[Head-to-head comparison]

Strapi vs Prismic

Strapi vs Prismic for marketing and structured content, compared across editing, modeling, localization, governance, hosting, APIs, cost and migration.

Kalle Bertell

By Kalle Bertell

Direct answer

Choose Strapi when the team will own a Node.js CMS for structured entries, either on its own servers or on Strapi Cloud. Choose Prismic when editors should assemble hosted pages from slices and the content backend should stay with the vendor. Strapi includes drafts, roles and locales on Community, while live preview and review workflows are paid. Prismic includes Page Builder, preview and releases on the listed plans, with locale and role caps. The split is an owned content model versus a hosted page builder.

Choose Strapi when

  • Structured types you host

    Collection types, components and dynamic zones live in a project you can run yourself or on Strapi Cloud.

  • Locales on Community

    The pricing page lists unlimited locales on Community, Growth and Enterprise, enabled per type and field.

  • Roles before a paid CMS tier

    Community includes RBAC, draft and publish, and API tokens. Review workflows remain Enterprise.

Choose Prismic when

  • A hosted Page Builder

    Editors stack slices in Prismic and preview the site. The content repository stays on Prismic’s infrastructure.

  • Releases from the free plan

    Scheduling, releases and revision history are on every listed repository plan.

  • No CMS runtime to patch

    Prismic hosts the content API and CDN. The team hosts the website that renders the slices.

Consider neither when

  • Live visual editing on a free license

    Strapi live preview is Growth or Enterprise. Prismic includes Page Builder, but not Strapi’s self-hosted content store. Confirm which of those you actually need.

  • Enterprise review on the cheapest tier

    Strapi review workflows and audit logs are Enterprise. Prismic writer and publisher roles start on Medium, and custom locale roles are Enterprise.

  • Unlimited locales and a hosted builder

    Strapi has the locales and the project to operate. Prismic has the builder and a locale cap. A different product may fit if you need both without that split.

Criterion-by-criterion comparison

How we evaluate platforms

Marketer autonomy

Strapi editors fill types and dynamic zones. Prismic writers stack slices the developers have allowed.

Strapi

Editors fill types; layout follows the model

Editors manage entries, components and dynamic zones in the Content Manager. Adding a section type or a permission still happens in the content-type and role settings developers control.

View sources (2)

Prismic

Writers stack the slices developers allow

A writer can add, reorder and fill slices without changing the website code. A new slice, or a change to its fields, is a developer change in the model and component.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic slices: Slice models and components are saved in the website code and returned by the Content API.
  • Prismic content modeling: Models content as fields, page types, slices and custom types, with slice choice set by developers.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

A new section type or permission is still a content-type or role change developers control.

Prismic:

Filling and reordering slices does not require a deploy. Adding a slice still changes the model and the website component.

Ask a marketer to add a section the design system does not already contain, and see which product forces a developer into that task.

Content modeling

Strapi models collection types and dynamic zones. Prismic models page types and an ordered slice list.

Strapi

Collection types, components and dynamic zones

The Content-type Builder defines collection types, single types, components and repeatable dynamic zones. Saving a type requires at least one configured field.

View sources (1)

Prismic

Fields, page types, slices and custom types

Page types are built from fields and slices. Slice models and their UI components live in the website project and are returned as an ordered array.

Plan considerations: New projects use the Type Builder and CLI. Slice Machine remains for existing projects and is deprecated.

View sources (3)
  • Prismic content modeling: Models content as fields, page types, slices and custom types, with slice choice set by developers.
  • Prismic slices: Slice models and components are saved in the website code and returned by the Content API.
  • Prismic Type Builder: Slice Machine is deprecated. New projects model in the Type Builder and sync with the CLI.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Use it when entries, components and relationships are the content, and the page is one consumer.

Prismic:

Use it when the page itself is the content and slices are the sections editors arrange.

Model a reusable fact and a landing page. Keep Strapi if the fact must be an entry, and Prismic if the page stack is the main object.

Workflow and governance

Strapi includes drafts and roles on Community, and reviews on Enterprise. Prismic includes releases from Free, and writer roles from Medium.

Strapi

Drafts and roles free; reviews are Enterprise

Community includes draft and publish, RBAC and API tokens. Releases and content history start on Growth. Review workflows and audit logs are Enterprise.

Plan considerations: Growth history is 14 days. Enterprise history is documented as 30 days, extendable to 90.

View sources (1)

Prismic

Releases on every plan; roles start later

Pricing includes scheduling, releases and revision history from the free plan. Writer and publisher roles start on Medium, and custom roles per locale are Enterprise.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.
  • Prismic users and roles: Small and Starter plans make every user an Administrator. Custom locale roles are Enterprise.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Content history starts on Growth. Audit logs are Enterprise. Growth history is documented as 14 days.

Prismic:

Smaller plans are administrator seats. Custom roles per locale are Enterprise.

Map drafter, reviewer and publisher to a Strapi tier and a Prismic plan before treating either as an enterprise workflow.

Localization and multisite

Strapi lists unlimited locales on the CMS pricing page. Prismic caps locales by repository plan.

Strapi

Locales on every plan, including Community

Turn internationalization on for a content type, then for individual fields. The pricing page lists unlimited locales on Community, Growth and Enterprise.

View sources (2)

Prismic

Locales on every plan, with a numeric cap

Editors copy a page to another locale and translate it there. Free includes two locales, Platinum eight, and Enterprise replaces the cap with a custom quota.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic locales: Adds locales in repository settings and copies a page, including its structure, to another locale.
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Enable locales per content type and field, including on Community.

Prismic:

Editors copy a page and translate that copy. Free includes two locales and Platinum eight, unless Enterprise sets a custom quota.

Choose Strapi when the locale count must stay open. Choose Prismic when the markets fit the repository cap and copied pages are acceptable.

Developer experience

Strapi developers own a CMS project. Prismic developers own the website repo and a hosted content API.

Strapi

Node project, admin builder and a CLI

Developers own the Strapi project and can model in the admin or extend it in code. The same project runs self-hosted or on Strapi Cloud.

View sources (2)

Prismic

Type Builder plus CLI in the website repo

Developers sync models, generate TypeScript and keep slice components beside the site. Prismic hosts the content, so the remaining app work is the frontend and preview route.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic Type Builder: Slice Machine is deprecated. New projects model in the Type Builder and sync with the CLI.
  • Prismic slices: Slice models and components are saved in the website code and returned by the Content API.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

The project can stay self-hosted or move to Strapi Cloud without becoming a different product.

Prismic:

Type Builder and the CLI sync models and TypeScript. Slice Machine is deprecated and remains for existing projects.

Choose Strapi when the CMS is its own deployable, and Prismic when content should stay out of the application runtime.

APIs and extensibility

Both provide REST or document APIs, GraphQL and a path for writes. Strapi serves them from the project. Prismic hosts them.

Strapi

REST and GraphQL on every CMS plan

REST and the GraphQL plugin read and write content types, including locale and draft status. The features table includes both APIs on Community.

View sources (3)
  • Strapi REST API: Documents REST reads and writes, including locale and draft status parameters.
  • Strapi GraphQL API: The GraphQL plugin queries and mutates content types with filters, sort and pagination.
  • Strapi features and plans: Separates Community, Growth and Enterprise features from Strapi Cloud hosting plans.

Prismic

Content API, GraphQL, migration and webhooks

Pricing includes the document API, GraphQL, webhooks and the Migration API on every listed plan. Private repositories use a read token; writes use a separate bearer token.

View sources (3)
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.
  • Prismic webhooks: Sends HTTP POST events when pages, releases or tags change, with retries after a non-200 response.
  • Prismic API authentication: Separates private Content API access tokens from write tokens for types, assets and migration.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

REST and GraphQL include locale and draft status on every CMS plan.

Prismic:

The document API, GraphQL, webhooks and Migration API are on every listed plan, with separate read and write tokens.

Fetch a localized draft and a published page from the frontend you will ship before you choose where the API should live.

Hosting and operations

Strapi can be self-hosted or run on Strapi Cloud. Prismic is a hosted repository, and you host the site.

Strapi

Self-host the project, or use Strapi Cloud

You can operate the Node.js app and database, or deploy that project to Strapi Cloud. Cloud plans meter hosting resources and do not include Growth or Enterprise CMS features.

View sources (2)

Prismic

Hosted repository and CDN; you host the site

Prismic stores pages and media and serves them through its API and CDN. Your team still builds, hosts and operates the website that renders the slices.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic page basics: Prismic hosts the repository. Writers stack developer-defined slices in the Page Builder.
  • Prismic security: Hosts customer data on AWS in us-east-1 and describes snapshots, failover and customer export.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Cloud meters hosting and does not include Growth or Enterprise CMS features. Self-hosted residency is yours.

Prismic:

The security page places customer data on AWS in us-east-1, with snapshots and failover described there.

Choose Strapi when the content store must be operable by you. Choose Prismic when it must stay with the vendor.

Security and governance

Strapi’s SOC 2 report, audit logs and included SSO are Enterprise items. Prismic’s public page describes AWS and puts SSO and SLAs on Enterprise.

Strapi

RBAC everywhere; SSO and audit logs are paid

Community includes role-based access. SSO is a Growth add-on and included on Enterprise. Audit logs and the SOC 2 report are Enterprise items on the pricing page.

Plan considerations: Self-hosted data residency is yours. Strapi Cloud regions and backups follow the Cloud plan.

View sources (2)
  • Strapi features and plans: Separates Community, Growth and Enterprise features from Strapi Cloud hosting plans.
  • Strapi CMS pricing: Lists the free MIT Community plan, Growth at $45 per month, and Enterprise review workflows.

Prismic

AWS hosting; SSO and SLAs are Enterprise

The security page places customer data on AWS in us-east-1 and describes snapshots and failover. It cites AWS certifications. SSO, backups and uptime SLAs are Enterprise terms.

Plan considerations: A public Prismic SOC 2 report was not on the security page. Ask security@prismic.io for assurance documents.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic security: Hosts customer data on AWS in us-east-1 and describes snapshots, failover and customer export.
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

SSO can be a Growth add-on. Self-hosted backups and regions follow your own operations.

Prismic:

Do not read AWS certifications as a public Prismic SOC 2 report. Ask for assurance documents if the questionnaire requires them.

Compare the questionnaire with Strapi’s CMS tier and host, and with Prismic Enterprise, rather than with the free products.

Pricing and cost drivers

Strapi can start as a free CMS you operate, then add a CMS license and Cloud. Prismic bills the repository.

Strapi

Free Community, then CMS and Cloud bills

Community is free under MIT, with unlimited entries on the CMS pricing page. Growth starts at $45 per month before user charges, and Strapi Cloud is a separate hosting invoice.

View sources (2)
  • Strapi CMS pricing: Lists the free MIT Community plan, Growth at $45 per month, and Enterprise review workflows.
  • Strapi features and plans: Separates Community, Growth and Enterprise features from Strapi Cloud hosting plans.

Prismic

Per repository: users, calls, bandwidth, locales

Free is one user, two locales and hard API and bandwidth caps. Paid plans raise those caps, and bandwidth overages are priced per gigabyte once the plan allows them.

View sources (1)
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Growth starts at $45 per month before user charges. Cloud is a separate hosting invoice.

Prismic:

Plans raise users, API calls, bandwidth and locales. Bandwidth overages are priced per gigabyte once the plan allows them.

Price the Strapi operator plus any paid CMS features against the Prismic plan that covers your users, locales and bandwidth.

Migration and exit

Strapi transfers between matching instances and skips users and tokens. Prismic imports with the Migration API and points to an export path.

Strapi

Transfer content between matching Strapi instances

The CLI can export, import or stream content, files and schemas. A transfer requires matching schemas, and it does not move admin users or API tokens.

View sources (2)
  • Strapi data transfer: Streams content, files and schemas between instances. Admin users and API tokens are excluded.
  • Strapi features and plans: Separates Community, Growth and Enterprise features from Strapi Cloud hosting plans.

Prismic

Migration API in; export or the Content API out

The Migration API creates and updates documents for a scripted import. The security page also points customers to the export module or the repository API for their own copies.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic Migration API: The Migration API creates and updates repository documents for scripted imports.
  • Prismic security: Hosts customer data on AWS in us-east-1 and describes snapshots, failover and customer export.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Schemas must match before a transfer. Admin users and API tokens stay behind.

Prismic:

Customers can use the export module or the repository API for their own copies.

Move a sample of entries or pages, media and one locale, and budget separate work for users, tokens and frontend routes.

Marketing website fit

Prismic matches slice-based campaign pages. Strapi matches them when the frontend renders dynamic zones and preview is acceptable.

Strapi

Fits structured pages when preview is funded

Dynamic zones let editors place components that the frontend already renders. Seeing those changes live in the admin depends on a Growth or Enterprise Live Preview license.

View sources (2)
  • Strapi Content-type Builder: Creates collection and single types, with draft-and-publish and internationalization settings.
  • Strapi preview: Preview is configured for every plan. Live Preview requires Growth or Enterprise.

Prismic

Page Builder aimed at campaign and site pages

The Page Builder and slice list match marketing pages, provided developers keep the allowed slices current. Locale and role limits still follow the repository plan.

View sources (2)
  • Prismic page basics: Prismic hosts the repository. Writers stack developer-defined slices in the Page Builder.
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Live updates inside the admin need Growth or Enterprise. A preview URL is available earlier.

Prismic:

Locale and role limits still follow the repository plan, even though the Page Builder is included.

Choose Prismic for a marketing site unless the team must own the CMS project or needs locales beyond the Prismic cap.

Visual editing and preview

Strapi’s preview URL is on every plan, and live updates are paid. Prismic’s Page Builder and preview are on every listed plan.

Strapi

Preview URL on every plan; live updates are paid

Preview opens the frontend from the Content Manager after you set a client URL. Live Preview, which refreshes as the entry changes, is a Growth and Enterprise feature.

View sources (2)
  • Strapi preview: Preview is configured for every plan. Live Preview requires Growth or Enterprise.
  • Strapi features and plans: Separates Community, Growth and Enterprise features from Strapi Cloud hosting plans.

Prismic

Page Builder and preview on every plan

Editors build pages from slices and can open a full-website preview. The site must read the preview cookie and fetch draft content with the temporary ref.

View sources (3)
  • Prismic page basics: Prismic hosts the repository. Writers stack developer-defined slices in the Page Builder.
  • Prismic previews: Full-website preview uses a temporary ref and a preview cookie that the site must read.
  • Prismic pricing: Prices each repository by users, API calls, bandwidth and locale caps, from Free through Enterprise.

Choosing between them

Strapi:

Use it when a draft URL is enough, or when Growth is funded for live updates in the admin.

Prismic:

Use it when editors should change slices on the page and open a full-site preview without a CMS upgrade.

Preview one campaign page in both and see whether a URL is enough or the Page Builder is the requirement.

Recommendations by use case

[Marketing website]

Start with Prismic

Prismic fits editors assembling campaign pages from slices. Choose Strapi when those pages should be structured entries in a project the team operates.

[Structured content platform]

Favor Strapi

Strapi collection types and components suit content reused beyond one page. Prismic fits when the structured object is a page made of slices.

[Multilingual multisite]

Strapi when the locale list is open

Strapi lists unlimited locales on Community. Prismic copies pages per locale and caps the count by plan. Test how each market publishes.

[Ecommerce]

Strapi for catalog entries

Strapi fits product and category types in the CMS project. Prismic fits campaign and storefront pages composed from slices on top of a catalog stored elsewhere.

[Enterprise governance]

Validate the paid tier

Strapi review workflows, audit logs and the SOC 2 report are Enterprise. Prismic SSO and uptime SLAs are Enterprise, and writer roles start on Medium.

[Small team]

Prismic if the CMS should be hosted

Prismic removes the content runtime from the team. Strapi Community is free only if someone will run the project, or you add Strapi Cloud.

[Self hosted control]

Strapi only

Strapi can run on your servers. Prismic stores the content repository on its own platform, so it does not meet a self-hosted content-backend requirement.

Related resources

Prismic logo

[Platform]

Prismic

Hosted page building from developer-defined slices.

Read more
Strapi logo

[Platform]

Strapi

Open-core content types you host or run on Cloud.

Read more