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Software · head to head

Paw vs Strapi

Paw logo

Paw

Software

Full-featured REST client for macOS with powerful scripting and testing

From
$99/one-time
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Strapi logo

Strapi

Software

Headless CMS with REST and GraphQL APIs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Strapi has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Paw now distributed as RapidAPI for Mac; the vendor's own page states it is "exclusively built for macOS" and requires macOS 10.15+, with no Windows or Linux client; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • They diverge on capability: Paw covers REST Client, Strapi covers REST API.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Paw and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where Paw and Strapi differ
AttributePawStrapi
Starting price$99/one-timeFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionopen-source
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsMacOSNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
Founded20132015

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

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 Paw

  • REST Client
  • Scripting
  • Dynamic Values
  • Slack
  • GitHub
  • Custom extensions
  • MacOS support

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.

Paw

  • API Developmentnot Strapi
  • API Gatewaynot Strapi
  • API Testingnot Strapi
  • API Documentationnot Strapi
  • Microservicesnot Strapi

Strapi

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

Where each one falls short

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

Paw

  • Now distributed as RapidAPI for Mac; the vendor's own page states it is "exclusively built for macOS" and requires macOS 10.15+, with no Windows or Linux client

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

Paw

$99/one-time
  • Standard$99/one-time
    • Full REST client
    • Advanced scripting
    • Extensions
  • Annual License$49/yearly
    • All features
    • Updates
    • Priority support

Strapi

Free
  • CommunityFree
    • Self-hosted Strapi
    • Community support
  • Pro$99/monthly
    • Cloud hosting
    • Advanced features
    • Priority support
  • Business$undefined/monthly
    • Enterprise features
    • Custom SLA
    • Dedicated support

Which should you pick?

Choose Paw if

  • You need rest client.
  • You work on MacOS.
  • You also want scripting.
Paw review

Choose Strapi if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
  • You also want graphql api.
Strapi review

Questions people ask

Is Paw or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. Paw starts at $99/one-time and Strapi at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Paw or Strapi?
Strapi has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $99/one-time for Paw and Free for Strapi.
Does Paw or Strapi run on more platforms?
Paw runs on MacOS. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use Strapi for free?
Yes. Strapi has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Paw starts at $99/one-time.
What is Paw best used for?
Paw is most often used for api development, api gateway, api testing, api documentation. Of those, api development and api gateway are not what Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can Paw do that Strapi cannot?
Paw covers REST Client, Scripting, Dynamic Values, Slack. Strapi covers REST API, GraphQL API, Content management, PostgreSQL.
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