11 Best Headless CMS for SEO [Comparison Chart]

We all know, that the traditional CMS is not made for growing eCommerce stores with complex data. But the concern for SEO often keeps us chained to these limitations! 

Well, what if I say you can operate a Headless CMS without compromising SEO? Amazing… right??

This list compiles the best headless CMS options, wisely chosen for their SEO capabilities and glowing user reviews on trusted platforms like G2 and Trustpilot. Plus, if you’re still wondering if headless CMS can be your SEO BFF, we’ve got a dedicated guide to clear up any doubts. 

Check it out – Is Headless CMS good for SEO?

Before you start finding the best SEO-friendly CMS, make sure to explore the

What are the Best Headless CMS for SEO?

Wondering which CMS is best for SEO?? Here are the 11 Best Headless CMS for SEO:

1. Prismic
2. Bloomreach Content
3. Kontent.ai
4. Contentstack
5. ButterCMS
6. Prepr CMS
7. Contentful
8. Umbraco Heartcore
9. Storyblok
10. Hygraph
11. Sanity CMS

So let’s get started with our list of Best Headless CMS for SEO, in descending order! 😉

11. Sanity CMS

Sanity, the fastest headless CMS praised by developers for its flexibility and speed.  

This offers a smooth content management experience for your team, that allows you to focus on crafting compelling product descriptions and engaging blog posts.  

Sanity’s strength lies in its structured content approach, which makes it easy for search engines to understand your product information and brand story. This, combined with its seamless integrations with popular eCommerce platforms, makes Sanity a powerful tool to drive organic traffic and boost your online sales.

SEO Features

• Customizable content schemas and structures
• Real-time content preview capabilities and visual editing tools
• Rich text editing with options for metadata and annotations
• Customizable URLs and routing for SEO-friendly page structures
• Image optimization and asset management
• Multi-language support
• Portable Text (allows embedding custom metadata)

Pros

1. Hosted, scalable content database
2. Extensible through custom plugins and integrations
3. A generous amount of free usage and comprehensive paid plans.
4. Strong collaboration features for teams.
5. Extensible with a range of plugins and custom code

Cons

1. Can be complex to set up without developer expertise
2. Sometimes requires additional tooling for full functionality

Stores using Sanity CMS

• PUMA 
• Nour Hammour
• Lift Foils
• AETHER
• Morning Brew

Pricing

10. Hygraph

Coming in at number nine is Hygraph!

This Headless CMS can unify data sources which allows you to seamlessly manage product information, marketing copy, and blog posts from various platforms within a single interface. 

This eliminates the need to juggle multiple content silos, streamlining your content management workflow and ensuring consistency across all touchpoints.  

It boasts a developer-centric approach with GraphQL at its core. This allows you to tailor Hygraph to your eCommerce brand’s specific needs. 

SEO Features

• GraphQL Content APIs for dynamic content retrieval
• Asset management with transformation API for image optimization
• Localization support for multi-language content and SEO
• Real-time collaboration and task management for SEO workflows
• Customizable webhooks for integrating with SEO tools
• Managed CDN for assets

Pros

1. User-friendly interface for content creators and marketers
2. Supports automated logic with webhooks
3. Scalable content infrastructure for different project sizes
4. Flexible content federation capabilities

Cons

1. Migrating from other systems can require a significant effort
2. Less established community compared to larger platforms
3. Some users desire more built-in integrations

Stores using Hygraph

1. Vision Healthcare
2. Top Villas
3. Burrow
4. Avec
5. Prym 

Pricing

9. Storyblok

Storyblok – a headless CMS that champions user-friendliness without sacrificing developer freedom.

Storyblok is a cloud-native headless CMS that is designed to scale. It empowers teams to create, manage, and deliver content. Storyblok can help users go to market faster and enhance content experiences.

Storyblok boasts a global infrastructure designed for scalability and performance. Thus you can ensure your online store can deliver a fast and frictionless experience for customers worldwide.

SEO Features

• Visual editor for managing SEO metadata within content blocks
• Internationalization for managing localized SEO content
• Asset Manager with Image Optimization Service
• Custom Field Types
• Extensive content types, allowing for rich content structures
• Search query support for on-site search optimization
• SEO-friendly URL structure

Pros

1. Extensive API for content delivery
2. Robust asset management system
3. Flexible theming and layout customization
4. Intuitive visual editor that works well for marketers
5. Generous free tier for individuals and small teams

Cons

1. Limited built-in marketing tools compared to some competitors
2. Customization can require advanced developer skills
3. Lack of granular permissions for editing

Stores using Storyblok 

1. CHRONEXT
2. Paul Smith
3. Accell Group
4. Chopard
5. Davida Cashmere

Pricing

8. Umbraco Heartcore

Umbraco Heartcore, the headless offering from Umbraco, grabs the 7th position on our list!

Umbraco prides itself on being user-friendly, meaning your team can easily manage and publish content without getting bogged down in technical complexities. This results in faster time-to-market for new products and promotions, keeping your store at the forefront of customer trends.   

Moreover, Umbraco headless CMS seamlessly integrates with popular eCommerce platforms, ensuring a smooth flow of product data and content directly to your online store. This streamlined approach contributes to a positive user experience and strengthens your SEO efforts.

SEO Features

• WYSIWYG editors and previews for managing keyword-rich content
• Multi-language support for localized SEO strategies
• Full design and markup control for on-page SEO optimizations
• Scheduled Publishing to align content releases with SEO campaigns
• Cloud hosting with CDN for improved load times and performance

Pros

1. Open-source platform with a strong community
2. Great flexibility for developers and custom projects
3. Comprehensive content management features
4. Robust ecosystem with extensive plug-ins
5. Hosted on Microsoft Azure with Umbraco Cloud

Cons

1. Learning curve for developers new to the platform
2. Cloud hosting via Umbraco Cloud can be costly
3. It may require custom development for specific needs

Stores using Umbraco Heartcore

1. Shamballa Jewels
2. Jaktia
3. Aardman
4. Danish Crown
5. Noorderpoort

Pricing

7. Contentful

Next comes the popular headless CMS – Contentful!

Contentful allows eCommerce businesses to create and manage content that can be delivered to any channel. It is designed to be developer-friendly and fit into existing tech stacks. 

It offers an open platform that can be customized to meet the needs of any business. Additionally, Contentful integrates with a number of popular eCommerce platforms, which makes it a powerful tool for businesses that want to create a seamless shopping experience for their customers.

SEO Features

• Flexible content modeling and rich text editing 
• Multi-language support for international and localization 
• Content infrastructure for seamless SEO content management
• Compose App for managing structured content
• Technical support for implementing SEO best practices

Pros

1. Strong developer focus with extensive API and integrations
2. Effective collaboration tools and granular role management
3. Reliable and scalable content infrastructure
4. Regular feature updates and active community support
5. User-friendly interface that streamlines workflows

Cons

1. Less user-friendly for marketers and content editors
2. High-tier pricing can be cost-prohibitive
3. Limited built-in content analytics and reporting tools
4. Integration with other tools can sometimes be complex

Stores using Contentful

1. Rapha
2. Audible
3. KFC
4. BMW
5. Ruggable

Pricing

6. Prepr CMS

Prepr stands out as a conversion-centric solution. The platform seamlessly integrates content management, A/B testing, and personalization, with the goal of transforming websites into powerful tools for driving conversions. 

Prepr prides itself on its contemporary and intuitive interface, which enables teams to efficiently create, manage, and publish structured content. This streamlined process not only enhances engagement but also facilitates conversions through A/B testing and personalization features.

By using Prepr, websites can evolve beyond basic content publication, becoming platforms that deliver impactful experiences and yield tangible business results.

SEO Features

• Metadata, keywords, and content optimization for maximum visibility.
• Real-time editing tips to ensure optimized content for search engines.
• Image optimization for performance on every device.

Pros

1. Intuitive page builder
2. AI-assisted editing for automatic translations, copy enhancement, and SEO optimization.
3. Custom roles and permissions.
4. Collaboration tools: versioning, workflows, commenting, kanban board.
5. Conversion optimization: A/B testing and personalization.

Cons

1. The headless approach of Prepr CMS may demand additional developer effort.
2. The reporting and analytics features may not be extensive.
3. While Prepr CMS offers a free version, upgrading to a paid plan is necessary for advanced website features.

Stores using Prepr CMS

1. Iamsterdam
2. Esso
3. More metaverse
4. Trustsoft
5. TRYM Capital

Pricing

5. ButterCMS

ButterCMS empowers eCommerce brands to flourish through its robust content management system.

Developers can use ButterCMS to create powerful components, while marketers can use it to effortlessly create and edit content. This flexibility frees ecommerce businesses from the constraints of traditional CMS platforms.

ButterCMS grants eCommerce companies complete creative control, even over intricate, segmented content. This enables them to effortlessly manage all their promotional pages, across various platforms, from a centralized location.

Ecommerce companies can leverage ButterCMS to boost customer retention by ensuring timely communication of new products and services.

SEO Features

• Pre-configured SEO fields and meta tags
• Localization with multiple locales support for international SEO
• Image optimization within the CMS 
• Write API for full control over content delivery
• Personalized content optimization

Pros

1. Intuitive interface for non-technical users
2. Quick setup process for developers
3. Supports multiple sites and environments
4. Strong customer support and community

Cons

1. Lack of out-of-the-box integrations
2. Marketing tools can be less extensive
3. Pricing might be a concern for larger enterprises seeking advanced features

Stores using ButterCMS

1. Freddie’s Flowers
2. KeyMe
3. RadialSpark
4. Realty Austin 
5. MDHearing

Pricing

4. Contentstack

Contentstack is a headless CMS that empowers developers and marketers to build digital experiences with freedom and flexibility. It provides a user-friendly interface for content creation and management, along with robust APIs for seamless integration with any front-end technology. 

Contentstack empowers businesses to effortlessly create, manage, and deliver content across all their channels. It provides a user-friendly interface with drag-and-drop features, a rich text editor, and real-time content preview. 

Contentstack is built for scalability and integrates seamlessly with various technologies, making it a great choice for e-commerce brands.

SEO Features

• Multi-region delivery infrastructure
• Localization and internationalization
• Content Delivery Network (CDN)
• Versioning and workflows for content optimization
• Image delivery & manipulation API
• GraphQL API and omnichannel deployment

Pros

1. Advanced analytics and versioning capabilities
2. Enterprise-grade security and compliance features
3. Modular blocks and page builder features
4. Excellent uptime and support

Cons

1. Less user-friendly for marketers 
2. Customization and advanced feature use require developer assistance
3. Limited template availability compared to some other solutions

Stores using Contentstack

1. Chronodrive
2. Leesa
3. Dawn Foods
4. Pella

Contentstack Pricing

3. Kontent.ai

Kontent.ai takes the next spot! 

It focuses more on streamlined content management, which is perfect for e-commerce businesses. This minimizes redundancy and ensures brand consistency across all channels.

Kontent.ai’s structured content approach makes content easy to organize and reuse. So, your team can build product pages faster by using pre-defined content templates and reusable components. This saves significant time and resources.

This headless CMS also allows them to create high-quality product descriptions and marketing content without compromising the SEO part.

Furthermore, Kontent.ai integrates with popular e-commerce platforms, facilitating a smooth workflow between content creation and product information management. This enables seamless product launches and simplifies content updates across all channels.

SEO Features

• Real-time collaboration on content
• Localization and taxonomy features
• Asset Library and Image Transformation API
• Secure API endpoints
• Webhooks for customized SEO logic
• Taxonomy for hierarchical content structuring

Pros

1. Intuitive interface that streamlines content operations
2. Native AI skills for content optimization
3. Content operations underpinned with control and governance
4. API-first approach offering technology flexibility
5. High level of scalability and content velocity

Cons

1. Initial setup and learning curve can be challenging
2. Certain customization requirements may need developer resources
3. Migration from other platforms can be resource-intensive

Stores using Kontent.ai

1. Integria
2. INEOS Hygienics
3. healthylife
4. a2 Milk

Pricing

2. Bloomreach Content

Number two is Bloomreach!

Bloomreach Content isn’t just a headless CMS – it’s a way to unlock a powerful and personalized shopping experience for your customers. 

This SEO-friendly CMS empowers your team to effortlessly craft and manage product pages, personalized content, and seamless shopping journeys – all from a single hub. Now you can streamline your brand’s launch across various sales channels, languages, and regions, ensuring a consistent and captivating experience for every customer, everywhere.

Built with a MACH architecture (Microservices, API-first, Cloud-native, and Headless), Bloomreach Content offers unmatched flexibility, scalability, and future-proofs your business for growth.

SEO Features

• AI-driven Search and merchandising for eCommerce
• Personalized content and recommendations
• SEO enhancement tools
• Support for long-tail SEO queries
• Drag and drop merchandising widgets for SEO content planning

Pros

1. Scalable content architecture that supports large deployments
2. Multifaceted platform that integrates with various commerce systems
3. Advanced analytics and insights for customer behavior
4. Strong focus on customer engagement and conversion optimization

Cons

1. Complexity of the platform may require significant onboarding time
2. High-end features come with a steep learning curve
3. Integration with existing systems can require extensive development work

Stores using Bloomreach Content

1. MKM
2. Bosch Power Tools
3. GrandVision
4. Hobbycraft

Pricing

1. Prismic

Taking the top spot for eCommerce brands is Prismic, the most popular headless CMS praised by developers for its flexibility and speed.  

Prismic is ideal for eCommerce brands that need a flexible and scalable CMS to manage their product information and marketing content.

This user-friendly headless CMS empowers marketers to create and manage content through reusable components. Developers can leverage Slice Machine to craft these components, ensuring a seamless integration between marketing and development teams. 

Prismic integrates with popular frameworks like Next.js, Nuxt.js, and SvelteKit, making it a versatile choice for eCommerce brands. 

SEO Features

• Unlimited custom types and assets for content creation
• Built-in CDN with image optimization 
• Support for multi-language content
• Advanced publishing features with schedules and workflow management
• Migration API and integration-friendly features for maintaining SEO during transitions
• Unlimited image optimization

Pros

1. Sleek and modern content editor
2. Flexible content types supporting developers and marketers
3. Robust content versioning and publishing features
4. Supports a wide range of integrations and custom scenarios

Cons

1. You can experience difficulties with the initial learning curve
2. Advanced layout customization requires developer skills
3. Reporting and analytics can be limited
4. Some custom workflow needs may not be directly supported

Stores using Prismic 

1. BERSHKA
2. Brown Brothers
3. Ghanda
4. Saul Good Gift Co.
5. 7mesh

Pricing

Our list of headless CMS ends here! Have you found the best fit for your business?

Not yet?? Don’t worry, we are here to help you with a detailed headless CMS comparison in the next section. This will help you evaluate all the headless CMS options better.

Read more: 20 Composable Store Examples: Composable Commerce in Action!

Comparison: Which One is the Best Headless CMS for SEO?

Choosing the right tool is the key to Headless commerce success! That’s why this blog goes beyond the top headless CMS list.

And, the comparison table below will deeply evaluate the CMS SEO features and help you find the right Headless CMS for your eCommerce business.

Factors	Prismic	Bloomreach	Kontent.ai	Contentstack	ButterCMS	Prepr	Contentful	Umbraco	Storyblok	Hygraph	Sanity
Content Preview	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Customizable Page URLs	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Metadata Management	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Structured Data & Schema.org Support	✅	➕	➕	➕	✅	✅	➕	➕	✅	✅	⚒️
Sitemaps Generation	➕	✅	➕	➕	➕	⚒️	⚒️	⚒️	✅	⚒️	⚒️
Robots.txt File Editing	➕	➕	⚒️	⚒️	➕	⚒️	⚒️	⚒️	⚒️	⚒️	⚒️
Canonical Tags Support	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	➕	⚒️
Multilingual and Multi-Regional Support	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Content Hierarchy Features	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Image Optimization	✅	✅	✅	✅	➕	✅	➕	➕	✅	✅	➕
404 and Redirect Management	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	⚒️	✅	✅	⚒️	⚒️	⚒️
Blogging and Content Creation Tools	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
HTML Markup Control	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
SSL Support	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	➕	➕	✅	➕	➕	➕
APIs for SEO Tools	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅

Indications:

✅ – Feature is natively supported by the CMS.

➕ – Feature can be achieved through integrations with third-party tools.

⚒️ – Feature requires custom development.

Please note: This table is a general Headless CMS comparison and specific features may vary depending on the CMS plan. It’s recommended to visit the official website of each CMS for the latest and most accurate information.

Also, you must consider headless CMS reviews, ask for a Demo from the providers, and then decide based on your experience with the platforms.

Read more: 15 Best Headless Commerce Platforms: 5 Reasons To Go Headless

Wrapping Up!

Online visibility is equally important as user experience! And the best Headless CMS platform can offer you both.

Now you can finally break free from the limitations of traditional CMS and unleash the true potential of your eCommerce store. But with so many top headless CMS options available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming.

This curated list of the best headless CMS for SEO provides a solid starting point for your research. Remember, the “best” platform depends on your specific needs and technical expertise.

In case you’re unable to decide, you can always consult with experienced Headless development experts like Aureate Labs! We will guide you through the selection process of the best SEO CMS platform and ensure smooth CMS integration or even headless commerce development.

So, take a deep breath, choose your headless CMS, and get ready to experience outstanding results (traffic, conversions, and, ultimately, success).