Strapi vs Storyblok: A Comprehensive Headless CMS Comparison

General
Company Size	75	101-250
Stars	60K	❌
NPM Weekly Downloads	90 K	❌
Funding	$31M Series B	58M Series B
Country of Origin	France	Austria
Developer Experience
Hosting	PaaS + Self Hosted	SaaS
Open Source	✅	❌
API Tokens	✅	✅
Design System	https://design-system.strapi.io/	✅
GraphQL	✅	✅
Documentation	✅	✅
Authentication & Permissions	✅	✅
Multi-databases support (SQLite, MySQL, Postgres)	PostgreSQL, SQLite, MySQL and MariaDB	❌
Single Types	✅	❌
Custom fields	✅	✅
Webhooks	✅	✅
Codebase language	JavaScript, TypeScript, React	?
API Playground	❌	❌
Customizable API	✅	❌
JWT authentication	✅	❌
Content modeling	✅	✅
Plugins	✅	✅
SDK	❌	✅
Cron	✅	❌
Editing Experience
Previews	Has to be setup manually	Has to be setup manually
Scheduling	❌	✅
Media Library	✅	✅
Draft & Publish	✅	✅
Collaboration
Releases	✅	✅
Review Workflows	✅	✅
Versionning	❌	✅
i18n	✅	✅
Marketplace	✅	✅
Real-time editing	❌	❌
Visual editing	❌	✅
Security & Compliance
SSO	✅	✅
Audit Logs	✅	✅
Role Base Access Control	✅	✅

When deciding on a headless content management system (CMS), Strapi and Storyblok are two compelling options that offer distinct features and capabilities. This comparison will help you understand the key differences between Strapi and Storyblok, enabling you to make an informed decision for your content management needs.

Overview

Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that offers developers complete control over their content and data. With its customizable API and admin panel, Strapi provides a high degree of flexibility and adaptability. Built with JavaScript, it is an excellent choice for developers familiar with the language and its ecosystem.

Storyblok is a headless CMS designed to provide a user-friendly experience for both developers and content creators. It combines visual editing tools with a powerful headless architecture, making it easy to manage content while providing the flexibility to deliver it across various platforms.

Features

Strapi offers:

• Open-Source Flexibility: Strapi’s open-source nature allows for extensive customization and extension to meet specific project needs.
• Customizable API: Developers can quickly create custom APIs for efficient content delivery.
• Self-Hosted Option: Strapi can be self-hosted, giving users complete control over their data and infrastructure.
• Extensible Plugin System: Strapi supports plugins, enabling developers to add functionalities easily.
• Role-Based Access Control: Advanced access control features ensure appropriate permissions for different users.

Storyblok provides:

• Visual Editor: A user-friendly visual editor allows content creators to manage and preview content in real-time.
• Component-Based Approach: Storyblok’s component-based structure enables reusable content blocks for efficient content management.
• API-First: Offers robust APIs for flexible content delivery and integration with various front-end technologies.
• Multi-Channel Delivery: Supports content delivery across web, mobile, and IoT devices.
• Cloud-Based: As a cloud-based CMS, Storyblok handles hosting, maintenance, and scaling automatically.

Performance

Strapi is known for its performance, particularly when self-hosted. Its lightweight architecture allows developers to optimize the platform according to their needs, resulting in faster content delivery.

Storyblok also offers excellent performance, leveraging its cloud infrastructure to ensure reliable and fast content delivery, even during high traffic periods.

Flexibility and Customization

Strapi stands out for its high degree of flexibility. Developers can customize almost every aspect of the CMS, from the admin panel to API endpoints. This makes it a preferred choice for projects requiring unique workflows or specialized features.

Storyblok provides significant flexibility with its API-first approach and component-based structure. Its visual editor and intuitive interface make it easy for non-technical users to manage content, while developers can integrate it seamlessly with various front-end frameworks.

Pricing

Strapi is a cost-effective solution due to its open-source nature, with no licensing fees. The main costs associated with Strapi come from hosting and maintenance, which can be managed based on the project's scale and requirements.

Storyblok follows a subscription-based pricing model. While it may involve higher costs, especially for larger projects, it includes hosting, maintenance, and scaling, providing a hassle-free experience for users.

Conclusion

Choosing between Strapi and Storyblok depends on your project's specific needs. If you require a highly customizable, open-source solution with complete control over your data, Strapi is an excellent choice. On the other hand, if you need a user-friendly CMS with a powerful visual editor and cloud-based convenience, Storyblok is a great option.

Evaluate your project requirements, budget, and technical expertise to determine which platform best suits your needs. Both Strapi and Storyblok offer unique strengths, ensuring that whichever you choose, you'll have a powerful tool for effective content management.