Squidex
MIT-licensed headless CMS from Offenburg built on event sourcing, with a Frankfurt cloud and self-hosting
Quick Overview
| Company | Squidex UG (haftungsbeschränkt) |
|---|---|
| Category | Headless CMS |
| Headquarters | Offenburg, Germany |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | Squidex Cloud in Frankfurt, Germany; or your own servers |
| Open Source | MIT |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Yes - Docker Compose and Kubernetes images |
| Main Features | REST and GraphQL APIs, event-sourced versioning, audit log, custom sandboxed editors, localization with fallback languages, asset folders and metadata, webhooks and scripted rules |
| Pricing | Starter free; Basic €19, Professional €49, Business €99 per month; managed server from €80 |
| Best For | Developers who want open source, a German host and full change history |
| Replaces | Contentful |
Detailed Review
Squidex is run by Squidex UG (haftungsbeschränkt) in Offenburg, represented by Sebastian Stehle, and its source code is free and open under the MIT licence. You can use the cloud, rent a managed server, or install the Docker or Kubernetes images yourself.
The backend is built on event sourcing: every change is stored as an event, which the vendor says gives a reliable audit log and lets you load a content item as it was at an earlier point in time.
Event Sourcing in Practice
Because all events are kept, the audit log is a by-product of the data model rather than a separate store. Backups restore the full history of changes, not just the latest state.
You can subscribe to specific events, such as a blog post being published, using scripted rules and webhooks.
Editing and Localization
Each field type has several editors, custom editors run in a sandbox so they cannot break the management interface, and list views are configurable per content type. Languages are unlimited even on the free plan, with optional languages and fallback chains per language.
Hosting Choices and Prices
Squidex Cloud runs in Frankfurt. Starter is free with 20,000 API calls, 2 GB of traffic and 2 contributors, and asks for a label on your site or app; Basic is €19, Professional €49 and Business €99 per month. A managed server with MongoDB and HTTPS is €80 per month (beta) and a managed cluster is listed at €500 per month as coming soon.
Limitations to Consider
It is a very small operation: the imprint names one managing person, so support depth and long-term roadmap rest on a few people. The free Starter plan requires a Squidex label on your site or app, and the managed cluster is not yet available. The editor is functional rather than visual, so marketing teams that want page-building should compare Storyblok or Prepr.
Who Should Use Squidex
Developers and agencies who want an open-source content API they can self-host, or a German-hosted cloud at a low monthly price, and who care about a full change history.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- MIT licence with Docker and Kubernetes images
- Cloud located in Frankfurt
- Event-sourced audit log and point-in-time restore
- Unlimited languages with fallback chains
- Plans from €19 per month
Cons
- Small team behind the product
- Free plan requires a Squidex label
- Managed cluster not yet released
- No visual page editor
Alternatives to Squidex
Other European headless cms worth comparing before you decide:
Prepr
Netherlands · Headless CMS with built-in personalization and A/B testing
Caisy
Germany · Stuttgart-built CMS with typed GraphQL API and live co-editing
Storyblok
Austria · Headless CMS where editors work in a visual page editor
DatoCMS
Italy · Milan-run headless CMS with a GraphQL delivery API
See all European headless cms or compare them directly against Contentful on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The pricing page states it is free and open source under the MIT licence and provides ready-to-use images and deployment files for Docker Compose and Kubernetes.
The pricing page says the Squidex Cloud infrastructure is located in Frankfurt, Germany. The managed server option lets you choose your data center.
The cloud has a free Starter plan and paid plans at €19 (Basic), €49 (Professional) and €99 (Business) per month, or €190, €490 and €990 per year. A managed server is €80 per month in beta.