom Application Development: Build custom dashboards, workflows, or even mobile app backends without restrictions.
- Seamless Integration: Works perfectly with Next.js APIs for static site generation (SSG) and server-side rendering (SSR).
- Performance & Scaling: Self-host on your own web server with caching and load balancing.
- Full Control: Unlike SaaS tools, you own your data and infrastructure.
- Open Source: Extend functionality freely, ideal for development teams who want flexibility.
I personally think Payload is the best headless CMS for Next.js if you care about customization, long-term scalability, and developer freedom.
Sanity CMS: Real-Time Collaboration
Sanity is another favorite in the application development world. It’s used by companies like Nike and Sonos.
- Real-time content editing and collaboration.
- Strong content modeling tools.
- Excellent development experience with its query language (GROQ).
- Blazing-fast content delivery via Sanity’s CDN.
If your project involves multiple development teams or frequent content updates, Sanity is hard to beat.
Contentful: Enterprise-Grade and Reliable
Contentful is often the go-to choice for large companies.
It’s not open source, but it’s extremely reliable and great for distributing content across many channels (websites, apps, IoT devices).
- Easy-to-use dashboard for non-technical editors.
- APIs that work seamlessly with Next.js for dynamic content.
- Global content delivery network for speed.
- Flexible enough for application development and marketing sites.
Strapi: Open Source Favorite
Strapi is one of the most popular open source headless CMS platforms. Unlike Contentful, you self-host it, which gives you full control over your stack.
- REST and GraphQL APIs out of the box.
- Highly flexible content modeling.
- Great for web server deployments (Docker, VPS, cloud).
- Strong plugin ecosystem for extending features.
- A solid option if you’re looking for the best headless CMS for Next.js with community support.
Ghost CMS: Best for Publishing
Ghost is ideal for content-heavy sites like blogs, magazines, or newsletters.
Why I recommend Ghost for Next.js:
- Clean writing and publishing interface.
- Built-in SEO and membership tools.
- Works with both static sites and dynamic content delivery.
If your main focus is publishing, Ghost is one of the simplest, fastest, and most enjoyable CMSs to work with.
Hygraph (GraphCMS): GraphQL Power
Hygraph (formerly GraphCMS) is built around GraphQL. That means you only fetch the data you need — a huge win for application performance.
- Perfect for complex web apps with many data relationships.
- Great development experience for teams familiar with GraphQL.
- Supports real-time updates and seamless integration with Next.js.
Prismic: Simple and Editor-Friendly
Prismic is a solid option if you want a user-friendly interface for editors.
- Drag-and-drop content blocks.
- Perfect for landing pages and dynamic content.
- Strong integration with Next.js’s static site generation features.
Suncel: A Fresh Option
Suncel is newer but worth watching. It focuses on simplicity and speed, offering a seamless integration with Next.js projects.
Enonic: Enterprise-Ready
Enonic is designed for enterprises that need more than just content editing.
- Strong application development features.
- Runs on a powerful web server stack with load balancing.
- Best for larger teams with complex workflows.
Quick Comparison Table
| CMS | Open Source | Best For | Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload | ✅ Yes | Full control, dev teams | Developer-first, TypeScript, self-host |
| Sanity | ❌ No | Teams, real-time collab | Flexible schema, CDN, editor-friendly |
| Contentful | ❌ No | Enterprises, marketing | Multi-channel delivery, stable APIs |
| Strapi | ✅ Yes | Custom apps, dev freedom | REST & GraphQL, plugin system |
| Ghost | ✅ Yes | Publishing, blogs | SEO tools, memberships |
| Hygraph | ❌ No | GraphQL-first projects | Performance, scalability |
| Prismic | ❌ No | Landing pages, marketing | Drag-and-drop, simple UI |
| Suncel | ❌ No | Small to mid projects | Lightweight, easy setup |
| Enonic | ❌ No | Enterprise applications | Load balancing, enterprise workflows |
Final Thoughts: Which CMS Should You Pick?
If you want the best headless CMS for Next.js, here’s my take:
- Payload → Best for developers who want open source headless CMS, customization, and full control.
- Sanity → Best for collaborative development teams.
- Contentful → Best for enterprises distributing content globally.
- Strapi → Best for open source fans who love flexibility.
- Ghost → Best for bloggers and publishers.
- Hygraph → Best for GraphQL-powered apps.
- Prismic, Suncel, Enonic → Good alternatives depending on your use case.
👉 Personally, if I had to choose today, I’d pick Payload for developer-focused projects and Sanity for content-heavy collaboration. Both deliver a fantastic development experience with Next.js.