Side by side
dotCMS vs Strapi
Both stand on content management systems. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
Choose dotCMS if you need a broad content platform with visual editing, developer tools, multiple publishing options, and flexible deployment. Its free plan covers companies under $5M revenue; organizations evaluating commercial tiers should request pricing based on their scale.
Visit dotCMS
Free plan Self-hosted
Choose Strapi if you want an open-source headless CMS with customizable APIs and the option to self-host or use Strapi Cloud. Look elsewhere if your project needs more than the request, storage, bandwidth, or seat allowances in the plan you choose.
Visit StrapiThe facts
| dotCMS | Strapi | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Cloud Starter: $35 a month |
| Plans published | 5 | 10 |
| Maker | dotCMS | Strapi |
| Website | dotcms.com | strapi.io |
| On content management systems | #14 of 165 | #43 of 165 |
dotCMS: what it does well
- Combines content modeling, workflows, asset management, localization, and multisite management.
- Offers visual editing, device preview, WYSIWYG, block, and inline editing.
- Provides REST and GraphQL APIs, plus static and remote publishing.
- Deployment choices include managed cloud, Cloud Anywhere, and self-hosting.
- Free plan includes unlimited users and content.
What to know first
- The free plan is limited to companies under $5M revenue.
- Commercial tiers require a pricing request.
Strapi: what it does well
- Open-source and MIT-licensed.
- Generates REST and GraphQL APIs from content models.
- Supports custom content types and multilingual content.
- Includes previews, webhooks, and editorial workflows.
- Can be self-hosted or deployed to Strapi Cloud.
What to know first
- Cloud plan prices exclude applicable local taxes.
- Growth includes three seats; additional seats cost $15 per month each.
- Cloud Starter has 100,000 API requests per month.
- Cloud deployment and self-hosting are distinct deployment routes.
Alternatives to dotCMS Alternatives to Strapi The whole list