Strapi
Leading open-source headless CMS with flexible API and content type builder
Overview
Strapi is a Node.js headless CMS that lets developers define custom content types through a visual builder and exposes them via auto-generated REST or GraphQL APIs. It supports roles and permissions, media management, webhooks, and an extensive plugin ecosystem. Deployment options include Docker, cloud platforms, and bare metal with PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite. Strapi Cloud offers a managed hosting tier.
Where it falls short of Contentful
- No built-in front-end rendering; requires a separate frontend framework
- Media asset transformation (image resizing, CDN) requires third-party providers
- Workflow and editorial approval features are less mature than Contentful
- Self-hosted upgrades between major versions can require manual migration steps
We list the gaps honestly so you can decide if the trade-off is worth owning your data.
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