What AI assistants actually recommend when buyers ask about headless cms platforms — measured weekly across 4 engines, published as open data.
Updated 2026-08-01 · 54 sampled answers · rolling 4-week window · methodology
Rankings are measured from sampled AI answers — never editorial, never paid. Orbator builds AI-visibility tooling; when Orbator itself appears in any category, it is measured by the same rules as everyone else.
Sample: 54 AI answers · Window: Jul 4, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 (4-week rolling) · trend vs prior 4 weeks (42 answers)
Across 54 sampled AI answers from 4 engines, Strapi is recommended most often — appearing in 64.8% of recommendations, followed by Sanity (61.1%) and Contentful (61.1%).
This is a measurement of share of voice across 4 AI engines — not an editorial pick. See the full ranking below.
| # | Product | Share | Trend | Engines | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strapi strapi.io Best for: AI recommends Strapi most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (100% of those answers) | 64.8% 95% CI 51.5–76.2% 35 mentions · avg pos 7.9 first pick 25.7% | — | GEMINI 61.9%CHATGPT 80%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 66.7% | Claim |
| 2 | Sanity sanity.io Best for: AI recommends Sanity most when buyers ask “what should I use as a headless CMS for a Next.js marketing site” (100% of those answers) | 61.1% 95% CI 47.8–73% 33 mentions · avg pos 6.1 first pick 27.3% | — | GEMINI 52.4%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 66.7% | Claim |
| 3 | Contentful contentful.com Best for: AI recommends Contentful most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (100% of those answers) | 61.1% 95% CI 47.8–73% 33 mentions · avg pos 7.9 first pick 9.1% | — | GEMINI 57.1%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 71.4%PERPLEXITY 61.9% | Claim |
| 4 | Storyblok storyblok.com Best for: AI recommends Storyblok most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (80% of those answers) | 50% 95% CI 37.1–62.9% 27 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 7.4% | — | GEMINI 52.4%CHATGPT 40%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 47.6% | Claim |
| 5 | Next.js nextjs.org Best for: AI recommends Next.js most when buyers ask “what should I use as a headless CMS for a Next.js marketing site” (100% of those answers) | 44.4% 95% CI 32–57.6% 24 mentions · avg pos 5.2 first pick 16.7% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 57.1%PERPLEXITY 52.4% | Claim |
| 6 | Payload payloadcms.com Best for: AI recommends Payload most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (80% of those answers) | 40.7% 95% CI 28.7–54% 22 mentions · avg pos 7.1 first pick 9.1% | — | GEMINI 33.3%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 42.9% | Claim |
| 7 | Directus directus.io Best for: AI recommends Directus most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (100% of those answers) | 37% 95% CI 25.4–50.4% 20 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 5% | — | GEMINI 42.9%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 8 | Prismic prismic.io Best for: AI recommends Prismic most when buyers ask “what should I use as a headless CMS for a Next.js marketing site” (90% of those answers) | 31.5% 95% CI 20.7–44.7% 17 mentions · avg pos 8.2 first pick 5.9% | — | GEMINI 42.9%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 28.6% | Claim |
| 9 | Hygraph hygraph.com Best for: AI recommends Hygraph most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (70% of those answers) | 27.8% 95% CI 17.6–40.9% 15 mentions · avg pos 15.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 19% | Claim |
| 10 | React react.dev Best for: AI recommends React most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (50% of those answers) | 22.2% 95% CI 13.2–34.9% 12 mentions · avg pos 14.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%CHATGPT 60%CLAUDE 28.6%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 11 | Contentstack contentstack.com Best for: AI recommends Contentstack most when buyers ask “which headless CMS has the best real-time preview and collaboration features” (66.7% of those answers) | 18.5% 95% CI 10.4–30.8% 10 mentions · avg pos 6.2 first pick 30% | — | GEMINI 9.5%CLAUDE 42.9%PERPLEXITY 23.8% | Claim |
| 12 | WordPress wordpress.com Best for: AI recommends WordPress most when buyers ask “headless CMS platforms vs traditional CMS platforms for content teams” (70% of those answers) | 16.7% 95% CI 9–28.7% 9 mentions · avg pos 11.6 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 28.6%CHATGPT 20%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 13 | Decap CMS Best for: AI recommends Decap CMS most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (90% of those answers) | 14.8% 95% CI 7.7–26.6% 8 mentions · avg pos 19.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 20%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 14 | Node.js nodejs.org Best for: AI recommends Node.js most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (40% of those answers) | 13% 95% CI 6.4–24.4% 7 mentions · avg pos 4.3 first pick 14.3% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 40%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 15 | GraphCMS graphcms.com Best for: AI recommends GraphCMS most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (40% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 9.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 23.8%CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 16 | Ghost ghost.org Best for: AI recommends Ghost most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (70% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 12.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%CHATGPT 20%PERPLEXITY 14.3% | Claim |
| 17 | Cosmic cosmicjs.com Best for: AI recommends Cosmic most when buyers ask “best headless CMS for modern web applications” (55.6% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 15.5 first pick 16.7% | — | GEMINI 19%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 18 | DatoCMS datocms.com Best for: AI recommends DatoCMS most when buyers ask “what should I use as a headless CMS for a Next.js marketing site” (50% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 18.6 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 19%CHATGPT 40% | Claim |
| 19 | Netlify netlify.com Best for: AI recommends Netlify most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (90% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 21.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 20%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 20 | Netlify CMS netlifycms.org Best for: AI recommends Netlify CMS most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (90% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 21.8 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%CHATGPT 20%CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 21 | Drupal drupal.org Best for: AI recommends Drupal most when buyers ask “headless CMS platforms vs traditional CMS platforms for content teams” (50% of those answers) | 11.1% 95% CI 5.2–22.2% 6 mentions · avg pos 24.4 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%CHATGPT 40%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 22 | KeystoneJS keystonejs.com Best for: AI recommends KeystoneJS most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (60% of those answers) | 7.4% 95% CI 2.9–17.6% 4 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 23 | Agility CMS agilitycms.com Best for: AI recommends Agility CMS most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (50% of those answers) | 7.4% 95% CI 2.9–17.6% 4 mentions · avg pos 9.3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 24 | ButterCMS buttercms.com Best for: AI recommends ButterCMS most when buyers ask “best API-first content management systems for developer teams” (60% of those answers) | 7.4% 95% CI 2.9–17.6% 4 mentions · avg pos 11 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 25 | Heretto heretto.com Best for: AI recommends Heretto most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (40% of those answers) | 5.6% 95% CI 1.9–15.1% 3 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 26 | dotCMS dotcms.com | 5.6% 95% CI 1.9–15.1% 3 mentions · avg pos 6.7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 14.3% | Claim |
| 27 | Builder.io builder.io | 5.6% 95% CI 1.9–15.1% 3 mentions · avg pos 7 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 28 | Acquia acquia.com Best for: AI recommends Acquia most when buyers ask “what should I use as a headless CMS for a Next.js marketing site” (50% of those answers) | 5.6% 95% CI 1.9–15.1% 3 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 29 | Quark quark.com Best for: AI recommends Quark most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (40% of those answers) | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions · avg pos 2 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 30 | Vue | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions · avg pos 3 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 9.5% | Claim |
| 31 | Adobe business.adobe.com Best for: AI recommends Adobe most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 32 | Joomla joomla.org Best for: AI recommends Joomla most when buyers ask “headless CMS platforms vs traditional CMS platforms for content teams” (40% of those answers) | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions · avg pos 34 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 20% | Claim |
| 33 | Sitecore sitecore.com Best for: AI recommends Sitecore most when buyers ask “headless CMS platforms vs traditional CMS platforms for content teams” (30% of those answers) | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions · avg pos 35 first pick 0% | — | CHATGPT 20%PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 34 | ApostropheCMS apostrophecms.org | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions · avg pos 62.5 first pick 0% | — | GEMINI 4.8%CHATGPT 20% | Claim |
| 35 | Dev.to dev.to Best for: AI recommends Dev.to most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (30% of those answers) | 3.7% 95% CI 1–12.5% 2 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 9.5% | Claim |
| 36 | Optimizely optimizely.com | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions · avg pos 4 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 37 | Webiny webiny.com | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions · avg pos 8 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 38 | Cockpit getcockpit.com | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions · avg pos 9 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 39 | Kirby CMS | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions · avg pos 10 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 40 | Umbraco umbraco.com | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions · avg pos 13 first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 41 | Kontent.ai kontent.ai | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions · avg pos 23 first pick 0% | — | CLAUDE 14.3% | Claim |
| 42 | BCMS thebcms.com | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 43 | Brightspot brightspot.com Best for: AI recommends Brightspot most when buyers ask “headless CMS platforms vs traditional CMS platforms for content teams” (40% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 44 | Contensis contensis.com Best for: AI recommends Contensis most when buyers ask “headless CMS platforms vs traditional CMS platforms for content teams” (40% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 45 | Ingeniux ingeniux.com Best for: AI recommends Ingeniux most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 46 | MadCap Software madcapsoftware.com Best for: AI recommends MadCap Software most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 47 | Pantheon pantheon.io Best for: AI recommends Pantheon most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 48 | RWS rws.com Best for: AI recommends RWS most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 49 | SourceForge sourceforge.net Best for: AI recommends SourceForge most when buyers ask “open-source alternatives to commercial headless CMS platforms” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 50 | WP VIP wpvip.com Best for: AI recommends WP VIP most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
| 51 | WoodWing woodwing.com Best for: AI recommends WoodWing most when buyers ask “how do I manage structured content for a multi-channel publishing strategy” (30% of those answers) | 1.9% 95% CI 0.3–9.8% 1 mentions first pick 0% | — | PERPLEXITY 4.8% | Claim |
Reading the numbers: Share is a point estimate on 54 sampled answers, so each row also shows its 95% CI — the Wilson score interval around that share. When two products' intervals overlap, the gap between them isn't statistically meaningful at this sample size. First pick is the share of a product's recommending answers where it was named first, which separates “always mentioned” from “usually the top recommendation”. Full methodology.
Independence: Orbator customers are badged for disclosure. Customer status does not affect prompts, sampling, extraction, or ranking — see the methodology. Your product on this list? Claim it to see the prompts behind your rank and track it weekly.
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