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CMS comparison Keystone vs Optimizely CMS

Keystone vs Optimizely CMS

Keystone is an open-source headless CMS that you host yourself. Optimizely CMS 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 23.

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  • Keystone Headless · Open source · 6 of 28 built in
  • Optimizely CMS Enterprise DXP · Closed source · 22 of 28 built in

Sources checked: Keystone on 29 Sept 2026, Optimizely CMS 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 Optimizely CMS feature comparison. Columns are the two platforms. Rows are features, grouped by area.
Platform
Keystone Headless
Optimizely CMS 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.Optimizely's .NET CMS for rendered and headless sites, hosted on Optimizely's DXP cloud or self-hosted, with Optimizely Graph for delivery.
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 Optimizely CMS 13 PaaS, the current flagship. CMS SaaS is a separate hosted variant. Version 13.1.3, released 9 Sept 2026
Vendor Thinkmill keystonejs.com Optimizely optimizely.com
Licence Open source MIT Closed source Proprietary
Hosting Self-hosting No vendor cloud No managed hosting. Thinkmill offers enterprise support. Self-hosting Vendor cloud Self-hosted installs lose Opti ID features such as Opal and the DAM.
Built with TypeScript, Node.js, GraphQL, Prisma, Next.js for the admin UI.NET 10, ASP.NET Core
Database PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLiteSQL Server, Azure SQL on DXP
Pricing Public list prices only. Hosting and implementation are extra everywhere. Free to start Free and open source. Enterprise support from Thinkmill on request. No free option Pricing 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 Content types as C# classes. 3
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 Content types and properties in Settings. 4
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 Blocks in content areas and Visual Builder elements.
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 Language branches per content item. 5
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 DXP CDN resizes, crops and converts images by URL parameters. 6
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 Content Delivery API 13 and a management REST API. 12
GraphQL API The vendor or an official module provides a GraphQL API for content. Built in Built in Optimizely Graph, included in the CMS 13 licence. 28
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 Limited Graph webhooks fire on sync batches and expired content only. Per-item hooks need code. 72
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 ASP.NET Core MVC and Razor rendering, or headless. 2
Editorial workflow
Drafts Editors save changes as a draft and publish them later. The live version stays untouched until then. Not available Built in 9
Scheduled publishing An editor can set a future date and time for content to publish or unpublish. Not available Built in 9
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 Visual Builder. 2
Approval workflows Content moves through review stages you configure, such as draft, review and approved, with permissions per stage. Not available Built in Approval sequences. 10
Content releases Editors group changes across several entries and publish them together as one release. Not available Built in Projects publish or schedule grouped items together. 11
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 Comments and notifications only. 12
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 Access rights for roles and virtual roles. 13
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 Access rights apply per content item. Not documented per property. 13
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 Opti ID with an external identity provider, or OpenID Connect in code. 2
Audit log The CMS logs who changed what and when across the whole installation, and admins can review the log. Not available Built in Change Log in Settings. 14
Platform and extensibility
Multiple sites One installation or account can manage several separate websites or brands with shared users. Not available Built in Several sites and hosts in one installation. 15
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 Shell modules, gadgets and custom editor widgets. 16
Plugin marketplace The vendor runs an official directory or marketplace of installable extensions. Not available Built in Optimizely connectors directory and NuGet add-ons. 17
Form builder Editors can build and publish forms and collect submissions without code. Not available Plugin or add-on Optimizely Forms package. No extra licence. 18
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 Limited Visitor login uses ASP.NET Core authentication set up in code. 2
AI writing assistant A first-party AI feature in the editing interface generates, rewrites or translates content. Not available Plugin or add-on Opal, billed through Opal credits. Needs Opti ID on DXP. 219
Official MCP server The vendor publishes a Model Context Protocol server so AI agents can read or write content. Not available Built in MCP server in the Optimizely.Cms.Opal.Tools package. 20

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

Where they differ

Keystone and Optimizely CMS get a different status on 23 of the 28 features and the same status on 5. Keystone has 6 built in on its baseline edition, Optimizely CMS has 22. 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). Optimizely CMS is closed source (Proprietary).
Vendor cloud
Keystone has no vendor-run cloud. Optimizely CMS has a vendor-run cloud.
Free option
Keystone has a free option. Optimizely CMS has no free option.

Built in on Keystone, a different answer on Optimizely CMS 2

  • Field-level permissions Keystone: Built in. Optimizely CMS: Not available.
  • Site member accounts Keystone: Built in. Optimizely CMS: Limited.

Built in on Optimizely CMS, a different answer on Keystone 18

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

Built in on neither, with different answers 3

  • Webhooks Keystone: Not available. Optimizely CMS: Limited.
  • Form builder Keystone: Not available. Optimizely CMS: Plugin or add-on.
  • AI writing assistant Keystone: Not available. Optimizely CMS: Plugin or add-on.

More comparisons

Full write-ups with worked examples and costs: Optimizely CMS vs Payload.

Keystone against other platforms

Optimizely CMS against other platforms

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