Free, open-source alternatives to Sanity
Headless content platform. 5 apps you can run yourself instead of Sanity, sorted by how well they replace it. Each one is open source, so your data stays with you.
StrapiBest match
Headless CMS that lets developers build content APIs fast while giving content creators a friendly editing interface.
Payload CMS
Developer-first headless CMS and application framework.
Directus
An Instant App & API for your SQL Database. Directus wraps your new or existing SQL database with a realtime GraphQL+REST API for developers, and an intuitive admin app for non-technical users.
KeystoneJS
CMS and web application platform.
Squidex
Headless CMS, based on MongoDB, CQRS and Event Sourcing.
Side by side
| App | Stars | License | Activity | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strapi | 73,298 | MIT | Node.js | |
| Payload CMS | 45,223 | MIT | Node.js | |
| Directus | 38,438 | BUSL-1.1 | Node.js, Docker | |
| KeystoneJS | 9,974 | MIT | Node.js | |
| Squidex | 2,508 | MIT | .NET |
Why replace Sanity?
Sanity works, but your data lives in someone else's account, the price can change at any time, and features can disappear. An open-source app you run yourself is yours: you choose where it runs, who can see the data, and when to update.
Questions
What is the best free alternative to Sanity?
Strapi is the closest open-source replacement for Sanity in our list. Payload CMS and Directus are worth a look too, depending on what you need.
Can I self-host an alternative to Sanity?
Yes. All 5 apps on this page are open source and can run on your own server, usually with Docker, or on a managed host that installs them for you.