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Drupal

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Strapi

Drupal vs Strapi

Drupal vs Strapi: which is right for your project? Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures. Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. We compare features, performance, and pricing.

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TL;DR — Our Recommendation

Strapi wins overall, but Drupal is better for large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Drupal for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control. Choose Strapi for Developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control.

Official docs: Drupal Documentation · Strapi Documentation

Feature by Feature Comparison

FeatureDrupalStrapi
Ease of Use
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Performance
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Flexibility
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cost Value
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scalability
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ecosystem
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pros & Cons

Drupal

Pros

  • Powerful content modeling with custom entity types and fields
  • Enterprise-grade access control and user permissions
  • Built-in multilingual support for global sites
  • Strong security track record used by governments and universities

Cons

  • Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise
  • Fewer themes and modules compared to WordPress
  • Major version upgrades (e.g. Drupal 7→10) are complex migrations
  • Slow without aggressive caching configuration

Strapi

Pros

  • Fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in
  • Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
  • Intuitive admin panel with customizable content modeling
  • Active open-source community with frequent updates

Cons

  • Self-hosting requires DevOps knowledge and maintenance
  • Plugin ecosystem is growing but still smaller than established CMS
  • Large datasets can stress the default SQLite/PostgreSQL setup
  • Cloud hosting launched recently — less mature than competitors

Platform Details

DetailDrupalStrapi
Language / Stack
PHPNode.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
Type
traditional cmsheadless cms
Pricing
Free (self-hosted)Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)
Open Source
YesYes
Best For
Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access controlDeveloper teams wanting a self-hosted headless CMS with full control
Export Method
JSON:API module or Views data exportREST API, GraphQL API, or database export

When to Choose Each Platform

Choose Drupal if…

  • You need large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control
  • Your team is comfortable with PHP
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership

Choose Strapi if…

  • You need developer teams wanting a self-hosted headless cms with full control
  • Your team is comfortable with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript)
  • You want an open-source solution with full code ownership
  • Budget is a top priority — free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (cloud)
  • You want a low learning curve for non-technical team members

Which Should You Pick?

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

These platforms take fundamentally different approaches. Drupal is a traditional cms built with PHP, while Strapi is a headless cms built with Node.js (JavaScript/TypeScript). That architectural difference shapes everything from daily content editing workflows to deployment and hosting costs. If your team includes non-developers who need to publish content frequently, Drupal's familiar editing interface may save you onboarding time.

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 Drupal better than Strapi?
Strapi scores higher overall (24/30 vs 20/30) thanks to better performance. However, Drupal remains the better choice for Large organizations needing complex content structures and strict access control.
Can I migrate from Drupal to Strapi?
Yes. Export your Drupal content via JSON:API module or Views data export, then import it into Strapi. LeaveWP can help automate this process while preserving your SEO metadata and URL structure.
What are the main differences between Drupal and Strapi?
Drupal is enterprise php cms for complex content architectures, while Strapi is open-source headless cms built with node.js. Key differences: ease of use (Drupal: 2/5, Strapi: 4/5), pricing (Free (self-hosted) vs Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud)), and scalability (Drupal: 4/5, Strapi: 4/5).
How much does Drupal cost compared to Strapi?
Drupal: Free (self-hosted). Strapi: Free (self-hosted) / $29+/month (Cloud). Both are open-source, so the main cost difference is hosting and infrastructure.
Which is easier to learn, Drupal or Strapi?
Strapi is easier to pick up (4/5 vs 2/5). Fully open-source — self-host with no vendor lock-in. Drupal Steep learning curve — requires developer expertise.
Which performs better, Drupal or Strapi?
Strapi has the performance edge (4/5 vs 3/5). Strapi has strong performance characteristics. Drupal Slow without aggressive caching configuration.

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