Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Strapi | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Self-hosted CMS | Managed CMS |
| Learning Curve | Medium | Medium |
| Pricing | Free + cloud $99/mo | Free tier + $15/mo |
| Self-hosting | Yes | No |
| Real-time | Plugin needed | Built-in |
| Customisation | Full code access | Studio customisation |
| Maintenance | You manage | Managed |
Strapi
- Best For
- Self-hosted CMS
- Learning Curve
- Medium
- Pricing
- Free + cloud $99/mo
- Self-hosting
- Yes
- Real-time
- Plugin needed
- Customisation
- Full code access
- Maintenance
- You manage
Sanity
- Best For
- Managed CMS
- Learning Curve
- Medium
- Pricing
- Free tier + $15/mo
- Self-hosting
- No
- Real-time
- Built-in
- Customisation
- Studio customisation
- Maintenance
- Managed
Winner by Category
Best for Beginners
SanityNo server management needed
Best for Customisation
StrapiFull source code access
Best for Speed
SanityNo infrastructure setup
Best for Learning
StrapiTeaches backend concepts
Best Value
StrapiSelf-hosting is free
Our Recommendation
Use Sanity for quick setup and managed hosting. Choose Strapi when you need full control and self-hosting capability.
When to Choose Each Tool
1
Choose Sanity
Want managed service and real-time editing
2
Choose Strapi
Need self-hosting or full customisation
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