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Contentful vs Sanity

Contentful logo

Contentful

Software

The content platform for the digital-first era

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Sanity logo

Sanity

Software

Headless CMS with real-time collaborative editing and structured content APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Contentful pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades; Sanity free plan limited to 10,000 documents and 100GB assets
  • They diverge on capability: Contentful covers Content modeling, Sanity covers Content API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Contentful and Sanity actually diverge.

Attributes where Contentful and Sanity differ
AttributeContentfulSanity
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
PlatformsWeb, APIWeb
Founded20132011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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
  • Rich text editor
  • Asset management
  • Multi-language support
  • Version control
  • Gatsby

Only in Sanity

  • Content API
  • Collaborative editing
  • Structured content
  • Third-party services
  • GROQ query language
  • Cloud support
  • JavaScript SDK support

Both cover

  • Webhooks

What people use each for

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

Contentful

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

Sanity

  • Headless CMS for structured content managementnot Contentful
  • Collaborative content editing with real-time multiplayer supportnot Contentful
  • API-driven content delivery with GROQ query languagenot 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

Sanity

  • Free plan limited to 10,000 documents and 100GB assets
  • Free plan supports only public datasets
  • Growth plan capped at 50 seats maximum
  • Private datasets, scheduled drafts, and comments/tasks require paid plans
  • Annual billing unavailable for Growth plan; Enterprise-only

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

Sanity

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Sanity 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.
Contentful review

Choose Sanity if

  • You need content api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want collaborative editing.
Sanity review

Questions people ask

Is Contentful or Sanity better?
Neither clearly leads. Contentful starts at Free and Sanity at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Contentful or Sanity?
Contentful starts at Free and Sanity at Free.
Does Contentful or Sanity run on more platforms?
Contentful runs on Web, API. Sanity runs on Web.
Can I use Contentful for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Sanity is typically brought in for.
What can Contentful do that Sanity cannot?
Contentful covers Content modeling, RESTful APIs, GraphQL API, Rich text editor. Sanity covers Content API, Collaborative editing, Structured content, Third-party services. Both handle 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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