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E-Commerce · head to head

Contentful vs Klarna

Contentful logo

Contentful

E-Commerce

The content platform for the digital-first era

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Klarna logo

Klarna

E-Commerce

Buy now pay later and instalment checkout for online and in-store merchants

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Contentful has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Contentful pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades; Klarna merchant fees for the short-term products run around 5.99% plus a fixed fee in the United States, roughly double a standard card rate, so unless Klarna measurably lifts average order value or conversion it is a straight margin loss.
  • They diverge on capability: Contentful covers Content modeling, Klarna covers Pay in 4.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Contentful and Klarna actually diverge.

Attributes where Contentful and Klarna differ
AttributeContentfulKlarna
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb, iOS, Android
Founded2013Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (E-Commerce).

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 Contentful

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

Only in Klarna

  • Pay in 4
  • Pay in 30 days
  • Longer-term financing
  • Klarna app placement
  • Klarna Checkout
  • In-store payments
  • On-site messaging
  • Merchant portal

What people use each for

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

Contentful

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

Klarna

  • A fashion or furniture retailer with average order values high enough that a 3% fee uplift is repaid by a larger basketnot Contentful
  • A merchant selling to younger shoppers who have low credit card penetration and would otherwise abandon at checkoutnot Contentful
  • A European retailer wanting a single hosted checkout that handles instalments, invoice and card in one flownot Contentful
  • A brand that wants distribution inside Klarna's shopping app as an acquisition channel rather than only a payment optionnot Contentful

Where each one falls short

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

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

Klarna

  • Merchant fees for the short-term products run around 5.99% plus a fixed fee in the United States, roughly double a standard card rate, so unless Klarna measurably lifts average order value or conversion it is a straight margin loss.
  • Rates are negotiated and unpublished, which means small merchants pay the standard rate while large ones negotiate down, and you cannot benchmark what you are being charged without going to market.
  • Returns and partial refunds are handled through Klarna's systems rather than your payment processor, so your finance team reconciles a second settlement flow and customer service handles a second dispute process.
  • Buy now pay later is being brought under consumer credit regulation in the UK, the EU and Australia, which is already changing affordability checks and disclosures; the checkout experience that converts today may be legally required to add friction.
  • Klarna owns the post-purchase relationship, sending payment reminders and marketing in its own name, so a shopper who has a poor collections experience associates it with your brand while you have no control over the messaging.

Pricing, plan by plan

Contentful

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

Klarna

On request
  • Klarna for Business$undefined/year
    • Per-transaction percentage plus a fixed fee, negotiated by merchant
    • No published rate card; rates vary by market, product and volume
    • Short-term products priced materially above card interchange

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Klarna if

  • You need pay in 4.
  • You work on Web, iOS, Android.
  • You also want pay in 30 days.
Klarna review

Questions people ask

Is Contentful or Klarna better?
Neither clearly leads. Contentful starts at Free and Klarna at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Contentful or Klarna?
Contentful has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Contentful and On request for Klarna.
Does Contentful or Klarna run on more platforms?
Contentful runs on Web, API. Klarna runs on Web, iOS, Android.
Can I use Contentful for free?
Yes. Contentful has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Klarna starts at On request.
What is Contentful best used for?
Contentful is most often used for website content management, mobile app content, e-commerce catalogs, multi-channel publishing. Of those, website content management and mobile app content are not what Klarna is typically brought in for.
What can Contentful do that Klarna cannot?
Contentful covers Content modeling, RESTful APIs, GraphQL API, Webhooks. Klarna covers Pay in 4, Pay in 30 days, Longer-term financing, Klarna app placement.

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
Klarna: What does Klarna cost a merchant?

Klarna does not publish a rate card. In the United States most merchants pay around 5.99% plus $0.30 for short-term products, with longer-term financing nearer 3.29% plus $0.30, and large merchants negotiate lower.

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
Klarna: Does the merchant carry the credit risk?

No. Klarna pays the merchant the full amount less fees and takes the risk of the shopper not paying.

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
Klarna: Can I use Klarna alongside my existing processor?

Yes. It is normally added as an additional payment method through Shopify, Adyen, Stripe or a direct integration rather than replacing your card acquirer.

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
Klarna: Is Klarna still independent?

Yes. It listed on the New York Stock Exchange in September 2025 and holds a Swedish banking licence.

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