E-commerce · head to head
Contentful vs Strapi
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Contentful pricing model with content type limits (48) forces full tier upgrades; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
- They diverge on capability: Contentful covers Content modeling, Strapi covers REST API.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Contentful and Strapi actually diverge.
| Attribute | Contentful | Strapi |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Unknown | open-source |
| Platforms | Web, API | Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker |
| Category | E-commerce | API Management |
| Founded | 2013 | 2015 |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Contentful
- Content modeling
- RESTful APIs
- Rich text editor
- Asset management
- Multi-language support
- Version control
- Gatsby
- Next.js
Only in Strapi
- REST API
- Content management
- PostgreSQL
- MySQL
- MongoDB
- Node.js support
- Cloud support
- Self-hosted support
Both cover
- GraphQL API
- Webhooks
- AWS
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Contentful
- Website content managementnot Strapi
- Mobile app contentnot Strapi
- E-commerce catalogsnot Strapi
- Multi-channel publishingnot Strapi
- Digital experiencesnot Strapi
Strapi
- Running a self hosted headless CMS with a REST or GraphQL APInot Contentful
- Giving editors a content admin panel over a custom content modelnot 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
Strapi
- Cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
- Starter at $35 a month allows 100,000 API requests, and overage is $1.50 per 25,000
- Extra bandwidth is $30 per 100 GB and extra asset storage $0.60 per GB
- Backups start at the Pro plan, weekly, and only become daily at Business
- An uptime SLA is Business only, at $450 a month per project
- Additional environments cost $60 a month on Pro and $300 a month on Business
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
Strapi
Free- CommunityFree
- Self-hosted Strapi
- Community support
- Pro$99/monthly
- Cloud hosting
- Advanced features
- Priority support
- Business$undefined/monthly
- Enterprise features
- Custom SLA
- Dedicated support
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 Strapi if
- You need rest api.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
- You also want content management.
Questions people ask
- Is Contentful or Strapi better?
- Neither clearly leads. Contentful starts at Free and Strapi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Contentful or Strapi?
- Contentful starts at Free and Strapi at Free.
- Does Contentful or Strapi run on more platforms?
- Contentful runs on Web, API. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
- 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 Strapi is typically brought in for.
- What can Contentful do that Strapi cannot?
- Contentful covers Content modeling, RESTful APIs, Rich text editor, Asset management. Strapi covers REST API, Content management, PostgreSQL, MySQL. Both handle GraphQL API, Webhooks, AWS.
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