Hygraph vs Strapi: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Hygraph and Strapi side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Hygraph leads on a free plan; Strapi leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Hygraph
Federated content platform with GraphQL
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Strapi
Build content APIs fast with a customizable, self-hosted headless CMS
Best for you if:
- • You want free and open source
| At a Glance | Hygraph | Strapi |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $199/mo flat, billed monthly Growth plan | From $35/mo flat, billed monthly Starter plan |
Category | Headless CMS API Tools | Headless CMS Writing & Content |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.7 745 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.6 272 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | Overage fees for content entries/models | n/a |
Choose Hygraph or Strapi?
Choose Hygraph if
- You want a free tier before you commit
- You want best-in-class GraphQL
- You want content federation unique
Choose Strapi if
- You want free and open source
- You want full data ownership
- Budget matters ($35/mo flat, billed monthly vs $199/mo flat, billed monthly)
In-Depth Analysis
Hygraph
Federated content platform with GraphQL
The Hobby tier is generous for personal projects, but the jump to Professional is significant.
Watch out
Overage fees for content entries/models
Strengths
- Pro: Best-in-class GraphQL
- Pro: Content federation unique
- Pro: Strong localization
- Pro: Good free tier
- Pro: Modern architecture
Weaknesses
- Con: GraphQL-only (no REST)
- Con: Smaller ecosystem
- Con: Complex for simple sites
- Con: Learning curve for federation
Key features
Strapi
Build content APIs fast with a customizable, self-hosted headless CMS
Strapi's pricing is very generous, offering a full-featured Community (Self-hosted) tier for free.
Strengths
- Pro: Free and open source
- Pro: Full data ownership
- Pro: Highly customizable
- Pro: Active community
- Pro: No vendor lock-in
Weaknesses
- Con: Self-hosting complexity
- Con: Requires developer setup
- Con: Less polished than SaaS options
- Con: Plugin quality varies
Key features
Plans and prices: Hygraph vs Strapi
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hygraph |
| hygraph.com/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Strapi |
| strapi.io/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Hygraph pricing and Strapi pricing.
Key Takeaways
Hygraph
- Has a free plan
Strapi
- Lower entry price: $35/mo flat, billed monthly vs $199/mo flat, billed monthly
What the data shows
On the data below, Hygraph leads on a free plan; Strapi leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 745 reviews for Hygraph, 4.5/5 from 272 reviews for Strapi).
- Strapi has the lower entry price: $35/mo flat, billed monthly (Starter) against $199/mo flat, billed monthly (Growth) for Hygraph.
- Only Hygraph has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Hygraph and Strapi compare in 2026?
On the data below, Hygraph leads on a free plan; Strapi leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 745 reviews for Hygraph, 4.5/5 from 272 reviews for Strapi). Strapi has the lower entry price: $35/mo flat, billed monthly (Starter) against $199/mo flat, billed monthly (Growth) for Hygraph. Only Hygraph has a free plan.
What are Hygraph and Strapi used for?
Hygraph: Federated content platform with GraphQL. Strapi: Build content APIs fast with a customizable, self-hosted headless CMS.
What does Hygraph cost vs Strapi?
Hygraph's cheapest paid plan is Growth at $199/mo flat, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Strapi's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $35/mo flat, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between Hygraph and Strapi?
Hygraph's main strength: best-in-class GraphQL. Strapi's main strength: free and open source.