How SveltyCMS Compares
A transparent look at features across popular headless CMS platforms. We focus on what each platform offers, not subjective claims.
Widget
3-Pillar Factory
Multi
Tenant Ready
Image
Editor Built-in
i18n
Multilingual
Feature Comparison
Based on publicly available documentation. We compare feature availability, not performance.
| Feature | SveltyCMS | Strapi | Directus | PayloadCMS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Core Architecture | ||||
| Framework | SvelteKit | Koa (Node) | Express | Next.js |
| TypeScript Native | Partial | |||
| Database Support | MongoDB (SQL via Drizzle soon) | SQLite, Postgres, MySQL | Most SQL DBs | MongoDB + Postgres |
| i18n Library | ParaglideJS GitHub-based, Fink/Linx | i18next | Custom | i18next |
| Validation | Valibot Lightweight | Yup/Joi | Custom | Zod |
| Self-Hosted | ||||
| License | BSL 1.1 | MIT + Enterprise | BSL 1.1 | MIT |
| Widget & Content System | ||||
| Widget Factory (3-Pillar) | Different approach | Different approach | Different approach | |
| Runtime Widget Discovery | Rebuild required | Rebuild required | Rebuild required | |
| Self-Documenting Widgets (MDX) | ||||
| Collection Builder | GUI + Code Best of both | GUI only | GUI only | Code only |
| Instant Validation Feedback | ||||
| Security & Enterprise | ||||
| Multi-Tenant Support | Enterprise only | |||
| Granular Permissions | ||||
| Cryptography Module | Standard | Standard | Standard | |
| JWT + OAuth | ||||
| Media & User Experience | ||||
| Media Gallery | Advanced Grid, List, Folders | Basic | Good | Basic |
| Image Editor | Advanced Crop, Resize, Filters, Focal Point | Crop only | Basic | Basic |
| Auto Media Detection | ||||
| Cloud Storage (S3) | ||||
| Multilingual Content | ||||
| Global Search (Alt+S) | ||||
| Mobile Navigation | ||||
| Theming & Branding | ||||
| Theme System | Skeleton.dev | Custom CSS | CSS Variables | Custom CSS |
| White-Label Ready | Limited | Limited | Limited | |
Last updated: December 2025. Information based on public documentation.
SveltyCMS Highlights
State Machine
Built on XState for predictable, debuggable, and maintainable application state.
Database Agnostic
Currently powered by MongoDB, with SQL support via Drizzle ORM on the roadmap.
Token System
Production-ready authentication built for security-conscious teams.
Branding
Create branded admin panels for your clients. Your logo, your colors, your CMS.
Media Handling
Advanced media gallery and powerful image editor built right into the CMS.
Widget Factory
3-Pillar architecture with runtime discovery
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