Headless CMS · WordPress · Astro / Next.js

Headless CMS with an Astro or Next.js frontend on the CDN

I specialise in headless CMS builds where your team keeps WordPress for editing, but visitors get a fast Astro or Next.js site served from the edge. No PHP on every page view, no plugin stack on the public web - just pre-rendered pages that stay quick when traffic surges.

Discuss a headless CMS build Optional monthly packages

Why teams choose headless CMS

WordPress is still one of the best content admin experiences going. The pain usually shows up on the public site: heavy themes, plugin conflicts, cache gymnastics, and security patches on code that every visitor executes.

A headless CMS setup splits those jobs cleanly. Editors stay in WordPress. The marketing site becomes a static or edge-rendered Astro or Next.js app that pulls content over WPGraphQL or REST. That is the setup I build - especially when you need speed, stability under traffic, and a frontend you can iterate on without breaking the CMS.

How headless CMS fits together

Editors work in WordPress. Visitors hit a modern frontend on the edge - not your PHP stack.

WordPress

Content & editing

Your team keeps the CMS they know. Pages, posts, ACF fields, previews, and workflows stay in WordPress.

API layer

WPGraphQL or REST

Content is fetched at build time or on a smart revalidation schedule - not on every visitor request.

Astro / Next.js

Public frontend

Pre-rendered pages served from a CDN. Fast globally, resilient when traffic spikes, and separate from wp-admin.

Traffic surges hit the CDN, not WordPress
Public site has no plugin/theme attack surface
wp-admin can sit behind tighter access controls

What you get

WordPress you already understand

Structured content in the block editor, ACF, and custom post types - with sensible models for pages, blogs, case studies, and landing pages.

Astro or Next.js frontend

Modern component architecture, type-safe data fetching, and production builds tuned for Core Web Vitals - not a bloated page builder export.

CDN-first delivery

Static and edge-rendered pages on Cloudflare, Vercel, or Netlify. Global performance and calm infrastructure when traffic jumps.

Publish workflows that scale

Build hooks, webhooks, or scheduled revalidation so content updates propagate without manual deploys or fragile cache plugins.

Benefits in plain terms

Performance without compromise

Pre-rendered HTML and assets at the edge mean fast first loads and stable scores under real-world conditions - not just in a lab test.

Safer public surface

Visitors get HTML from a CDN. They are not executing your WordPress theme, plugin stack, or admin login on every request.

Scale when marketing delivers

Launches, PR, and paid campaigns spike traffic. Edge hosting absorbs that demand without your CMS becoming the bottleneck.

Future-proof front end

Need a new landing page system, design refresh, or app-like feature later? The frontend can evolve without ripping out your content model.

Headless CMS with WordPress is my focus

I am not pitching a generic “any CMS” stack. Most of my CMS work is WordPress - I know where it shines, where ACF fits, and how to model content so Astro or Next.js stays simple to maintain.

That matters when you want previews, SEO fields, multilingual plugins, or legacy content migrated without a rewrite. You get a specialist who bridges both sides: the WordPress data model and the modern frontend deployment.

Pricing

Quoted as a one-off project once content types, integrations, and launch requirements are clear.

Straightforward marketing sites typically start from £2,500 and scale with custom content models, search, forms, multilingual setup, and third-party APIs.

Hosting for the frontend (CDN) and WordPress CMS can be separate or bundled. Monthly care packages are optional after launch.

Get a scoped quote

How the process works

Discovery - Content audit, integrations, hosting context, and whether Astro or Next.js fits your roadmap.
Model - WordPress content architecture, API choice (WPGraphQL or REST), preview flow, and frontend component plan.
Build - CMS setup, frontend development, CDN deployment, and staging for review.
Launch - Production cutover, caching/revalidation rules, documentation, and optional ongoing care.

Is this right for you?

Marketing teams and product companies who outgrew slow WordPress themes but do not want to retrain editors on a new CMS. Agencies planning a redesign with serious performance targets. Anyone who expects traffic spikes and wants the public site on infrastructure built for them.

If you are not sure whether a headless CMS is overkill for your size, tell me about the project - I will be straight about whether a classic theme, headless CMS, or a lighter Astro content site makes more sense.

Frequently asked questions

Why choose a headless CMS over a normal WordPress theme?

A traditional theme serves every page request through PHP, plugins, and the database. That works for many sites, but it is harder to scale cleanly and the public site carries the full WordPress attack surface. Headless keeps WordPress for content management and puts the visitor-facing site on Astro or Next.js, pre-rendered and served from a CDN. You get faster loads, safer public infrastructure, and room to grow without re-platforming your editors.

Can my team still edit content in WordPress?

Yes - that is the point. Editors use the block editor, ACF, custom post types, and familiar workflows. Content syncs to the frontend via WPGraphQL or the REST API. Preview and staging flows can be wired so marketing sees changes before they go live on the CDN.

Astro or Next.js - which do you recommend?

Astro is often the best fit for content-led marketing sites: very fast static output, minimal JavaScript, and excellent WordPress integration. Next.js suits apps that need more client-side interactivity, authentication, or complex routing. I will recommend based on your content model, integrations, and team - not a one-size-fits-all default.

What happens when traffic spikes?

Pre-rendered pages on Cloudflare, Vercel, Netlify, or similar absorb spikes at the edge. WordPress is not hit on every page view, so a campaign or press mention does not risk taking down your CMS. Rebuilds or on-demand revalidation refresh content when you publish - not on every visitor click.

Is WordPress still secure in a headless setup?

Headless reduces risk on the public site because visitors never touch wp-admin, themes, or plugin front-end code. WordPress still needs hardening, updates, and sensible hosting - but the frontend is static or edge-rendered HTML, which is a much smaller target. I also keep the CMS on a separate URL or restricted access where practical.

How is this priced?

Headless builds are scoped as one-off projects with a fixed quote after we map content types, integrations, and launch requirements. Straightforward marketing sites typically start from around £2,500 and scale with custom fields, multilingual content, search, and third-party APIs. Ongoing hosting and care packages are optional afterwards.

Ready for a faster, safer frontend?

Share your WordPress setup, traffic patterns, and launch goals. I will reply with an honest view on Astro vs Next.js, architecture, and a realistic fixed scope.

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