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Astro

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Contentful

Astro vs Contentful

Astro vs Contentful: which is right for your project? Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. Contentful is api-first headless cms for omnichannel content. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Astro wins overall, but Contentful is better for enterprises needing to deliver content across web, mobile, and iot channels. Choose Astro for Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript. Choose Contentful for Enterprises needing to deliver content across web, mobile, and IoT channels.

Official docs: Astro Documentation · Contentful Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

Feature	Astro	Contentful
Ease of Use	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Performance	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐
Scalability	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Astro

Pros

Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture)
Use React, Vue, Svelte, or any framework in the same project
Content collections with type-safe Markdown/MDX
Purpose-built for content sites — blogs, docs, marketing pages

Cons

Not ideal for highly interactive apps (designed for content sites)
Smaller ecosystem than Next.js — fewer integrations available
SSR support is newer and less battle-tested
Island architecture requires thinking differently about interactivity

Contentful

Pros

Powerful content modeling with structured content types
Global CDN-backed API delivers content at edge speed
Rich ecosystem of integrations (Algolia, Netlify, Vercel)
Excellent SDKs for every major language and framework

Cons

Expensive — free tier is very limited, paid starts at $300/month
Editing experience is functional but not beautiful
No built-in preview or visual editing (requires custom setup)
Vendor lock-in with proprietary content storage

Platform Details

Detail	Astro	Contentful
Language / Stack	JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)	API-based (any frontend)
Type	framework	headless cms
Pricing	Free (open-source)	Free / $300+/month
Open Source	Yes	No
Best For	Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript	Enterprises needing to deliver content across web, mobile, and IoT channels
Export Method	N/A (destination framework)	Content Management API or CLI export

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Astro if…

You need content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal javascript
Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)
You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
Budget is a top priority — free (open-source)
You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members
You want maximum performance with static or server-rendered pages

Choose Contentful if…

You need enterprises needing to deliver content across web, mobile, and iot channels
Your team is comfortable with API-based (any frontend)

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Astro and Contentful depends on three things: your team's technical skills, your project timeline, and your long-term content strategy.

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Astro is a framework built with JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic), while Contentful is a headless cms built with API-based (any frontend). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. Both platforms require some technical comfort — consider which tech stack aligns better with your team's existing skills.

From a cost perspective, Astro is open-source (Free (open-source)), while Contentful (Free / $300+/month) carries ongoing license costs. Factor in plugin or extension costs, developer rates for each tech stack, and whether you need managed hosting or can self-host.

Whichever you choose, migrating between them is straightforward. LeaveWP supports migration between 60+ platforms, so you're never locked in regardless of which you pick today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Astro better than Contentful?

Astro scores higher overall (25/30 vs 22/30) thanks to easier learning curve. However, Contentful is the better choice for Enterprises needing to deliver content across web, mobile, and IoT channels.

Can I migrate from Astro to Contentful?

Yes. Export your Astro content via N/A (destination framework), then import it into Contentful. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.

What are the main differences between Astro and Contentful?

Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default, while Contentful is api-first headless cms for omnichannel content. Key differences: ease of use (Astro: 4/5, Contentful: 3/5), pricing (Free (open-source) vs Free / $300+/month), and ecosystem size (Astro: 3/5, Contentful: 4/5).

How much does Astro cost compared to Contentful?

Astro: Free (open-source). Contentful: Free / $300+/month. Astro is open-source and free to self-host, while Contentful is a paid platform.

Which is easier to learn, Astro or Contentful?

Astro is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 3/5). Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture). Contentful has a steeper learning curve, especially for teams new to API-based (any frontend).

Which performs better, Astro or Contentful?

Both score equally on performance (5/5). The real difference depends on your setup: Astro uses JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic), Contentful uses API-based (any frontend). Proper caching and CDN configuration matters more than the platform itself at this tier.

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