I recently wrote a blog on the many benefits of headless CMS (efficiency, flexibility, cost effectiveness, higher levels of security, etc,). Yet, I did not focus on one of the main competitors of headless CMS: no-code website builders.

In simple terms, no-code website builders remove the software development process through a user interface, which makes it accessible to all people regardless of their background in tech. Typically, no-code website builders are used for a specific use case. They often provide a number of templates users drag and drop to build their website and/or app, which do not need to be installed or deployed. 

There are many benefits to these no-code website builders:

• Rapid Development and Innovation: Because no-code website builders use ready-made building templates, companies can move from an initial idea to a MVP to a finished product very quickly.
• Little Need for Software Developers: It is well documented that companies around the world are struggling to hire software developers. No-code website tools obviously do not require developers, so companies can make moves without going through a time consuming hiring process.
• Lesser Initial Costs: Besides efficiency, not hiring developers can save companies thousands of dollars. Pre-built and out-of-the-box solutions make no-code tools significantly more cost effective than other tech solutions.
  

However, there are some limitations of no-code site builders:

• Limited Flexibility and Future Planning: Today, there are no-code tools for multiple uses. However, if a company’s project grows beyond these “typical” cases, companies must add additional no-code tools to fit these needs. As they “stack on top” of one another, these tools become difficult to use very quickly. In contrast, a headless CMS gives developers the ability to customize a project in a single place.
• Missing Records: When developers create a new platform, such as a headless CMS, they document their build process. Yet, when a company uses no-code tools, this documentation process is lost. While this is usually okay while companies solely use no-code tools, if, in the future, a company decides to move to a new system, this lack of documentation becomes incredibly important. Headless CMS, however, allow developers to rework the platform immediately, and document those changes as they go.
• Higher Costs in the Future: While I mentioned above that headless CMS are often pricier than no-code tools, as the number of content projects increases, compliance challenges and data governance risks increase, as well. These increases can become extremely pricey if companies retain a no-code website builder, and need additional services to match these needs.
  If you are interested in a no code website builder or are deciding between no code tools and a headless CMS, please give us a call. We would be happy to help you with this difficult decision.