KeystoneJS vs Strapi: What are the differences?

KeystoneJS and Strapi are both content management systems (CMS) and web application frameworks. Here are the key differences between them:

1. Database Support: KeystoneJS supports a wider range of databases compared to Strapi. It offers built-in support for MongoDB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL, providing flexibility for developers to choose the most suitable database for their project. On the other hand, Strapi primarily focuses on MongoDB, although it does provide experimental support for other databases like PostgreSQL and SQLite.

2. Customization and Extensibility: KeystoneJS provides a more opinionated and structured approach to customization. It offers a schema-based approach, where developers define their data models using a declarative schema language. Strapi, on the other hand, provides a more flexible customization approach. Developers have more control over the data models and can create custom API endpoints and controllers, allowing for greater extensibility.

3. Admin Interface: Strapi offers a more modern and user-friendly admin interface compared to KeystoneJS. The interface is intuitive and provides a visual approach to managing content types, permissions, and settings. KeystoneJS, on the other hand, has a more traditional and less streamlined admin interface that may require a steeper learning curve for non-technical users.

4. Authentication and Authorization: KeystoneJS provides built-in authentication and authorization features, making it easier to handle user management and access control. It offers role-based access control and supports popular authentication providers like Google, Facebook, and GitHub out of the box. Strapi also provides similar authentication and authorization features, but it requires additional configuration and plugins to support external authentication providers.

5. Community and Ecosystem: Strapi has a larger and more active community compared to KeystoneJS. It has a vibrant ecosystem with a wide range of plugins and resources available. This active community ensures regular updates, bug fixes, and continuous improvement of the platform. Although KeystoneJS also has a community and ecosystem, it is relatively smaller and less active compared to Strapi.

6. Performance and Scalability: Strapi is known for its performance and scalability. It is built on top of Node.js and leverages its asynchronous and non-blocking nature, allowing for high-performance operations. Strapi also supports horizontal scalability through clustering. KeystoneJS, while performant, may not scale as smoothly as Strapi, especially for high-traffic or large-scale applications.

In summary, KeystoneJS provides a powerful and customizable framework suitable for complex projects, allowing developers to define data models and create tailored applications. On the other hand, Strapi offers a fast and user-friendly CMS experience with a plugin-based architecture, making it ideal for projects that require rapid development and ease of use.