KeystoneJS vs Contentful

Contentful and KeystoneJS are both popular headless CMS platforms, but they cater to different needs. Contentful is known for its user-friendly interface and robust API, making it ideal for content-heavy websites. On the other hand, KeystoneJS is a powerful open-source CMS that offers more flexibility and customization options for developers.

General information

KeystoneJS
Contentful
Introduction :
KeystoneJS is a powerful open-source content management system and web application framework that was launched in 2013. It is popular for its flexibility, ease of use, and robust features such as database management, authentication, and dynamic routing. KeystoneJS is widely used for building dynamic websites and web applications, making it a popular choice among developers looking for a scalable and customizable platform.
Introduction :
Contentful is a headless content management system that was launched in 2013. It is not open source but is highly popular due to its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use. Contentful allows users to create, manage, and deliver content across multiple platforms and devices, making it a popular choice for businesses looking to streamline their content management processes.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and customize
  • Built-in user authentication and access control
  • Flexible content modeling with schemas
  • Active community and support
  • Scalable for large projects
Advantages :
  • User-friendly interface for easy content management
  • Flexible content modeling for customization
  • Scalable infrastructure for growing websites
  • Extensive third-party integrations for added functionality
  • Robust API for seamless content delivery
Disadvantages :
  • Limited theme options
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some
  • Less community support than WordPress
  • Not as customizable as other platforms
  • Limited plugins and extensions available
Disadvantages :
  • Limited customization options
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms
  • Higher cost for larger projects
  • Limited built-in features compared to competitors
  • Limited support for complex data structures
Website users : Thousands
KeystoneJS is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice among developers for building dynamic web applications.
Website users : Over 500,000 websites
Contentful is a popular choice among medium to large businesses for its flexible content management capabilities and developer-friendly features.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
KeystoneJS requires some familiarity with Node.js and MongoDB, making it average in terms of ease of getting started compared to other CMS platforms.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Contentful requires some learning but is manageable for most users with basic technical skills and documentation available for guidance.
Year launched : 2013
KeystoneJS was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems.
Year launched : 2013
Contentful was launched in 2013, positioning it as a relatively newer option compared to other content management systems.
Official website : https://keystonejs.com/
Official website : https://www.contentful.com/


Commercial details

KeystoneJS
Contentful
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
KeystoneJS is fully open source and written in JavaScript, allowing for complete customization and community contributions.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Contentful is not fully open source but offers a limited version of its platform for free with open source components.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
KeystoneJS offers a free option, but the specifics regarding limitations or features of the free plan are unclear.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Contentful offers a free tier with limited features, making it a good option for small projects or testing purposes.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
KeystoneJS offers a paid option for additional features, hosting, and support, providing users with more comprehensive and tailored solutions.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Contentful offers a paid option with additional features and support, providing more flexibility and customization for users.


Platform details

KeystoneJS
Contentful
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
KeystoneJS offers a hosted option through various third-party vendors, providing users with the convenience of managed hosting services.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Contentful offers a hosted option for users, providing a convenient and managed solution for content management needs.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
KeystoneJS can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
โšช Self host : Unknown.
There may be third-party vendors available for self-hosting Contentful, but direct self-hosting options are unclear.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
KeystoneJS supports headless features via its API, allowing for decoupled front-end development and content management capabilities.
๐ŸŸข Headless CMS : Support natively.
Contentful is a native headless CMS, designed to deliver content through APIs for seamless integration with any frontend technology.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in KeystoneJS through plugins, offering flexibility for users to generate static content if needed.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Contentful does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin.


Key features

KeystoneJS
Contentful
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
KeystoneJS excels in content management with its native capabilities, offering robust tools for creating, editing, and organizing content efficiently.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Contentful is a native platform for managing content, offering robust features and flexibility compared to plugin-based solutions.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
KeystoneJS can be used for blogging with the help of plugins like keystone-blog, offering basic blogging functionality but may require additional customization.
๐Ÿ”ด Blogging : Not supported.
Contentful is not specifically designed for blogging, lacking native features like built-in SEO tools and blogging templates compared to platforms like WordPress.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
KeystoneJS is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. It may require extensive customization or integration with third-party plugins.
๐Ÿ”ด E-commerce : Not supported.
Contentful is not specifically designed for e-commerce, lacking native features for online stores. It may require extensive customization or integration with third-party plugins.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
KeystoneJS can be used for a community/forum with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options.
๐Ÿ”ด Community forum : Not supported.
Contentful is not specifically designed for community or forum functionality, lacking native features for user interaction and engagement.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls can be implemented using third-party plugins/extensions in KeystoneJS, enhancing its functionality in this area.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Contentful does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.


Other features

KeystoneJS
Contentful
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved in KeystoneJS through the use of third-party plugins or extensions.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality can be achieved through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing Contentful's capabilities for managing multiple sites efficiently.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multilingual support can be achieved via plugins like keystone-multilingual or keystone-localisation, enhancing native capabilities.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Contentful natively supports multi-language capabilities, allowing users to easily create and manage content in multiple languages within the platform.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
XML sitemaps can be implemented through a popular 3rd party plugin or extension, enhancing the SEO capabilities of KeystoneJS.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Contentful does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins or extensions for this functionality.


When choosing between Contentful and KeystoneJS, consider your specific requirements and technical expertise. If you prioritize ease of use and scalability, Contentful may be the better choice. However, if you value control over customization and have development skills, KeystoneJS could be the ideal solution for your project.