Software · head to head
KeystoneJS vs Prisma
KeystoneJS
Software
Powerful Node.js headless CMS framework and API platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: KeystoneJS database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite; Prisma prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
- They diverge on capability: KeystoneJS covers REST API, Prisma covers ORM.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which KeystoneJS and Prisma actually diverge.
| Attribute | KeystoneJS | Prisma |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Node.js, Self-hosted | Node.js, TypeScript |
Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown), founded (2016).
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 KeystoneJS
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- Admin interface
- Next.js
- React
- Databases
- Self-hosted support
Only in Prisma
- ORM
- Query builder
- Auto-migrations
- TypeScript
- GraphQL
- REST APIs
- TypeScript support
Both cover
- Node.js
- Node.js support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
KeystoneJS
- Building a headless CMS with a GraphQL API from a TypeScript schemanot Prisma
- Generating a configurable Admin UI for editorsnot Prisma
- Adding structured rich text content with the document fieldnot Prisma
Prisma
- Using a type safe ORM and query layer against a Postgres databasenot KeystoneJS
- Adding a managed connection pool and edge cache in front of an existing databasenot KeystoneJS
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Prisma
- Prisma Postgres is billed per operation, with the free tier at 100,000 operations and 500 MB of storage
- Starter at $10 a month includes 1M operations then charges $0.0080 per 1,000
- Storage overage runs from $2.00 per GB on Starter down to $1.00 per GB on Business, so the unit cost depends on the plan
- Accelerate charges separately per operation and per GiB of query egress beyond the first 1 KiB
- Cache tag invalidations are not included below the Pro plan and are billed per thousand above it
Pricing, plan by plan
KeystoneJS
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full KeystoneJS
- Community support
Prisma
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full Prisma ORM
- Community support
- Professional$50/monthly
- Extended browser
- Priority support
- Monitoring
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Prisma if
- You need orm.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Node.js, TypeScript.
- You also want query builder.
Questions people ask
- Is KeystoneJS or Prisma better?
- Neither clearly leads. KeystoneJS starts at Free and Prisma at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, KeystoneJS or Prisma?
- KeystoneJS starts at Free and Prisma at Free.
- Does KeystoneJS or Prisma run on more platforms?
- KeystoneJS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Prisma runs on Node.js, TypeScript.
- Can I use KeystoneJS for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What is KeystoneJS best used for?
- KeystoneJS is most often used for building a headless cms with a graphql api from a typescript schema, generating a configurable admin ui for editors, adding structured rich text content with the document field. Of those, building a headless cms with a graphql api from a typescript schema and generating a configurable admin ui for editors are not what Prisma is typically brought in for.
- What can KeystoneJS do that Prisma cannot?
- KeystoneJS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Admin interface, Next.js. Prisma covers ORM, Query builder, Auto-migrations, TypeScript. Both handle Node.js, Node.js support.
Related pages
Keep looking
Other head to heads
- KeystoneJS vs Appwrite
- KeystoneJS vs Hasura
- KeystoneJS vs PocketBase
- KeystoneJS vs Sanity
- KeystoneJS vs Apigee
- KeystoneJS vs Bruno
- KeystoneJS vs Parse Server
- KeystoneJS vs Stoplight
- KeystoneJS vs Strapi
- KeystoneJS vs Swagger/OpenAPI
- KeystoneJS vs Thunder Client
- KeystoneJS vs WSO2 API Manager
- KeystoneJS vs 3scale
- KeystoneJS vs Akana
- KeystoneJS vs Asyncapi
- KeystoneJS vs AWS API Gateway
- KeystoneJS vs Microsoft Azure API Management
- KeystoneJS vs Backendless
- Prisma vs Appwrite
- Prisma vs Hasura
- Prisma vs PocketBase
- Prisma vs Sanity
- Prisma vs Apigee
- Prisma vs Bruno
- Prisma vs Parse Server
- Prisma vs Stoplight
- Prisma vs Strapi
- Prisma vs Swagger/OpenAPI
- Prisma vs Thunder Client
- Prisma vs WSO2 API Manager
- Prisma vs 3scale
- Prisma vs Akana
- Prisma vs Asyncapi
- Prisma vs AWS API Gateway
- Prisma vs Microsoft Azure API Management
- Prisma vs Backendless