Discover the best CMS for programmers in 2024

Highlights:

You’ll learn about the key features to look for in a CMS for programmers:

• Customization and flexibility: Look for a CMS that adapts to your growing business needs and avoids limitations caused by features you cannot customize
• Robust API and documentation: Facilitates integration with third-party tools while helping you onboard with well-documented guides
• Personalization capabilities: Delivers dynamic and personalized user experiences
• Security and regular updates: Ensures protection against online threats

Top CMS options include:

• Contentstack: Advanced API, scalable and secure
• WordPress: Extensive plugins but require ongoing maintenance
• Contentful: Comprehensive API but less intuitive interface

Transform your projects with the right platform today!

Keep reading to learn more!

Working with traditional content management systems (CMS) is a nightmare for programmers and developers because built-in templates confine them. But why is choosing the right CMS essential for programmers? 

In a world where content is king, your CMS is the royalty council that governs, manages, organizes and delivers content to your customers. Choosing the right CMS is equally important for programmers. The best one favors flexibility, scalability, ease of use and technology freedom. 

With so many options available, each boasting of being a programmer’s best friend, finding the right CMS for programmers can be challenging. 

Let’s look at what makes a CMS ideal for a programmer and web developer.

What is the best CMS for programmers?

The best CMS for programmers is one that fulfills all their requirements. CMSs are not one-size-fits-all. A CMS that one programmer deems fit may be unsuitable for the other and vice versa. For instance, some programmers may prefer Contenstack because of its extensive functionality, scalable nature, ease of use and technological freedom, but others may prefer Contentful because of pricing. 

However, there are a few common traits that programmers and web developers must look for in a CMS:

• Customizable
• Scalable
• Ease of use
• Technological freedom

Apart from the basics, other functionalities allow your non-technical users to modify, create and manage content without requiring a programmer's help. Due to budget constraints, you often search for the most affordable solution. 

So, how do you choose one that fits all your business requirements? Play around with your available options and request free demos or trials. These free demos and trials give you confidence in the CMS. Take your time before committing because it’s not every day you can switch your CMS—it’s costly and time-consuming.

Before exploring the top CMS for developers, let’s understand the different types of CMSs.

Different types of content management systems

Key factors in selecting a CMS for programmers

The top factors and features include:

Customization options and flexibility

Your website is useless if you cannot customize it to meet your business goals and offerings. As your business grows, you need solutions to adapt to your changing requirements. Non-availability of customization forces you to hold back content you want to share and instead deal with unwanted features and plug-ins you cannot get rid of.

Robust API and documentation

When multiple programmers create and maintain your website, the best choice is a headless CMS with an easy-to-use application programming interface (API) and documentation. Thorough documentation helps new programmers learn how to use and maintain your web pages. A well-documented API enables your programmers to integrate the CMS with various third-party tools, custom applications and services. When evaluating a CMS, assess the APIs, ease of use, availability of support, and examples.

How did Contentstack’s API-first and headless CMS help developers of Ritchie Bros.?

Ritchie Bros. required a new solution for rbauction.com to streamline workflows between engineering and marketing teams. Their old, heavily customized CMS was cumbersome for developers to use. Switching to Contentstack provided a more efficient solution with minimal customization. Its headless architecture separated back-end logic from front-end presentation, allowing marketers to manage content independently. 

Developers created reusable content blocks, helping marketers fill in unique content, run A/B tests and publish updates without assistance. Contentstack’s API-first approach simplified content authentication across web and mobile platforms, reducing developer workload. The modular architecture also facilitated easy regional customization and improved translation management. Consequently, Ritchie Bros. saw reduced development efforts, greater marketer independence and streamlined regional content management.

After using Contentstack, Michael Harker, Director of Product at Ritchie Bros., said: 

“It’s now extremely easy for the marketing team to go and change content, and that immediately flows to the website without needing any technical assistance.”

Read the full case study here.

Personalization capabilities

While headless CMS is a clear winner over monolithic or traditional CMS, ask yourself these questions when selecting one.

• Can the headless CMS allow you to create superior user experiences?
• Can the CMS personalize and customize content on a per-user basis?

The right platform delivers dynamic and personalized experiences to everyone landing on your website.

Security features and regular updates

Choose a CMS with regular updates to protect against online attacks and a history of keeping customer data safe. Prefer CMS platforms with features like user authentication, which ensures that only the right people can access sensitive content. Data encryption is another key feature, as it keeps your information safe during transmission and storage, making it unreadable to anyone who shouldn’t have access. 

User-friendly interface for developers and non-developers

Your CMS should offer an intuitive interface that caters to developers and non-technical users. That way, your CMS promotes easier content management and collaboration across teams, reducing the learning curve for new users. After all, your CMS aims to make everyone's life easier while helping you create and share great content.

Cost considerations

Open-source CMSs like WordPress and Drupal are free to use, but you will eventually spend money on web hosting, maintenance and development. On the other hand, a headless CMS like Contentstack charges licensing fees while providing dedicated support.

Support and maintenance

A headless CMS job is to make your site management simpler and easier. That’s where a robust support network comes in. When choosing a CMS for the programmer, evaluate the following:

• Does CMS have strong documentation for developers and programmers?
• How stable is the CMS and how often do you need to contact support?
• Can you find support from other users on forums regarding any issues you face?

Top CMS platforms for developers

Contentstack

Contentstack is the leading headless CMS because of its stellar API functionalities and scalable applications. Its content-as-a-service (CaaS) model helps you connect with different front-end technologies. There’s no better option than Contentstack for enterprises looking to provide flawless user experiences.

Contentstack's modular nature, search engine optimization (SEO) features, live preview and automation features separate it from others on the list. Its advanced safety features set it apart and make it suitable for large projects. As a member of the MACH Alliance, Contentstack provides new possibilities and innovations for your business.

WordPress

WordPress is an open-source and one of the most popular content management systems. It's famous for its large number of plugins and simple layout. Programmers can tweak the CMS to fit different projects, from basic blogs to large corporate websites. WordPress is backed up by a large community that provides ample resources and answers to common questions. Compared with Contentstack, WordPress does not provide API and advanced content management functionalities.

Cons:

• Frequently targeted by hackers, requiring continuous updates and monitoring.
• Becomes slow and requires optimization, especially when using many plugins.

Contentful

Contentful is another solid player in the headless CMS market. It’s built with features that support current web applications, especially because of its rich API support. It supports multiple programming languages and contains language-agnostic functionality that fits well into front-end frameworks. Besides, Contentful is not customizable, and its interface is not as friendly as that of Contentstack.

Contentful supports multiple languages and can be easily implemented with front-end frameworks. However, it does not support customization and is less user-friendly than Contentstack. 

Cons:

• Costly for larger enterprises or high-traffic sites.
• While highly flexible, some advanced customizations may require significant coding effort.

Storyblok

Storyblok is a headless CMS with a visual editor. The platform provides intuitive tools for content creators while offering flexibility to developers. Through its robust API, Storyblok’s dual approach supports structured content and customization. Although the platform is versatile, it lacks advanced features and integration capabilities like Contentstack.

Cons:

• New users might find the initial learning phase challenging.
• Pricing can be higher depending on the required features and scale.

Sitecore

Sitecore provides improved marketing and personalization tools, making it the best choice for enterprise-level content management systems. The platform supports integrated solutions, providing a complex digital experience platform for content and customer management. However, because of Sitecore’s high total cost of ownership, long implementation, and complex features, it loses out to Contentstack.

Cons:

• Total cost of ownership is high: Sitecore's licensing and operations costs are high.
• Implementation time: Implementing and customizing Sitecore is time-consuming.
• Complexity: The platform's extensive features may require specialized training and expertise.

FAQs

What is CMS for coding?

A CMS for coding is a content management system that allows developers to write, manage and deploy code and content. These CMS platforms often support version control and collaboration features.

Do software engineers use a content management system?

Yes, software engineers use CMSs to simplify content management tasks, collaborate with content creators and streamline the web development process. CMSs help engineers focus on coding and technical aspects without worrying about content logistics.

Which CMS is best for beginners?

Contentstack is the best headless CMS platform for beginners. It offers a user-friendly interface, extensive documentation and a vast plugin ecosystem, helping you create customized experiences.

What CMS to use in 2024?

Choosing a CMS in 2024 depends on your specific needs. WordPress remains popular for general purposes, while Contentstack is the best headless CMS. Contentstack offers more flexibility and offers modern development practices.

Learn more

No two content management systems are the same—the best CMS is the one that serves your business needs without burning a hole in your pocket. Find one that prioritizes user experience, offers technological freedom and provides customized features based on your needs.

To know why choosing the right content management system for programmers transforms your development project, talk to us.