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Astro vs Sanity

Astro vs Sanity: which is right for your project? Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default. Sanity is real-time collaborative headless cms with customizable studio. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

It depends — Astro and Sanity serve different use cases well. Choose Astro for Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript. Choose Sanity for Developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience.

Official docs: Astro Documentation · Sanity Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureAstroSanity
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

Sanity

Pros

  • GROQ query language is more powerful and flexible than GraphQL
  • Real-time collaborative editing (like Google Docs)
  • Fully customizable React-based Studio admin panel
  • Portable Text format gives structured rich text (not raw HTML)

Cons

  • GROQ is a custom query language with its own learning curve
  • Studio customization requires React development knowledge
  • Per-user pricing gets expensive for large editorial teams
  • Steeper setup curve than GUI-first headless CMS options

Platform Details

DetailAstroSanity
Language / Stack
JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic)JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio)
Type
frameworkheadless cms
Pricing
Free (open-source)Free / $15+/month per user
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScriptDeveloper-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience
Export Method
N/A (destination framework)GROQ API, GraphQL API, or Sanity 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 Sanity if…

  • You need developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience
  • Your team is comfortable with JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Which Should You Pick?

The right choice between Astro and Sanity 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 Sanity is a headless cms built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio). 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, both platforms are open-source, so the real cost difference is hosting and operational overhead. 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 Sanity?
They're closely matched (25/30 vs 24/30). Astro is best for Content-heavy websites that need maximum performance with minimal JavaScript, while Sanity excels for Developer-led teams wanting maximum flexibility in content modeling and editing experience. Your choice should depend on your team's skills and project requirements.
Can I migrate from Astro to Sanity?
Yes. Export your Astro content via N/A (destination framework), then import it into Sanity. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Astro and Sanity?
Astro is content-focused framework that ships zero javascript by default, while Sanity is real-time collaborative headless cms with customizable studio. Key differences: ease of use (Astro: 4/5, Sanity: 3/5), pricing (Free (open-source) vs Free / $15+/month per user), and scalability (Astro: 4/5, Sanity: 5/5).
How much does Astro cost compared to Sanity?
Astro: Free (open-source). Sanity: Free / $15+/month per user. Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, Astro or Sanity?
Astro is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 3/5). Ships zero JS to the client by default (Islands Architecture). Sanity GROQ is a custom query language with its own learning curve.
Which performs better, Astro or Sanity?
Both score equally on performance (5/5). The real difference depends on your setup: Astro uses JavaScript/TypeScript (framework-agnostic), Sanity uses JavaScript/TypeScript (React-based Studio). Proper caching and CDN configuration matters more than the platform itself at this tier.

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