Strapi
Headless CMSOpen-source headless CMS with self-hosting and API control
Overview
Strapi positions itself as the leading open-source headless CMS, giving SEO teams complete control over their content architecture and delivery. Built by a Paris-based team since 2015, it's gained traction among agencies and enterprises wanting to escape WordPress limitations without sacrificing content management capabilities. Unlike traditional CMS platforms, Strapi decouples content management from presentation, letting you build faster, more secure websites with custom content models.
The platform's strength lies in its flexibility and performance potential. You can build complex content relationships, implement custom SEO fields, and deliver content through lightning-fast APIs to multiple frontends. This makes it particularly valuable for sites requiring structured content at scale or multi-platform distribution.
What sets Strapi apart from competitors like Contentful or Sanity is its open-source nature and self-hosting option. You own your code, data, and infrastructure decisions. The free Community edition gives you everything the paid versions offer, just without cloud hosting and support.
Key features
Self-Hosted Control
Full ownership of code and data with unlimited customization. Deploy anywhere from VPS to enterprise infrastructure without vendor lock-in.
Customizable Content Types
Build complex content models with relationships, media fields, and custom validations. Perfect for structured SEO content at scale.
RESTful and GraphQL APIs
Auto-generated APIs with filtering, sorting, and pagination. Optimized for fast content delivery to multiple frontends.
Role-Based Access Control
Granular permissions system for content creators, editors, and developers. Control who can publish what across different content areas.
Media Library Management
Built-in asset management with image optimization, CDN integration, and alt-text fields for SEO-friendly media handling.
Plugin Ecosystem
Extend functionality with community plugins or build custom ones. Integrates with popular SEO tools and analytics platforms.
Multi-Environment Support
Separate staging and production environments with content synchronization. Essential for testing content changes before publication.
Internationalization
Native multi-language support with locale-specific content management. Critical for international SEO strategies.
Pricing
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Community | Free | Unlimited projects, self-hosted, full source code access, community support |
| Cloud Starter | $99/month | 1 seat, 1M requests, 100GB bandwidth, email support, automatic backups |
| Cloud Pro | $499/month | 3 seats, 10M requests, 1TB bandwidth, priority support, staging environments |
| Cloud Team | $999/month | 10 seats, 100M requests, unlimited bandwidth, SSO, advanced roles |
| Enterprise | Custom | Unlimited seats, custom SLA, dedicated support, on-premise deployment |
FAQ
Is Strapi better than WordPress for SEO?
Strapi offers better performance and security as a headless CMS, but requires more technical setup. WordPress has more SEO plugins out-of-the-box, while Strapi gives you complete control over markup and site architecture.
Can I migrate from WordPress to Strapi?
Yes, but it requires custom development work to rebuild your frontend and migrate content. The technical complexity makes it worthwhile mainly for sites needing better performance or multi-platform content distribution.
Does Strapi work with existing SEO tools?
Strapi integrates well with most SEO tools through APIs and webhooks. You can connect it to tools like Screaming Frog for audits, Google Analytics for tracking, and content optimization platforms through custom integrations.
What hosting do I need for Strapi SEO performance?
Self-hosted Strapi needs Node.js hosting with database support (PostgreSQL/MySQL recommended). Cloud plans handle infrastructure automatically but cost more for high-traffic SEO sites.
Can non-technical content creators use Strapi?
The admin panel is user-friendly for content creators once set up, but initial configuration requires developer involvement. It's less plug-and-play than WordPress but more flexible for custom content workflows.
Review Sentiment
103 reviews across 2 sources
Bottom line
Hard to beat free. Strapi is a genuine asset for developers thanks to open-source headless CMS, though requires developer resources for setup, deployment keeps it from replacing paid alternatives entirely.
People love
- +Open-source headless CMS with complete control over content architecture and APIs
- +Self-hosting option provides full data ownership and no vendor lock-in
- +Customizable content types enable complex SEO content structures
Common complaints
- –Requires developer resources for setup, deployment, and maintenance
- –No built-in SEO features — meta tags, sitemaps, and schema must be custom implemented
- –Community edition lacks enterprise features like SSO and audit logs
Last updated Feb 2026