Keystone vs Webflow
Keystone is an open-source headless CMS that you host yourself. Webflow is a closed-source site builder that runs on the vendor's cloud. The table below sets them side by side on 28 features. They get a different status on 26.
- Keystone Headless · Open source · 6 of 28 built in
- Webflow Site builder · Closed source · 15 of 28 built in
Sources checked: Keystone on 29 Sept 2026, Webflow 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
| Platform |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | Hosted visual site builder with a built-in CMS, hosting and a Data API. Designers build pages on a canvas. Run by Webflow, Inc. |
| 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 | Webflow Site plans, Starter to Enterprise SaaS, continuously updated |
| Vendor | Thinkmill keystonejs.com | Webflow, Inc. webflow.com |
| Licence | Open source MIT | Closed source Proprietary |
| Hosting | Self-hosting No vendor cloud No managed hosting. Thinkmill offers enterprise support. | No self-hosting Vendor cloud Publishing to a custom domain requires a paid Site plan. |
| Built with | TypeScript, Node.js, GraphQL, Prisma, Next.js for the admin UI | Hosted SaaS, Webflow Cloud for app hosting |
| Database | PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite | Managed by Webflow |
| 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 Starter site. Basic $15, Premium $25 per site per month billed yearly. Team $2,500 per month. |
| 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 | Not available The Data API can create collections and fields. No schema files. 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 |
| 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 Components with properties. Limited seats build pages from designer-approved blocks. 1 |
| 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 | Plugin or add-on Webflow Localize add-on from $9 per month. The Team plan includes it. 1 |
| 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 Generates responsive image sizes automatically. 10 |
| 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 Data API. 60 requests per minute on Starter, 120 on Premium. 111 |
| GraphQL API The vendor or an official module provides a GraphQL API for content. | Built in | Not available |
| 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 Data API webhooks for CMS items, forms and site publishes. 4 |
| 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 | Paid tier Scheduled CMS item publishing on the Premium Site plan. 1 |
| Version history The CMS keeps earlier versions of an entry, and editors can compare or restore them. | Not available | Limited Whole-site backups. Free Starter sites restore only the two most recent. 5 |
| 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 |
| Approval workflows Content moves through review stages you configure, such as draft, review and approved, with permissions per stage. | Not available | Paid tier Design approvals with designated reviewers on Enterprise. 1 |
| Content releases Editors group changes across several entries and publish them together as one release. | Not available | Limited A site publish ships all staged changes together. No named release bundles. 1 |
| 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 | Built in Available on every Workspace and Site plan. 6 |
| 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 | Paid tier Enterprise. 1 |
| 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 Enterprise access controls stop at pages and Collections. 1 |
| 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 | Paid tier Enterprise. 1 |
| Audit log The CMS logs who changed what and when across the whole installation, and admins can review the log. | Not available | Paid tier Site activity log on Team, audit logs API on Enterprise. 1 |
| Platform and extensibility | ||
| Multiple sites One installation or account can manage several separate websites or brands with shared users. | Not available | Built in A Workspace holds many sites with shared seats. Each site needs its own Site plan. 1 |
| 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 Apps can add Designer Extensions to the editor. 12 |
| Plugin marketplace The vendor runs an official directory or marketplace of installable extensions. | Not available | Built in Webflow Apps marketplace. 9 |
| Form builder Editors can build and publish forms and collect submissions without code. | Not available | Built in 50 submissions on Starter, unlimited on paid Site plans. 1 |
| 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 | Not available Webflow retired User Accounts on 29 January 2026. 8 |
| AI writing assistant A first-party AI feature in the editing interface generates, rewrites or translates content. | Not available | Paid tier Copy generation needs a paid Site or Workspace plan and uses AI credits. 1 |
| Official MCP server The vendor publishes a Model Context Protocol server so AI agents can read or write content. | Not available | Built in Available on all Site plans, including free Starter. 7 |
Keystone sources
Checked 29 Sept 2026. Keystone 6, open source, from the @keystone-6/core package.
- @keystone-6/core on the npm registry
- Keystone releases on GitHub
- Keystone homepage
- Keystone docs: System configuration
- Keystone docs: Access control
- Keystone docs: Authentication
- Keystone docs: Image field
- Keystone docs: Document field demo
- Keystone docs: Custom admin UI pages
- Keystone docs: Hooks guide
- Keystone docs: Cloudinary image field
- Keystone documentation index (llms.txt)
Webflow sources
Checked 29 Sept 2026. Webflow Site plans, Starter to Enterprise.
- Webflow plans and pricing
- Updated pricing and simplified plans for May 2026
- Webflow Data API: Create Collection
- Webflow Data API: working with webhooks
- Webflow Help: save and restore backups
- Webflow Help: real-time collaboration
- Webflow Help: MCP server overview
- Webflow Help: User Accounts sunset
- Webflow Apps
- Webflow Help: responsive images
- Webflow Data API reference
- Webflow Help: Webflow Apps overview
Considering more platforms? Compare Keystone and Webflow with the rest of your shortlist in the CMS comparison tool.
Where they differ
Keystone and Webflow get a different status on 26 of the 28 features and the same status on 2. Keystone has 6 built in on its baseline edition, Webflow has 15. 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). Webflow is closed source (Proprietary).
- Self-hosting
- Keystone can be self-hosted. Webflow cannot be self-hosted.
- Vendor cloud
- Keystone has no vendor-run cloud. Webflow has a vendor-run cloud.
Built in on Keystone, a different answer on Webflow 4
- Content model in code Keystone: Built in. Webflow: Not available.
- GraphQL API Keystone: Built in. Webflow: Not available.
- Field-level permissions Keystone: Built in. Webflow: Not available.
- Site member accounts Keystone: Built in. Webflow: Not available.
Built in on Webflow, a different answer on Keystone 13
- Content model in the UI Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Image transformations Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- REST API Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Webhooks Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Renders the website Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Drafts Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Preview Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Visual editing Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Real-time co-editing Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Multiple sites Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Plugin marketplace Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Form builder Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
- Official MCP server Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Built in.
Built in on neither, with different answers 9
- Localization Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Plugin or add-on.
- Scheduled publishing Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Paid tier.
- Version history Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Limited.
- Approval workflows Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Paid tier.
- Content releases Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Limited.
- Custom roles Keystone: Limited. Webflow: Paid tier.
- Single sign-on Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Paid tier.
- Audit log Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Paid tier.
- AI writing assistant Keystone: Not available. Webflow: Paid tier.
More comparisons
Full write-ups with worked examples and costs: Webflow vs Payload.
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Webflow against other platforms
- Adobe Experience Manager vs Webflow
- Contentful vs Webflow
- Contentstack vs Webflow
- CoreMedia Content Cloud vs Webflow
- Craft CMS vs Webflow
- DatoCMS vs Webflow
- Decap CMS vs Webflow
- Directus vs Webflow
- Drupal vs Webflow
- EmDash vs Webflow
- FirstSpirit vs Webflow
- Framer vs Webflow
- Ghost vs Webflow
- HubSpot CMS vs Webflow
- Hygraph vs Webflow
- Instatic vs Webflow
- Joomla vs Webflow
- Kirby vs Webflow
- Liferay DXP vs Webflow
- Optimizely CMS vs Webflow
- Webflow vs Payload
- Prismic vs Webflow
- Progress Sitefinity vs Webflow
- Sanity vs Webflow
- Sitecore vs Webflow
- Squarespace vs Webflow
- Statamic vs Webflow
- Storyblok vs Webflow
- Strapi vs Webflow
- TYPO3 vs Webflow
- Umbraco vs Webflow
- Wagtail vs Webflow
- Webflow vs Wix
- Webflow vs WordPress
- Xperience by Kentico vs Webflow
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