Strapi

Open-source Node.js headless CMS

Best for: Node.js developers wanting a free self-hosted headless CMS with auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs

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4.3/5Editorial score 82/100strapi.io

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Editorial score82/100

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The editorial note

What to know about Strapi

Strapi is the most popular open-source headless CMS built on Node.js. Developers define content types in a visual builder, and Strapi automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs — no coding required for the API layer. Unlike Contentful (expensive cloud), Strapi self-hosting is free. Strapi plugins extend functionality with custom fields, internationalization, and media library. Used by 700,000+ projects from startups to enterprises including IBM, Walmart, and NASA.

Is it right for you?

Who Strapi suits

Choose it if

Node.js developers wanting a free self-hosted headless CMS with auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs

Look elsewhere if

Non-technical editors who need a visual website-building experience (Storyblok is better for that)

What you get

Key features

Content types
REST API
GraphQL
Plugins
Media library
Internationalization
Role permissions

Works with

Integrations6

Next.jsNuxtGatsbyPostgreSQLMySQLMongoDB

The trade-off

Pros and cons

Pros

Free self-hosted
Auto-generated APIs
700K+ projects
Plugin ecosystem
Flexible content types
Role management

Cons

Self-hosting requires maintenance
Learning curve
Less visual than Storyblok

Quick read

At a glance

Category: Website & Hosting
Pricing model: Freemium
Free plan: Available
Free trial: Not listed
Website: strapi.io

The verdict

Our take on Strapi

Best free open-source headless CMS for Node.js developers. Strapi's auto-generated APIs eliminate the boilerplate of building a content API from scratch — 700,000+ projects trust it to power everything from marketing sites to complex content-driven applications.

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