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CMS comparison Keystone vs Liferay DXP

Keystone vs Liferay DXP

Keystone is an open-source headless CMS that you host yourself. Liferay DXP is a closed-source enterprise DXP that you can host yourself or run on the vendor's cloud. The table below sets them side by side on 28 features. They get a different status on 22.

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  • Keystone Headless · Open source · 6 of 28 built in
  • Liferay DXP Enterprise DXP · Closed source · 26 of 28 built in

Sources checked: Keystone on 29 Sept 2026, Liferay DXP on 29 Sept 2026. Plans and releases can change after those dates.

WAYF is an official Payload partner and top contributor. Every platform in the table is classified by the same published definitions, and each answer lists the vendor page it came from.

Feature comparison

Built inPaid tierPlugin or add-onLimitedNot available
Keystone vs Liferay DXP feature comparison. Columns are the two platforms. Rows are features, grouped by area.
Platform
Keystone Headless
Liferay DXP Enterprise DXP
Overview
What it is Open-source Node.js headless CMS from Thinkmill that generates a GraphQL API and an admin UI from a TypeScript schema.Java platform for websites, portals and commerce, with a new object-based CMS. Self-hosted or run by Liferay as PaaS or SaaS.
Edition compared The product and release each column describes. Keystone 6, open source, from the @keystone-6/core package Version 8.1.0, released 31 Aug 2026 Liferay DXP 2026.Q3, Enterprise Subscription. The Free Tier replaced Liferay Portal CE from 2026.Q1. Version 2026.q3.5, released 25 Sept 2026
Vendor Thinkmill keystonejs.com Liferay, Inc. liferay.com
Licence Open source MIT Closed source Proprietary, under the Liferay EULA. Free Tier activation key at no cost
Hosting Self-hosting No vendor cloud No managed hosting. Thinkmill offers enterprise support. Self-hosting Vendor cloud Free Tier suits smaller-scale use and gets no security patches, SAML or AI Hub.
Built with TypeScript, Node.js, GraphQL, Prisma, Next.js for the admin UIJava, OSGi, React
Database PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLiteMySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, Oracle, SQL Server, IBM Db2
Pricing Public list prices only. Hosting and implementation are extra everywhere. Free to start Free and open source. Enterprise support from Thinkmill on request. Free to start Free Tier at no cost for smaller-scale use. Enterprise Subscription per server instance, price on request.
Content modelling
Content model in code You define content types in files in your repository, review them like any other code and apply them from there. Imperative migration scripts alone count as limited. Built in Lists and fields are TypeScript config. 4 Built in Definitions export to JSON and deploy from the repo as batch client extensions. 7
Content model in the UI Admins can create and change content types and fields in the admin interface without writing code. Not available Built in Objects and web content structures. 6
Reusable blocks Editors compose pages from reusable, typed components or blocks, and can reorder them. Built in Component blocks inside the document field. 8 Built in Fragments on content pages. 11
Localization Editors translate content per locale inside the CMS, by field or by entry, without a separate site for each language. Not available No locale support documented. Model translations yourself. 12 Built in
Image transformations The CMS resizes, crops or converts images on request, through URL parameters or generated sizes, with no external service. Not available Image field stores originals. The Cloudinary field hands resizing to Cloudinary. 711 Built in Adaptive Media generates set image resolutions. 8
APIs and delivery
REST API A documented REST or JSON HTTP API returns content. Not available GraphQL only. Custom REST routes through extendExpressApp. 4 Built in Headless REST APIs. 9
GraphQL API The vendor or an official module provides a GraphQL API for content. Built in Built in 9
Webhooks The CMS can call an external URL when content is created, changed or published. Not available No webhook settings. Call URLs from hooks in code. 10 Built in Object actions call a webhook on add, update or delete. 10
Renders the website The CMS itself renders and serves the public pages through themes or templates. Headless-only products answer no. Not available Built in
Editorial workflow
Drafts Editors save changes as a draft and publish them later. The live version stays untouched until then. Not available Built in
Scheduled publishing An editor can set a future date and time for content to publish or unpublish. Not available Built in Display and expiration dates.
Version history The CMS keeps earlier versions of an entry, and editors can compare or restore them. Not available Built in
Preview Editors can see unpublished content rendered as it will appear on the site before publishing. Not available Built in
Visual editing Editors can click on the rendered page and edit content in place or in a side panel next to it. Not available Built in Inline editing in the content page editor. 11
Approval workflows Content moves through review stages you configure, such as draft, review and approved, with permissions per stage. Not available Built in Kaleo workflow, also included in the Free Tier. 3
Content releases Editors group changes across several entries and publish them together as one release. Not available Built in Publications group changes and publish them together. 12
Real-time co-editing Two or more editors can work on the same entry at once and see each other's changes live. Not available Not available A page locks while one editor has it open. 13
Access and governance
Custom roles Admins define their own roles with granular permissions instead of picking from a fixed set. Limited Roles are access-control functions written in code. No role editor in the admin. 5 Built in
Field-level permissions Admins can restrict access to single fields, on top of content types and entries. Built in Field-level access control. 5 Not available Permissions apply per object, entry or asset. 14
Single sign-on Editors can sign in through SAML or OpenID Connect against a company identity provider. Not available The auth package covers password login. SSO means custom session code. 6 Built in SAML and OpenID Connect. The Free Tier lacks SAML. 315
Audit log The CMS logs who changed what and when across the whole installation, and admins can review the log. Not available Built in Audit framework with search and export of events. 16
Platform and extensibility
Multiple sites One installation or account can manage several separate websites or brands with shared users. Not available Built in
Extensible admin UI Developers can add their own components, views or fields to the editing interface. Built in Custom admin pages, navigation and field views. 9 Built in Client extensions. 7
Plugin marketplace The vendor runs an official directory or marketplace of installable extensions. Not available Built in Liferay Marketplace. 17
Form builder Editors can build and publish forms and collect submissions without code. Not available Built in Liferay Forms.
Site member accounts The platform handles sign-up and login for public site users or members, separate from editors. Built in createAuth works on any list, including site users. 6 Built in
AI writing assistant A first-party AI feature in the editing interface generates, rewrites or translates content. Not available Built in AI Hub writing tools in the new CMS. Not in the Free Tier. 418
Official MCP server The vendor publishes a Model Context Protocol server so AI agents can read or write content. Not available Built in Built-in MCP server released in 2026.Q3, switched on by feature flag. 19

Considering more platforms? Compare Keystone and Liferay DXP with the rest of your shortlist in the CMS comparison tool.

Where they differ

Keystone and Liferay DXP get a different status on 22 of the 28 features and the same status on 6. Keystone has 6 built in on its baseline edition, Liferay DXP has 26. Two matching statuses can still name different paid tiers or limits, so read the notes in the table before treating a row as equal.

Licence
Keystone is open source (MIT). Liferay DXP is closed source (Proprietary, under the Liferay EULA. Free Tier activation key at no cost).
Vendor cloud
Keystone has no vendor-run cloud. Liferay DXP has a vendor-run cloud.

Built in on Keystone, a different answer on Liferay DXP 1

  • Field-level permissions Keystone: Built in. Liferay DXP: Not available.

Built in on Liferay DXP, a different answer on Keystone 21

  • Content model in the UI Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Localization Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Image transformations Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • REST API Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Webhooks Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Renders the website Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Drafts Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Scheduled publishing Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Version history Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Preview Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Visual editing Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Approval workflows Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Content releases Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Custom roles Keystone: Limited. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Single sign-on Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Audit log Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Multiple sites Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Plugin marketplace Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Form builder Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • AI writing assistant Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.
  • Official MCP server Keystone: Not available. Liferay DXP: Built in.

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