WordPress dominates with 43.61% market share, but headless CMS systems like Strapi and Contentful are revolutionizing the way content is managed, enabling up to 3x faster page loading times and complete design flexibility. For Croatian companies looking for the optimal CMS, the choice depends on three key factors: technical requirements, budget, and long-term growth strategy.
The CMS market today offers three main approaches: WordPress as the traditional solution with the largest user base, headless CMS systems that separate content management from presentation, and custom CMS systems for specific business needs. Agencies like Version2 testify that the right CMS selection strategy can significantly impact the success of digital business, especially in the context of the Croatian market where 85% searches are conducted via mobile devices.
WordPress remains king, but with new rules of the game
WordPress still manages 61.3% of all websites using a well-known CMS, which in practice means over 518 million active pages globally. For Croatian companies, WordPress represents a familiar and secure solution with a huge base of local developers and agencies offering support.
A modern WordPress installation is no longer just a blog platform. The Gutenberg editor enables visual editing of entire pages, while the WordPress REST API opens the door headless implementationsWooCommerce, a WordPress e-commerce plugin, powers 28% of all online stores globally, making it ideal for Croatian entrepreneurs entering e-commerce.
The advantages of WordPress are particularly evident in:
- Small and medium-sized businesses with limited budgets
- Content-heavy projects like news portals or corporate blogs
- E-commerce businesses that need a fast and reliable solution
However, WordPress shows weaknesses in complex enterprise solutions where security and scalability become critical. Regular plugin updates and security patches require ongoing attention, which Smashing Magazine points out as the main reason why many companies are moving to headless architecture.
The Headless CMS Revolution is Changing the Rules of the Game
Headless CMS systems represent a modern architecture that separates content management from presentation. Instead of a monolithic approach where everything is integrated, headless systems offer an API-first approach that enables the delivery of content to any platform – web, mobile applications, IoT devices or digital displays.
Strappy, as the leading open-source headless CMS, enables complete control over data and infrastructure. With support for GraphQL and REST APIs, Strapi is ideal for developers who want flexibility without vendor lock-in. The basic plan is free for self-hosting, while cloud solutions start at $99 per month.
Contentful dominates the enterprise segment with a 35,84% market share among headless CMS systems. Intuitive content modeling and advanced live preview capabilities make it popular with large teams. The $489/month price tag may be a barrier for smaller companies, but the ROI is evident through improved performance and developer productivity.
Sanity is distinguished by real-time collaboration and the GROQ query language, which enables extremely flexible data retrieval. With a free tier that covers most of the needs of small projects, Sanity represents a great balance between functionality and price.
The advantages of the headless approach are particularly visible in:
- Multi-channel strategy where the same content goes to the web, mobile apps and other platforms
- Projects that require maximum performance through static site generation
- Teams that want to use modern frontend frameworks like Next.js or Nuxt.js
Customized CMS systems for unique business needs
Custom CMS solutions represent a third option for companies with specific requirements that standard solutions cannot satisfyVersion2, an agency with 25+ years of experience, emphasizes that custom systems allow for complete control over functionality and security, which is crucial for companies in regulated industries.
Developing a custom CMS requires a significant initial investment – from $20,000 for basic systems to over $400,000 for enterprise solutions. The development time frame ranges from 2-3 months for MVP to 6-12 months for complete enterprise solutions.
Custom CMS makes sense when:
- Existing processes require unique workflow integrations
- Security requirements exceed standard capabilities
- Expected growth requires unlimited scalability
- Unique functionalities represent a competitive advantage
How to make the right decision for your company
Choosing the right CMS system requires analysis of current needs and future goals. For small businesses with a limited budget, WordPress remains the most cost-effective choice with a fast time-to-market. Medium-sized companies planning for growth should consider headless options that allow gradual migration and scaling.
Key questions for evaluation:
- What are your technical resources? WordPress requires the least technical knowledge, while headless and custom solutions need experienced developers.
- What are your growth plans? Headless architecture enables easier scaling and addition of new channels.
- What is your budget? WordPress is the cheapest to start with, but the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) can be higher due to maintenance.
- What are your security needs? Custom solutions offer the highest level of security control.
According to A List Apart research, a successful CMS strategy aligns technology choices with business goals. For the Croatian market, where mobile traffic dominates, performance and loading speed become critical factors that often favor modern headless approaches.
Conclusion: the future is flexible
The CMS industry in 2025 is characterized by a trend towards composable architecture – a combination of the best tools for every part of the business. WordPress remains dominant due to its accessibility, headless systems offer unrivaled flexibility, while custom solutions allow for complete control.
For Croatian businesses, the key to success lies in choosing a system that not only meets current needs, but also allows for growth and adaptation to future trends. Whether you choose WordPress for a quick start, headless for a modern architecture, or a custom solution for unique needs, the focus must be on long-term strategy and user experience.
