Craft CMS vs DatoCMS
Craft CMS
A flexible, user-friendly CMS for developers and content creators
vs
DatoCMS
The headless CMS that makes editors and developers happy
Craft CMS and DatoCMS compared — feature by feature, with pricing and our honest take on which fits your build.
Feature
Craft CMS
DatoCMS
Core Features
API Type
The type of API provided
REST & GraphQL
GraphQL & REST
API Type
The type of API provided
REST & GraphQL
GraphQL & REST
Content Versioning
Track content history
Yes (revisions)
✓
Content Versioning
Track content history
Yes (revisions)
✓
Real-time Collaboration
Multiple users editing simultaneously
✗
✓
Real-time Collaboration
Multiple users editing simultaneously
✗
✓
Live Preview
Preview content changes before publishing
✓
✓
Live Preview
Preview content changes before publishing
✓
✓
Multi-language Support
Built-in localization and internationalization
Yes (built-in)
✓
Multi-language Support
Built-in localization and internationalization
Yes (built-in)
✓
Getting Started
Ease of Use
Skill level required: 1 = DIY friendly, 5 = Developer expertise required
Ease of Use
Skill level required: 1 = DIY friendly, 5 = Developer expertise required
Pricing
Free Tier
Does it offer a free tier?
Yes (Solo edition)
✓
Free Tier
Does it offer a free tier?
Yes (Solo edition)
✓
Starting Price
Minimum monthly cost
$299 one-time (Pro)
$99/month
Starting Price
Minimum monthly cost
$299 one-time (Pro)
$99/month
Pricing Model
How pricing is structured
One-time license or cloud subscription
Usage-based (media, traffic)
Pricing Model
How pricing is structured
One-time license or cloud subscription
Usage-based (media, traffic)
Content
Asset Management
Built-in DAM for images and media
Powerful built-in system
Advanced built-in DAM
Asset Management
Built-in DAM for images and media
Powerful built-in system
Advanced built-in DAM
Image Processing
Built-in image transformation and optimization
Built-in transforms
Built-in (Imgix-powered)
Image Processing
Built-in image transformation and optimization
Built-in transforms
Built-in (Imgix-powered)
Video Streaming
Native video hosting and streaming
No (third-party)
Yes (built-in)
Video Streaming
Native video hosting and streaming
No (third-party)
Yes (built-in)
Developer Features
Webhooks
Event-based notifications for content changes
✓
✓
Webhooks
Event-based notifications for content changes
✓
✓
GraphQL API
GraphQL query support
✓
✓
GraphQL API
GraphQL query support
✓
✓
REST API
RESTful API support
Yes (Element API)
✓
REST API
RESTful API support
Yes (Element API)
✓
SDKs Available
Official client libraries and SDKs
PHP, JavaScript
JS, React, Vue, Next.js, Gatsby
SDKs Available
Official client libraries and SDKs
PHP, JavaScript
JS, React, Vue, Next.js, Gatsby
Deployment
Open Source
Is the platform open source?
✗
✗
Open Source
Is the platform open source?
✗
✗
Self-Hosting Option
Can be self-hosted on your infrastructure
✓
✗
Self-Hosting Option
Can be self-hosted on your infrastructure
✓
✗
Craft CMS Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓One-time license fee (no recurring costs for self-hosted Pro)
- ✓Extremely flexible and customisable content modelling
- ✓Beautiful, intuitive admin interface
- ✓Built-in multi-site support
- ✓Strong security track record
- ✓Excellent for complex content structures
- ✓GraphQL API available
Cons
- ✗PHP-based (may not fit modern JavaScript workflows)
- ✗Smaller ecosystem than WordPress or major headless platforms
- ✗Self-hosting requires PHP/MySQL knowledge
- ✗Fewer third-party integrations than enterprise options
- ✗Cloud hosting more expensive than some competitors
DatoCMS Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Beautiful, intuitive editor interface loved by content teams
- ✓Powerful image manipulation and video streaming built-in
- ✓Real-time GraphQL API with automatic schema generation
- ✓Multi-site management from single dashboard
- ✓Excellent localization and i18n support
- ✓Built-in CDN and global edge network
Cons
- ✗Can get expensive with high bandwidth usage
- ✗Smaller developer community than major players
- ✗Limited custom plugin development
- ✗Pricing increases with media usage
Pricing
Craft CMS vs DatoCMS pricing
Craft CMS
Free Solo edition. Pro licence £239 one-time fee. Cloud hosting from £23/month
DatoCMS
Free tier with 3 users. Starts at £79/month for Team plan
How to choose
How to choose between Craft CMS and DatoCMS
Both are strong choices — the right one comes down to what your build needs most. Here is where each one leans.
Lean Craft CMS if you want
- →One-time license fee (no recurring costs for self-hosted Pro)
- →Extremely flexible and customisable content modelling
- →Beautiful, intuitive admin interface
Lean DatoCMS if you want
- →Beautiful, intuitive editor interface loved by content teams
- →Powerful image manipulation and video streaming built-in
- →Real-time GraphQL API with automatic schema generation
The SmartaStudio take
We build with both Craft CMS and DatoCMS, so we have no dog in the fight — the right choice depends on your project, not a leaderboard. See the full Headless CMS lineup on our platforms hub, or tell us about your build and we will give you a reasoned recommendation.
Still weighing it up?
Answer a few questions about your project and get a reasoned recommendation — or talk it through with us directly.