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Mobile Development · head to head

Kotlin Multiplatform vs Strapi

Kotlin Multiplatform logo

Kotlin Multiplatform

Mobile Development

JetBrains-funded technology for sharing Kotlin business logic across iOS, Android, web, desktop and server

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 Kotlin Multiplatform has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Kotlin Multiplatform it shares logic, not UI, by default, so a team expecting a Flutter-style single UI codebase has to also adopt Compose Multiplatform, which is newer and less proven on iOS than on Android.; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • They diverge on capability: Kotlin Multiplatform covers Shared Kotlin logic, Strapi covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kotlin Multiplatform and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where Kotlin Multiplatform and Strapi differ
AttributeKotlin MultiplatformStrapi
Starting priceFree$35/month
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feesubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsiOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, WebNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
CategoryMobile DevelopmentAPIs
FoundedUnknown2015

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 Kotlin Multiplatform

  • Shared Kotlin logic
  • Native UI retained
  • Compose Multiplatform (optional)
  • IDE tooling
  • Gradle-based builds
  • Incremental adoption

Only in Strapi

  • REST API
  • GraphQL API
  • Content management
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • AWS
  • Webhooks

What people use each for

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

Kotlin Multiplatform

  • A company with existing separate native iOS and Android codebases wanting to stop duplicating business logic and networking codenot Strapi
  • A team that wants shared logic but is not willing to compromise on fully native UI per platformnot Strapi
  • An organisation already using Kotlin on the backend that wants to reuse the same models and validation on mobile clientsnot Strapi
  • A team evaluating Compose Multiplatform for UI sharing but wanting the option to fall back to native UI per screennot Strapi

Strapi

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

Where each one falls short

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

Kotlin Multiplatform

  • It shares logic, not UI, by default, so a team expecting a Flutter-style single UI codebase has to also adopt Compose Multiplatform, which is newer and less proven on iOS than on Android.
  • iOS interop relies on Kotlin/Native compiling to a framework consumed from Swift, and debugging across that boundary is more friction than debugging pure Swift or pure Kotlin.
  • Because logic-sharing is the whole premise, teams still need genuine iOS and Android UI expertise on staff; it does not reduce the native skills bar the way a full cross-platform UI framework aims to.
  • Build times and tooling maturity for multiplatform Gradle projects lag behind single-platform Kotlin or Swift projects, and multiplatform-specific build errors are less well documented.
  • JetBrains funds it as part of the broader Kotlin investment, so its roadmap priority competes internally with IntelliJ, Android Studio and other JetBrains commitments rather than having dedicated headcount the way Flutter has at Google.

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

Kotlin Multiplatform

Free
  • Kotlin MultiplatformFree
    • Apache 2.0 licensed, unlimited apps
    • IDE tooling in the free Android Studio and free-tier IntelliJ IDEA Community
    • No paid Kotlin Multiplatform edition exists

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 Kotlin Multiplatform if

  • You need shared kotlin logic.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web.
  • You also want native ui retained.
Kotlin Multiplatform review

Choose Strapi if

  • You need rest api.
  • You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want graphql api.
Strapi review

Questions people ask

Is Kotlin Multiplatform or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. Kotlin Multiplatform 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, Kotlin Multiplatform or Strapi?
Kotlin Multiplatform has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Kotlin Multiplatform and $35/month for Strapi.
Does Kotlin Multiplatform or Strapi run on more platforms?
Kotlin Multiplatform runs on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux, Web. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use Kotlin Multiplatform for free?
Yes. Kotlin Multiplatform has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Strapi starts at $35/month.
What is Kotlin Multiplatform best used for?
Kotlin Multiplatform is most often used for a company with existing separate native ios and android codebases wanting to stop duplicating business logic and networking code, a team that wants shared logic but is not willing to compromise on fully native ui per platform, an organisation already using kotlin on the backend that wants to reuse the same models and validation on mobile clients, a team evaluating compose multiplatform for ui sharing but wanting the option to fall back to native ui per screen. Of those, a company with existing separate native ios and android codebases wanting to stop duplicating business logic and networking code and a team that wants shared logic but is not willing to compromise on fully native ui per platform are not what Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can Kotlin Multiplatform do that Strapi cannot?
Kotlin Multiplatform covers Shared Kotlin logic, Native UI retained, Compose Multiplatform (optional), IDE tooling. Strapi covers REST API, GraphQL API, Content management, PostgreSQL.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kotlin Multiplatform: Does Kotlin Multiplatform replace my native UI code?

Not by default. It shares business logic and data layers; UI stays native per platform unless you separately adopt Compose Multiplatform.

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
Kotlin Multiplatform: Is there a paid version?

No. It is Apache 2.0 licensed and free, funded by JetBrains as part of the Kotlin project.

Strapi: Is yearly billing available?

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

Source
Kotlin Multiplatform: Do I need Compose Multiplatform to use it?

No, they are separate. You can share only logic and keep fully native UI on each platform indefinitely.

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
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