APIs · head to head
KeystoneJS vs Swan
KeystoneJS
APIs
Powerful Node.js headless CMS framework and API platform
- From
- Free
- Rated
- -
Swan
APIs
European banking-as-a-service platform for embedding accounts, cards and payments into other products
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
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; Swan its regulatory base and strongest local account coverage are French and European, so companies needing US, UK-post-Brexit-specific, or broader global banking-as-a-service need an additional provider.
- They diverge on capability: KeystoneJS covers REST API, Swan covers Embedded business accounts.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which KeystoneJS and Swan actually diverge.
| Attribute | KeystoneJS | Swan |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | open-source | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Node.js, Self-hosted | Web, API |
| Founded | 2016 | Unknown |
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
- REST API
- GraphQL API
- Admin interface
- Node.js
- Next.js
- React
- Databases
- Node.js support
Only in Swan
- Embedded business accounts
- Card issuing
- SEPA payments
- Local account localisation
- ACPR regulation
- Usage-based pricing
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
KeystoneJS
- Headless CMS implementationnot Swan
- Content management systemsnot Swan
- Customizable API-driven applicationsnot Swan
Swan
- A vertical SaaS platform wanting to embed business bank accounts under its own brandnot KeystoneJS
- A marketplace wanting to issue cards to sellers or partners without becoming a licensed banknot KeystoneJS
- A company wanting SEPA payment initiation embedded directly into its own productnot KeystoneJS
- A European fintech wanting to avoid a six-figure setup fee and long lock-in typical of legacy banking-as-a-service dealsnot 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
Swan
- Its regulatory base and strongest local account coverage are French and European, so companies needing US, UK-post-Brexit-specific, or broader global banking-as-a-service need an additional provider.
- Pricing is described only philosophically (usage-based, no big setup fee) rather than published as an actual rate card, so a company still needs a sales conversation to get real numbers.
- Embedding banking features into a product is a substantial compliance and design undertaking regardless of the vendor, and Swan handling the licence does not remove a platform's own KYC, AML and customer support obligations for the accounts it offers.
- As a comparatively young, single-country-licensed e-money institution, its balance sheet and regulatory standing carry more concentration risk than a banking-as-a-service offering backed by an established, multi-jurisdiction bank.
- Local account depth is explicitly limited to France, Germany and Spain, so a platform needing native local accounts in other European countries may find coverage thinner than expected.
Pricing, plan by plan
KeystoneJS
Free- Open SourceFree
- Full KeystoneJS
- Community support
Swan
On request- Swan$undefined/month
- Usage-based pricing, no published rate card
- No long-term contract or large setup fee required
- Custom quote based on current, not forecast, usage
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 Swan if
- You need embedded business accounts.
- You work on Web, API.
- You also want card issuing.
Questions people ask
- Is KeystoneJS or Swan better?
- Neither clearly leads. KeystoneJS starts at Free and Swan at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, KeystoneJS or Swan?
- KeystoneJS has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for KeystoneJS and On request for Swan.
- Does KeystoneJS or Swan run on more platforms?
- KeystoneJS runs on Node.js, Self-hosted. Swan runs on Web, API.
- Can I use KeystoneJS for free?
- Yes. KeystoneJS has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Swan starts at On request.
- 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 Swan is typically brought in for.
- What can KeystoneJS do that Swan cannot?
- KeystoneJS covers REST API, GraphQL API, Admin interface, Node.js. Swan covers Embedded business accounts, Card issuing, SEPA payments, Local account localisation.
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.
SourceSwan: Which countries does Swan offer local accounts in?
France, Germany and Spain specifically, alongside broader SEPA payment coverage.
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.
SourceSwan: Is pricing published?
No, Swan describes a usage-based, no-large-setup-fee philosophy but requires a quote for actual numbers.
KeystoneJS: Does KeystoneJS offer paid support?
Enterprise support with tailored options is available from Thinkmill, the company behind KeystoneJS. Pricing details available upon request.
SourceSwan: Who regulates Swan?
France's ACPR (Autorite de Controle Prudentiel et de Resolution), as a licensed e-money institution.
Related pages
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