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Squidex alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Squidex: small community and ecosystem, and interface feels dated next to newer CMSs. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Squidex, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Strapi currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Strapi logoStrapiOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web3 of 366.5
2Umbraco logoUmbracoOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web4 of 462.6
3Cockpit logoCockpitOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web3 of 355.3
  1. Strapi logo

    1. StrapiTop pick

    Best for: JavaScript teams that want a self-hostable headless CMS they can customise in code

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Squidex

    Larger open-source headless CMS community, in Node.js.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed core that's free to self-host
    • Generates REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
    • Extensible with custom code and plugins in Node.js

    Cons

    • Major version upgrades can be painful
    • SSO, audit logs and review workflows are paid
    • You run and scale the server yourself unless you pay for Cloud
    Visit Strapi Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Strapi a good Squidex alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026strapi.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud starting price
    $35 per project/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026strapi.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud Pro
    $90 per project/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026strapi.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Umbraco logo

    2. Umbraco

    Best for: Organisations and agencies standardised on .NET and Microsoft hosting

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Squidex

    Open-source .NET CMS with a traditional site-building model too.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed core that's free to self-host
    • Editor-friendly backoffice with block-based content
    • Fits teams already using C#, .NET and Azure

    Cons

    • Requires .NET developers for builds and upgrades
    • Smaller package ecosystem than PHP CMSs
    • Useful extras like forms and cloud hosting are paid
    Visit Umbraco Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Umbraco a good Squidex alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platform
    .NET
    Checked Oct 25, 2026umbraco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Release cadence
    Aligned with Microsoft .NET releases
    Checked Oct 25, 2026umbraco.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026umbraco.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Cockpit logo

    3. Cockpit

    Best for: Developers wanting a small self-hosted headless CMS on cheap PHP hosting

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Squidex

    Lightweight self-hosted headless CMS in PHP.

    Pros

    • Installs in minutes on almost any PHP host
    • Self-hosted with no account or subscription
    • REST and GraphQL APIs

    Cons

    • Small community and limited documentation
    • Few integrations and starters
    • Depends on a small team for updates
    Visit Cockpit Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Cockpit a good Squidex alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    Self-hosting
    Yes, 5-minute setup
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getcockpit.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Subscription
    None
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getcockpit.com(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    REST and GraphQL
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getcockpit.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Squidex alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Strapi logo

Best Squidex alternative for most people

Strapi

Larger open-source headless CMS community, in Node.js.

Umbraco logo

Best Squidex alternative for a free option

Umbraco

Open-source .NET CMS with a traditional site-building model too.

Directus logo

Best Squidex alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Directus

Admin and APIs over SQL databases instead of MongoDB.

Cockpit logo

Best Squidex alternative for open source

Cockpit

Lightweight self-hosted headless CMS in PHP.

Strapi logo

Best Squidex alternative for self-hosting

Strapi

Larger open-source headless CMS community, in Node.js.

Contentful logo

Best Squidex alternative for working in the browser

Contentful

Hosted enterprise headless CMS with a bigger ecosystem.

Squidex alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Squidex?

Strapi ranks first right now. Larger open-source headless CMS community, in Node.js. Umbraco and Directus follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Squidex?

Yes. Strapi (open source), Umbraco (open source), Directus (free plan + paid) and Cockpit (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Squidex?

Yes: Strapi, Umbraco and Cockpit. Strapi, Umbraco and Cockpit can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Squidex?

The complaints we hear most: small community and ecosystem; interface feels dated next to newer CMSs; requires MongoDB.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Squidex, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.