Storyblok: Headless CMS with Visual Editor

What is Storyblok?

A headless CMS separates content from the presentation layer. Unlike traditional CMS platforms like WordPress, a headless CMS delivers content via an API – allowing you to reuse the same content on your website, app, digital signage, or any other channel.

Storyblok is a cloud-native headless CMS from Austria that distinguishes itself through a powerful visual editor: a rare combination in the headless world, where most systems are purely API-driven.

What makes Storyblok different?

Storyblok distinguishes itself from other headless CMS solutions through the combination of a powerful visual editor with an intuitive folder structure. Where many headless systems are purely data-driven, Storyblok offers editors a familiar interface.

The real-time preview is the distinguishing feature: content creators see directly how changes look on the website, without having to publish first. This makes Storyblok particularly suitable for marketing teams who want to work quickly and independently.

Key strengths

Visual Editor – Real-time preview while editing. Editors see directly how content looks on the website.

Folder structure – Hierarchical folder structure instead of flat lists. Keeps large content environments organized.

Component-based Bloks – Reusable components for consistent structure. Developers define, editors combine.

Built-in Image Service – CDN with automatic optimization, resize and WebP conversion. No external service needed.

Who uses Storyblok?

From retailers to shipbuilding: Dutch and international organizations that choose Storyblok.

Zeeman – textile chain with 1,300+ stores in Europe

Fugro – publicly traded geodata specialist

Odido – telecom provider (formerly T-Mobile NL)

Damen Shipyards – international shipbuilder

Accell Group – bicycle group (Batavus, Sparta, Koga)

Oatly – Swedish oat drink brand

Our perspective

Drawing from our background at agencies, software vendors, and integrators, we have extensive experience with Storyblok across various projects. Our perspective is based on what we see in practice – not on marketing material.

Suitable for

Marketing-driven organizations that want to publish content quickly

Omnichannel content delivery to multiple frontends

Teams that value fast time-to-market

Projects with a modern tech stack (React, Vue, Next.js)

Consider carefully

Very complex governance requirements (100+ users with fine-grained permissions)

On-premise requirements – Storyblok is SaaS only

Very small projects where the costs don't outweigh the benefits

Strong dependency on Storyblok-specific features (vendor lock-in)

Is Storyblok suitable for enterprise?

Storyblok is excellently suited for midmarket organizations and enterprise teams with modern workflows. For very complex enterprise governance (100+ users, fine-grained permissions, on-premise requirements), there are more robust alternatives like Contentstack or Sitecore.

Summary: Storyblok is a strong choice for organizations that want the benefits of headless without sacrificing usability. The visual editor and folder structure make management intuitive. For very complex enterprise governance, there are more robust options, but for the majority of organizations, Storyblok offers an excellent balance.

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In practice

Integrations & ecosystem

Storyblok integrates seamlessly with modern frontend frameworks: React, Vue, Next.js, Nuxt, Astro, and Svelte. For e-commerce projects, it works with Shopify and commercetools. Additionally, there are integrations with Algolia (search), Cloudinary (media), and various marketing automation tools.

Implementation

Thanks to good documentation and official SDKs, the learning curve is relatively low. A basic setup can be operational within a few days. A fully production-ready project – including content models, component library, and editor training – typically takes 4-12 weeks. The visual editor significantly lowers the barrier for editors.

Support & community

Storyblok has a responsive support team and an active community. The documentation is comprehensive and up-to-date. Via Discord, there's direct contact with other developers and the Storyblok team. Enterprise customers get access to dedicated support.

AI & product development

Storyblok actively invests in AI functionality. The AI Suite includes automatic translations with adjustable tone per market, alt text generation for images, and SEO optimization for AI-driven search results. Teams can connect their own AI provider (OpenAI, Google Gemini) for customization. On the roadmap are FlowMotion – an automation layer for content workflows with AI Agents – and Strata, a vector-based content layer for advanced personalization. This demonstrates a platform that actively evolves with the market.

Compare with alternatives

How does Storyblok compare to Contentful?

Contentful is the market leader in headless CMS with an extensive ecosystem and app marketplace. Storyblok offers a superior visual editing experience, while Contentful places more emphasis on developer tooling and enterprise-grade governance. For marketing teams who want to work independently, Storyblok is often the better choice; for complex enterprise environments with strict workflows, Contentful may be more suitable.

Also check out our analyses of other headless CMS solutions:

Contentful – Market leader with extensive API and app marketplace

Sanity – Flexible and developer-friendly with real-time collaboration

Contentstack – Enterprise-focused with strong workflow features

Sitecore – Traditional DXP with headless capabilities

Frequently asked questions

What does Storyblok cost?

Storyblok offers self-service plans from free (Starter) to $349/month (Growth Plus), including 1-15 users. Enterprise plans (Premium and Elite) are available on request and offer custom limits, SSO, and higher SLAs up to 99.99% uptime. Pricing is per space, not per additional user.

Is Storyblok suitable for multilingual websites?

Yes, Storyblok has built-in i18n support with field-level translations.

Can Storyblok be used for e-commerce?

Storyblok is not an e-commerce platform, but integrates well with Shopify, commercetools and other commerce solutions for the content layer.

What's the difference between Storyblok and WordPress?

WordPress is a monolithic CMS; Storyblok is headless and delivers content via APIs. Storyblok offers more flexibility for multi-channel delivery, but requires a separate frontend.

How quickly can I implement Storyblok?

A basic setup can be done within a few days. A fully production-ready project typically takes 4-12 weeks, depending on complexity and number of content models.

Does Storyblok offer a visual editor?

Yes, this is Storyblok's key differentiating feature. Editors see in real-time how changes look on the website.

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