Hosting Comparison Guide

When deciding to use Strapi for your project, one key consideration is how you’ll host it. This guide explores the two main hosting options available: Strapi Cloud, a fully-managed hosting solution, and self-hosting, where your team manages the infrastructure.

Choosing the right hosting option depends on your project’s needs, team resources, and desired level of control. Strapi Cloud offers managed infrastructure and maintenance, while self-hosting offers full control and customization for unique configurations.

In this guide, we’ll compare the benefits and trade-offs of these options across eight essential categories:

1. DevOps Resources
2. Setup Time
3. Cost Structure
4. Control & Customization
5. Performance & Scalability
6. Security & Compliance
7. Flexibility & Stack Compatibility
8. Support Access

Use this overview to assess which hosting solution best meets your goals and technical requirements.

Quick Comparison Overview

To help you quickly compare these hosting options, we’ve outlined the main factors that impact your choice in the table below. Each category addresses an essential question, from the level of DevOps resources required to scalability and customization options. This overview is a starting point; for a more in-depth look at each factor, see the detailed breakdown following the table.

Detailed Comparison of Hosting Options

In this section, we’ll take a closer look at each key factor involved in choosing between Strapi Cloud and self-hosting. For each category—like DevOps resources, setup time, and scalability—you’ll find a breakdown of how each option addresses specific needs, making it easier to see which approach aligns best with your team’s capabilities and project requirements. Whether you’re prioritizing ease of use, cost efficiency, or full-stack control, these insights will help you make a well-informed decision.

DevOps Resources Required

The level of in-house technical resources and expertise can significantly influence the choice between a fully managed solution and self-hosting. For teams with limited DevOps capacity, a managed option can reduce the operational burden, while teams with DevOps resources may prefer the control of self-hosting.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud requires minimal DevOps expertise. With Strapi managing the infrastructure including database, email provider, and CDN, teams can focus more on content and development rather than backend maintenance. This is ideal for teams with limited DevOps resources or those looking to avoid the time associated with managing servers.

Self-Hosting

Self-hosting offers complete control but demands technical resources for tasks such as setup, monitoring traffic, database optimization, maintaining Node.js versions and patches, and ensuring faster deployments with optimized CI/CD pipelines. Teams need DevOps expertise to configure the environment, choose infrastructure providers, monitor uptime, and handle scaling. This option is ideal for teams with the resources and skills to manage these complexities or with projects requiring custom configurations that a managed service might not support.

Setup Time

Setup time significantly impacts a project’s launch timeline, particularly for teams aiming to deliver quickly. Managed solutions generally offer faster deployment, while self-hosted options involve a more complex and time-intensive setup.

Strapi Cloud

With Strapi Cloud, setup is streamlined and quick. Users can deploy directly from their GitHub repositories, configure basic settings, and go live within minutes. The ready-to-use infrastructure includes pre-configured CI/CD pipelines, security layers such as DDoS protection, email provider integration, database setup, and CDN management. This is ideal for fast-moving projects or teams seeking a hassle-free start without extensive infrastructure preparation.

Self-Hosting

Self-hosting requires a more involved setup process, as teams must choose a hosting provider, configure servers, and establish CI/CD pipelines, security protocols (e.g., DDoS protection), email provider setups, database configurations, and CDN integrations manually. This option suits teams with specific infrastructure requirements or those ready to invest the time and technical resources in creating a custom environment.

Cost Structure

Understanding cost structure helps teams budget effectively and assess which hosting solution aligns with their financial resources. Managed solutions like Strapi Cloud offer predictable costs, while self-hosting can vary based on the infrastructure choices and in-house resources.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud provides a predictable pricing model with transparent overages that includes infrastructure and depending on your plan, support, which is ideal for teams needing cost certainty. This option eliminates hidden expenses associated with server maintenance, scalability, and security, allowing teams to budget confidently.

Self-Hosting

With self-hosting, costs are more variable and can fluctuate based on the chosen hosting provider, server configuration, scaling needs, and any internal resources allocated to maintenance. While this can sometimes offer flexibility, unexpected expenses may arise from infrastructure upgrades, scaling, or security needs. Self-hosting is typically better for budget conscious teams and the desire to control infrastructure costs directly.

Control & Customization

The level of control and customization available can impact how well the hosting solution aligns with a project’s unique requirements. Some teams prioritize control over every detail, while others prefer simplicity and ease of use.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud offers essential customization options while being managed by Strapi to simplify the overall experience. Users have access to customizable settings like choosing deployment regions, managing custom domains, and connecting to external services. However, certain advanced configurations and customizations may be limited, as the infrastructure and core setup are managed by Strapi. This option suits teams focused on a fast, straightforward setup without the need for complex custom configurations.

Self-Hosting

Self-hosting provides full control over every aspect of the environment, from server configuration to stack customization. Teams can select specific databases, storage solutions, and advanced configurations based on their needs. This level of control is ideal for projects with unique requirements or where teams need the flexibility to customize integrations or infrastructure in ways that a managed environment may not support.

Performance & Scalability

Scalability and performance are critical for applications that expect high traffic or need to adapt to varying usage levels. Managed solutions often handle scaling automatically, while self-hosted setups require planning and resources to scale effectively.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud doesn’t currently include autoscaling, but its dedicated DevOps team is available to scale infrastructure up or down as needed. This ensures reliable performance and adaptability for projects experiencing growth or seasonal traffic spikes, without requiring teams to monitor or adjust infrastructure manually. It’s an ideal choice for teams that want managed scalability with expert support.

Self-Hosting

Self-hosting gives teams complete control over scaling and performance. You can choose providers with autoscaling capabilities or configure infrastructure to meet specific needs. You still need to optimize databases, maintain Node.js versions and patches, and ensure deployments are efficient. These responsibilities require DevOps skills and come with additional costs.

Security & Compliance

Security and compliance are often top priorities, especially for projects in regulated industries or those handling sensitive data. The choice between a managed or self-hosted solution can impact how security protocols and compliance requirements are managed and enforced.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud includes built-in security protocols managed by Strapi, covering areas like data encryption and access control. For teams needing compliance with standard security measures without the burden of managing it themselves, Strapi Cloud provides a managed solution that meets baseline security needs. However, custom or highly specific security configurations may be limited within a managed environment, making Strapi Cloud best for teams that prioritize ease of use over custom security requirements.

Self-Hosting

With self-hosting, teams have complete control over security measures and compliance configurations. This flexibility is advantageous for organizations with strict compliance requirements or those needing to implement unique security protocols. Self-hosting allows for custom encryption, access controls, and server monitoring based on specific standards, making it ideal for industries with regulatory requirements that demand granular security oversight.

Flexibility & Stack Compatibility

The ability to integrate with specific technologies and adapt the stack to project requirements is often crucial. Flexibility allows teams to choose the best tools for their needs and to adapt quickly as project requirements evolve.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud is optimized for common integrations and popular technology stacks, providing users with a pre-configured environment that’s compatible with essential tools and services. This approach simplifies setup but may limit flexibility for advanced or uncommon stack configurations. Strapi Cloud is a good fit for teams seeking a straightforward setup with reliable integrations that cover the most typical use cases.

Self-Hosting

Self-hosting offers complete flexibility, allowing teams to integrate any technology or tool they require. This is especially beneficial for projects with unique compatibility needs or those that require niche technologies not typically supported in managed environments. Self-hosting enables teams to build a highly customized stack tailored precisely to their project’s requirements, making it ideal for specialized or complex projects that demand maximum adaptability.

Support Access

Access to a knowledgeable support team can be a critical factor when deciding between hosting options. Teams often require assistance with both the CMS itself and the deployment infrastructure.

Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud includes access to a dedicated support team with deep expertise in Strapi, covering both the CMS and deployment requirements. This support ensures that teams can quickly resolve issues, get expert guidance, and benefit from Strapi's best practices. For projects requiring reliable and responsive assistance, Strapi Cloud provides a managed, seamless experience.

Self-Hosting

Self-hosting relies on internal expertise or third-party support. While Strapi documentation and community resources are available, there is no guaranteed access to Strapi experts unless additional enterprise-level support is purchased. Teams with sufficient in-house expertise may manage this independently, but those needing consistent external support may find this option challenging.

Use Case Recommendations

Choosing between Strapi Cloud and self-hosting often depends on specific project needs, available resources, and the desired level of control. Here are some common scenarios that can help guide your decision:

When to Choose Strapi Cloud

Strapi Cloud is ideal if:

• You have limited DevOps resources: Strapi Cloud is a good fit for teams without dedicated DevOps staff. It requires minimal setup and no ongoing infrastructure management.
• You need a fast time-to-launch: Projects with tight deadlines can benefit from Strapi Cloud’s quick deployment, allowing you to go live within minutes.
• Your budget favors predictable costs: With a clear pricing structure, Strapi Cloud offers financial predictability, which is useful for teams with fixed budgets and limited flexibility.
• You want managed scalability: If you expect traffic spikes or plan to scale quickly, Strapi Cloud automatically adjusts infrastructure, saving you the effort of manual scaling.
• Your project doesn’t require specialized configurations: Strapi Cloud is pre-configured for typical use cases and integrations, making it a strong choice for standard projects that don’t need unique or complex setups.

When to Choose Self-Hosting

Self-hosting is a better fit if:

• You have in-house DevOps expertise: Teams with technical resources to manage infrastructure, updates, and scaling will benefit from self-hosting's control.
• Your project has complex or unique requirements: Self-hosting's flexibility is ideal for projects requiring customized configurations, specific compliance standards, or advanced integrations.
• You’re looking for maximum control: Self-hosting allows complete control over every aspect of the stack, from security to performance tuning, which is ideal for teams that need granular oversight.
• Your organization has strict security or compliance standards: For industries with regulatory requirements or highly specific security needs, self-hosting offers the ability to configure and monitor security protocols to meet exact standards.
• You need flexibility in your tech stack: If your project requires compatibility with niche or highly specialized tools and services, self-hosting allows you to build a fully customized stack that’s unrestricted by pre-configured options.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Choosing the right hosting solution for your Strapi project depends on your team’s needs, resources, and project goals. Strapi Cloud offers a fully managed experience, ideal for teams prioritizing speed, simplicity, and predictable costs. Self-hosting, on the other hand, provides complete control and flexibility, making it well-suited for projects with specialized requirements or dedicated technical resources.

Next Steps:

• Assess Your Needs: Review the categories covered in this guide and identify which hosting features are most critical to your project.
• Explore a Strapi Cloud Trial: For teams interested in a managed solution, Strapi Cloud offers a 14-day free trial to test its capabilities and see if it meets your needs.
• Evaluate Your Technical Resources: If considering self-hosting, ensure your team has the technical expertise to manage setup, maintenance, and scaling.
• Contact Sales for Guidance: If you’re unsure which option is right for your project, contact our team for personalized recommendations and answers to specific questions.

By taking these steps, you can make an informed choice and set your Strapi project up for success.