KeystoneJS vs Netlify CMS: What are the differences?

Key Differences between KeystoneJS and Netlify CMS

Introduction

When comparing KeystoneJS and Netlify CMS, it is important to understand their key differences to determine which one suits your needs better. Both are content management systems (CMS) that allow users to easily manage and publish content on a website, but they differ in terms of functionality, customization options, and ease of use.

1. Data Structure and Content Modeling: KeystoneJS provides a powerful and flexible data modeling system that allows developers to define their own data structures and relationships between content types. This enables complex data modeling and the ability to create custom fields or behaviors. On the other hand, Netlify CMS offers a simpler and more opinionated content modeling approach, where content types are defined using YAML configuration files. This makes it easier for non-technical users to set up and manage content without much customization.

2. Hosting and Deployment: KeystoneJS is a self-hosted CMS, meaning you need to manage your own server infrastructure or choose a hosting provider to deploy your website. It requires more technical knowledge to set up and configure the server environment. On the contrary, Netlify CMS is fully hosted on the Netlify platform, providing a seamless hosting and deployment experience. You can connect your GitHub repository to Netlify and it automatically builds and deploys your website every time you push changes to your repository.

3. Editorial Workflow and User Roles: KeystoneJS comes with built-in support for user roles and an editorial workflow. Developers can define different user roles and permissions, allowing fine-grained control over who can create, edit, publish, or delete content. Netlify CMS, on the other hand, offers a simpler editorial workflow with fewer options for user roles and permissions. It is more suitable for smaller teams or less complex content management needs.

4. Customization and Extensibility: KeystoneJS is highly customizable and extensible, providing a large ecosystem of plugins and extensions. Developers have full control over the frontend and backend code, allowing them to customize the CMS to meet specific requirements. Netlify CMS, while offering some customization options through its API, has a more limited extensibility compared to KeystoneJS. It is more focused on simplicity and ease of use, sacrificing some advanced customization capabilities.

5. User Interface and User Experience: KeystoneJS has a more complex user interface and requires some technical knowledge to navigate and manage content effectively. It has a steeper learning curve compared to Netlify CMS, which offers a simpler and more user-friendly interface. Netlify CMS aims to provide a smooth and intuitive user experience, making it easier for non-technical users to create and edit content.

6. Community and Support: KeystoneJS has a larger and more established community compared to Netlify CMS. It has been around for a longer time, which means more resources, tutorials, and community support are available. Netlify CMS, although relatively newer, has a growing community and provides good documentation and support. However, if you prefer a CMS with a larger community and more established support channels, KeystoneJS might be a better choice.

In summary, KeystoneJS and Netlify CMS differ in terms of data modeling flexibility, hosting and deployment options, editorial workflow capabilities, customization and extensibility, user interface and user experience, as well as community support. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the specific needs of your project, considering factors such as technical expertise, content complexity, and desired level of customization.