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CMS comparison Strapi vs Wix

Strapi vs Wix

Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that you can host yourself or run on the vendor's cloud. Wix 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 13.

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  • Strapi Headless · Open source · 15 of 28 built in
  • Wix Site builder · Closed source · 21 of 28 built in

Sources checked: Strapi on 29 Sept 2026, Wix 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
Strapi vs Wix feature comparison. Columns are the two platforms. Rows are features, grouped by area.
Platform
Strapi Headless
Wix Site builder
Overview
What it is Open-source Node.js headless CMS with a visual content-type builder, self-hosted or run on Strapi Cloud. Paid plans add governance features.Hosted website builder with a CMS, business apps and hosting, run by Wix.com Ltd. Wix Studio adds an editor and workspace for agencies.
Edition compared The product and release each column describes. Strapi 5 CMS, free Community edition with paid Growth and Enterprise plans for self-hosted projects Version 5.55.1, released 24 Sept 2026 Wix website builder with Wix CMS, in Wix Editor and Wix Studio SaaS, continuously updated
Vendor Strapi strapi.io Wix.com Ltd. wix.com
Licence Open source MIT Closed source Proprietary
Hosting Self-hosting Vendor cloud Strapi Cloud removed its free plan in 2026. Hosting starts at the Starter plan. No self-hosting Vendor cloud Wix Headless serves the same content to a frontend you host.
Built with TypeScript, Node.js, ReactHosted SaaS, JavaScript through the Wix IDE, CLI and SDK
Database PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLiteWix CMS collections, managed by Wix
Pricing Public list prices only. Hosting and implementation are extra everywhere. Free to start Community free. Growth $45 per month with 3 seats, then $15 per seat. Cloud from $35 per project per month. Free to start Free plan. Light $17, Core $29, Business $39, Business Elite $159 per month billed yearly in the US.
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 Content types are schema.json files in the project. 19 Limited Only Wix CLI apps and headless projects define collections in TypeScript files. 13
Content model in the UI Admins can create and change content types and fields in the admin interface without writing code. Built in Content-type Builder works in development mode only. 16 Built in 20
Reusable blocks Editors compose pages from reusable, typed components or blocks, and can reorder them. Built in Components and dynamic zones. 216 Built in Editors add and reorder sections and saved components on the canvas.
Localization Editors translate content per locale inside the CMS, by field or by entry, without a separate site for each language. Built in Built in Wix Multilingual, with manual or automatic translation. 14
Image transformations The CMS resizes, crops or converts images on request, through URL parameters or generated sizes, with no external service. Built in Generates small, medium and large sizes on upload. No crops on request. 15 Built in Resize and crop through image URL parameters. 15
APIs and delivery
REST API A documented REST or JSON HTTP API returns content. Built in 2 Built in Data Items REST API. 3
GraphQL API The vendor or an official module provides a GraphQL API for content. Plugin or add-on Official GraphQL plugin. 14 Built in GraphQL endpoint over the same data as the REST API. 4
Webhooks The CMS can call an external URL when content is created, changed or published. Built in 218 Built in App webhooks, or an HTTP request step in Wix Automations. 16
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. Built in Draft & Publish. 2 Built in Draft status on CMS items, on by default for new collections. 11
Scheduled publishing An editor can set a future date and time for content to publish or unpublish. Paid tier Growth plan, by scheduling a Release. 6 Built in Scheduled status changes on CMS items. 11
Version history The CMS keeps earlier versions of an entry, and editors can compare or restore them. Paid tier Content History keeps 14 days on Growth, 30 to 90 days on Enterprise. 7 Limited CMS keeps weekly and manual collection backups. Restores replace whole collections. 9
Preview Editors can see unpublished content rendered as it will appear on the site before publishing. Built in Basic preview is free. Side-by-side Live Preview needs Growth. 5 Built in
Visual editing Editors can click on the rendered page and edit content in place or in a side panel next to it. Paid tier On Growth, editors double-click content in Live Preview to edit it. 5 Built in
Approval workflows Content moves through review stages you configure, such as draft, review and approved, with permissions per stage. Paid tier Review Workflows on Enterprise. 9 Paid tier Approvals for site changes in the Wix Studio enterprise solution. 8
Content releases Editors group changes across several entries and publish them together as one release. Paid tier Releases on Growth and Enterprise. 6 Limited Release Manager publishes whole site versions and test sites. No grouped item releases. 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 Built in Built into the Studio Editor. 7
Access and governance
Custom roles Admins define their own roles with granular permissions instead of picking from a fixed set. Built in Unlimited admin roles on Community. 28 Built in Not every permission is available to custom roles. 619
Field-level permissions Admins can restrict access to single fields, on top of content types and entries. Built in 8 Not available CMS permissions apply per collection. 20
Single sign-on Editors can sign in through SAML or OpenID Connect against a company identity provider. Paid tier Enterprise, or a $150 per month add-on on Growth. 211 Paid tier OpenID Connect only, with the Wix Studio enterprise solution. 10
Audit log The CMS logs who changed what and when across the whole installation, and admins can review the log. Paid tier Enterprise plan. 10 Not available Not documented publicly.
Platform and extensibility
Multiple sites One installation or account can manage several separate websites or brands with shared users. Not available Built in One account or Studio workspace manages many sites, each on its own plan.
Extensible admin UI Developers can add their own components, views or fields to the editing interface. Built in 20 Built in Dashboard extensions add custom pages and widgets. 17
Plugin marketplace The vendor runs an official directory or marketplace of installable extensions. Built in Strapi Marketplace. 2 Built in Wix App Market.
Form builder Editors can build and publish forms and collect submissions without code. Not available Built in Wix Forms.
Site member accounts The platform handles sign-up and login for public site users or members, separate from editors. Built in Users & Permissions feature for end users. 17 Built in Members Area handles sign-up and login.
AI writing assistant A first-party AI feature in the editing interface generates, rewrites or translates content. Paid tier AI translation and image alt text on Growth. Not yet available on Enterprise. 212 Built in AI text creator in the Wix and Studio editors. 18
Official MCP server The vendor publishes a Model Context Protocol server so AI agents can read or write content. Built in Built in. Developers switch it on in the server config. 13 Built in Wix MCP for docs, code and site API calls. 5

Strapi sources

Checked 29 Sept 2026. Strapi 5 CMS, free Community edition with paid Growth and Enterprise plans for self-hosted projects.

  1. @strapi/strapi on the npm registry
  2. Strapi CMS pricing
  3. Strapi Cloud pricing
  4. We're removing the Free plan from Strapi Cloud
  5. Strapi docs: Preview
  6. Strapi docs: Releases
  7. Strapi docs: Content History
  8. Strapi docs: Role-Based Access Control
  9. Strapi docs: Review Workflows
  10. Strapi docs: Audit Logs
  11. Strapi docs: Single Sign-On
  12. Strapi docs: AI for content managers
  13. Strapi docs: MCP server
  14. Strapi docs: GraphQL plugin
  15. Strapi docs: Media Library
  16. Strapi docs: Content-type Builder
  17. Strapi docs: Users & Permissions
  18. Strapi docs: Webhooks
  19. Strapi docs: Models
  20. Strapi docs: Admin panel customization

Wix sources

Checked 29 Sept 2026. Wix website builder with Wix CMS, in Wix Editor and Wix Studio.

  1. Wix plans and pricing
  2. Wix blog: Wix Premium plans (May 2026)
  3. Wix Data Items API
  4. The Wix GraphQL API
  5. The Wix MCP
  6. Wix Help: creating custom roles for collaborators
  7. Wix Help: Studio Editor collaborating on a site
  8. Wix Help: enterprise approvals for site changes
  9. Wix Help: restoring CMS collections with backups
  10. Wix Help: SSO login for your organization
  11. Wix Help: managing collection item statuses
  12. Wix Help: Release Manager
  13. Wix CLI: data collections extension files
  14. Wix Help: Wix Multilingual overview
  15. Wix Media: URL image transformation
  16. Wix Developers: about webhooks
  17. Wix Developers: about dashboard extensions
  18. Wix Help: Studio Editor AI text creator
  19. Wix Help: inviting collaborators
  20. Wix Help: CMS overview

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

Where they differ

Strapi and Wix get a different status on 13 of the 28 features and the same status on 15. Strapi has 15 built in on its baseline edition, Wix has 21. 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
Strapi is open source (MIT). Wix is closed source (Proprietary).
Self-hosting
Strapi can be self-hosted. Wix cannot be self-hosted.

Built in on Strapi, a different answer on Wix 2

  • Content model in code Strapi: Built in. Wix: Limited.
  • Field-level permissions Strapi: Built in. Wix: Not available.

Built in on Wix, a different answer on Strapi 8

  • GraphQL API Strapi: Plugin or add-on. Wix: Built in.
  • Renders the website Strapi: Not available. Wix: Built in.
  • Scheduled publishing Strapi: Paid tier. Wix: Built in.
  • Visual editing Strapi: Paid tier. Wix: Built in.
  • Real-time co-editing Strapi: Not available. Wix: Built in.
  • Multiple sites Strapi: Not available. Wix: Built in.
  • Form builder Strapi: Not available. Wix: Built in.
  • AI writing assistant Strapi: Paid tier. Wix: Built in.

Built in on neither, with different answers 3

  • Version history Strapi: Paid tier. Wix: Limited.
  • Content releases Strapi: Paid tier. Wix: Limited.
  • Audit log Strapi: Paid tier. Wix: Not available.

More comparisons

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

Strapi against other platforms

Wix against other platforms

Open the CMS comparison tool to put up to six platforms in one table.

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