Choosing a CMS: Netlify, Sanity, or Storyblok?
October 21, 2025
Most people don’t think about their CMS until it’s too late.
Usually, it’s when they’re three months into running a new website, trying to update one word on the homepage, and quietly Googling “what does headless mean.”
If you’ve ever felt locked out of your own site, or stuck paying someone just to change a heading, this one’s for you.
Let’s break down what a CMS actually is, and why Netlify CMS, Sanity, and Storyblok are three brilliant (and refreshingly modern) options — depending on how hands-on you want to be.
What Is a CMS, Really?
A CMS (Content Management System) is just the tool you use to manage and update your website content — without needing to open your code editor or email your developer in a panic.
Think of it as the friendly layer between you and your site’s code.
You write blog posts, change images, and tweak text — it updates the real site automatically.
If your current setup involves sending a spreadsheet and 12 screenshots to your developer every time you want to change something, you don’t have a CMS. You have a hostage situation.
Netlify CMS — Perfect for Simple, No-Fuss Editing
If you want something lightweight and easy, Netlify CMS is a dream.
It’s open source, works with static site generators (like Next.js), and gives you a clean dashboard to edit content directly.
Why it’s great
- Visual editing: You can see changes instantly while editing.
- Version control: Every change saves in Git, so you can undo mistakes easily.
- Free to use: No subscriptions or hidden pricing.
- Ideal for small sites: Portfolios, service pages, or simple marketing sites.
Why it might not suit you
If you’ve got multiple authors, lots of dynamic data, or you want to expand into something complex later (like custom dashboards or multi-language content), you’ll probably outgrow it.
Sanity — Structured, Scalable, and Seriously Powerful
Sanity is the one for people who like control — or, let’s be honest, for developers like me who want flexibility and visual editing.
It’s a “structured content” CMS, which means you define exactly how your content works — products, blog posts, testimonials, anything. Then Sanity gives your team a clean editing interface built on those rules.
Why it’s great
- Real-time visual editing: Their new Studio editor lets you see content changes live on your actual site.
- Structured data: Perfect if you want to repurpose content across pages or apps.
- Collaborative: Multiple users can edit together (like Google Docs).
- Developer-friendly: Integrates beautifully with frameworks like Next.js.
Why it might not suit you
It’s powerful — but that also means setup is more technical. Once it’s in place though, it’s an absolute joy to use and scales beautifully with growing businesses.
Storyblok — The Visual Builder for Non-Developers
Storyblok is the CMS for people who want a drag-and-drop experience but still want developer-grade flexibility behind it.
It’s technically headless (so it can feed any site or app), but it doesn’t feel headless — you get a full visual editor that lets you move components around and preview content live.
Why it’s great
- True visual editing: You drag, drop, and preview content on the actual page.
- Component-based: Perfect for modular sites built with reusable sections.
- Multilingual support: Built in, not bolted on.
- Editor-friendly: Ideal if you want full control without touching code.
Why it might not suit you
It’s subscription-based and slightly pricier than Netlify CMS or Sanity, but for most small businesses the time saved in editing easily covers the cost.
Which One Should You Pick?
If you like charts, here’s the quick-fire summary:
| CMS | Best For | Skill Level | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netlify CMS | Simple static sites | Beginner | Free |
| Sanity | Custom, scalable sites | Intermediate | Free tier + usage-based |
| Storyblok | Visual, modular websites | Beginner–Intermediate | From ~$25/mo |
In plain English:
- Netlify CMS → you want simple, visual editing and don’t need fancy data structures.
- Sanity → you want flexibility, scalability, and a future-proof system.
- Storyblok → you want drag-and-drop editing that still looks professional.
My Take (a.k.a. How I Build)
When I create custom websites, I usually choose between Sanity and Storyblok — depending on how much control the client wants.
If they want something they can update themselves easily, I lean Storyblok.
If they want total structure and plan to scale, Sanity wins every time.
Both give clients real control without breaking the design or depending on me forever — which is the point, isn’t it?
Final Thought
Your CMS should make running your website feel easy — not like defusing a bomb every time you want to change a headline.
If you’re constantly saying “I don’t want to break anything,” it’s time to upgrade your setup.
A well-chosen CMS saves time, protects your sanity, and keeps your site consistent — even when you’re editing at 2am.
→ Need help picking the right CMS for your next build?
I help small businesses choose and set up the best system for their goals — whether that’s a simple Netlify build, a flexible Sanity setup, or a Storyblok-powered masterpiece.
Get in touch →