Best Headless CMS Software — Free & Paid (2026)

Explore and compare 6 Headless CMS tools on FreeSoftwareX (E-commerce & CMS). Browse free, open-source and commercial options side by side — compare features, licensing and price — and find the right fit for your business.

What is Headless CMS software?

Headless CMS software helps teams handle their headless cms needs within E-commerce & CMS. On this page you can compare the leading options by licence model — 5 free / open-source and 1 paid / freemium tool — so you can shortlist by budget, features and support before you commit.

Top free & open-source Headless CMS

CockpitDirectus-style SquidexKeystoneJSPayload CMSStrapi

Top paid & freemium Headless CMS

Contentful

Popular Headless CMS tools

Cockpit — Open SourceContentful — PaidDirectus-style Squidex — Open SourceKeystoneJS — Open SourcePayload CMS — Open SourceStrapi — Open Source

How to choose Headless CMS

Start with your must-have features and budget. Open-source and free tools suit lean teams and those who can self-host; freemium lets you trial before paying; commercial tools add vendor support and guarantees. Compare the shortlisted Headless CMS above, then request a quote or demo free.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best free Headless CMS?
Popular free and open-source Headless CMS options include Cockpit and others listed above. The best choice depends on your features, team size and whether you can self-host.
How many Headless CMS tools are listed?
FreeSoftwareX currently lists 6 Headless CMS tools, spanning free, open-source, freemium and commercial licences.
Are there free Headless CMS options?
Yes — 5 of the Headless CMS tools listed are free or open source. See "Top free & open-source Headless CMS" above.
Browse live leads →List your business free