Quick answer
Storyblok - Storyblok wins for most builders because its free tier is easier to start with, includes a clearer visual editor workflow, and explicitly says no credit card is required, while Contentful’s free tier is broader on raw CMS entitlements but has a steeper jump to paid.
How the free tiers compare
These are both headless CMS free tiers, but they shape the starter experience differently. Contentful’s Free Platform plan is generous on classic CMS limits: 10 users, 2 roles, 2 locales, 100K API calls, 50 GB CDN bandwidth, and one Starter Space. It feels like a small-scale Contentful deployment, especially if your team wants structured content with core editorial tooling. Storyblok’s Starter plan is narrower in some places but more builder-friendly for early use: 1 space, up to 2 user seats, 100GB traffic, 100,000 API requests, 2 locales, and 25,000 AI credits, plus the product’s visual editor and component-based content model. The main difference is what happens when you grow. Contentful jumps from free to a $300/month Lite plan, then custom Premium. Storyblok has a $99/month Growth plan before custom tiers, so the first paid step is much gentler.
Contentful vs Storyblok free tier, side by side
| ContentfulFTV 35 | StoryblokFTV 60 | |
|---|---|---|
| Users / seatsContentful allows a larger free team; Storyblok is tighter on seats. | 10 users | 1 user seat included, up to 2 user seats total |
| RolesOnly compare what is explicitly provided. | 2 roles | Not listed in provided free-tier items |
| LocalesParity on free-tier localization. | 2 locales | 2 locales |
| API usageEffectively the same scale on the free tier. | 100K API calls/month | 100,000 API requests/month |
| Bandwidth / trafficStoryblok’s free traffic cap is higher. | 50 GB CDN bandwidth/month | 100GB traffic/month |
| Spaces includedBoth free tiers are single-space starter setups. | 1 Starter Space | 1 space |
| AI creditsOnly Storyblok includes AI credits on the free tier. | Not listed | 25,000 AI credits |
| Credit card requiredOnly state this because the field is explicitly present in the input. | False | True |
After you outgrow the free tier
Contentful is simpler on pricing shape but has a bigger jump: free to Lite at $300/month, then custom Premium. Storyblok is also flat-priced on the self-serve path, but the step-up is gentler at $99/month for Growth, then $349/month for Growth Plus, then custom Premium and Elite. For a small team that just outgrows free, Storyblok is materially cheaper. Contentful only becomes a better fit if you specifically need its higher free-tier team allowances or want to stay within its CMS model and can absorb the $300 starting point.
Cost at real usage
| Usage | Contentful | Storyblok |
|---|---|---|
| At first step beyond freeDirect comparison of the first meaningful paid tier. | $300/mo | $99/mo |
| At mid-scale self-serve growthContentful’s next listed plan is custom Premium; Storyblok has a clear second step at Growth Plus. | $300/mo or contact sales | $349/mo |
| Need custom enterprise termsBoth offer custom pricing above their self-serve tiers. | contact sales | contact sales |
Estimates, not quotes. Usage-based rates change - verify with the vendor's pricing page before committing.
When to pick each one
Pick Contentful when…
- You want the free tier to support up to 10 users instead of 2.
- You need 2 roles and 2 locales without paying.
- You expect to stay under 50 GB of CDN bandwidth per month.
- You want a more traditional structured content setup and can live without a visual-editor-first workflow.
Pick Storyblok when…
- You want to start without a credit card requirement.
- You care about a visual editor and component-based content modeling from day one.
- You are a solo builder or tiny team that only needs 1 space and up to 2 seats.
- You want the cheapest first paid step if you outgrow free, since Growth starts at $99/month.
Bottom line
For the most common builder use case, Storyblok is the better free-tier pick. It gives you enough room to prototype a real site or content app, starts without a credit card, and has a much cheaper first paid rung if you outgrow the free plan. Contentful’s free tier is stronger on team size and classic CMS limits, so it makes sense if those are the deciding factors. But if you are choosing on overall startup friction and upgrade path, Storyblok is the easier bet.
Read the full listings: Contentful and Storyblok. Scores use the FTV methodology at /ftv. Browse more head-to-heads on /compare, or see the top-ranked free tiers on /top.