dotCMS vs Storyblok

dotCMS8.6Visit Storyblok8.5Visit

Higher score dotCMS #8 in Headless CMS 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit dotCMS

vs

Storyblok #9 in Headless CMS 8.5/10 Free plan · 45-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Storyblok

• dotCMS fits best

  Multi-site teams wanting a free CMS option

• Storyblok fits best

  Editors prioritizing visual headless workflows

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Side by side

Feature	dotCMS 8.6/10 Visit ↗	Storyblok 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.6	8.5
Ranking	#8 in Headless CMS	#9 in Headless CMS
Best for	Multi-site teams wanting a free CMS option	Editors prioritizing visual headless workflows
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	—	$90.75/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	45 days
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Community, Docs	Live chat, Community, Docs · 24/7
Compliance	SOC 2, ISO 27001, SSO/SAML, 2FA	SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, PCI DSS, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations	6 integrations	6 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features dotCMS 4/4 · Storyblok 4/4
Content localization	✓	✓
Webhooks	✓	✓
Content preview	✓	✓
Asset transformations	✓	✓
Specs
API types	Both	Both
Role permissions	Custom	Custom
Our review
Pros	Free BSL plan includes unlimited users and unlimited content REST and GraphQL APIs support flexible content delivery Localization, permissions, previews, and multi-site management are included	Visual Editor with draft website previews and component blocks REST and GraphQL APIs with localization and granular permissions Webhooks, releases, and media transformation support
Cons	Commercial plans require a pricing request Free BSL use has revenue and licensing conditions The free plan provides basic workflows rather than advanced governance	Starter includes only 1 user seat and 1 space Growth starts at $99 per month for 5 seats Premium and Elite plans use custom pricing
Our verdict	dotCMS is a headless content management platform for enterprises managing websites, portals, intranets, and other digital experiences. It suits multi-site teams that need structured reusable content, visual editing, multilingual entries,… Read the review →	Storyblok is a cloud headless CMS for marketing and development teams creating websites, applications, and other digital experiences. Its main distinction is combining structured content modeling and API delivery with a Visual Editor for… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• dotCMS — where it wins

  • Free BSL plan includes unlimited users and unlimited content
  • REST and GraphQL APIs support flexible content delivery
  • Localization, permissions, previews, and multi-site management are included

  Where it doesn't

  • Commercial plans require a pricing request
  • Free BSL use has revenue and licensing conditions
  • The free plan provides basic workflows rather than advanced governance

• Storyblok — where it wins

  • Visual Editor with draft website previews and component blocks
  • REST and GraphQL APIs with localization and granular permissions
  • Webhooks, releases, and media transformation support

  Where it doesn't

  • Starter includes only 1 user seat and 1 space
  • Growth starts at $99 per month for 5 seats
  • Premium and Elite plans use custom pricing

• dotCMS8.6/10 · Free plan

  A multi-site CMS with free access, flexible APIs, and governance controls.

  Visit dotCMSFull verdict →
• Storyblok8.5/10 · Free plan · 45-day trial

  A strong fit for editorial teams that need visual previews and structured APIs.

  Visit StoryblokFull verdict →