Headless Web Development with Sanity and Next.js

Knowledge of AI tooling is critical for future-proofing the careers of React developers, and the Vercel suite of AI tools is an approachable on-ramp. In this course, we’ll take a closer look at the Vercel AI SDK and how this can help React developers build streaming interfaces with JavaScript and Next.js. We’ll also incorporate additional 3rd party APIs to build and deploy a music visualization app.
Topics:- Creating a React Project with Next.js- Choosing a LLM- Customizing Streaming Interfaces- Building Routes- Creating and Generating Components - Using Hooks (useChat, useCompletion, useActions, etc)

Frontend issues that affect your users are often triggered by backend problems. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to identify issues causing slow web pages and poor Core Web Vitals using tracing.
Then, try it for yourself by setting up Sentry in a ready-made Next.js project to discover performance issues including slow database queries in an interactive pair-programming session.
You’ll leave the workshop being able to:- Find backend issues that might be slowing down your frontend apps- Setup tracing with Sentry in a Next.js project- Debug and fix poor performance issues using tracing
This will be a live 2-hour event where you’ll have the opportunity to code along with us and ask us questions.

Join us as we journey from React frontend development to fullstack development with Next.js. During this workshop, we'll follow along the official Next.js Learn tutorial with Eric Burel, professional trainer and author of NextPatterns.dev. Together, we'll set up a Next.js website and explore its server-side features to build performant apps.

In this workshop, you’ll learn how to build a Next.js app that uses Apollo Client to fetch data from a headless WordPress backend and use it to render the pages of your app. You’ll learn when you should consider a headless WordPress architecture, how to turn a WordPress backend into a GraphQL server, how to compose queries using the GraphiQL IDE, how to colocate GraphQL fragments with your components, and more.

- Introduction- Prerequisites for the workshop- Fetching strategies: fundamentals- Fetching strategies – hands-on: fetch API, cache (static VS dynamic), revalidate, suspense (parallel data fetching)- Test your build and serve it on Vercel- Future: Server components VS Client components- Workshop easter egg (unrelated to the topic, calling out accessibility)- Wrapping up

In this workshop, first, we’ll go over the different ways you can consume APIs in React. Then, we’ll test each one by fetching content from a headless CMS (with both REST and GraphQL) and checking in detail how they work.
While there is no advanced React knowledge required, this is going to be a hands-on session, so you’ll need to clone a preconfigured GitHub repository and utilize your preferred React programming editor, like VS Code.
You will learn:- What diverse data fetching options there are in React- What are advantages and disadvantages of each- What are the typical use cases and when each strategy is more beneficial than others

An expert listicle of popular Sanity agencies, with evaluation criteria, ratings, time zones, target audiences, common projects, and a decision tree to help you pick the right Sanity partner. This is a way to approach finding your best development agency wisely, not just by typing ‘find best Sanity agency’, but using your critical thinking skills.These numbers show why the “right‑tool‑for‑the‑job” approach matters: small teams move faster, larger enterprises scale content across channels, and digital marketers ship campaigns without waiting on dev tickets.Why this Sanity agency list existsMost "Top Sanity Agencies" lists are written by Sanity agencies and Sanity development companies trying to rank themselves. That's not automatically a problem, but it means rankings move based on whoever owns the URL, not who's actually shipping the best work. This list takes a different approach: agencies are grouped by best fit, not by SEO position. Evaluation criteria to choose your developer may be just numerous, but pick your Sanity agency based on your business situation. Assess your budget and check on reasonable criteria of Sanity agency achievements and market positioning.What is Sanity service?Sanity service is a fast, flexible platform for delivering structured content to digital devices and products. It is a software as a service product that makes it easier for developers to integrate content by treating it as structured data.Why is Sanity CMS Hyping Now?Sanity CMS popularity is evident, Anthropic, Shopify, Figma, National Geographic, Unilever, and other prominent names and brands use Sanity CMS daily, and trust it for proven flexibility, as the CMS is loved for clear real-time editing, customizable workspace with Sanity Studio, and general flexibility. Many devs love Sanity for offering robust APIs and supporting frontend frameworks like Next.js, Astro, and Nuxt. Since 2021, after a Sanity breakout year, the company has become one of the leader in content management software, plus, around 33,000 websites use Sanity for various needs, translating to a market share of approximately 0.2% in the top 1 million sites. On GitHub, Sanity platform has 1.3k followers and more than 2.7million of downloads that is really inspiring.We've picked Sanity CMS from many content management software options, and tried to evaluate why editorial teams leave old legacy content systems switching to headless ones, and to Sanity in particular. Here’s a succinct table with the main reasons for this choice:TriggerWhat They're LeavingWhat They GainOutgrowing rigid structuresGhost, WordPressFlexible content modeling, reusable content blocks Workflow frustrationPayload, self-hosted CMSesLive preview, draft management, no "push to staging"SEO plugin dependencyWordPress + YoastSchema built directly, predictable structured dataAI dev workflow needsAny legacy CMSSanity MCP for Claude/Cursor integrationContent management should be easy for everyone involved. This includes content managers, marketers, product managers, and developers. These team members maintain and configure the CMS for better usability. Sanity.io supports this balance well.

! NB (subjective opinion) 

Marketers really like the Sanity platform, even though it has a steeper learning curve than Storyblok or other content management software options. The built-in Content Agent is also a super helpful tool when you can create any request you need to get, and get your data inside the CMS. Engineers also appreciate structured content that allows organisations to use a clear, programmatic approach to content.Core Evaluation Criteria for Sanity Agencies
CriterionWhat "good" looks like1Official Sanity Partner StatusListed at sanity.io/agency-partners. Means Sanity has vetted them and they get direct platform access.2Production deployment depthAt least 20+ live Sanity sites, ideally with named clients you can verify.3GROQ + Studio expertiseThey write GROQ natively (not just GraphQL), build custom Studio plugins, and design schemas around editorial workflows — not just developer convenience.4Frontend specializationDeep Next.js, Astro, or React Native chops. A Sanity site without a fast, well-architected frontend is wasted.5Migration capabilityDocumented plans for moving content off WordPress, Drupal, Contentful, or AEM — with data mapping, transformation scripts, and parallel-run strategy.6ial UX focusCustom inputs, validation, scheduled publishing, role-based access, live preview. Separates dev shops from real Sanity partners.7Verified client reviews4.7+ on Clutch, with at least 10 reviews from named clients across industries.8Open-source contributionPlugins on the Sanity Exchange, blog posts, conference talks. Signals depth, not just availability.9Pricing transparencyPublished minimums, hourly bands, or productized packages — not "contact us."10Time-zone overlapAt least 4 hours of working overlap with your team. Async-only is fine; async-blind is not.11Contract structureFixed-scope, T&M, or retainer options — and willingness to fix bugs free during a warranty period.12Long-term retention80%+ client retention or repeat-engagement rate suggests they don't ship and disappear.A "yes" on at least 8 of these criterion is a credible Sanity partner. A "yes" on 11–12 is a top-tier one for your potential Sanity CMS development agency.
The Top 12 Sanity Development Agencies Worldwide  (2026 Shortlist)1. FocusReactive: Best Overall Sanity Agency & Headless CMS Agency 







HQ: London, Amsterdam, Warsaw, and Remote teamsTime zone: CET (UTC+1), with strong overlap into US East and APAC · Year founded: 2019 Team: 30; Senior consultants, 9+ years average industry experience Clutch rating: 4.9 / 5 with 100% positive feedback (16+ verified reviews) Completed projects in 9 countries Hourly rate: $50–$99Typical project range: $10K–$49K (also runs enterprise engagements)Best for: Companies that haven't picked a CMS yet and want a vendor-agnostic engineering partner who'll recommend Sanity, Storyblok, Contentful, or Payload based on the actual project — not their margin. Also the strongest pick when you need senior, hands-on Sanity engineers who can ship a production-grade, SEO-optimized headless build without a six-month onboarding curve.Typical projects: Headless CMS migrations (WordPress, Contentful, Drupal, AEM → Sanity), content-heavy marketing sites, Shopify Hydrogen storefronts paired with Sanity, AI SEO and LLM-optimized content systems, multi-locale and multi-brand rollouts, technical Next.js audits.Target audience: Marketing teams at scaling B2B SaaS AI/machine learning, manufacturing and engineering companies, consumer apps, franchising businesses, retail companies, e-commerce, and media organizations.Use cases: CMS platform selection and audit, end-to-end Sanity implementation with editorial UX baked in, Next.js builds with built-in SEO and Core Web Vitals, Shopify + Sanity headless commerce, large-scale migrations with content transformation, multi-locale rollouts, AI/agentic content workflows.Strengths: Senior-only team, deep open-source pedigree (Groqd, CMS-Kit), four official CMS partnerships, conference-organizing technical authority, transparent pricing, exceptional editorial UX thinking, high-budget-accuracy track record (90%+). 
Limitations: Not a fit for legacy PHP/Drupal custom builds or massive Fortune 100 multi-team programs where headcount alone is the requirement.2. iO - Official Sanity Agency PartnerHQ: Belgium (Mechelen) with offices in the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and BulgariaTime zone: CET Year founded: 2005Team size: 1,000+ across multiple disciplines Clutch rating: 4.9Best for: European enterprises and government bodies that need a full-service "blended agency" — strategy, brand, content, marketing, AND technology — with Sanity slotting into a much larger digital transformation engagement.Typical projects: Enterprise digital platforms, brand and customer experience programs, cloud + data integration, Sanity used as the structured-content backbone inside larger marketing tech stacks.Target audience: Large enterprises, regulated industries, governments, organizations with complex multi-stakeholder digital programs.Use cases: Enterprise content infrastructure on Sanity, brand-and-tech programs, multi-property digital platforms, marketing infrastructure paired with cloud and data layers, customer experience design.Strengths: True full-service depth across strategy, design, content, and technology. Long enterprise track record, multi-country presence, strong governance and compliance instincts. 
Limitations: Premium pricing. Not the right fit for SMBs or boutique builds. Sanity is one of many CMSes they support — depth varies by project lead.3. We Make Websites











HQ: London, UK (also New York) Time zone: GMT/BST + ESTYear founded: 2008 (joined TechM XDS network in 2021) ·Team size: 50+ Specialty: Shopify Plus + Sanity headless commerceBest for: Premium and fast-growing DTC and B2B brands building design-led Shopify Plus stores where Sanity powers the content layer.Typical projects: Shopify Plus storefronts, headless Shopify + Sanity integrations, platform migrations to Shopify Plus, scalable conversion-optimized e-commerce.Target audience: Premium fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and DTC brands with global ambitions; mid-to-large e-commerce retailers.Use cases: Shopify Plus + Sanity headless builds, content-driven storefronts, multi-region commerce, Shopify replatforming, design-led e-commerce.
Strengths: One of the most experienced Shopify Plus agencies globally; backed by TechM XDS network's scale and stability since 2021; Sanity-named partner. 
Limitations: Shopify-centric — not the right pick if you don't want commerce attached. Premium pricing.4. Webstacks: Official Sanity Agency PartnerWebstack: Sanity Agency from USA










HQ: San Diego, CA, USA (remote-first) ·Time zone: PST (UTC-8) · Year founded: 2020 (current incarnation) Team size: ~50 Best for: B2B SaaS marketing teams that want a "website-as-product" partner — composable architecture, design system, ongoing iteration rather than one-shot builds.Typical projects: WordPress-to-Sanity migrations for B2B SaaS (e.g., Gong's full migration), multi-subsidiary design systems (ServiceTitan), marketing site redesigns aligned to PLG-to-sales motion shifts (Calendly).Target audience: Series B–pre-IPO B2B SaaS companies, AI/ML, FinTech, Web3, enterprise software.Use cases: Composable B2B website operations, design system rollout, CMS migration with marketing autonomy, multi-brand content infrastructure.Strengths: Verticalized in B2B SaaS (rare). Treats websites as products, not projects. Strong webdesign system practice. 
Limitations: Premium pricing. Not a fit for small marketing sites or e-commerce-first work.5. Codal - Official Sanity Agency Partner








HQ: Chicago, IL, USA (with offices in London and Bangalore)  Time zone: CST (UTC-6) plus IST coverage Year founded: 2009 Team size: 150+ Clutch: Strong positive sentiment, particularly on cost-vs-value Best for: Mid-to-large enterprise projects that need full-service capability — design + dev + project management — rather than a boutique engineering team.Typical projects: Enterprise composable web platforms, e-commerce on Sanity + Shopify Plus / BigCommerce, complex omnichannel content delivery, brand-consistent multi-channel rollouts.Target audience: Enterprises and large mid-market brands in retail, CPG, healthcare, manufacturing.Use cases: End-to-end enterprise digital experiences, UX research + Sanity architecture, multi-channel content (web/app/IoT), composable architecture migrations.Strengths: Full-service depth (design, strategy, dev, QA), large team, strong PM, enterprise-ready processes. 
Limitations: Less Sanity-specialized than boutique shops. Higher pricing than Eastern European agencies.6.  Monogram Agency Inc. 5000 (2022, 2023): Official Sanity Agency PartnerMonogram Agency












HQ: Atlanta, GA, USATime zone: EST (UTC-5)Year founded: ~2017Team size: 20–30Best for: Design-led composable websites where pixel quality and editorial experience matter as much as the engineering.Typical projects: Composable web apps, beautiful brand sites, BigCommerce/Shopify Plus + Sanity headless stores, Svelte/Astro/Next.js fronts.Target audience: Design-conscious brands, AI/dev-tools companies, scaling startups, e-commerce brands.Use cases: Brand redesigns with Sanity backend, composable e-commerce, design-system-driven sites, dev-tools company sites.Strengths: Exceptional design execution, modern stack adoption (Astro, Svelte, Vercel), composable-first. 
Limitations: Smaller team caps capacity for very large enterprise programs.7. Nearform (former Formidable): Official Sanity Agency Partner HQ: Seattle, WA, USA (also Denver, Phoenix, London, Toronto) Time zone: PST + globalYear founded: 2013 (acquired by Nearform)Team size: Global, 100+Project cost minimum: ~$30,000+Best for: High-traffic, performance-critical React applications where Sanity is the content layer behind a serious engineering project.Typical projects: GROQ optimization at scale, ISR/edge-rendering for large Sanity sites, design systems, React Native + Sanity (Starbucks-style style guide systems), commerce platforms (e.g., the work that contributed to a $3.3B valuation acquired by Walmart).Target audience: large e-commerce, media companies, enterprises needing hard engineering chops.Use cases: Engineering-led Sanity implementations, code audits, React/React Native consulting, GraphQL/GROQ optimization, open-source tooling.Strengths: Deep React + open-source pedigree. Now backed by Nearform's global engineering scale.
Limitations: Sanity is one tool of many; schema decisions can favor developer convenience over editor usability. Premium pricing.8. Vyuh Technologies: Official Sanity Agency Partner 









HQ: India Time zone: IST (UTC+5:30)  Year founded: ~2022Team size: Boutique Best for: Companies that want Sanity to power mobile apps (Flutter) and IoT — not just websites, with a CMS-driven framework approach.Typical projects: Flutter mobile apps backed by Sanity, modular CMS-driven app architectures, large-scale enterprise content modernization, custom Studio plugins.Target audience: Enterprises modernizing legacy content stacks, mobile-first companies, teams needing iOS + Android + web from one content source.Use cases: Sanity + Flutter mobile apps, CMS-driven app frameworks (open-source Vyuh Framework), enterprise migrations, custom editorial UIs.Strengths: Distinct mobile-first positioning, open-source framework, enterprise-architect founder. 
Limitations: Smaller team. Less of a fit if you only need a marketing website.9. Represent: Sanity Agency PartnerRepresent Agency











HQ: Oslo, Norway (also London) · Time zone: CETYear founded: ~2016Team size: Boutique Best for: Headless Shopify + Sanity e-commerce builds where business advisory and CRO matter alongside engineering.Typical projects: Headless Shopify storefronts powered by Sanity, custom content models for ingredient/claim/study databases (Vitamail), AI-assisted content translation pipelines inside Sanity Studio, multi-market expansions.Target audience: Ambitious DTC and e-commerce brands, especially in the Nordics and Silicon Valley, that want a small senior team rather than an agency machine.Use cases: Headless Shopify + Sanity, CRO-driven storefronts, complex content models, international Shopify expansion, GPT-integrated Studio workflows.Strengths: Senior-only, business-first approach, Sanity-pioneer status, transparent client communication. 
Limitations: Capacity-limited boutique. Not a fit for non-commerce enterprise content systems.10. Commerce-UI
HQ: Remote (European base)Time zone: CETYears in business: 8+ Team size: Boutique Sanity partner status: Official Sanity Agency Partner; Shopify Plus PartnerBest for: Premium fashion, lifestyle, luxury, and culture brands where the storefront has to function as both a sales channel and a brand asset.Typical projects: Headless Shopify Plus on Hydrogen or Next.js, complex product configurators, B2B/B2C storefronts, large platform migrations, editorial content systems on Sanity that give brand teams real publishing control without developer dependency.Target audience: Design-first, brand-led fashion and lifestyle companies; culture and luxury brands.Use cases: Award-winning headless Shopify storefronts, premium brand sites, Sanity-powered editorial commerce, complex configurators (3D, AR, dynamic pricing).Strengths: Outstanding design execution, deep technical Hydrogen expertise, founder-led delivery, marquee culture/fashion clients, multiple major industry awards. 
Limitations: Boutique capacity. Not the right fit for B2B SaaS or non-commerce enterprise content programs.11. 85SIXTY - Sanity Partner Agency







85Sixty Sanity Agency
HQ: California, USATime zone: PST Years in business: 16+ in e-commerce development Stack: Sanity CMS, Gatsby, Next.js, Shopify Hydrogen, WordPress, NYLA, PACK, Shogun, Builder.ioBest for: Shopify and Shopify Plus brands that want measurement, CRO, and analytics rigor combined with headless Sanity content, not a pure-development shop.Typical projects: Shopify Plus theme migrations, Shopify 2.0 work, Hydrogen + Sanity headless builds, complex 3rd-party integrations (POS, ERP, PIM, OMS), CRO audits and roadmaps, GA4/GTM/MMM analytics implementation.Target audience: Established Shopify and Shopify Plus brands focused on measurable revenue lift, scaling DTCs with international ambitions, and retailers needing analytics maturity alongside development.Use cases: Shopify + Sanity headless commerce, Shopify Plus migrations, advanced Shopify integrations (Celigo middleware, custom apps), international expansion, CRO and A/B testing programs.Strengths: Rare combination of dev + CRO + analytics + Google partnerships. 16+ years in e-commerce. Strong middleware and integration capability. Limitations: Shopify-and-CRO-anchored, not a generalist Sanity shop. Not a fit if you don't have an e-commerce backend.12. Social Animal











Codal Sanity Agency
HQ: Remote-first, US-based 
Time zone: US Eastern primaryYear founded: Recent (post-2020 incarnation) Team size: Boutique Sanity partner status: Sanity-first agency; ecosystem contributor Project minimum: $15,000 standard / $40,000+ enterprise Best for: Sanity-first builds with frontend flexibility (Next.js or Astro) and complex multi-brand or multi-locale content models.Typical projects: Headless CMS architecture, content-modeling-heavy projects, multi-brand setups, migrations from Contentful/WordPress/AEM, architectural reviews.Target audience: B2B SaaS, mid-market e-commerce websites, media companies that want Sanity as a strategic platform, not just a CMS.Use cases: Complex schema architecture, multi-locale rollouts, architectural audits, Sanity-first builds for editorial-heavy products.Strengths: Sanity-first commitment, solid editorial UX thinking, frontend flexibility. 
Limitations: Smaller scale, shorter public client list than the bigger agencies on this list.Side-by-Side Sanity Agency Comparison Table
AgencyHQTime ZoneFoundedTeamBest ForMin. ProjectSanity Specialization1FocusReactiveRemote (EU)CET2019Senior boutiqueSanity + Next.js engineering excellence, vendor-agnostic CMS selection$10KSanity-deep, multi-CMS partner2iOBelgium / NLCET20051000+Enterprise digital transformation across 5 countries$$$$Generalist + Sanity3We Make WebsitesLondon / NYGMT/EST200850+Premium Shopify Plus + Sanity headless$$$$Shopify + Sanity4WebstacksSan Diego, USPST2020~50B2B SaaS website$$$Composable web5CodalChicago, USCST + IST2009150+Enterprise full-service$$$$Generalist + Sanity6MonogramAtlanta, USEST~201720–30Design-led composable$$$Composable-first7NearformSeattle, USGlobal2013100+Engineering-led performance$30K+Multi-stack8Vyuh TechnologiesIndiaIST~2022Boutique agencySanity + Flutter mobile apps$$Sanity + Mobile9RepresentOslo + LondonCET~2016BoutiqueHeadless Shopify + Sanity Nordic/SV$$$Sanity + Shopify10Commerce-UIRemote (EU)CET~2017BoutiquePremium fashion/luxury Shopify headless$$$$Shopify + Sanity1185SIXTYCalifornia, USPST~2008Mid-sizeShopify + Sanity + CRO + analytics$$$Shopify + Sanity12Social AnimalRemote, USESTRecentBoutiqueSanity-first multi-brand$15KSanity-firstDecision Tree: Which Agency Fits Your Situation?Use this to narrow your shortlist to 2-3 agencies before you book intro calls.
START → What's your project type? ├── You haven't picked a CMS yet (Sanity vs Storyblok vs Contentful vs Payload) │ → FocusReactive (vendor-agnostic, partners with all headless CMSs) │ ├── Marketing site for B2B SaaS (Series A+) │ ├── US-based team, want a "website-as-product" partner │ │ → Webstacks (best fit) or Monogram (design-led) │ └── Want senior EU specialists, OK with async │ → FocusReactive │ ├── Headless e-commerce (Shopify Plus + Sanity) │ ├── Premium fashion / luxury / culture brand │ │ → Commerce-UI or We Make Websites │ ├── US East Coast DTC, fashion or lifestyle │ │ │ ├── Nordics / Europe │ │ → Represent (Oslo) │ ├── US-based, want CRO + analytics rigor too │ │ → 85SIXTY │ └── Premium tier, US, complex storefront engineering │ → Nearform or Codal │ ├── Enterprise content platform (Fortune 1000 / multi-brand) │ ├── European enterprise, full-service (brand + tech + strategy) │ │ → iO │ ├── US full-service (design + strategy + dev) │ │ → Codal │ ├── Pure engineering muscle │ │ → Nearform │ └── Sanity-first specialist │ → FocusReactive Agency │ ├── Mobile app (Flutter / React Native) backed by Sanity │ → Vyuh Technologies (Flutter) or FocusReactive (React Native) │ ├── Migration from WordPress / Drupal / AEM / Contentful │ ├── Want vendor-agnostic CMS selection first │ │ → FocusReactive │ ├── B2B SaaS context │ │ → Webstacks │ └── Premium engineering scale │ │ ├── Performance-critical (Core Web Vitals, edge, ISR) │ → Nearform │ │ └── Multi-locale, multi-brand, complex schema architecture → Social AnimalHow to Run a Sanity Agency Selection Process (a quick playbook)Write a one-page brief before you contact anyone. Include: what you're building, current stack, content volume, editor count, target launch, integrations (CRM, search, commerce), and your budget range. Without this, every partner's conversation drifts.Shortlist 3 agencies from this list using the decision tree. Do not contact more than 4 — you'll waste your own time.Ask each one the same five questions so answers are comparable:Show me a Sanity schema you've shipped that's similar to ours.How do you handle live preview, scheduled publishing, and role-based access?What's your migration plan for content from [your current CMS]?What's your warranty period after launch and what does it cover?Who specifically would be on this project (names, seniority, hourly rate)?Request a small paid discovery ($2K–$5K) before signing a full build. A discovery week reveals whether they actually understand your problem — and gives you a deliverable even if you walk away.Reference-check by phone, not email. Ask former clients: "What would you do differently if you hired them again?" Email replies are diplomatic; phone calls are honest.Sign with a clear scope, fixed milestones, and a kill clause at each milestone. Time-and-materials with no milestones is where projects bleed.Sanity Agency Main CaveatsA few honest caveats about the general approach to finding Sanity agency:Time zones are underrated. A senior Croatian, Belarusian, or Polish, or any remote European team you can talk to live for 4 hours a day will out-deliver a US Sanity developer that bills 3× and replies on Slack within a business day. Pick for overlap and convenience, not just postcode.Rankings move fast. Clutch ratings shift, agencies grow or shrink, partnerships start and end. Verify every data point before hiring — especially partner status on sanity.io/agency-partners. Specialization beats reputation for Sanity work. Any development company can generate hundreds of positive Google reviews or whatever, and these public directories should be checked twice before contacting for a Sanity project. The Sanity ecosystem (GROQ, Studio, schema patterns) and official partnership with engineering agencies around the world is deep enough that depth matters more than brand.Sanity CMS Popularity in eCommerceSanity CMS is actively used as a preferred headless CMS for ecommerce use cases and composable commerce architectures. And this is a valid choice, especially for mid-market and enterprise DTC brands looking to move away from monolithic Shopify themes toward headless storefronts.Here is an interesting infographic on popular content management systems for ecommerce, made by https://www.reddit.com/user/HT_Blue/, a visual breakdown showing where Sanity CMS stands among other content management platforms.Source: ww.dxpscorecard.comHere you can see that Sanity is really standing apart among other content software like DatoCMS, Strapi, and others. The author’s standards by which he has created are the following:Platform healthDeveloper ExperienceContent PowerMarketing FitShowing Open SourceQuick FAQ on Sanity CMSWhat is Sanity CMS?Sanity is a headless content management system that stores content as structured, reusable data instead of pre-rendered pages. It ships with two parts you'll hear about constantly: Sanity Studio, an open-source React-based editing environment that teams can fully customize, and a hosted Content Lake that serves your data over APIs (GROQ and GraphQL). Sanity Inc. is dual-headquartered in San Francisco and Oslo, Norway, and the platform powers content for brands like PUMA, AT&T, Burger King, Tata, Spotify, Shopify, and Figma.Is Sanity a CMS?Yes, Sanity is a content management system, but a headless one, that is called API-first CMS. Unlike WordPress, it doesn't ship a frontend. You model your content as code, edit it in Studio, and query it from any frontend (Next.js, Astro, React Native, Flutter, native apps, IoT). Sanity now markets itself as a "Content Operating System," reflecting its push beyond traditional CMS boundaries into AI workflows and structured content for agents.Is Sanity.io free?Sanity has a generous free tier that covers Sanity Studio, the hosted APIs, and collaborative editing, which is enough for solo developers, small sites, and most prototypes. Paid plans (Growth, Enterprise) layer on higher API quotas, SSO, advanced roles, audit logs, and dedicated support. Free to start, paid as you scale.How much does Sanity impementation services cost?Everything depends on your project and scope of work, but in the USA we can see the following average rates for Sanity developers:Hourly rates: $60-$150/hourMonthly rates: $8,000-$15,000/monthAverage annual salary: $129,348Upwork median rate: $63/hour (typically $51-$75 range)Senior React developers in San Francisco/Palo Alto: $152,000-$230,000 base salaryIs Sanity better than WordPress?Sanity wins on flexibility, multi-channel delivery, real-time collaboration, structured content reuse, and developer experience. WordPress wins on out-of-the-box themes, plugin ecosystem, non-technical setup, and pure blogging speed. 

A useful rule of thumb:Pick Sanity CMS when you have multiple frontends, structured product/editorial data, an in-house dev team, or plans for omnichannel and AI-readable content.Pick WordPress when you need a blog or marketing site with a small team, no developers, and no complex content relationships.AfterwardsIf you have your own specific criteria for choosing a Sanity agency, please share in the comments below. We need your honest feedback and appreciate any experience about hiring Sanity developers.Sources include Clutch verified reviews, Sanity Agency Partners directory, agency-published case studies, Crunchbase, TechCrunch, and direct agency websites. Data verified May 2026