If you develop apps or websites, there’s a good chance you're using either Next.js or Nuxt.
Both of these open source frameworks are for building server-rendered applications – Next.js works with React and Nuxt is for Vue. Both Next and Nuxt provide a ton of built-in features, such as automatic code splitting, server-side rendering and static site generation, which make it easy to build high-performance applications.
According to our recent research, nearly 40% of Directus developers use Nuxt and/or Next.js frameworks.
Chances are, you prefer one over the other. The question is, which headless CMS should you use with your preferred front-end framework? In other words, what’s the best Next CMS, and what’s the best Nuxt CMS?
Although Directus is a popular Headless CMS option, our core values are transparency and open candor. So, we wanted to make sure you knew about other great CMS options out there because we know not every solution works for every problem.
With so many to choose from – Contentful, Strapi, Prismic, and Sanity, to name a few – it's important to evaluate each CMS against your specific needs and requirements before making a decision.
Considerations for choosing a headless CMS
When choosing a headless CMS for your front-end development framework, here's a checklist of things you should consider.
1 - Content modeling
Look for a CMS that allows you to model your content in a way that is flexible and matches your content structure. A good CMS should allow you to create custom content types, fields and relationships.
2 - API and integrations
A headless CMS should provide an API that allows you to easily access your content from your front-end framework. It should also offer integrations with popular front-end frameworks and other tools you use in your development workflow.
3 - Performance and scalability
Your headless CMS should be able to handle large amounts of traffic and scale as your application grows. Look for one that offers caching and CDN options to improve performance.
4 - User interface
Even though you're going headless, the CMS still needs to be easy to use for content editors. Look for a headless CMS with a user-friendly interface that allows editors to create, edit, and publish content without needing technical skills.
5 - Security
Make sure the solution has robust security features to protect your content and user data.
6 - Pricing
Consider the pricing model of the headless CMS – whether it's based on usage, features, or subscription – and choose the one that fits best with your budget.
What Are the Best Headless CMS Options for Next.js or Nuxt?
There are several CMS options that work well with both Next.js and Nuxt.js, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here are a few popular options to consider:
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Contentful is a popular headless CMS with a robust API and allows for easy integration with other tools in your workflow. It offers a user-friendly interface for content editors, allowing them to create and manage content without needing technical skills.
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Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that can be easily integrated with Next or Nuxt. It’s also user friendly and allows for easy content modeling and customization. Strapi’s API can be customized to fit your needs, as well.
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Cosmic JS is a cloud-hosted headless CMS that can be easily integrated with Nuxt.js. It offers a user-friendly interface for content editors and allows for easy content modeling. Cosmic JS also provides a powerful API and supports real-time content updates.
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Sanity is another flexible and customizable headless CMS that works well with both frameworks. It offers a real-time collaborative editing interface, making it easy for content editors to work together on content, and a powerful API for easy content modeling.
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GraphCMS is a GraphQL-based headless CMS with a user-friendly interface, easy content modeling and a powerful API. It supports real-time content updates, as well.
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DatoCMS is another cloud-based headless CMS with the typical array of features: user-friendly interface, simple content modeling, and a robust API for integrating with front-end frameworks.
While most headless CMS solutions that work with Next.js also work with Nuxt.js, there are a few that are more tailored to one framework over the other or have specific features that work better as a Next CMS or a Nuxt CMS.
What are some lesser-known Headless CMS options for Next.js or Nuxt?
For example, TinaCMS is a lightweight and modular content management system that integrates seamlessly with Next.js, allowing developers to create custom content management interfaces directly within their Next.js applications.
Another example is ButterCMS, which provides a Next.js plugin that simplifies the process of retrieving and rendering content from the CMS in a Next.js application. The plugin includes features such as automatic static site generation and preview mode, which can be useful for building high-performance and dynamic Next.js applications.
For Nuxt.js developers, StoryBlok, or Kentico. These solutions offer specific integrations with Nuxt.js, providing a simple and powerful way to retrieve content from the CMS and render it in a Nuxt.js application.
What about Directus as a Headless CMS?
As mentioned, Directus is also a great option for your Headless CMS needs. Directus is a cloud-based open data platform that can be used as a more than just a CMS for any digital project.
It is completely unopinionated, so you can use any framework you like. Directus features a robust RESTful API that allows you to access and manipulate data from any application or programming language, and because it lays on top of your database, there’s no data migration necessary.
If you're looking for a more advanced solution, Directus offers several features that some other solutions lack:
- The ability to create custom data models that fit your specific needs, with support for complex relationships, data types, and validation rules.
- A modular architecture that makes it easy to customize and extend the platform with custom functionality and integrations.
- Support for real-time updates, allowing you to instantly see changes to data made by other users or applications.
- A powerful access control system, allowing you to manage permissions and roles for users and groups, as well as providing audit logs to track changes.
- A built-in media library for managing images, videos, and other files, with support for resizing, cropping and optimizing media for web use.
- Built-in support for multilingual content and data, with the ability to create and manage translations for any field or value.
- It’s important to note that Directus can be used for a wide range of applications outside of headless CMS, including database management and a wide array of API-driven applications.
Ultimately, the best CMS for your preferred frontend framework will depend on your specific needs and requirements. It's important to evaluate each CMS against your use case and choose the one that fits best with your workflow.