Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework for building modern, reactive web applications. Due to its simplicity, flexibility, and performance, it is a favorite among developers looking for a lightweight yet powerful alternative to larger frameworks like React and Angular.
One of Vue's biggest strengths is its reactive data binding, which makes UI updates smooth and efficient. It also follows a component-based architecture, allowing developers to break down UIs into reusable, maintainable parts.
While Vue excels at handling dynamic frontend experiences, effectively managing content requires a Content Management System (CMS).
Instead of hard-coding content into the application, a CMS allows developers and content teams to store, manage, and update content dynamically - whether for a blog, e-commerce store, or enterprise application.
This guide explores the eight best CMSs for Vue.js, covering headless and traditional options to help you choose the best fit for your project.
#What makes a CMS right for Vue.js?
If you're building a Vue.js application, choosing the right CMS isn't just about picking a tool with the right features - it's about making sure your content flows efficiently into your frontend without unnecessary friction.
Vue is all about reactivity, flexibility, and performance, so your CMS should complement that rather than slow you down.
Here are six key factors to keep in mind:
1. Headless CMS vs. Traditional CMS
Vue.js is frontend-only, with no built-in backend functionality. That means a CMS should focus on delivering content via APIs rather than forcing users into a templating system they don't need.
There are two broad categories of CMSs you'll come across:
Headless CMSs are built for this. They act purely as a content backend, giving you an API to fetch structured data while Vue handles the frontend rendering.
Traditional CMSs were originally designed as all-in-one systems, bundling content management with frontend templating. Many now offer headless modes, but these are often workarounds rather than native solutions.
Go headless if you want complete freedom to structure content and scale. If you're working with a legacy setup or need built-in admin features, a traditional CMS might still work.
2. How is your data fetched?
APIs are the bridge between Vue and your CMS, and how they handle data retrieval can make or break performance.
Most CMSs provide REST APIs, which work fine but come with a common issue: they return fixed responses, meaning you often get either too much data (over-fetching) or not enough (under-fetching), forcing additional API calls.
On the other hand, GraphQL APIs let you request exactly what you need - nothing more, nothing less. This is a huge advantage for Vue apps because it keeps API calls lightweight and improves overall performance.
If you're serious about performance, GraphQL should be high on your list when choosing a CMS. It's faster, more flexible, and works well with Vue's reactive nature. REST can still work, but you'll need caching strategies to avoid redundant calls and bloated responses.
3. How is content structured?
One of the most overlooked aspects of picking a CMS is how it lets you structure content.
In Vue, your UI is built around components, which means your CMS should support flexible content models that align with that structure. If a CMS forces everything into a rigid "post" and "page" system, you'll end up fighting against it instead of working with it.
A good CMS should let you define exactly how your content is organized, whether it's a blog post with multiple authors, a dynamic product catalog, or a multi-language content system.
If you've ever worked on a project where content didn't fit neatly into standard blog posts or pages, you know how frustrating it can be.
A CMS that allows custom content relationships, dynamic fields, and flexible taxonomies makes a huge difference, especially for Vue applications where component-driven UIs rely on structured, reusable content.
4. How are performance and scaling handled?
When building a Vue.js application, speed is everything. The last thing you want is a slow CMS that makes your app feel sluggish. There are a few key things to watch for here.
One of the first things to check is how the CMS delivers content. Some CMSs use CDN-backed APIs, meaning content is cached and served quickly from servers worldwide. Others rely purely on database queries, which can slow down response times as your content grows. If you're building a Vue app that serves global users, using a CMS with built-in content delivery optimization can make a massive difference in loading speeds.
Another important factor is media and asset handling. A Vue app that loads a lot of images, videos, or rich media will perform significantly better if the CMS automatically optimizes and serves assets efficiently. Some CMSs handle this for you, ensuring images are resized and compressed on the fly, while others leave it up to you, forcing you to set up third-party solutions.
5. How easy is it to work with?
This is probably the most underrated but crucial factor you'll be spending hours working with your CMS's API, so the developer experience needs to be smooth.
A CMS might have great features, but if the API is clunky, the documentation is weak, or you constantly hit roadblocks, it's going to slow you down. There are a few things that should be non-negotiable:
Good Documentation and SDKs-If a CMS has bad documentation, you're going to waste time debugging instead of building.
Webhooks and Automation-Does it allow you to trigger updates and events easily? This is useful for real-time updates and dynamic content apps.
Ease of Authentication-If you're handling user-generated content, check how authentication and role-based permissions are handled. Some CMSs make it seamless, while others require additional setup.
The last thing you want is a CMS that makes simple tasks unnecessarily complex. If a CMS has a great API but terrible documentation or missing features, it's not going to be worth the hassle.
6. How secure is the CMS?
Security isn't just about blocking attacks; it's about keeping your content safe and preventing costly mistakes. A good CMS should have encryption, audit logs, and role-based access control (RBAC) to manage who can do what. If you're working with sensitive data, SSO integration and granular permissions make access even more secure.
Compliance also matters. Depending on where your users are, you may need GDPR, CCPA, or SOC 2 certification. Some CMSs help with data privacy and consent management, while others leave it to you.
A CMS with strong security saves you from unnecessary risks. Check what's built in before committing.
#Top 8 CMSs for Vue.js
Now that we've set the foundation, let's explore ten carefully selected CMSs that work best with Vue.js, breaking down their strengths and ideal use cases.
1. Hygraph
Hygraph is one of the most advanced headless CMSs built for modern applications, making it a top choice for Vue.js projects.
As a GraphQL-native CMS, it provides a highly efficient API that lets you query only the data you need, reducing unnecessary API calls and improving performance.
One of its standout features is Content Federation, which is a game-changer for projects pulling content from multiple sources. Instead of manually integrating data from different APIs, external CMSs, or databases, Hygraph lets you unify everything into a single API.
From a developer's perspective, Hygraph is well-documented and easy to integrate with Vue.js. It works seamlessly with Apollo Client, has a global CDN for fast content delivery, and includes granular access controls for teams managing content at scale.
To recap and give you a list, here are the key features Hygraph has:
GraphQL-First Approach-Fetch exactly what you need with Hygraph's GraphQL API, improving performance and reducing API bloat.
Flexible Content Modeling-Define custom content types, relationships, and fields without being restricted by predefined templates.
Content Federation-Pull and unify content from multiple sources into a single GraphQL API, reducing integration headaches.
Localization Support-Manage multi-language content natively, making it perfect for global applications.
Scalability & Performance-Built on a global CDN with caching, ensuring fast, high-performance content delivery.
Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)-Fine-grained permissions for teams, making collaboration secure and efficient.
Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance-Hygraph meets GDPR, CCPA, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 compliance standards, ensuring data security and privacy. Features like audit logs, single sign-on (SSO) integration, automatic backups, and access controls help safeguard content and prevent unauthorized access.
API Playground & Developer Tools-Built-in API explorer, webhooks, and SDKs to streamline development.
Limitations: Hygraph is a GraphQL-native CMS, which means that if you've only worked with REST APIs, there's a bit of a learning curve before you can fully take advantage of its power. Since it's purely headless, there's no built-in frontend rendering, so you'll need to handle the UI separately, which makes it less suitable for teams looking for a no-code page builder.
Pricing:
Hygraph offers a free Hobby plan for individuals and small projects, with 3 seats, 5K content entries, and unlimited asset storage.
For businesses and larger teams:
Professional-$199/month (10 seats, 20K content entries)
Scale-$799/month (20 seats, 50K content entries)
Enterprise-Custom pricing for high-scale use cases
For the latest details, check the official pricing page.
2. Strapi
Strapi is an open-source, self-hostable headless CMS that gives developers full control over content and API structure.
Unlike SaaS-based CMSs like Hygraph, Strapi allows teams to host it on their own infrastructure or opt for Strapi Cloud. This flexibility makes it a great choice for developers who want deep customization, plugin support, and full ownership of their backend.
One of Strapi's strongest features is its API-first approach, allowing developers to quickly generate REST or GraphQL APIs through a visual Content-Type Builder. This makes setting up structured content simple, especially for Vue.js applications that consume dynamic data.
For those who prefer managed hosting, Strapi Cloud provides a fully optimized environment with PostgreSQL, auto-scaling, and CDN support. However, the cost can become higher over time than some SaaS-based alternatives.
To recap, here are some of Strapi's key features:
API-First (REST & GraphQL)-Automatically generate APIs for seamless content retrieval.
Content-Type Builder-Define content structures visually, reducing backend coding.
Customization & Plugins-Modify APIs, add marketplace plugins, and extend functionality as needed.
Dynamic Zones-Allow content editors to build and adjust pages without developer intervention.
Self-Hosting or Cloud Deployment-Deploy on your own infrastructure or use Strapi Cloud for managed hosting.
Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance-SOC 2 certified, GDPR-compliant, and offers features like audit logs, SSO, and access controls for secure collaboration.
Limitations: Since Strapi is self-hosted by default, users are fully responsible for setup, maintenance, security, and scalability. While this provides flexibility, it also adds overhead for teams without dedicated DevOps resources. The learning curve can also be steep for non-technical users.
Pricing:
Strapi offers a free community edition for self-hosted projects, but teams needing enterprise features like SSO, audit logs, and advanced workflows will need a paid plan. The lowest plan is the Growth plan, which costs $15/month per seat.
For Strapi Cloud pricing and other details, check the official pricing page.
3. Directus
Directus is an open-source data platform that serves as both a headless CMS and a backend-as-a-service (BaaS).
Unlike traditional CMSs, Directus provides an intuitive admin panel on top of any SQL database, letting developers manage structured content without imposing a fixed content model. It's fully unopinionated, meaning you can plug it into any frontend framework, including Vue.js, without constraints.
One of Directus' biggest strengths is its no-code Data Studio, which allows teams to manage complex datasets visually. It also provides instant REST and GraphQL APIs, workflow automation, and user authentication, making it a powerful backend for custom applications.
To summarize, here are the key features:
Database Agnostic-Works with any SQL database, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and SQLite.
Instant APIs-Auto-generates REST and GraphQL APIs for fast content retrieval.
No-Code Admin Panel-A visual UI for managing data and workflows.
User & Role Management-RBAC, authentication, and SSO support.
Extendable & Customizable-Supports plugins, custom endpoints, and automation flows.
Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance-SOC 2 certified, GDPR compliant, and offers fine-grained access controls, audit logs, and role-based security.
Limitations: Since Directus relies on an SQL database, it requires more setup than SaaS-based CMSs. While powerful, the learning curve can be steep for non-technical users, and self-hosting requires active maintenance to ensure security and performance.
Pricing:
Directus is free for self-hosting. For cloud-hosted plans:
Starter-$15/month (1 user, 5K database entries, 50K API requests).
Professional-$99/month (5 users, 75K database entries, 250K API requests).
Enterprise-Custom pricing for large-scale projects.
For more details, check the official pricing page.
4. Sanity
Sanity is a highly customizable headless CMS built for structured content and real-time collaboration.
Sanity provides a fully decoupled backend, allowing developers to model content with GROQ query language and serve it via real-time APIs. It integrates well with Vue.js, offering a TypeScript-friendly, schema-based approach to content management.
One of Sanity's standout features is Sanity Studio, a React-based, customizable CMS UI that enables content teams to manage and preview content in real time.
Key features:
Real-Time Content APIs-Deliver live-updating content via GROQ or GraphQL.
Sanity Studio-A fully customizable React-based UI for content editing.
Content Lake-A cloud-based content store with global CDN distribution.
Structured Content Modeling-Define flexible content types with JSON-based schemas.
AI Assist-Built-in AI-powered content generation and assistance.
Enterprise-Grade Security & Compliance-SOC 2, GDPR, and CCPA compliant, with RBAC, SSO, and audit logs.
Limitations: While Sanity is incredibly flexible, its code-driven approach means non-technical teams may find it harder to use without developer support. Additionally, GROQ has a learning curve compared to traditional SQL or GraphQL queries.
Pricing:
Sanity offers a free plan suited for individuals and small projects, including 20 seats, 10K documents, and 1M API requests. Paid plans start at $15 per seat per month with the Growth plan, which increases limits to 50 seats, 25K documents, and includes API/CDN upgrades. For more details, check the pricing page.
5. Contentful
Contentful is an enterprise-grade headless CMS built for composable content and scalable digital experiences. It allows teams to create, manage, and deliver content across multiple platforms with a structured approach.
Contentful is widely used by large organizations that need a centralized content hub with flexibility for developers and non-technical teams alike.
With Contentful Studio, teams can visually assemble content while maintaining design consistency and governance. Developers get access to REST and GraphQL APIs, while AI-driven features like content automation and personalization enhance efficiency.
Key features:
Composable Content Platform-Manage structured content that can be reused across channels.
AI-Powered Tools-Automate content creation, generate AI-driven copy, and personalize experiences with Ninetailed by Contentful.
Contentful Studio-A low-code editor for non-developers to create on-brand experiences.
Enterprise-Ready-SOC 2, GDPR, and CCPA compliance, with RBAC, SSO, and governance tools.
Robust API Support-GraphQL, REST APIs, and SDKs for various frameworks including Vue.js.
Limitations: Contentful is powerful but expensive as its pricing scales quickly for larger teams and advanced features. The structured, API-first approach may require developer involvement for setup and customization.
Pricing:
Contentful offers a Free plan for individuals and small projects, supporting 10 users and 100K API calls per month. Paid plans start with the Lite plan at $300 per month, which includes 20 users, 1M API calls, and scheduled publishing. For the latest details, check the official pricing page.
6. Prismic
Prismic is a headless CMS with an integrated page builder built around Slices, reusable content blocks that let marketers assemble pages visually while developers retain control over the site's structure. This hybrid approach combines the flexibility of a headless CMS with the ease of a page builder.
One of Prismic's standout features is Slice Machine, a local development tool that allows developers to create, test, and sync components before making them available in the visual editor. It ensures that marketing teams can build pages independently without breaking the design system.
Key Features:
Slice Machine-A local dev tool that generates editable page sections (Slices) for marketers.
Visual Page Builder-Non-technical users can build and update pages using pre-defined slices.
Deep Integration with Modern Frameworks-Optimized for Next.js, Nuxt, and SvelteKit, ensuring high performance.
Localization & Multi-Site Support-Manage multilingual content across different regions.
Previews & Scheduled Releases-Plan and test content updates before publishing.
Limitations: Prismic's API is more opinionated than Contentful or Sanity, limiting flexibility for developers who need highly customized queries. While the Slice Machine is powerful, it requires setup and a learning curve. Additionally, user limits and API quotas can quickly increase costs for growing teams.
Pricing:
Free for small projects. Paid plans start at $10/month for small teams, $150/month for scaling businesses, and custom pricing for enterprises. See the pricing page for more details.
7. Ghost
Ghost is a modern publishing platform optimized for content creators, newsletters, and paid memberships. While it provides an API for a headless setup, it's not a headless CMS in the traditional sense.
Instead, it's an opinionated, all-in-one platform built primarily for writers and publishers. Thus, developers don't often pick Ghost as their CMS unless they're already using it or specifically looking for a content-driven system.
If you're building a content-heavy site with built-in memberships, newsletters, and payments, Ghost is great. But if you need a flexible backend for structured content, Ghost likely won't be your first choice.
That said, Ghost does have some strong publishing-first features:
Built-in Membership & Payments-Ghost integrates with Stripe to handle paid subscriptions directly.
Native Email Newsletters-Send newsletters straight from Ghost, without needing Mailchimp or Substack.
Fast & SEO-friendly-Built-in performance optimizations, Open Graph, and AMP support.
Simple Theming System-Uses Handlebars templates, which are easy for non-developers to customize.
Headless API (Optional)-If you want, you can pull content via Ghost's REST API and use it headlessly.
Limitations: Ghost is not a typical CMS. It lacks structured content models, custom fields, and relationships, making it a poor choice for complex projects. If you don't plan on using its built-in themes and membership tools, there's little reason to pick Ghost over a more flexible system.
Pricing:
Ghost is free to self-host, but if you want managed hosting, Ghost (Pro) starts at $9/month for up to 500 members. See the pricing page for more information.
8. WordPress
WordPress is the most widely used CMS in the world, powering over 40% of websites. However, when it comes to modern web development and Vue.js applications, it's usually not the first choice unless someone is already deep in the WordPress ecosystem.
Unlike dedicated headless CMSs, WordPress was built as a traditional monolithic system. However, it can function as a headless CMS using its REST API or GraphQL via WPGraphQL, allowing developers to use WordPress for content management while delivering the frontend with Vue.js (or any other framework).
WordPress is everywhere, and that makes it appealing to businesses and clients who are already familiar with it. Its strengths include:
Massive Ecosystem-Thousands of themes, plugins, and an enormous developer community.
Customizable & Extendable-With custom post types, ACF (Advanced Custom Fields), and plugins like WPGraphQL, WordPress can be molded into different use cases.
SEO & Blogging Power-Originally built for blogging, WordPress still offers one of the best SEO-friendly content management experiences.
WooCommerce Support-If you're building an eCommerce site, WordPress integrates seamlessly with WooCommerce, making it a common choice for online stores.
Headless Mode (Optional)-With the REST API or WPGraphQL, WordPress can serve as a headless CMS while Vue.js handles the frontend.
Limitations: WordPress is not built for headless development by default. If you use it headlessly, you lose many built-in features (themes, menus, shortcodes, etc.), making it feel like a clunky workaround rather than a seamless solution.
Pricing:
WordPress pricing varies depending on the host. Self-hosted WordPress is free, but hosting, themes, and plugins can add up, with some hosting providers charging up to $30/month just for hosting alone.
#Final thoughts
Choosing the right CMS for your Vue.js project comes down to your specific needs, technical stack, and scalability requirements. Whether you prioritize structured content modeling, API performance, or editorial experience, there's an option suited for your workflow.
If you're looking for a GraphQL-native, API-first CMS that integrates seamlessly with Vue, Hygraph is an excellent choice. With its powerful content APIs, intuitive schema management, and real-time GraphQL capabilities, it makes content delivery efficient for developers while offering a flexible, user-friendly experience for editors.
Ready to start? Check out Hygraph's Vue integration guide to see how you can connect your Vue application with Hygraph in just a few steps.
Blog Author
Katie Lawson
Content Writer
Katie is a freelance writer based in Amsterdam who talks a lot about B2B SaaS and MACH technologies. She’s always looking for good book recommendations.