TessCompare
How Tess compares
Every CMS makes trade-offs. These pages say where Tess fits, and where another product is the better choice. Each one explains how to move your content models to Tess.
Tess vs Strapi
Open-source headless CMS (Node.js)
The most popular open-source headless CMS, built on Node.js, with a REST API and a GraphQL plugin.
Highlights: Tess and Strapi Criterion Tess Strapi Runtime Single Rust binary Node.js (TypeScript) application Content models Created at runtime in production (admin or API); the GraphQL schema is regenerated live Content-Type Builder in development mode; models are saved as code files and deployed with the app API GraphQL generated from the models REST by default, GraphQL through an official plugin Tess vs Hygraph
GraphQL-native headless CMS (SaaS)
A hosted, GraphQL-native CMS (formerly GraphCMS), known for content federation across remote APIs.
Highlights: Tess and Hygraph Criterion Tess Hygraph Delivery Software you run yourself Managed SaaS only API GraphQL generated from the models GraphQL generated from the models, with content federation of remote sources Content models Admin UI or API, applied immediately Schema editor in the web app, with environments Tess vs WordPress
Traditional CMS (PHP), usable headless
The world's most used CMS, a PHP application with themes, plugins and a REST API, often used headless through WPGraphQL.
Highlights: Tess and WordPress Criterion Tess WordPress Architecture Headless: content only, any front end Monolithic site builder with themes; headless through its APIs Content models Typed models with validation, defined in the admin or API Posts and pages; custom post types and fields through code or plugins such as ACF API GraphQL generated from the models REST API built in; GraphQL through the WPGraphQL plugin Tess vs Contentful
Composable content platform (SaaS)
An enterprise headless CMS delivered as SaaS, with REST and GraphQL delivery APIs and a large app ecosystem.
Highlights: Tess and Contentful Criterion Tess Contentful Delivery Software you run yourself Managed SaaS only API GraphQL generated from the models REST delivery and management APIs, plus a GraphQL Content API Content models Admin UI or API, applied immediately Web app or management API, with environments Tess vs Directus
Data platform over SQL databases (Node.js)
A Node.js platform that turns an existing SQL database into REST and GraphQL APIs with an admin app.
Highlights: Tess and Directus Criterion Tess Directus Approach Tess owns its storage and schema Mirrors the tables of an existing SQL database Databases PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, MongoDB, DynamoDB, RocksDB SQL databases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite, MS SQL, Oracle, CockroachDB API GraphQL generated from the models REST and GraphQL Tess vs Payload
Code-first headless CMS (TypeScript, Next.js)
An open-source TypeScript CMS configured in code, which installs inside a Next.js application.
Highlights: Tess and Payload Criterion Tess Payload Content models Defined at runtime in the admin or API Defined in TypeScript config files, deployed with the app Runtime Standalone Rust binary, any front-end stack Runs inside a Next.js (Node.js) application API GraphQL generated from the models REST, GraphQL and a local Node.js API Tess vs Sanity
Hosted content platform with an open-source studio
A hosted Content Lake with a customizable, open-source React editing studio and its own query language, GROQ.
Highlights: Tess and Sanity Criterion Tess Sanity Delivery Software you run yourself Hosted Content Lake; the studio is open source and self-deployable Content models Admin UI or API, applied immediately Schemas in JavaScript/TypeScript code API GraphQL generated from the models GROQ, plus a deployable GraphQL API
Facts checked on October 20, 2026 or later, from each vendor's public documentation. Products change: check their sites before deciding.