Why teams go headless with Drupal
Headless is not the right answer for every site. But when you need a fast frontend, multiple channels, and a content model that a marketing team can actually manage, Drupal as a headless backend is one of the best options on the market.
Our headless Drupal stack
We pick the stack that fits the project, not a one-size-fits-all framework. These are the pieces we work with most.
How we build headless Drupal
A proven five phase process from architecture to launch.
Architecture
Content model, API contract, auth strategy, cache strategy, preview workflow. You get a written architecture document before we write code.
Drupal backend
Content types, fields, paragraphs, moderation workflows, user roles, JSON:API and/or GraphQL exposed, performance tuned for API load.
Frontend build
Next.js, Astro, or your choice. Typed API client, component library, routing, pagination, search, and forms wired to Drupal.
Integration and testing
End to end testing, accessibility audit, Core Web Vitals tuning, preview environment, editor acceptance testing. Everything verified before launch.
Launch and operate
Deploy, DNS cutover, monitoring wired up, documentation and knowledge transfer. Then we can stay on as your support team.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we hear most from teams considering headless Drupal.
Should we really go headless?
Not always. Headless adds complexity: two deployments, two monitoring stacks, two teams. It pays off when you need a fast frontend, omnichannel content, strong separation of concerns, or a different frontend framework than Twig. For a standard content site, monolithic Drupal with a good theme is often simpler and cheaper to run.
JSON:API or GraphQL?
JSON:API for most projects. It is in Drupal core, well understood, and handles 90 percent of content delivery use cases out of the box. GraphQL shines for complex nested queries and strongly typed frontends. We sometimes use both on the same project: JSON:API for standard content, GraphQL for specific advanced queries.
How does editor preview work?
We wire up Next.js draft mode or an equivalent. Editors click "Preview" in Drupal and see the actual frontend rendering with unpublished content, protected by a signed token. On save, the live frontend rebuilds or revalidates automatically via webhooks.
What about SEO?
Server side rendering or static generation means search engines see fully rendered HTML with all metadata. Metatag, sitemap, and schema markup are generated by Drupal and pushed through the API to the frontend, so editors still control SEO from their familiar Drupal admin UI.
Where do we host the frontend and backend?
Frontend on Vercel, Netlify, or Cloudflare Pages depending on the framework. Backend Drupal on our managed Drupal hosting with Redis and Varnish tuned for API load. We can also host on Pantheon, Platform.sh, or Acquia if you have an existing contract.
How long does a headless Drupal project take?
For a standard content site with a clean content model, 12 to 16 weeks end to end. For a complex site with commerce, multi-language, and integrations, 20 to 30 weeks. The architecture phase tells you exactly which bucket your project falls in before you commit to build.
Start with a 30 minute architecture call
We talk through your content model, frontend requirements, and team setup. You leave with a clear recommendation on whether headless Drupal is the right call.
Book an Architecture Call