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Strapi vs Sanity for Agencies (2026): Which Is Better?
By Red Kite Search Agency Created Updated 7 min read
Summary
Choose Strapi for low cost and control. Choose Sanity for a hosted, highly rated code-first CMS. Prices and ratings were checked in October 2026.
Strapi vs Sanity: which is better for agencies in 2026?
Strapi and Sanity are developer-focused headless CMS platforms. Strapi is open source and can be self-hosted. Sanity is hosted with a code-first studio.
We compared price, hosting work and evidence.
| Tool | Editorial score | Review-site ratings | Pricing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strapi | 4.2 / 5 | No review-site rating found | Self-hosted: Community free under the MIT licence, Growth $45 a month for 3 users, Enterprise custom. Strapi Cloud, per project a month: Starter $35, Pro $90 and Business $450. | Freelancers to agencies |
| Sanity | 4.5 / 5 | G2 4.7 | Free $0 with up to 20 seats and 2 public datasets. Growth $15 per seat a month for up to 50 seats and 2 datasets, public or private. Enterprise is custom and can be paid annually. Self-serve plans accept monthly payments only. | Developer-led agencies to enterprise teams |
How do Strapi and Sanity compare on price?
Strapi Community is free, Growth costs $45 a month, and Cloud Starter costs $35 per project a month. Sanity costs $0 on Free and $15 per seat a month on Growth.
| Tool | Plan | Price | What stands out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strapi | Community | $0 per month (monthly billing) | Free, MIT licence, unlimited usage, community support |
| Strapi | Growth | $45 per month (monthly billing) | Self-hosted, 3 users, $15 a month per extra user |
| Strapi | Cloud Starter | $35 per month (monthly billing) | Per project, 100K API requests, 50 GB storage |
| Strapi | Cloud Pro | $90 per month (monthly billing) | Per project, 1M API requests, 250 GB storage |
| Strapi | Cloud Business | $450 per month (monthly billing) | Per project, 10M API requests, 2 environments |
| Strapi | Enterprise | Custom | SSO, review workflows, audit logs, SOC 2 report |
| Sanity | Free | $0 per seat per month (monthly billing) | Up to 20 seats, 2 public datasets |
| Sanity | Growth | $15 per seat per month (monthly billing) | Per seat, up to 50 seats, 2 datasets (private or public) |
| Sanity | Enterprise | Custom | Custom seats, datasets, API and bandwidth; annual billing |
Which costs less?
Both have free options. Strapi Community is free but you host it. Sanity Free is hosted for up to 20 seats and two public datasets.
For paid use, compare Strapi Cloud per project with Sanity per seat.
Run a short side-by-side test before you decide. Build the same small content model in both tools, time how long each takes, and ask a colleague who did not set them up to edit it. The result is usually clearer than any feature table.
Also check how each vendor handles renewal. Yearly plans are often billed in advance, price rises are common at renewal, and cancelling late can lock you into another term. Put the renewal date in the team calendar the day you buy.
Which is better for agencies?
Sanity removes hosting work and has a higher G2 score. Strapi gives control and the lowest cost per project.
Pick by who maintains each client site.
Ask for a written statement of plan limits when you buy, because caps on seats, API requests, and bandwidth change from time to time, and a record of what you were promised is useful if a limit moves.
Remember that you can start small. Most vendors offer a free tier, so begin with the cheapest plan that covers your real work, and upgrade only when a specific limit blocks you.
A useful habit is to record each trial in one short note: the project used, the setup time, and the main frustration. Comparing two notes is far easier than comparing two memories.
Which has stronger evidence?
Sanity has a 4.7 G2 score from 926 reviews. Strapi lists 206 reviews with no score in the snippet we read.
Both state SOC 2: Sanity SOC 2 Type II, and Strapi SOC 2 certification with a Type 2 report per its blog. Both also state GDPR compliance.
Finally, think about exit costs. Check how easily you can export your content, and keep notes on how your content model is built, so a later switch does not mean starting from scratch.
Keep the client in the loop on cost. Hosting, seats, and API limits are ongoing costs that clients will ask about, so agree who pays for what in writing before launch.
How do Strapi and Sanity compare on integrations, security, and support?
Beyond price, agencies ask about connections to their other tools, what to tell clients about security, and how quickly they can get help. This is what each vendor states publicly, as checked in October 2026.
| Area | Strapi | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
| Integrations | An open-source, customisable API; a full integrations list was not read | A code-first API and studio, and a Slack connector for its Content Agent on all plans; a full integrations list was not read |
| Security | The vendor states SOC 2 certification (Type 2 per its blog) and GDPR compliance; Enterprise includes a SOC 2 report, SSO and audit logs; 2FA was not stated | The vendor states a SOC 2 Type II, GDPR and CCPA compliant platform with custom access control and SSO on Enterprise; 2FA was not stated |
| Support | Community support on the free edition, basic support on Growth and standard support on Enterprise | A community on Discord; plan-level support channels were not stated |
| Apps | A mobile app was not stated | A mobile app was not stated |
What are the pros and cons of Strapi and Sanity?
Here is where each tool helps agencies and where it can get in the way, based on plan details and public feedback.
Strapi pros
- Community is free and open source under the MIT licence, with unlimited usage.
- Strapi Cloud costs $35 per project a month and $90 for Pro.
- Self-hosted Growth costs $45 a month for 3 users, with $15 a month per extra user.
- Enterprise includes a SOC 2 report, SSO, audit logs and review workflows.
Strapi cons
- Self-hosting means you run hosting, updates and backups for each client.
- Cloud plans are per project, so cost scales with each client site.
- SSO on Growth is a $150 a month add-on.
- A mobile app and most support detail were not stated.
Sanity pros
- The Free plan costs $0 and allows up to 20 seats and 2 public datasets.
- Growth costs $15 per seat a month for up to 50 seats and private datasets.
- G2 shows 4.7 from 926 reviews, the highest score in the category.
- A startup programme offers a year of Growth free, and a non-profit plan exists.
Sanity cons
- Self-serve plans are monthly only; annual billing needs Enterprise.
- The page does not say how multiple client projects are billed, so confirm before you plan an agency portfolio.
- API and bandwidth limits are fixed on Free and Growth (1M CDN requests, 250K API requests, 100 GB a month).
- Plan-level support channels and a mobile app were not stated.
What do reviewers say about Strapi and Sanity?
G2 shows Sanity at 4.7 from 926 reviews. Strapi lists 206 reviews with no overall score in the snippet we read.
| Tool | Source | Rating | Number of reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sanity | G2 | 4.7 / 5 | 926 |
Reviewer themes for Strapi
- G2 lists 206 reviews for Strapi; the snippet we read showed no overall score.
- G2 describes it as letting developers build faster with a customisable API.
Reviewer themes for Sanity
- G2 shows Sanity at 4.7 from 926 reviews.
- G2 describes it as a fully customisable, all-code platform for content-driven apps.
How does setup differ between Strapi and Sanity?
Getting value from either tool depends on how you set it up, and the first steps differ. Here is the practical starting point for each.
Strapi: Prototype on Community.
Sanity: Prototype one client site on the Free plan.
What should agencies check before choosing between Strapi and Sanity?
Small details in plans and limits decide whether a tool works in practice. Check these points for each tool during a trial on a real client account.
Before you buy Strapi
- Decide self-hosted or Cloud.
- Count client projects.
- Plan maintenance.
- Prototype on Community.
Before you buy Sanity
- Confirm how client projects are billed.
- Count editor seats.
- Check API and bandwidth limits.
- Prototype on the Free plan.
How should you test Strapi and Sanity before deciding?
The fairest test is to run both tools on the same real client account for two weeks, with the same people, and compare the results rather than first impressions.
What to measure
- How long it takes a new team member to be productive in Strapi versus Sanity.
- How often people open each tool without being reminded.
- Whether the plan you need includes the features you tested, not just the entry price.
- How a client reacts if you invite them to either tool.
- How much time the team spends on notifications, setup, and cleanup each week.
Which should you choose: Strapi or Sanity?
Choose Strapi for low cost and control. Choose Sanity for a hosted, highly rated code-first CMS.
Prototype both on one site.
Choose Strapi if
- You want the lowest CMS cost.
- You can host and maintain client sites.
- You want open source.
Skip Strapi if
- You want a visual editor.
- You cannot maintain hosting.
- You need stated certifications below Enterprise.
Choose Sanity if
- You have developers who build custom studios.
- You want a generous free plan.
- You want simple per-seat pricing.
Skip Sanity if
- You want a visual editor with no code.
- You need annual billing on a small plan.
- You need stated security certifications.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Strapi or Sanity better?
- Strapi for cost and control, Sanity for hosted convenience.
- Which is cheaper?
- Strapi Community is free.
- Which is open source?
- Strapi.
- Which has the higher G2 score?
- Sanity.
- Which charges per seat?
- Sanity.
Sources
Prices, plan limits, and ratings were gathered in October 2026 from:
- Strapi pricing page
- Sanity pricing page
- G2