Real-world creators speak candidly: Their thoughts on using microCMS, along with its pros and cons

Hello. This is Lake and Moon Design.

I get the impression that over the past year or two, the term “microCMS (headless CMS)” has become much more common in the web development industry.

We, too, have built several client websites using microCMS and are helping with their operation.

In our previous article, we discussed general use cases and the differences between microCMS and WordPress, but this time we’ll shift our perspective a bit.

I’d like to share my honest, unfiltered impressions of microCMS—including both its pros and cons—from the perspective of an engineer (developer) who’s actually rolling up their sleeves to build websites from the ground up.

To put it simply: “As a developer, it’s an incredibly fun system to work with. However, it’s a system that comes with certain ‘conditions’ for clients to choose it.”

Here’s a real-world report straight from the field.

Before we dive into the main topic, just a quick note. If you’re wondering, “What is microCMS, anyway?” or “How is it different from other tools?” and want to get the big picture first, please read this article, “What Is microCMS?”

That way, the specific details I’m about to share will make much more sense and feel more relevant to you.

Advantage: “Overwhelming Agility” That’s Truly Inspiring to Build

First, here are the strengths that, as an engineer, made me think, “This is truly amazing!”

1. It’s just so fast! The joy of building a site that runs at lightning speed

This is what impressed me the most. Since there are absolutely no unnecessary systems getting in the way, pages load instantly.

It’s like speeding down a deserted lakeside road on a sunny day—creating a site with that kind of exhilarating feeling naturally gets me excited as an engineer.

There’s a sense that every line of code I write directly translates into a smooth user experience (speed), and it feels incredibly liberating not to be bound by unnecessary constraints. This “speed” is the greatest form of hospitality we can offer to our visitors.

2. Freedom from the Fear of “Plugin Update Errors”

When running WordPress, there’s always the risk that a plugin update could suddenly cause the site to go blank or break the layout.

However, because microCMS is structured to not use such plugins, there’s no “fear of updates.”* You only need to keep an eye on the version of the underlying
Node.js environment, making maintenance truly easy and secure.

3. A Simple Admin Interface That Keeps Clients from Getting Lost

The admin panel (the backend screen for writing posts) is extremely simple and streamlined. Since there are no complicated menus, it’s easy to explain to clients how to use it—simply telling them, “Click here and enter your text.” I found this to be a major advantage, as even those who aren’t tech-savvy can use it intuitively.

Drawbacks: “Inconveniences” and “Cost Barriers” I Want to Be Honest About

On the other hand, after actually building and operating the system, I identified some painful weaknesses and hurdles that I felt I needed to clearly communicate to clients in advance.

1. It Takes Time for Changes to Take Effect After Publishing an Article

Unlike WordPress, where “pressing the publish button updates the site in a second,” that’s not the case here.

Due to the way microCMS is structured, every time you update an article, a “page rebuild (build)” process runs behind the scenes.

As a result, there’s a time lag of “about 3 to 7 minutes” between clicking the button and the changes appearing on the live site.

For those who frequently make minor edits, this can feel a bit frustrating.

2. The “hidden development effort” and “high setup costs” inherent in a custom-built system

This might be the biggest hurdle. Unlike WordPress, where you can simply “install a handy plugin and you’re done!”—here, every single feature must be painstakingly built by hand (through coding) by a skilled developer. (We also develop under restrictions like “no jQuery” to maximize page speed, but honestly, it’s quite a challenge, haha).

Honestly, even if you casually think, “I’d like to add this feature,” after launching the site, you can’t just solve it in a few minutes with a plugin like you can in WordPress. Each time, thorough design and implementation (programming) are required, so even small changes come with a significant cost and time investment.

As a result, it’s not uncommon for the time and cost of development to be “about 1.5 times” that of building with WordPress. Additionally, there are strict limitations on the number of APIs (post types) you can create within the free plan, so if you’re building a large-scale site, you’ll incur monthly fees for a paid system.

Conclusion from the Field: Cases We “Absolutely Do Not Recommend” and Cases Where It’s a “Perfect Fit”

With all of this in mind, let me be clear. We generally do not recommend microCMS for the following types of requests:

• “We want to update the site frequently, almost every day, on our own”
• “We want to keep initial costs as low as possible and get the site up and running quickly”

In these cases, there’s no need to force yourself to choose microCMS.
As I mentioned in my previous article, you’ll definitely be better off simply choosing a tool like WordPress.

Conversely, microCMS truly shines on sites that meet the following conditions:

• Sites that prioritize page load speed and “aesthetically pleasing design”
• Sites for professionals or businesses where “robust security” is an absolute requirement
• Sites with a simple and limited “range of content” to update, such as announcements or project portfolios

microCMS is not a magic tool that’s cheap, fast, and capable of doing everything. It takes both time and money, and it isn’t exactly user-friendly.

However, for clients seeking a “rock-solid foundation that will never fail” and “overwhelming speed,” it is the absolute best choice available.

Which option is right for your company? If you’re unsure, please feel free to consult with us.

“How would this work for our company?” “I want to know what we can achieve within our budget.”

If you have even the slightest curiosity about these questions, please feel free to contact us.

At Lake and Moon Design, we’ll lay out all the “pros and cons” we’ve discussed today on the table, and together, we’ll figure out and propose the solution that best fits your business right now.

(That’s all from the field!)