Softwr

APIs · head to head

KeystoneJS vs Strapi

KeystoneJS logo

KeystoneJS

APIs

Powerful Node.js headless CMS framework and API platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strapi logo

Strapi

APIs

Headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
$35/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only KeystoneJS has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: KeystoneJS database support is limited to PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • They diverge on capability: KeystoneJS covers Admin interface, Strapi covers Content management.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which KeystoneJS and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where KeystoneJS and Strapi differ
AttributeKeystoneJSStrapi
Starting priceFree$35/month
Pricing modelopen-sourcesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsNode.js, Self-hostedNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
Founded20162015

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (APIs).

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

  • Admin interface
  • Node.js
  • Next.js
  • React
  • Databases

Only in Strapi

  • Content management
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • AWS
  • Webhooks
  • Cloud support
  • Docker support

Both cover

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Node.js support
  • Self-hosted support

What people use each for

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

KeystoneJS

  • Headless CMS implementationnot Strapi
  • Content management systemsnot Strapi
  • Customizable API-driven applicationsnot Strapi

Strapi

  • Running a self hosted headless CMS with a REST or GraphQL APInot KeystoneJS
  • Giving editors a content admin panel over a custom content modelnot 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

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

KeystoneJS

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Full KeystoneJS
    • Community support

Strapi

$35/month
  • Starter$35/month
    • 100k API requests
    • 50 GB asset storage
    • 50 GB asset bandwidth
  • Pro$90/month
    • 1M API requests
    • 250 GB asset storage
    • 500 GB asset bandwidth
  • Business$450/month
    • 10M API requests
    • 1000 GB asset storage
    • 1000 GB asset bandwidth

Which should you pick?

Choose KeystoneJS if

  • You need admin interface.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Self-hosted.
  • You also want node.js.
KeystoneJS review

Choose Strapi if

  • You need content management.
  • You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want postgresql.
Strapi review

Questions people ask

Is KeystoneJS or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. KeystoneJS starts at Free and Strapi at $35/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, KeystoneJS or Strapi?
KeystoneJS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for KeystoneJS and $35/month for Strapi.
Does KeystoneJS or Strapi run on more platforms?
KeystoneJS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use KeystoneJS for free?
Yes. KeystoneJS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Strapi starts at $35/month.
What is KeystoneJS best used for?
KeystoneJS is most often used for headless cms implementation, content management systems, customizable api-driven applications. Of those, headless cms implementation and content management systems are not what Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can KeystoneJS do that Strapi cannot?
KeystoneJS covers Admin interface, Node.js, Next.js, React. Strapi covers Content management, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB. Both handle REST API, GraphQL API, Node.js support, Self-hosted support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

KeystoneJS: Is KeystoneJS free?

Yes, KeystoneJS is free and open source with no licensing fees. Core platform has no lock-in and is contributed to by 250+ developers.

Source
Strapi: How much do API request overages cost?

Additional API requests beyond the plan limit cost $1.50 per 25000 requests. Extra asset storage costs $0.60 per GB, and additional bandwidth costs $30 per 100 GB.

Source
KeystoneJS: What are hosting costs for KeystoneJS?

KeystoneJS is self-hosted and deployment-agnostic. Hosting costs depend on your chosen deployment platform (Vercel, AWS, Heroku, etc.) and infrastructure, not KeystoneJS itself.

Source
Strapi: Is yearly billing available?

Yes, yearly billing saves up to 17% compared to monthly billing on Strapi Cloud plans.

Source
KeystoneJS: Does KeystoneJS offer paid support?

Enterprise support with tailored options is available from Thinkmill, the company behind KeystoneJS. Pricing details available upon request.

Source
Strapi: What is included with the Pro plan?

The Pro plan costs $90 per month per project and includes 1M API requests, 250 GB asset storage, 500 GB bandwidth, multi-environment support, weekly backups, and manual backups.

Source
Share

Related pages

More on KeystoneJS

More on Strapi

Keep looking

Other head to heads