# The Platforms We Build On

> The stack SmartaStudio builds on — CMS, framework, hosting and integrations — and the reasoning behind each choice. A technical reference, vendor-agnostic by design.

URL: https://www.smartastudio.com/stack

A curated, opinionated reference: the CMS, framework, hosting and integrations we actually evaluate, recommend and ship. Not a directory of everything that exists — vendor-agnostic by design, grouped by the decision each layer answers.

## [CMS](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/cms)

Where your content lives — and who can actually run it.

The CMS decides who can update the site, how content is structured, and how easily it feeds everything else you run. We build on a small, opinionated set — chosen by the job in front of us, not by habit.

- [Sanity](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/cms/sanity) — A structured-content platform you shape like code.
- [Storyblok](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/cms/storyblok) — Headless content with genuine visual editing.
- [WordPress](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/cms/wordpress) — Fully custom WordPress — no page builders, no bloat.
- [Headless WordPress](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/cms/headless-wordpress) — Keep the CMS your team knows, replace the front end.
- [Contentful](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/cms/contentful) — The enterprise incumbent — and where we sit on it.

## [Framework](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/framework)

What we build the front end with.

The framework sets the performance budget and the ceiling for what the front end can do. We build app-like surfaces in Next.js and content-first sites in Astro — the right tool for the shape of the job.

- [Next.js](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/framework/nextjs) — Our default React framework for app-like builds.
- [Astro](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/framework/astro) — Near-zero JavaScript for content-heavy sites.

## [Hosting](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/hosting)

Where it runs — managed by us, or your own cloud.

Hosting is where performance, security and reliability are won or lost. We run managed environments and VPS boxes ourselves, and deploy to edge platforms like Vercel and Cloudflare — or your own cloud when procurement says so.

- [Vercel](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/hosting/vercel) — Edge delivery and preview deploys for modern front ends.
- [Cloudflare](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/hosting/cloudflare) — A global network for delivery, security and edge compute.
- [Managed Hosting](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/hosting/managed-hosting) — We run it, patch it and monitor it — you never think about it.
- [VPS Hosting](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/hosting/vps-hosting) — Dedicated resources and full control, still managed by us.

## [Commerce](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/commerce)

What powers the store — hosted or fully your own.

The commerce engine decides how you sell: how the checkout converts, how much of the infrastructure you own, and how deeply the store weaves into your content. We build on two, chosen by how much control versus convenience a business wants.

- [Shopify](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/commerce/shopify) — Hosted commerce that just works — customised, not reskinned.
- [WooCommerce](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/commerce/woocommerce) — Fully custom commerce, built into WordPress.

## [Integrations](https://www.smartastudio.com/stack/integrations)

How it connects to everything else you run.

A website is rarely an island. We connect the systems you already run — analytics, CRMs, databases, payments, internal APIs and more — so the site works with your estate rather than beside it. Nothing here is rip-and-replace.