KeystoneJS vs Sanity: 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 KeystoneJS and Sanity side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a 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:
KeystoneJS
Headless CMS and GraphQL API framework
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Sanity requires payment)
Sanity
Structure content as data for any application
Best for you if:
- • You want excellent developer experience
| At a Glance | KeystoneJS | Sanity |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $15/seat/mo, billed monthly Growth plan |
Category | Developer Tools Headless CMS | Headless CMS Writing & Content |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 11 reviews | 4.7/5 G2 4.7 924 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | API request overages at $1/25K (non-CDN) can spike with server-side rendering patterns |
Choose KeystoneJS or Sanity?
Choose KeystoneJS if
- You want a fully free tool (Sanity requires payment)
- You want good headless CMS
- You want GraphQL API
- You work in developer tools, not headless CMS
Choose Sanity if
- You want excellent developer experience
- You want real-time collaboration
- You work in headless CMS, not developer tools
In-Depth Analysis
KeystoneJS
Headless CMS and GraphQL API framework
KeystoneJS offers an incredibly generous pricing model, being entirely free and open source.
Strengths
- Pro: Good headless CMS
- Pro: GraphQL API
- Pro: Admin UI included
- Pro: Open source
- Pro: Good for developers
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Node.js required
- Con: Less content features
- Con: Self-hosting needed
- Con: Smaller community
Key features
Sanity
Structure content as data for any application
Sanity Free with 20 seats is the most generous free CMS tier in the market, Contentful and Hygraph cap at 5-10.
Watch out
API request overages at $1/25K (non-CDN) can spike with server-side rendering patterns
Strengths
- Pro: Excellent developer experience
- Pro: Real-time collaboration
- Pro: Highly flexible schema
- Pro: Fast CDN
- Pro: Great documentation
Weaknesses
- Con: GROQ learning curve
- Con: Can get expensive at scale
- Con: Complex for simple sites
- Con: Requires development skills
Key features
Plans and prices: KeystoneJS vs Sanity
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| KeystoneJS |
| keystonejs.comread Oct 4, 2026 |
| Sanity |
| sanity.io/pricingread Oct 13, 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 KeystoneJS pricing and Sanity pricing.
Key Takeaways
KeystoneJS
- Choose if you want headless CMS and GraphQL API framework
Sanity
- Choose if you want structure content as data for any application
What the data shows
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair.
- User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 11 reviews for KeystoneJS, 4.7/5 from 924 reviews for Sanity; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides).
- Sanity starts at $15/seat/mo, billed monthly; KeystoneJS has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have 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 KeystoneJS and Sanity compare in 2026?
On the data below the two are close or not directly comparable, so we do not name a winner for this pair. User ratings rest on too few reviews to rank (4.6/5 from 11 reviews for KeystoneJS, 4.7/5 from 924 reviews for Sanity; we compare ratings only above 20 reviews on both sides). Sanity starts at $15/seat/mo, billed monthly; KeystoneJS has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are KeystoneJS and Sanity used for?
KeystoneJS: Headless CMS and GraphQL API framework. Sanity: Structure content as data for any application.
What does KeystoneJS cost vs Sanity?
KeystoneJS is free. Sanity's cheapest paid plan is Growth at $15/seat/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 13, 2026.
What's the main difference between KeystoneJS and Sanity?
KeystoneJS's main strength: good headless CMS. Sanity's main strength: excellent developer experience.