- Built for developers who self-host their CMS
- Strapi alternatives compared
- Ten self-hostable content platforms
- Sort them by the language your team writes
- Content model, editors and hosting: the three tests
- When Strapi is still the right call
- Plain advice before you migrate content
- Frequently asked questions
The best Strapi alternative is usually the self-hostable CMS written in the language your team already uses, with a content model that fits your trickiest content types. Rebuild those types in two or three finalists, let a non-developer try the editor, and deploy each one the way you'd run it in production before choosing.
Strapi gets a lot right for an open source headless CMS, so teams that leave usually do it because of fit, not failure. Teams outgrow its content model, want a different language, or need an editor their marketing team will open without groaning.
Built for developers who self-host their CMS
This list is for developers who want a self-hostable, API-first CMS and are comparing Strapi with other content platforms they can host. You care about owning your data and your deployment, you'll want REST or GraphQL out of the box, and you've probably got a front end in a framework already.
Strapi alternatives compared
| Tool | Built with | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Apostrophe | Node.js | In-context editing for JavaScript teams |
| Cockpit | PHP | Small structured content projects |
| Craft CMS | PHP | Custom sites with flexible content |
| Directus | Node.js | APIs and admin over any SQL database |
| Django CMS | Python, Django | Content-rich enterprise sites |
| Ghost | Node.js | Publishing, newsletters and memberships |
| KeystoneJS | Node.js, GraphQL | Content back ends defined in code |
| Payload | TypeScript, React | CMS plus app framework in one |
| Statamic | PHP, Laravel | Sites that need a polished editor |
| Wagtail | Python, Django | Flexible Django sites |
Ten self-hostable content platforms
I've listed them A to Z and in no particular order otherwise. Each line paraphrases the project's own description.
Apostrophe
Best for: JavaScript teams who want editors working on the live page while developers keep their own front-end framework.
Cockpit
Best for: Developers who want a simple, lightweight content platform for structured content without much to configure.
Craft CMS
Best for: Agencies and in-house teams building custom sites that need a flexible, friendly editing experience on PHP.
Directus
Best for: Projects with an existing SQL database that need a self-hostable admin app and REST plus GraphQL APIs on top.
Django CMS
Best for: Python shops and enterprises that want an open source, content-rich web platform built on Django.
Ghost
Best for: Publishers who want modern publishing with newsletters and member subscriptions built in, plus a content API.
KeystoneJS
Best for: Node developers who want a programmable GraphQL back end for structured content, defined in code.
Payload
Best for: TypeScript and React teams that want an open source headless CMS that doubles as an application framework.
Statamic
Best for: Laravel developers who want a CMS with a polished editor experience and a warm community behind it.
Wagtail
Best for: Python teams that want a fast, flexible open source CMS on Django with a well-loved editing interface.
Sort them by the language your team writes
The fastest way to cut this list is by stack, because you'll be extending, debugging and hosting whatever you choose.
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- JavaScript and TypeScript: Apostrophe, Directus, Ghost, KeystoneJS and Payload are closest to Strapi's own world.
- PHP: Cockpit, Craft CMS and Statamic make sense if your team already runs PHP or Laravel apps.
- Python: Django CMS and Wagtail are the natural pair for a Django shop.
Content model, editors and hosting: the three tests
First, rebuild your three most complex content types in each finalist and see how it handles relations, localisation and reusable blocks. Second, hand the admin to a non-developer for half an hour and watch where they get stuck. Third, deploy it the way you'll run it in production, with backups and upgrades, because a smooth local install tells you very little.
Remember that a headless CMS doesn't make your front end accessible on its own. The W3C's Web Accessibility Initiative says evaluation tools can help you check whether web content meets accessibility standards, so test the pages your front end renders, not just the CMS admin.
When Strapi is still the right call
It's worth being fair here. If your team writes JavaScript, your content model fits its collection types and your editors are happy, a move may take more time than it saves. Upgrading to a newer Strapi version or tidying the content model can fix plenty of complaints. Switch when the pain is structural, like a stack your team doesn't want to support, an editor experience that keeps causing mistakes, or a content model you keep working around. Don't switch just because another project looks shinier on a launch day.
Plain advice before you migrate content
Write a migration script early, even a rough one. Pull content out of Strapi through its API, map each field to the new model, and run it again and again until the output is boring. Keep URLs and slugs exactly as they are so search traffic isn't hit, and don't switch editors over until they've practised on staging for a week.
For the API basics behind any headless setup, see my explainers on how a REST API works and APIs versus webhooks.
Do you make an open source or headless CMS? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.
Want your tool on this list? Featured spots and reviews here are paid partnerships. Here's how to partner with me.
Frequently asked questions
What is a headless CMS?
It's a content system that stores and manages content but doesn't decide how it looks. Your website or app fetches the content through an API and renders it in whatever framework you like, so one CMS can feed a site, an app and other channels.
Are these Strapi alternatives all self-hostable?
Every one can run on your own servers, and several also offer a hosted cloud version if you'd rather not manage it. Most are open source, but licences differ and at least one PHP option here is sold under its own commercial licence, so read each licence before you build a commercial product on top.
Is it hard to migrate away from Strapi?
It's very doable for most sites. The content comes out through the API, and the main work is mapping your content types to the new model and keeping URLs intact. Media files and rich text fields usually take the most care.
Should I pick by features or by programming language?
Start with language. A CMS in the stack your team already knows is easier to extend, debug and host. Then compare features among the options in that language.
Can marketing teams use a headless CMS?
Yes, if the editor is friendly and previews work. Some platforms on this list put a lot into the editing experience, while others are built mainly for developers, so let a marketer test the admin before you decide.
