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APIs · head to head

PocketBase vs Strapi

PocketBase logo

PocketBase

APIs

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

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 PocketBase has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: PocketBase requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain; Strapi cloud pricing is per project, not per account, so a second project doubles the bill
  • They diverge on capability: PocketBase covers Real-time subscriptions, Strapi covers GraphQL API.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which PocketBase and Strapi actually diverge.

Attributes where PocketBase and Strapi differ
AttributePocketBaseStrapi
Starting priceFree$35/month
Pricing modelUnknownsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSDNode.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker
Founded20212015

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 PocketBase

  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • File storage
  • Go support

Only in Strapi

  • GraphQL API
  • Content management
  • PostgreSQL
  • MySQL
  • MongoDB
  • AWS
  • Node.js support
  • Cloud support

Both cover

  • REST API
  • Webhooks
  • Docker support
  • Self-hosted support

What people use each for

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

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot Strapi
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot Strapi
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot Strapi
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot Strapi
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot Strapi
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot Strapi

Strapi

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

Where each one falls short

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

PocketBase

  • Requires technical expertise to deploy and maintain
  • No built-in hosting provided
  • Community support only

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

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

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 PocketBase if

  • You need real-time subscriptions.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want admin ui.
PocketBase review

Choose Strapi if

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

Questions people ask

Is PocketBase or Strapi better?
Neither clearly leads. PocketBase 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, PocketBase or Strapi?
PocketBase has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for PocketBase and $35/month for Strapi.
Does PocketBase or Strapi run on more platforms?
PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD. Strapi runs on Node.js, Cloud, Self-hosted, Docker.
Can I use PocketBase for free?
Yes. PocketBase has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Strapi starts at $35/month.
What is PocketBase best used for?
PocketBase is most often used for embedded realtime database with rest api, backend-as-a-service for single-file deployments, rapid application development with email/oauth2 authentication, file storage and media attachment management. Of those, embedded realtime database with rest api and backend-as-a-service for single-file deployments are not what Strapi is typically brought in for.
What can PocketBase do that Strapi cannot?
PocketBase covers Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite, File storage. Strapi covers GraphQL API, Content management, PostgreSQL, MySQL. Both handle REST API, Webhooks, Docker support, Self-hosted support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

PocketBase: How much does PocketBase cost?

PocketBase is completely free and open-source. It is a self-hosted backend solution with database, authentication, and file storage capabilities at no cost.

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
PocketBase: Is PocketBase open-source?

Yes, PocketBase is open-source software. You can download, modify, and deploy it yourself at no cost with no licensing restrictions.

Source
Strapi: Is yearly billing available?

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

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
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