Next.js is a popular open-source framework for building server-side rendered React applications. It provides a seamless developer experience with features like automatic code splitting, server-side rendering, and optimized performance.

Advantages of Next.js

Some of the advantages of using Next.js include:

  • Server-side rendering: This allows for faster initial page loads, improved SEO, and better accessibility.
  • Automatic code splitting: This effectively reduces the size of JavaScript bundles, resulting in faster page loads.
  • Easy deployment: Next.js applications can be easily deployed to various cloud platforms like Vercel, AWS, and Google Cloud.

Benefits of using Next.js Based CMS

Using a Next.js-based CMS for deployment offers several benefits, including:

  • Cleaner code: By using a CMS, developers can separate content from code, resulting in cleaner, more maintainable code.
  • Faster content updates: Content editors can easily make changes to the site without needing a developer's assistance.
  • Improved collaboration: Developers and content creators can work together more effectively with a CMS, resulting in a more efficient workflow.

Overall, Next.js and its associated CMS options provide developers with flexible, efficient tools for creating server-side rendered applications with an intuitive content management system.

If you are looking for Next.js starters and boilerplates, we got you covered thru the following series of articles here:

In this post, we offer you the best open-source CMS that uses Next.js, which makes it easier for developers to extend, scale and customize.

1- Tina CMS

Tina is a free and open-source Git-backed headless content management system with support for visual editing, that uses Next.js, React, and TypeScript.

It comes with a rich visual editor, WYSIWYG editor, block editor, image and file support, and many more.

GitHub - tinacms/tinacms: The Markdown CMS
The Markdown CMS. Contribute to tinacms/tinacms development by creating an account on GitHub.

2- Outstatic CMS

Outstaic CMS is an amazing open-source CMS that uses GitHub as a backend for the content, images, and documents. It enables users to create custom collections, and manage everything from a simple admin panel.

Outstatic: Open-source Vercel Ready Git-based CMS For Developers and Hackers
Outstatic CMS is a content management system built with Next.js. It uses Markdown files which are stored at GitHub. Outstatic CMS supports custom collections and custom fields, making it a flexible option for managing content. However, it does not have theming options, Sitemap or SEO options. It al…

3- Nextra CMS

Nextra is a CMS starter that can be used to create documentation websites, landing pages, and company websites.

Nextra: Generate Rich Documentation Sites with Next.js and MDX
Simple, powerful and flexible site generation framework with everything you love from Next.js.

4- Nextin

Nextein is a completely free and open-source library that wraps around the powerful Next.js framework. It provides a seamless way to write static sites using Markdown and React, making it easier for developers to create stunning websites with ease. With Nextein, you can leverage the full power of Next.js, which offers a wide range of features and tools to make your web development experience a breeze.

Nextein: Yet Another Markdown Blog and CMS Next.js Generator
A static site generator with markdown + react for Next.js

5- Payload CMS

Payload is a CMS that has been designed for developers from the ground up to deliver them what they need to build great digital products. If you know JavaScript, you know Payload. It's a code-first CMS, which allows us to do a lot of things right:

  • Payload gives you everything you need, but then steps back and lets you build what you want in JavaScript or TypeScript - with no unnecessary complexity brought by GUIs. You'll understand how your CMS works because you will have written it exactly how you want it.
  • Bring your own Express server and do whatever you need on top of Payload. Payload doesn't impose anything on you or your app.
  • Completely control the Admin panel by using your own React components. Swap out fields or even entire views with ease.
  • Use your data however and wherever you need thanks to auto-generated, yet fully extensible REST, GraphQL, and Local Node APIs.

Payload CMS Features:

  • Completely free and open-source
  • GraphQL, REST, and Local APIs
  • Easily customizable ReactJS Admin
  • Fully self-hosted
  • Extensible Authentication
  • Local file storage & upload
  • Version History and Drafts
  • Field-based Localization
  • Block-based Layout Builder
  • Extensible SlateJS rich text editor
  • Array field type
  • Field conditional logic
  • Extremely granular Access Control
  • Document and field-level hooks for every action Payload provides
  • Built with Typescript & very Typescript-friendly
  • Intensely fast API
  • Highly secure thanks to HTTP-only cookies, CSRF protection, and more

6- Nextplate

Nextplate is a free starter template built with Next.js, TailwindCSS & TypeScript, providing everything you need to jumpstart your Next project and save valuable time.

Features

  • πŸ‘₯ Multi-Authors
  • 🎯 Similar Posts Suggestion
  • πŸ” Search Functionality
  • πŸŒ‘ Dark Mode
  • 🏷️ Tags & Categories
  • πŸ”— Netlify setting pre-configured
  • πŸ“ž Support contact form
  • πŸ“± Fully responsive
  • πŸ“ Write and update content in Markdown / MDX
  • πŸ’¬ Disqus Comment
  • πŸ”³ Syntax Highlighting

πŸ“„ 15+ Pre-designed Pages:

  • 🏠 Homepage
  • πŸ‘€ About
  • πŸ“ž Contact
  • πŸ‘₯ Authors
  • πŸ‘€ Author Single
  • πŸ“ Blog
  • πŸ“ Blog Single
  • 🚫 Custom 404
  • πŸ’‘ Elements
  • πŸ“„ Privacy Policy
  • 🏷️ Tags
  • 🏷️ Tag Single
  • πŸ—‚οΈ Categories
  • πŸ—‚οΈ Category Single
  • πŸ” Search

GitHub - zeon-studio/nextplate: Nextjs and Tailwindcss boilerplate
Nextjs and Tailwindcss boilerplate. Contribute to zeon-studio/nextplate development by creating an account on GitHub.


7- Cromwell CMS

Cromwell CMS is a free open source headless TypeScript CMS for creating lightning-fast websites with React and Next.js. It has a powerful plugin/theming system while providing an extensive Admin panel GUI for WordPress-like user experience. We are focused on empowering content-creators and people with no programming knowledge to conveniently use all features of the CMS in their projects.

Main features of Cromwell CMS:

  • Online store and blogging platform management systems.
  • Drag-and-drop theme editor.
  • Simple installation of themes and plugins from the official store and their local management.
  • Free full-featured online store and blog themes with multiple plugins.
  • Integrated Database. SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL are supported to use.
  • Developer-friendly experience. Use all power of Next.js, Nest.js, TypeORM, TypeGraphQL along with CMS API to build any type of website.
GitHub - CromwellCMS/Cromwell: WordPress-like CMS for Next.js websites
WordPress-like CMS for Next.js websites. Contribute to CromwellCMS/Cromwell development by creating an account on GitHub.

8- Nobelium

A static blog built on top of Notion and Next.js, deployed on Vercel.

Nobelim Features include:

  • Simple setup and configure
  • Fast page render and responsive design
  • Deploy in mins on Vercel
  • Supports comments
  • Comes with built-on RSS, and Analytics support
  • Supports multiple languages
  • SEO-fiendly
  • User-friendly URLs
  • Automatic incremental regeneration and no need to redeploy after update the content in notion
Nobelium
GitHub - craigary/nobelium: A static blog build on top of Notion and NextJS, deployed on Vercel.
A static blog build on top of Notion and NextJS, deployed on Vercel. - GitHub - craigary/nobelium: A static blog build on top of Notion and NextJS, deployed on Vercel.


9- Blogify

Blogify is a MIT open-source Next.js and tailwind CSS based template to build a blog with Markdown.

GitHub - frontendweb3/blogify: Blogify is an open-source nextjs blog template design with tailwind CSS.
Blogify is an open-source nextjs blog template design with tailwind CSS. - GitHub - frontendweb3/blogify: Blogify is an open-source nextjs blog template design with tailwind CSS.


10- Next.js with ButterCMS

This project was created as an example use case of ButterCMS with React and Next.js, and will not be actively maintained.

GitHub - ButterCMS/react-cms-blog-with-next-js: Next.js + React CMS-powered blog and marketing site powered by ButterCMS
Next.js + React CMS-powered blog and marketing site powered by ButterCMS - GitHub - ButterCMS/react-cms-blog-with-next-js: Next.js + React CMS-powered blog and marketing site powered by ButterCMS

11- Next.js Blog with Sanity CMS

This starter is a statically generated blog that uses Next.js for the frontend and Sanity to handle its content. It comes with a native Sanity Studio that offers features like real-time collaboration, instant side-by-side content previews, and intuitive editing.

Features Highlight:

  • A performant, static blog with editable posts, authors, and site settings
  • A native and customizable authoring environment, accessible on yourblog.com/studio
  • Real-time and collaborative content editing with fine-grained revision history
  • Side-by-side instant content preview that works across your whole site
  • Support for block content and the most advanced custom fields capability in the industry
  • Webhook-triggered Incremental Static Revalidation; no need to wait for a rebuild to publish new content
  • Free and boosted Sanity project with unlimited admin users, free content updates, and pay-as-you-go for API overages
  • A project with starter-friendly and not too heavy-handed TypeScript and Tailwind.css
GitHub - sanity-io/nextjs-blog-cms-sanity-v3: A Next.js Blog with a Native Authoring Experience
A Next.js Blog with a Native Authoring Experience. Contribute to sanity-io/nextjs-blog-cms-sanity-v3 development by creating an account on GitHub.

12- Next.js CMS with Ghost Backend

Create and publish flaring fast blogs with next-cms-ghost. Powered by the React framework Next.js and content fed by headless Ghost, you'll get a production ready hybrid frontend that combines the best of static and server-rendered sites.

Most importantly, your website can be easily distributed globally to be served from the edge. At the same time your content creators can continue to work with the Ghost authoring system they are used to.

Features Highlight:

  • Full Ghost CMS integration
  • Ghost Casper Theme look and feel
  • Image integration
  • Advanced routing
  • Developer-friendly code
  • Incremental Regeneration
GitHub - styxlab/next-cms-ghost: Publish flaring fast blogs with Next.js and Ghost CMS
Publish flaring fast blogs with Next.js and Ghost CMS - GitHub - styxlab/next-cms-ghost: Publish flaring fast blogs with Next.js and Ghost CMS

13- Next.js for Acquia CMS

This is a starter template for building a headless site powered by Acquia CMS and Next.js.

This project is built on the following technologies:

  • Drupal core
  • Acquia CMS (Drupal distribution)
  • Next.js (React front-end framework)
  • Next.js for Drupal (Tools for integrating Next.js with Drupal)
  • Drupal JSON-API Params (Tools for generating JSON:API queries)
  • Tailwind CSS (Styling library)
  • TypeScript
GitHub - acquia/next-acms: ACMS with fully or progressively decoupled front-end
ACMS with fully or progressively decoupled front-end - GitHub - acquia/next-acms: ACMS with fully or progressively decoupled front-end

14- Fullstack CMS Starter with Next.js and Prisma

This is a starter that shows how to implement a full-stack app in TypeScript with Next.js with the following stack:

  • React (frontend)
  • Next.js API routes
  • Prisma Client (backend).
  • NextAuth.js for authentication.
  • PostgreSQL as the database of choice.
GitHub - prisma/fullstack-prisma-nextjs-blog: Fullstack Blog with Next.js and Prisma
Fullstack Blog with Next.js and Prisma. Contribute to prisma/fullstack-prisma-nextjs-blog development by creating an account on GitHub.

15- OpenBlog

OpenBlog is an open source template is design and built with Next.js, tailwind CSS and Markdown.

GitHub - frontendweb3/open-blog: Open blog temaple to build a blog with nextjs, tailwind css
Open blog temaple to build a blog with nextjs, tailwind css - GitHub - frontendweb3/open-blog: Open blog temaple to build a blog with nextjs, tailwind css