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APIs · head to head

Mambu vs Strapi

Mambu logo

Mambu

APIs

Composable cloud core banking platform used by banks, lenders and fintechs in 65-plus countries

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strapi logo

Strapi

APIs

Headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
$35/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Mambu pricing is entirely unpublished, and as subscription and usage-based fees scale with a bank's book of business, total cost at scale is hard to forecast before a detailed vendor conversation.; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • They diverge on capability: Mambu covers Composable engine architecture, Strapi covers REST API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Mambu and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where Mambu and Strapi differ
AttributeMambuStrapi
Starting priceOn request$35/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWeb, APINode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
FoundedUnknown2015

Identical on both: free tier (No), 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 Mambu

  • Composable engine architecture
  • Deposits and lending core
  • Cloud-native SaaS delivery
  • Marketplace of connectors
  • Multi-country regulatory support
  • API-first orchestration

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.

Mambu

  • A digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratchnot Strapi
  • A lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products fasternot Strapi
  • An established bank doing incremental core modernisation rather than a full monolithic core replacementnot Strapi
  • A fintech in an emerging or regulated market needing pre-built compliance configuration across many jurisdictionsnot Strapi

Strapi

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

Where each one falls short

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

Mambu

  • Pricing is entirely unpublished, and as subscription and usage-based fees scale with a bank's book of business, total cost at scale is hard to forecast before a detailed vendor conversation.
  • A core banking implementation is a multi-year, high-switching-cost commitment regardless of vendor, and Mambu is no exception; a wrong initial configuration choice is expensive to unwind.
  • Composability is a genuine strength but also means more integration and configuration decisions fall to the bank's own team or system integrator, versus a more opinionated, less flexible fixed-core alternative.
  • As cloud-hosted core banking infrastructure, a bank is trusting Mambu's own uptime and security posture for its most business-critical system, concentrating operational risk in one vendor relationship.
  • Newer entrants such as Thought Machine and 10x Banking compete directly on similar composable positioning, so Mambu's tenure advantage is real but narrowing as competitors mature.

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

Mambu

On request
  • Mambu$undefined/year
    • Subscription pricing, structured by modules and usage
    • Exact rates not published, custom quote required

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 Mambu if

  • You need composable engine architecture.
  • You work on Web, API.
  • You also want deposits and lending core.
Mambu 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 Mambu or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. Mambu starts at On request and Strapi at $35/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Mambu or Strapi?
Mambu starts at On request and Strapi at $35/month.
Does Mambu or Strapi run on more platforms?
Mambu runs on Web, API. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
What is Mambu best used for?
Mambu is most often used for a digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratch, a lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products faster, an established bank doing incremental core modernisation rather than a full monolithic core replacement, a fintech in an emerging or regulated market needing pre-built compliance configuration across many jurisdictions. Of those, a digital-first challenger bank wanting a cloud-native core without building banking infrastructure from scratch and a lender needing configurable loan product engines to launch new credit products faster are not what Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can Mambu do that Strapi cannot?
Mambu covers Composable engine architecture, Deposits and lending core, Cloud-native SaaS delivery, Marketplace of connectors. Strapi covers REST API, GraphQL API, Content management, PostgreSQL.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Mambu: Is Mambu on-premise or cloud?

Cloud-native SaaS delivery, not an on-premise installation.

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
Mambu: Does it publish pricing?

No, pricing is subscription-based, structured by modules and usage, but not published publicly.

Strapi: Is yearly billing available?

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

Source
Mambu: How many countries does it operate in?

It is used by banks, lenders and fintechs across more than 65 countries.

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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