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E-commerce · head to head

Arc Publishing vs Contentful

Arc Publishing logo

Arc Publishing

E-commerce

The enterprise publishing platform for news organizations

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Contentful logo

Contentful

E-commerce

The content platform for the digital-first era

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Contentful has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Arc Publishing now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there; Contentful pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades
  • They diverge on capability: Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Contentful covers Content modeling.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Arc Publishing and Contentful actually diverge.

Attributes where Arc Publishing and Contentful differ
AttributeArc PublishingContentful
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelquoteUnknown
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, API
CategoryUnknownE-commerce
Founded20162013

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Arc Publishing

  • Modular CMS
  • Content creation
  • Publishing workflow
  • Paywall management
  • Subscription billing
  • Analytics dashboard
  • API framework
  • Commerce integration

Only in Contentful

  • Content modeling
  • RESTful APIs
  • GraphQL API
  • Webhooks
  • Rich text editor
  • Asset management
  • Multi-language support
  • Version control

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Arc Publishing

  • Content management for news and digital publishersnot Contentful
  • Subscription and paywall managementnot Contentful
  • Video publishing alongside articlesnot Contentful
  • Multi-site delivery for broadcast and B2B publishersnot Contentful

Contentful

  • Website content managementnot Arc Publishing
  • Mobile app contentnot Arc Publishing
  • E-commerce catalogsnot Arc Publishing
  • Multi-channel publishingnot Arc Publishing
  • Digital experiencesnot Arc Publishing

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Arc Publishing

  • Now sold as Arc XP, and arcpublishing.com redirects there
  • Pricing is not published
  • Built for media companies, so the editorial workflow assumptions do not suit a general business site

Contentful

  • Pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades
  • Limited GraphQL mutations for content management complexity
  • Requires significant technical expertise and developer dependency
  • Uncertainty following Salesforce acquisition announcement in June 2026

Pricing, plan by plan

Arc Publishing

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • Custom CMS
    • Paywall integration
    • Advanced analytics

Contentful

Free
  • FreeFree
    • 10 users
    • 100K API calls per month
    • 1 Space
  • Team$489/month
    • Higher usage limits
    • Additional collaboration features
    • Professional support

Which should you pick?

Choose Arc Publishing if

  • You need modular cms.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want content creation.
Arc Publishing review

Choose Contentful if

  • You need content modeling.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want restful apis.
Contentful review

Questions people ask

Is Arc Publishing or Contentful better?
Neither clearly leads. Arc Publishing starts at On request and Contentful at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Arc Publishing or Contentful?
Contentful has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Arc Publishing and Free for Contentful.
Does Arc Publishing or Contentful run on more platforms?
Arc Publishing runs on Web, Mobile. Contentful runs on Web, API.
Can I use Contentful for free?
Yes. Contentful has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Arc Publishing starts at On request.
What is Arc Publishing best used for?
Arc Publishing is most often used for content management for news and digital publishers, subscription and paywall management, video publishing alongside articles, multi-site delivery for broadcast and b2b publishers. Of those, content management for news and digital publishers and subscription and paywall management are not what Contentful is typically brought in for.
What can Arc Publishing do that Contentful cannot?
Arc Publishing covers Modular CMS, Content creation, Publishing workflow, Paywall management. Contentful covers Content modeling, RESTful APIs, GraphQL API, Webhooks.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Contentful: Does Contentful offer a free tier?

Yes, Contentful has a Free tier with 10 users, 100K API calls per month, and support for 1 Space. This is suitable for small projects and proof-of-concept work.

Source
Contentful: What is the difference between Contentful and traditional CMS platforms?

Contentful is a headless CMS that decouples content from presentation, allowing you to deliver the same content across websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, and voice assistants without duplication.

Source
Contentful: How does Contentful handle multi-locale content?

Contentful supports multi-locale content, though multi-locale costs must be negotiated upfront depending on your pricing tier and requirements.

Source
Contentful: Does Contentful integrate with e-commerce platforms?

Yes, Contentful partners with Commerce Layer, an API-first commerce platform, to enable enterprise-grade e-commerce experiences alongside headless CMS capabilities.

Source
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