We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page. It never changes a score or a ranking. How we make money
It's a split decision.
Choose Builder.io when a team needs designers, editors and engineers working on production UI and content through a shared codebase and Git review workflow. Its visual editor, agentic CMS, testing and personalization address more than content management. Choose Kirby when you want a customizable web CMS you can self-host and prefer a one-time per-site license. The trade-off is that Kirby’s homepage names PHP 8 and Vue.js, while Builder.io’s pricing grows with users and credits.
01Side by side
| Builder.io | Kirby | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Per-user monthly; Enterprise is custom | One-time per-site license |
| Free tier | Free plan; up to five users | No free plan; unlimited-time trial |
| Self-hosting | Self-hosting option not stated | Self-hostable CMS |
| Integrations | Git, Figma, VS Code, MCP connectors | No third-party integrations named |
| Platforms | Web | Web |
| Limits and scaling | Credit and seat limits vary by plan | One installation per license; Enterprise has no revenue limit |
| Deployment model | Changes move through Git review workflows | Self-hostable CMS for web projects |
| API and SDKs | MCP connectors; API and SDK details unpublished | PHP 8 and Vue.js example; API and SDK details unpublished |
Builder.io Choose Builder.io if
- Choose Builder.io if your team edits production UI collaboratively.
- Choose Builder.io if changes need to pass through Git review.
- Choose Builder.io if you need content testing and personalization.
Kirby Choose Kirby if
- Choose Kirby if you want a self-hostable CMS.
- Choose Kirby if you prefer a one-time per-site license.
- Choose Kirby if PHP 8 and Vue.js fit your web stack.
02Pricing at real usage
Builder.io has a Free plan with one user included, up to five users, 15 daily credits and 60 monthly credits. Pro costs $24 per user per month and includes 500 monthly credits per user; Team costs $40 per user per month with the same listed credit allowance. On-demand credits cost $25 per 500 monthly credits on Pro and Team. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Kirby has no free plan, but its trial has no time limit. Basic costs $115 one-time per site and is for organizations under €1 million in annual revenue or funding. Enterprise costs $399 one-time per site, with no revenue limit. Both cover one installation on one domain. Optional three-year update extensions cost $65 for Basic and $285 for Enterprise, excluding VAT. Builder’s bill rises with seats and credits; Kirby’s license cost scales by site.
03API, SDKs and integration
Builder.io describes a workflow centered on a shared codebase, visual editing tied to components and design tokens, and changes sent through Git review. It lists Git providers, a Figma plugin, a VS Code extension and MCP connectors. Teams can use their frameworks and connect commerce, search, asset-management and localization tools. Builder identifies MCP support but does not publish API or SDK language details in the pages described here; ask for the supported API surface and connector requirements before committing.
Kirby’s homepage example lists PHP 8 and Vue.js, with a Panel for editing site content organized into projects, team members, clients and pages. The homepage names no third-party integrations, API or SDK contract, or CLI. Its developer page is linked from the homepage, but the specific documentation and tooling details are not stated there. Confirm how Kirby fits your deployment, plugin and content-management needs before choosing it.
04Open source, self-hosting and lock-in
Kirby is self-hostable, so teams can run the CMS in their own web environment. Builder.io’s self-hosting status is not stated; its pricing page does list a self-hosted or custom Git-provider connection as an add-on with unpublished pricing, which is not the same as a self-hosted product. Both products leave open-source licensing unclear: neither identifies an open-source license. Neither describes a data-export path, so ask each vendor how to retrieve content, assets and configuration if you leave.
Builder ties UI changes to a team codebase and Git review process, which gives engineering teams a review point but does not establish how content or platform-specific configuration migrates. Kirby’s one-installation-per-domain license and self-hosting model make deployment control explicit; plan a migration around the site’s customizations and content structure.
Questions people ask
What is Builder.io used for?
Builder.io is a collaborative platform for building apps, editing production UI and publishing content. Its visual editor connects to components and design tokens, while its agentic CMS supports content creation, preview, approval and publishing. It also lists A/B testing and personalization.
Who are Builder.io competitors?
Kirby is an alternative when the requirement is a customizable CMS for websites and digital projects. The products have different scopes: Builder.io combines production UI editing, collaboration and content workflows, while Kirby is a self-hostable CMS licensed per site. Compare them against your architecture and publishing needs.
How much does Builder.io cost?
Builder.io offers a Free plan with up to five users. Pro costs $24 per user per month and Team costs $40 per user per month; both list 500 monthly credits per user. On-demand credits cost $25 per 500 monthly credits on those plans. Enterprise pricing is custom.
Are Builder.io and Builder.ai the same?
No. Builder.io is the product compared here: a platform for collaborative app development, visual editing of production UI and content publishing. Builder.ai is a different product name. Confirm the vendor and product documentation before evaluating APIs, pricing or deployment options.