Strapi vs Sanity
Two popular headless CMSes with very different philosophies: self-hosted and API-first versus hosted and structured-content-first. Here is how they actually differ, and where we would reach for something else entirely.
Self-hosted, API-first CMS
Hosted, structured-content platform
Our honest call, even the part we don't sell.
Pick Strapi when you want to self-host, own your data, and customize a Node.js backend with REST or GraphQL out of the box. Pick Sanity when you want a hosted, real-time editing experience with best-in-class structured content and are happy to build the query layer around it. Both are solid, but be clear about the axis that matters most to you: control and self-hosting (Strapi) versus a managed, polished editorial experience (Sanity).
Bias disclosure: We build most of our CMS-backed products on Payload, not Strapi or Sanity, so this is an outside, honest read of the two you are weighing, plus where we would genuinely reach for Payload instead.
The tradeoffs, laid bare.
| Dimension | Strapi | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting model | Self-hosted (you run it) | Hosted SaaS (they run it) |
| Content modeling | Admin UI + config | Schemas defined in code |
| Editing experience | Solid, conventional admin | Real-time, highly polished (Studio) |
| API | REST + GraphQL out of the box | GROQ + GraphQL, content lake |
| Customization | Deep, it is your Node.js app | Studio is very customizable in React |
| Real-time collaboration | Not core | First-class |
| Pricing model | Free/self-hosted; enterprise tier | Usage-based hosted tiers |
| Data ownership | Fully yours, on your infra | In Sanity’s content lake |
Self-hosted, API-first CMS
- 01You want to self-host and fully own your data
- 02You want REST and GraphQL out of the box
- 03You are comfortable running and upgrading a Node.js backend
- 04You need to customize the admin and API deeply
You run the infrastructure and own the upgrade path; the flexibility comes with operational responsibility.
Hosted, structured-content platform
- 01You want a hosted service with real-time collaborative editing
- 02Structured content and a superb editor are the priority
- 03You prefer to configure content models in code (schemas)
- 04You do not want to run or scale CMS infrastructure
It is hosted, so you weigh usage-based pricing and platform lock-in, and you learn its query language (GROQ).
The parts that actually decide it.
Two different philosophies
Strapi and Sanity are both “headless”, they manage content and expose it over an API for any front end, but they answer a different question. Strapi asks: do you want to own and run your own customizable CMS backend? Sanity asks: do you want the best hosted editing experience for structured content, without running infrastructure?
Deciding between them is less about features and more about which of those two things you actually want.
Self-hosted vs hosted, who runs it
Strapi is yours to host: you own the database, the data, and the deployment, and you own keeping it patched and upgraded. That is ideal when data residency, control, or cost predictability matter, and a burden when you would rather not operate infrastructure.
Sanity is hosted: content lives in its content lake, editing happens in a managed real-time Studio, and you never think about scaling the CMS. The tradeoff is usage-based pricing and trusting a platform with your content.
Content modeling and the editor
Sanity’s calling card is structured content: you model content as schemas in code, and its Studio gives editors a fast, real-time, collaborative experience that is genuinely best-in-class. Strapi models content through its admin UI and gives you a solid, conventional editing experience without the real-time polish.
If the editorial experience is the thing your team will live in every day, that difference is worth weighing heavily.
Pricing and lock-in
Strapi is open-source and self-hostable, so the base cost is your infrastructure and time; paid tiers add enterprise features. Sanity is priced on usage (API requests, datasets, users), which is predictable at small scale and something to model as you grow, and, being hosted, carries more platform lock-in.
Where we would reach for Payload instead
Since we are being honest: for most of our client work we build on Payload, because it is code-first and TypeScript-native, runs inside the same Next.js app, and lets us model bespoke content and a typed API without a separate service. If you are choosing a CMS for a custom product rather than a content site, it is worth putting Payload on the shortlist next to these two.
Common questions.
Is Strapi or Sanity better?
Neither universally. Strapi is better if you want to self-host and own a customizable backend; Sanity is better if you want a hosted, real-time editing experience with structured content. Choose on the hosting-and-control axis first.
Are Strapi and Sanity free?
Strapi is open-source and free to self-host, with paid enterprise tiers. Sanity has a free tier and then usage-based paid plans. The real cost of Strapi is the infrastructure and maintenance you take on.
Can I self-host Sanity?
Not really, Sanity is a hosted platform; its content lake and Studio hosting are core to the product. If self-hosting is a hard requirement, Strapi (or Payload) is the better fit.
Should I use Strapi, Sanity, or Payload?
For a content site, Strapi or Sanity both work well. For a custom product where the CMS lives inside your app and you want a typed, code-first setup, we would put Payload on the list, it is what we build most client products on.
Not sure which is right for your build?
Tell us what you're building and we'll give you a straight answer, even the one we don't sell.