@strapi/strapi is an open-source headless CMS (Content Management System) that allows developers to build and manage APIs quickly and efficiently. Strapi provides a flexible and customizable framework for creating content-rich applications, enabling users to define their content types and manage content through an intuitive admin panel. With support for RESTful and GraphQL APIs, Strapi is suitable for a wide range of applications, from simple websites to complex web applications.

While Strapi is a powerful option for building APIs and managing content, there are alternatives in the Node.js ecosystem that also provide similar capabilities. Here are a few notable alternatives:

• express is a minimal and flexible Node.js web application framework that provides a robust set of features for building web and mobile applications. While Express is not a CMS, it serves as a foundational framework for creating APIs and web applications. Developers can use Express to build custom server-side applications, making it a versatile choice for those who want more control over their application architecture. If you prefer to build your own API from scratch and require a lightweight framework, Express is a great choice.
• sails is a full-featured MVC (Model-View-Controller) framework for building Node.js applications. It is designed to emulate the familiar MVC architecture of frameworks like Ruby on Rails, making it easy for developers to create APIs and web applications. Sails comes with built-in support for WebSockets and is ideal for building real-time applications. If you are looking for a more structured framework with built-in features for data management and real-time capabilities, Sails is a strong alternative to Strapi.

To explore how @strapi/strapi compares with express and sails, check out the comparison: Comparing @strapi/strapi vs express vs sails.