What is WordPress?
Although primarily a monolithic CMS—tightly bundling the backend (content management) and frontend (presentation) layers with an intuitive dashboard—WordPress now supports headless capabilities. Not only does WordPress now work as a headless CMS, but it also does so at an enterprise scale.
When considering Strapi vs WordPress as a CMS, especially a headless CMS, it’s natural to discount WordPress and think it isn’t a headless-first solution but rather something retrofitted for headless capabilities.
But the fact is, WordPress has introduced headless functionality to its platform in an exceptionally thoughtful way. It strikes a great balance between its traditional monolithic roots and modern API-driven architecture, making it a standout in the agile CMS category.
With WordPress, you get the best of all worlds, thanks to its flexibility as a CMS:
- You can use WordPress as a (traditional) single-stack CMS.
- Alternatively, you can choose a headless implementation, building custom frontends for delivering bespoke digital experiences while using WordPress as your content hub and delivering content via APIs.
- For ultimate versatility, WordPress also supports a hybrid approach. Here, you can use WordPress traditionally for your website’s frontend while simultaneously delivering dynamic content to other platforms like mobile apps or custom web applications via APIs. This gives you flexibility in how you structure your site, allowing you to leverage the full power of WordPress for content management while embracing the flexibility of headless architecture where it makes sense for performance, scalability, and user experience.
WordPress’s journey from a monolithic CMS to a flexible, headless-ready platform makes it a strong competitor to Strapi, especially for organizations seeking a balanced solution that supports all stakeholders: content creators, developers, and IT resources. While Strapi’s headless-first design excels in developer environments, WordPress’s adaptability and extensive ecosystem make it a versatile choice for teams with diverse needs.
