E-commerce · head to head
Contentful vs SamCart
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; SamCart plans start at $79 per month, and features like subscription saver and A/B testing are reserved for the higher $199 per month Scale tier
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Contentful and SamCart actually diverge.
| Attribute | Contentful | SamCart |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | Unknown | subscription |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web, API | Web |
| Founded | 2013 | Unknown |
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 SamCart
Nothing recorded that Contentful does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Contentful
- Website content managementnot SamCart
- Mobile app contentnot SamCart
- E-commerce catalogsnot SamCart
- Multi-channel publishingnot SamCart
- Digital experiencesnot SamCart
SamCart
No use cases recorded yet. See the SamCart review.
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
SamCart
- Plans start at $79 per month, and features like subscription saver and A/B testing are reserved for the higher $199 per month Scale tier
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
SamCart
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the SamCart review.
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.
Choose SamCart if
Nothing in the data separates SamCart from Contentful on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Contentful or SamCart better?
- Neither clearly leads. Contentful starts at Free and SamCart at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Contentful or SamCart?
- Contentful has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Contentful and On request for SamCart.
- Does Contentful or SamCart run on more platforms?
- Contentful runs on Web, API. SamCart runs on Web.
- Can I use Contentful for free?
- Yes. Contentful has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. SamCart 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 SamCart is typically brought in for.
- What can Contentful do that SamCart cannot?
- 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.
SourceContentful: 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.
SourceContentful: 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.
SourceContentful: 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