Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

Head-to-head · Headless CMS

Squidex vs DatoCMS

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Squidex #4 in Headless CMS 9.0/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Squidex
DatoCMS #11 in Headless CMS 8.3/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 4 of 4 features Visit DatoCMS

Squidex leads on 0 checks, DatoCMS on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreSquidex · 9.0/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly DatoCMS

Squidex scores higher on our rubric for headless cms: 9.0 against 8.3 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #11.

Squidex is the better fit for developers wanting open-source deployment options. DatoCMS is the better fit for teams wanting capable editorial controls.

  • Squidex fits best

    Developers wanting open-source deployment options

  • DatoCMS fits best

    Teams wanting capable editorial controls

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Squidex 9.0/10 Visit ↗ DatoCMS 8.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.3
Ranking #4 in Headless CMS #11 in Headless CMS
Best for Developers wanting open-source deployment options Teams wanting capable editorial controls
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — €149/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Support Docs Email, Community, Docs
Compliance GDPR ISO 27001, SSO/SAML, 2FA
Integrations 15 integrations 4 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Squidex 4/4 · DatoCMS 4/4
Content localization ✓ ✓
Webhooks ✓ ✓
Content preview ✓ ✓
Asset transformations ✓ ✓
Specs
API types Both Both
Role permissions Custom Custom
Our review
Pros
  • Self-hosting with Docker or Kubernetes deployment options
  • REST and GraphQL APIs with structured schemas and localized content
  • Fine-grained permissions, previews, version history, and image processing
  • GraphQL and REST APIs support flexible content delivery and management
  • Granular permissions, workflows, and previews support structured editorial teams
  • Localization and image transformations cover international, media-rich projects
Cons
  • Self-hosted deployments require Docker or Kubernetes operations
  • Usage limits vary across API, traffic, storage, and contributor tiers
  • The platform may exceed the needs of teams seeking a simpler CMS
  • Professional starts at €149 per month when billed annually
  • The Free plan relies on community-based support
  • Enterprise pricing is custom and adds cost uncertainty
Our verdict

Squidex is an open-source headless CMS for teams managing structured content, assets, schemas, workflows, and localized entries. Developers can deliver content to websites, mobile applications, and other digital products through REST and…

Read the review →

DatoCMS is a cloud-based headless CMS for teams creating websites, applications, ecommerce experiences, and other digital products. It centralizes structured content and delivers it through APIs, including a GraphQL Content Delivery API…

Read the review →
  1. SquidexHeadless CMS 9.0Free plan
  2. DatoCMSHeadless CMS 8.3Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Squidex — where it wins

    • Self-hosting with Docker or Kubernetes deployment options
    • REST and GraphQL APIs with structured schemas and localized content
    • Fine-grained permissions, previews, version history, and image processing

    Where it doesn't

    • Self-hosted deployments require Docker or Kubernetes operations
    • Usage limits vary across API, traffic, storage, and contributor tiers
    • The platform may exceed the needs of teams seeking a simpler CMS

  • DatoCMS — where it wins

    • GraphQL and REST APIs support flexible content delivery and management
    • Granular permissions, workflows, and previews support structured editorial teams
    • Localization and image transformations cover international, media-rich projects

    Where it doesn't

    • Professional starts at €149 per month when billed annually
    • The Free plan relies on community-based support
    • Enterprise pricing is custom and adds cost uncertainty
  • Squidex9.0/10 · Free plan

    A flexible headless CMS for teams that want open-source or hosted deployment.

    Visit SquidexFull verdict →
  • DatoCMS8.3/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A capable headless CMS with strong editorial features and a relatively high paid entry price.

    Visit DatoCMSFull verdict →

More comparisons

All headless CMS comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update