Key Differences Between Headless and Traditional CMS (Pros and Cons)

If you manage a website, understanding the differences between headless and traditional CMS may be the key to implementing an effective strategy for content delivery. 

Headless CMS systems have been gaining traction over recent years as they offer users (marketers, webmasters, content managers…) more flexibility when it comes to designing and delivering content across multiple channels. 

Still trying to figure out what a headless CMS is? 

Don't worry, you're about to find out! 

Read on for an exploration of the pros and cons associated with these two approaches, so that you can decide whether one will work better than the other for your organization's needs.

What is a CMS?

A CMS (Content Management System) is a powerful tool that allows users to easily manage their digital content. 

It provides a unified framework for creating and editing web pages, storing images, and performing other tasks without needing to have coding knowledge. 

Furthermore, a content management system streamlines the core functions of website building, thereby enabling users to focus on elements with more immediate impact such as page layout and design. 

Gone are the days when building a website meant hours of agonizing over HTML code - at this point, all that hard work has been pared down to just a few clicks and swipes. 

Whether you're an amateur blogger with great ideas or a business expanding its online presence, investing in a content management system makes perfect sense.

Finally, some of the most popular CMS platforms are WordPress, Contentful, Strapi, Magnolia, Drupal, WooCommerce, and Shopify.

Traditional CMS (Pros and Cons)

Traditional Content Management Systems (CMS) have been around for decades, offering an effective way to manage complex content. 

For example, traditional CMS solutions, such as WordPress and Drupal, have proved to be invaluable for many businesses by allowing them to quickly and easily create and manage their web presence. 

These platforms negate the need to develop complex back-end applications from scratch while providing an efficient connection between the front-end and back-end components of a website. 

In order for the content from the CMS to be displayed correctly on the front-end, it is necessary to test the web application first.

Advantages of using a traditional CMS

• Easy to use (easy to deploy, manage, and test)
• The entire site is served from a single system
• Pre-built templates and themes
• Lower technical barrier to entry

Disadvantages of traditional CMS

• Lack of modularity (it is unable to accommodate new channels and business models)
• Limited flexibility
• Website-only content
• Complicated redesign

Headless CMS (Pros and Cons)

A Headless CMS is an innovative content management system that utilizes the "headless" concept of separating Frontend (i.e., the website or app) from Backend (i.e., the content repository, database, etc.) to provide a flexible and efficient way to manage and deliver data across multiple platforms. 

It focuses on creating, storing, and delivering structured content so content editors can easily collaborate on new projects. 

Moreover, Headless CMS systems are built from the ground up as a backend-only repository, which every platform or device can access through a secure API. 

By utilizing this technology, organizations have accurate control over their content to ensure consistency across all digital properties and maximize return on investment.

Benefits of using Headless CMS

• Omnichannel experience (you can distribute content across various platforms from a single backend)
• Greater flexibility
• Scalability and easy redesign
• Front-end agnostic (allows developers to use their preferred frameworks and tools)

Cons Headless CMS

• Dependency on maintenance 
• No content previews without using third-party tools
• High costs for implementation and maintenance

Traditional CMS VS Headless CMS - Which is better?

When it comes to developing a website, content management systems (CMSs) act as the foundation and provide an interface between developers and editors. 

The most common type is the traditional CMS, which delivers content through predefined page templates. 

However, headless CMSs have recently gained traction in recent years because they decouple the back end from the front end and make it more agile for businesses providing them with more flexibility. 

Depending on their requirements, businesses need to evaluate both types of CMSs for their projects and use cases before deciding which one better fits their needs.

To make it easier for you to decide which one will be the best fit for your project, we have compared their main characteristics and features in the following table:

We can conclude that traditional CMS websites are suitable for simpler web applications that have static resources whereas headless CMS websites come in handy for complex applications where multiple devices are involved and speed is a major necessity. 

It's important to consider architecture implications when making this decision as well.

Traditional CMS architectures can make difficult changes because there is often less integration with other systems while headless architectures offer improved scalability options and make integrations easier.

Conclusion

Ultimately, it’s up to the website builder to decide which system is best for their needs - headless or traditional. 

For those who want more control over data generation, styling, and overall design, then a headless CMS may be a better option. 

Likewise, if you don't have the coding skills necessary for the customization of your site, then using a traditional content management system can help build beautiful websites quickly and easily. 

On the other hand, if you still need help in the field of creating web and mobile apps, and e-commerce, we are here to help.

Experts at custom software development company Code Bears are here to assist you with your needs, so feel free to contact us and schedule your meeting.

Thank you for reading!