10 Best Adobe Experience Manager Alternatives (2025)
Storyblok is the first headless CMS that works for developers & marketers alike.
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Adobe Experience Manager (AEM) is a long-running content management solution that thrives within the larger Adobe brand ecosystem. But along with the benefits, it also has a reputation for inflexibility. Its complex system, steep learning curve, and requirements to pay for features you may not even need has led to some users seeking an Adobe Experience Manager alternative.
If you're looking for a system that can match AEM's strengths, you have plenty of options. Here are the top 10 best adobe experience manager alternatives for 2025.
1. Storyblok (opens in a new window)
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Storyblok is the leading content management system for delivering a bigger, faster market impact. With enterprise-grade speed, flexibility, and control, it helps you connect with modern audiences at every stage of the content cycle.
Traditional systems like AEM sometimes offer a sort of “Frankenstein” headless, claiming to offer the same benefits as natively headless options. But buyer beware! These hybrid systems aren’t truly headless and will require work from your devs to get started. If you want headless from the get-go, choose a true headless option.
Storyblok is a strong Adobe Experience Manager alternative if you want the same power with none of the complexity or headaches. It provides a seamless content management experience for users across all teams and skill levels. A huge part of this is the intuitive Visual Editor. Technical users can make premade blocks, making it easy for non-technical users to independently make content changes.
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Want to see it in action for yourself? Check out our interactive Visual Editor demo!
And if you ever get turned around, no worries! Storyblok won’t leave you in the dark. You have full access to a wealth of resources to guide your way, including:
- Comprehensive editor guides (opens in a new window)
- Detailed developer tutorials (opens in a new window) and documentation (opens in a new window)
- Robust support services (opens in a new window)
- Community conversations on Discord (opens in a new window)
Compared to AEM, Storyblok is also a lot more flexible. Being in the Adobe Ecosystem has advantages, but it’s a bit of a gilded cage: the interconnected nature means migrating away from it is a major pain, essentially locking you into AEM for life.
Some users have also noted issues with AEM’s pricing. You’re charged on a case-by-case basis, making it extremely difficult to predict what you’ll be paying. Storyblok’s pricing (opens in a new window) is designed to be transparent and flexible. You’ll know exactly how much you’re paying in exchange for the product and its industry-leading 582% ROI (opens in a new window).
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Kentico can be a good Adobe Experience Manager alternative thanks to its cost-effectiveness. Some users feel like they're getting a good deal for the features they offer. However, it's not always a bargain that scales. Kentico may fall short with its less comprehensive support for bigger projects. If you have a complex project at hand, you may also want to look elsewhere: some reviewers found the advanced marketing tools and integrations a bit lacking.
3. Hygraph
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Hygraph enables its users to manage content with a ton of flexibility: layouts, designs, and features are all customizable. If you want to tailor your content management experience, Hygraph could be a good choice. However, keep in mind that there have been a few reviews mentioning issues with customer support and third-party plugin options. You may want to double-check that any must-have tools are supported before you commit.
4. Sitecore (opens in a new window)
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Thanks to its personalization capabilities, Sitecore is a popular CMS. Its features allow businesses to deliver tailored content and experiences to users, similar to what Adobe Experience Manager can offer. However, just like with AEM, Sitecore's complexity can be a significant drawback: it often requires extensive training and expertise to manage effectively. If you don't have a robust dev team, it can be a real barrier.
5. Optimizely
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Optimizely (formerly Episerver) offers both A/B testing and experimentation features to help you find the best content approach. It can be a big support for improving customer engagement and digital experiences. Keep in mind though, Optimizely may not offer more comprehensive digital asset management capabilities (opens in a new window). If you have an extensive content library or sophisticated organization needs, it might not be your best fit.
6. WordPress (opens in a new window)
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WordPress, always a popular option, can be a good Adobe Experience Manager alternative if you value simplicity. In many cases, even non-technical users can set up and manage websites with a wide range of themes and plugins. Nevertheless, WordPress is an open-source option. While this comes with benefits of its own, it can also open you and your business up to more security threats compared to composable CMSs with enterprise-grade security protocols (opens in a new window).
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Sanity can be a good alternative to AEM if your team is dev-forward. It has a flexible, developer-oriented approach to content management that can provide highly customizable and scalable solutions. However, getting to that point requires a lot of work behind the scenes. Being developer-first also means some non-technical users may face a steep learning curve, so it may not be the best Adobe Experience Manager alternative if you want your marketers heavily involved.
8. Bloomreach
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Bloomreach offers AI-driven search and personalization capabilities. Both can enhance customer experiences by delivering highly relevant content with a technological twist. On the other hand, Bloomreach might not match AEM's comprehensive digital asset management features, which are essential if you're juggling vast or diverse content needs. It may also require additional tools and integrations to achieve the same level of functionality as more “out of the box” CMS solutions.
9. Contentstack (opens in a new window)
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Contentstack is another headless CMS option that avoids the worst pitfalls of legacy systems (opens in a new window). This architecture offers remarkable flexibility and scalability, helping you deliver content seamlessly across multiple channels. However, Contentstack may not match AEM's extensive built-in marketing and personalization tools, which are essential for creating tailored customer experiences and executing sophisticated marketing strategies.
10. Contentful (opens in a new window)
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Contentful is a a good Adobe Experience Manager alternative thanks to its technological, API-powered flexibility and developer-friendly environment. This allows for agile content management. Nevertheless, if you're looking for built-in features and ease of use, you might find that Contentful is not the best “quick-start” option available.
Key takeaways: What is the best Adobe Experience Manager alternative?
Ultimately, the best Adobe Experience Manager alternative depends on your company's specific needs. Whether you prioritize cost-effectiveness, ease of use, robust digital asset management, or seamless integration with other tools, each AEM alternative offers unique strengths and limitations.
Make sure you carefully evaluate these options in the context of your business requirements. Embracing free trials and personalized demos are a great way to get hands-on experience. By exploring these options, you can find the right fit for you and your team.
