SonicJS vs Strapi: Edge-First CMS Comparison

Choosing the right headless CMS is a critical decision for any project. In this comparison, we'll examine two popular options: SonicJS, an edge-first CMS built for Cloudflare Workers, and Strapi, the established open-source headless CMS.

Quick Comparison

Architecture Deep Dive

SonicJS: Edge-First Design

SonicJS is built from the ground up to run on Cloudflare Workers. This means your CMS runs in 300+ data centers worldwide, as close as possible to your users.

// SonicJS runs at the edge by default
import { createSonicJS } from '@sonicjs-cms/core'

const cms = createSonicJS({
  collections: [...],
  plugins: [...],
})

// Deployed to Cloudflare Workers
export default cms.app

Key architectural benefits:

• Zero cold starts: V8 isolates start in milliseconds
• Global deployment: Automatic worldwide distribution
• Integrated storage: D1, KV, and R2 built-in
• No server management: Fully serverless

Strapi: Traditional Server Architecture

Strapi runs on a traditional Node.js server, which can be self-hosted or deployed to Strapi Cloud.

// Strapi requires a persistent server
module.exports = {
  host: '0.0.0.0',
  port: 1337,
  app: {
    keys: env.array('APP_KEYS'),
  },
}

Strapi's architecture considerations:

• Server required: Needs persistent hosting
• Database flexibility: Choose your preferred database
• Mature ecosystem: Large plugin marketplace
• More control: Full access to server configuration

Performance Comparison

Response Times

SonicJS's edge-first architecture means consistent sub-50ms response times globally, regardless of where users are located.

Scaling

SonicJS: Scales automatically with Cloudflare's infrastructure. No configuration needed - your CMS handles traffic spikes without intervention.

Strapi: Requires manual scaling configuration. You'll need to set up load balancers, manage multiple instances, and handle database connection pooling.

Developer Experience

TypeScript Support

SonicJS: TypeScript-native from day one. Full type safety from collection definitions to API responses.

// SonicJS: Full TypeScript support
import { defineCollection } from '@sonicjs-cms/core'

const posts = defineCollection({
  name: 'posts',
  fields: {
    title: { type: 'string', required: true },
    content: { type: 'richtext' },
  },
})

Strapi: TypeScript support added in v4, but the codebase is JavaScript-first. Type definitions are available but not as comprehensive.

Setup Time

SonicJS: Get started in under 5 minutes:

npm create sonicjs-app my-cms
cd my-cms
npm run dev

Strapi: Similar quick start, but requires more configuration for production:

npx create-strapi-app my-project
cd my-project
npm run develop

Hosting & Costs

SonicJS on Cloudflare

• Free tier: 100,000 requests/day, 10GB D1 storage
• Paid: $5/month for Workers Paid, then pay-as-you-go
• Predictable scaling: No surprise bills from traffic spikes

Strapi Hosting Options

• Self-hosted: Server costs + database + maintenance time
• Strapi Cloud: Starting at $99/month for production
• Third-party: Heroku, DigitalOcean, AWS, etc.

Content Modeling

Collections/Content Types

Both CMS platforms offer flexible content modeling, but with different approaches:

SonicJS:

const article = defineCollection({
  name: 'articles',
  fields: {
    title: { type: 'string', required: true },
    body: { type: 'richtext' },
    author: { type: 'relation', collection: 'users' },
    tags: { type: 'array', of: 'string' },
  },
})

Strapi:

// Content types defined via admin UI or JSON
{
  "kind": "collectionType",
  "collectionName": "articles",
  "attributes": {
    "title": { "type": "string", "required": true },
    "body": { "type": "richtext" },
    "author": { "type": "relation", "target": "api::user.user" }
  }
}

Relationships

Both support relationships between content types. SonicJS handles this at the edge with efficient query patterns, while Strapi uses traditional database joins.

Admin Interface

SonicJS Admin

• Built with HTMX for fast, lightweight interactions
• Minimal JavaScript footprint
• Responsive and mobile-friendly
• Customizable via plugins

Strapi Admin

• Full React application
• Feature-rich UI
• Role-based access control (RBAC)
• Extensive customization options
• Larger bundle size

Plugin Ecosystem

SonicJS Plugins

SonicJS has a growing plugin system that runs at the edge:

import { PluginBuilder } from '@sonicjs-cms/core'

const myPlugin = PluginBuilder.create('my-plugin')
  .addRoute('GET', '/custom', handler)
  .addHook('content:beforeSave', transform)
  .build()

The ecosystem is newer but growing rapidly.

Strapi Plugins

Strapi has a mature marketplace with hundreds of plugins:

• SEO plugins
• Internationalization
• Media optimization
• Authentication providers
• And many more

When to Choose SonicJS

Choose SonicJS if you:

• Need global low-latency performance
• Want zero cold starts
• Prefer TypeScript-native development
• Want simplified deployment (single command)
• Need predictable, affordable scaling
• Are building API-first applications

When to Choose Strapi

Choose Strapi if you:

• Need a mature, battle-tested platform
• Require extensive plugin ecosystem
• Want full control over hosting
• Need complex RBAC out of the box
• Prefer a more traditional architecture
• Have an existing Node.js infrastructure

Migration Considerations

Migrating to SonicJS

If you're considering moving from Strapi to SonicJS:

1. Export your Strapi content types
2. Convert to SonicJS collection definitions
3. Migrate content via API
4. Update frontend API calls (similar REST patterns)

Data Compatibility

Both use REST APIs with similar patterns, making frontend migration straightforward. GraphQL users should note that SonicJS focuses on REST.

Conclusion

SonicJS and Strapi serve different needs:

• SonicJS excels in edge-first, globally distributed, TypeScript-native projects where performance is critical
• Strapi shines in traditional deployments where a mature ecosystem and extensive plugins are priorities

For new projects prioritizing performance and modern architecture, SonicJS offers a compelling edge-first approach. For projects requiring extensive customization and a proven ecosystem, Strapi remains a solid choice.

Key Takeaways

• SonicJS offers edge-first architecture with under 50ms global latency
• Strapi provides a mature ecosystem with extensive plugins
• SonicJS has zero cold starts; Strapi requires container warm-up
• Both are open-source with MIT licensing
• SonicJS is TypeScript-native; Strapi is JavaScript-first
• Hosting: SonicJS on Cloudflare is simpler; Strapi offers more flexibility

Ready to try edge-first CMS? Get started with SonicJS in under 5 minutes.