Compare Fusio to Strapi

This page compares Fusio, an open-source API management platform for building and managing structured APIs, with Strapi, a popular open-source headless CMS that automatically generates APIs from content models. While both provide APIs, they are designed for different developer workflows and use cases.

🔍 Feature Comparison

Feature	Fusio	Strapi
Type	API management platform	Headless CMS / API platform
Primary Use Case	Build, secure, document, and manage REST APIs	Manage content and auto-generate APIs
Open Source	✅ Yes (Apache 2.0)	✅ Yes (MIT)
API Generation	Manual API definitions + custom logic	Auto-generated REST & GraphQL APIs
Content Management UI	⚠️ Admin UI for APIs	✅ Full CMS interface
Authentication & Security	Built-in OAuth2 server	Role-based access control (RBAC)
Custom Logic	PHP/JS/SQL actions	Custom controllers, policies, plugins
Database Support	Multiple SQL backends	Multiple DBs (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, etc.)
Documentation	Auto-generated OpenAPI	Custom or plugin-based (e.g., GraphQL)
Extensibility	Actions/plugins	Plugins & extensible admin panel

🎯 Key Differences

The main difference between Fusio and Strapi lies in what they’re optimized for and how they produce APIs.

Fusio is an API management platform focused on giving developers control over how APIs are defined, secured, and documented:

Create structured REST APIs with custom backend logic
Secure access using a built-in OAuth2 server
Automatically generate OpenAPI documentation
Support multiple SQL backends and custom workflows
Provide API governance and lifecycle tooling

Fusio emphasizes API lifecycle management, extensibility, and backend workflows above all.

Strapi is a headless CMS that automatically generates REST and GraphQL APIs from content models:

Provide a visual content management interface
Auto-generate APIs from defined content types
Support both REST and GraphQL endpoints
Include built-in role-based access control (RBAC) for content permissions
Extend functionality with custom controllers, policies, and plugins

Strapi focuses on content modeling, API scaffolding, and CMS workflows for apps where content delivery is central.

📌 When to Choose Which

Choose Fusio if:

You need full control over API design, security, and custom logic
You want API lifecycle governance with a dedicated management platform
You are building structured API products, developer portals, or service APIs
OpenAPI documentation and OAuth2 workflows are important

Fusio is ideal for teams focused on API products and integrations where APIs are more than just content delivery.

Choose Strapi if:

You want to manage content and get APIs instantly
You need a CMS UI for non-technical users
Auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs speed up development
You value a visual interface for modeling content and permissions

Strapi is great for content-driven applications, websites, and digital experiences where backend code should be minimal.