Softwr

Customer Support · head to head

Front vs KeystoneJS

Front logo

Front

Customer Support

Where teams collaborate on customer communication

From
$25/month per seat
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
KeystoneJS logo

KeystoneJS

API Management

Powerful Node.js headless CMS framework and API platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only KeystoneJS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Front starter tier limited to single-channel support; omnichannel support requires Professional tier; KeystoneJS database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite
  • They diverge on capability: Front covers Shared inbox, KeystoneJS covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Front and KeystoneJS actually diverge.

Attributes where Front and KeystoneJS differ
AttributeFrontKeystoneJS
Starting price$25/month per seatFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud-based SaaSNode.js, Self-hosted
CategoryCustomer SupportAPI Management
Founded20132016

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 Front

  • Shared inbox
  • Email collaboration
  • Omnichannel messaging
  • Analytics
  • Workflows
  • Integrations
  • Salesforce
  • HubSpot

Only in KeystoneJS

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Admin interface
  • Node.js
  • Next.js
  • React
  • Databases
  • Node.js support

What people use each for

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

Front

  • Multi-team customer support across email, chat, SMS channelsnot KeystoneJS
  • Enterprises using AI to resolve complex multi-step customer requestsnot KeystoneJS

KeystoneJS

  • Building a headless CMS with a GraphQL API from a TypeScript schemanot Front
  • Generating a configurable Admin UI for editorsnot Front
  • Adding structured rich text content with the document fieldnot Front

Where each one falls short

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

Front

  • Starter tier limited to single-channel support; omnichannel support requires Professional tier
  • AI Copilot, Smart QA, and Smart CSAT are included only in Enterprise tier ($105/seat/month); available as add-ons at higher cost in lower tiers
  • Starter tier limited to 10 automation rules; Professional tier allows 20; unlimited rules only in Enterprise
  • Advanced analytics excluded from Starter tier

KeystoneJS

  • Database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite
  • Keystone 5 is a separate legacy product documented on a different site and is not covered by the Keystone 6 docs
  • Upgrading requires following a dedicated Migrate to 8.0.0 guide, so major versions are not drop-in
  • Free support is a community Slack; enterprise-grade consulting and support is a separate paid engagement with Thinkmill and no published price

Pricing, plan by plan

Front

$25/month per seat

No published plan breakdown. See the Front review.

KeystoneJS

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full KeystoneJS
    • Community support

Which should you pick?

Choose Front if

  • You need shared inbox.
  • You work on Cloud-based SaaS.
  • You also want email collaboration.
Front review

Choose KeystoneJS if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Self-hosted.
  • You also want graphql api.
KeystoneJS review

Questions people ask

Is Front or KeystoneJS better?
Neither clearly leads. Front starts at $25/month per seat and KeystoneJS at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Front or KeystoneJS?
KeystoneJS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $25/month per seat for Front and Free for KeystoneJS.
Does Front or KeystoneJS run on more platforms?
Front runs on Cloud-based SaaS. KeystoneJS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted.
Can I use KeystoneJS for free?
Yes. KeystoneJS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Front starts at $25/month per seat.
What is Front best used for?
Front is most often used for multi-team customer support across email, chat, sms channels, enterprises using ai to resolve complex multi-step customer requests. Of those, multi-team customer support across email, chat, sms channels and enterprises using ai to resolve complex multi-step customer requests are not what KeystoneJS is typically brought in for.
What can Front do that KeystoneJS cannot?
Front covers Shared inbox, Email collaboration, Omnichannel messaging, Analytics. KeystoneJS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Admin interface, Node.js.
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Related pages

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