Technical Q&A for CMS 13
This blog post explains what to expect when planning to upgrade to Optimizely CMS 13. It answers common technical questions about what’s involved in moving to CMS 13, what changes to expect, and where Optimizely is headed next.
The source of this content is the Q&A session from the technical webinar held on 26 March 2026. The compiled Q&A from the zoom meeting has been prepared by the Epicweb AI Assistant for Optimizely, the most natively integrated AI assistant for CMS 12 and 13.
🚀 Upgrade & Migration
What is required to upgrade to CMS 13?
You need to update to the latest NuGet packages from the Optimizely feed. Documentation with detailed upgrade steps will be published.
What does the upgrade effort look like?
It depends on your current setup:
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If you use Search and Navigation or Graph, it affects complexity
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Custom code increases effort
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Documentation for different scenarios will be provided
Is migration tooling available (for PaaS or assets)?
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Migration documentation for PaaS is coming
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No official tools yet for migrating assets to DAM (Epinova has one => https://www.epinova.se/en/services/platform-and-packaging/dam-migration/ )
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Asset migration is possible but requires a project effort
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Is there a direct upgrade path from CMS 11 to CMS 13?
Yes, a direct upgrade is possible. The effort is similar to upgrading to CMS 12 first, so going directly to CMS 13 is generally recommended.
🔎 Graph & Search
Should we implement Graph in CMS 12 or wait for CMS 13?
It is recommended to wait and implement Graph in CMS 13 because:
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The schema differs significantly between versions
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Migrating twice adds unnecessary effort
Is Search and Navigation still supported in CMS 13?
No, switching to Graph is mandatory.
Will Graph changes break existing implementations?
Yes, the schema has changed to align with SaaS and new APIs.
Can Graph be used on-prem?
Yes, but Graph itself is a SaaS service. On-prem installations can integrate with it.
Will there be migration guides for Graph?
Yes, migration guides will be published.
Can Graph schema be generated locally?
No, schema generation is handled automatically by CMS. Some extension points exist, but core schema cannot be modified.
🧱 Architecture & Development
Is MVC still supported in CMS 13?
Yes, MVC remains supported with helpers for rendering and integrations.
Is Dojo still required for editor UI customization?
No. You can move away from Dojo. New approaches and documentation are available. => https://world.optimizely.com/blogs/grzegorz-wiechec/dates/2026/3/custom-property-editors-in-optimizely-cms-13/
Will React be supported?
Yes, modern frontend approaches are supported, especially via the JS SDK.
Is Razor supported?
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Razor Pages: supported
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Razor Components: not yet fully supported
Can Blazor be used as frontend?
Yes, it is not discouraged.
🧩 Visual Builder & Content Modeling
Is Visual Builder available for PaaS?
Yes, it is available for both SaaS and PaaS.
Do I have to use rows and columns?
No. They are logical structures for grouping content, not mandatory for rendering.
Are content modeling rules the same for SaaS and CMS 13?
Yes, the same rules apply.
Can pages and Visual Builder experiences be combined?
Yes, you can mix traditional pages with new experience-based structures.
🗂 DAM (Digital Asset Management)
Is DAM required?
No, it is optional. You can run it alongside existing media libraries.
Can assets be migrated automatically to DAM?
No built-in tools yet. Migration requires manual effort and updating references.
Can CMS assets and DAM coexist?
Yes, both can be used simultaneously.
Can the old media library be disabled?
Not yet, but there are plans for this.
Is DAM available on-prem?
No, DAM is a cloud service and requires Opti ID.
🔐 Opti ID & Authentication
What is Opti ID?
Opti ID is Optimizely’s centralized identity and access management system.
Is Opti ID required?
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Required for certain features like OCP (Optimizely Connect Platform), DAM and Opal
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Not available for on-prem
Can you still use your own authentication for site users?
Yes, Opti ID is only for editors and business users.
Can session behavior (timeouts, concurrent sessions) be controlled?
Yes, this can be configured, including via Opti ID settings.
🤖 Opal & AI
Does Opal work on-prem?
No, it requires Opti ID and is not supported on-prem.
Does Opal work with PaaS?
Yes, Opal will work with PaaS.
Is Opal included automatically with CMS 13?
No, it is a standalone product that you subscribe to. Pricing is usage-based and billed via Opal Credits, and it is available in multiple tiers.
⚙️ APIs & Integrations
Are there changes to Management and Delivery APIs?
Yes:
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CMS 13 introduces a new Management API
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Graph becomes the primary delivery API
Will REST APIs be consistent between SaaS and CMS 13?
Yes, same format and payload.
Can DAM vendors build integrations for all customers?
Yes, via new integration patterns, thru OCP (Optimizely Connect Platform).
🛠 SDK & Frontend
Will the content-js-sdk support CMS 13?
Yes, a new version will support both SaaS and CMS 13.
Is there a preview-compatible SDK available?
Not yet, but it is in progress and expected shortly after release.
Will CMS 13 improve frontend framework support (e.g., Next.js)?
Yes, especially through the updated JS SDK.
🔄 Scheduled Jobs
Has the scheduled jobs API changed?
No, it remains the same.
Will async support be added?
Yes, there are plans to support async in the future.
🧪 Templates & Starter Kits
Will there be a template like Alloy?
Yes, a new template called Stride will replace Alloy and be available with GA.
🧭 SaaS vs PaaS
What is the difference between CMS 13 and SaaS?
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CMS 13 (PaaS): full control, custom code allowed
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SaaS: managed by Optimizely, no custom code in process
Why move from PaaS to SaaS?
Only if you prefer:
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automatic updates
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less infrastructure responsibility
Otherwise, PaaS remains the better choice for customization.
📦 Commerce
Is CMS 13 compatible with Commerce 14?
No. Compatibility will come with Commerce 15.
🧠 Miscellaneous
Are Visitor Groups still available?
Yes for MVC, but not indexed in Graph. Alternatives are recommended for personalization.
Will CMS 12 certification still be relevant?
Yes, CMS 13 is an evolution and largely similar.
When is CMS 14 coming?
No confirmed timeline.
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Book a meeting to get started!
We offer a one-hour introduction meeting about our AI Assistant for Optimizely CMS 12. (Swedish or English)
Note: This blog post has been enhanced with the help of the AI-Assistant for Optimizely.
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