Hire Strapi Developers
Strapi gives you an admin panel and an API without dictating the front end. That freedom is the reason to choose it and the reason projects go wrong: the content model is designed in an afternoon, the website and the app are built on top, and changing a field later breaks both.
A Strapi developer from our team works on the model, the API and the code behind it, in your repository and under your direction. Strapi is a Node.js application, so the same person can usually work on the services around it. We employ and equip the developer and provide cover.
What a Strapi project asks of a developer
Strapi looks simple in a demonstration. On a real project these six tasks take most of the time.
Content modelling
Collection types, single types, components and dynamic zones arranged so that editors can build pages without the front end having to handle every possible combination. Relations and localisation are decided before content is entered.
Custom controllers, services and routes
Endpoints beyond the generated ones: aggregated responses, search, form submissions, calls to payment or email services. Business logic lives in services, with policies and middlewares for access rules.
Upgrading from Strapi 4 to 5
Version 5 replaced the Entity Service with the Document Service, introduced document IDs and flattened the API response format. We run the upgrade tool, fix custom code by hand, and update the front end to the new response shape.
Roles, permissions and API tokens
Deciding which content is public, which requires a logged-in user and which is reserved for server-to-server calls. A common fault is a content type left open to the public role, so every one is checked.
Plugins and admin customisation
Custom fields, admin panel extensions and plugins written in React and TypeScript, for cases where editors need a tool the standard panel does not have.
Deployment and data transfer
Hosting on a server, in a container or on Strapi Cloud with PostgreSQL or MySQL, media on object storage, and webhooks that trigger a front-end rebuild. Content types are changed in development and deployed through Git, not edited in production.
What runs alongside Strapi
A headless CMS is half of a system. The developer needs to know what it connects to.
- Strapi
- Strapi 5Strapi 4Document Service APIREST APIGraphQL pluginUsers & PermissionsInternationalisation
- Languages
- Node.jsTypeScriptJavaScriptReact
- Databases
- PostgreSQLMySQLMariaDBSQLite for local work
- Front ends
- Next.jsNuxtAstroReact Native
- Media & search
- Amazon S3CloudinaryMeilisearchAlgolia
- Delivery
- GitDockerGitHub ActionsStrapi CloudNginx
Choosing a Strapi developer by responsibility
Anyone can click a content type together. The levels differ in what happens once custom code and production data are involved.
Junior
Creates content types and components to an agreed model, writes simple custom endpoints, and imports content. Works under review.
Choose when: the model is already designed and someone senior checks permissions and code.
Mid-level
Builds custom controllers and services, lifecycle logic and plugins, sets up media providers and deployment, and keeps the front-end team supplied with a stable API.
Choose when: the project is under way and needs consistent back-end delivery.
Senior
Designs the content model with the front end and the editors in mind, plans a major version upgrade, and decides where Strapi should stop and a separate service should begin.
Choose when: you are starting a new build, upgrading a production system, or have several front ends on one API.
Beginning a Strapi engagement
Explain the project
Strapi version, database, where it is hosted and which front ends consume the API. Then what you need built or fixed.
A developer is put forward
One named person. You see their profile and speak to them, and you may ask us for an alternative.
First, a small deliverable
One content type with its endpoint, or one bug. It is reviewed and deployed through your process so you can assess the result.
Continuing work
The developer takes tickets from your board and commits to your repository. You receive a weekly written update on what shipped and what is blocked, and a monthly invoice.
Strapi developer rates
Our rates are published. Pick the role and move the sliders for an indicative budget.
Rate card
| Role | Hourly | Monthly* |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend / WordPress | $30 | $4,800 |
| Backend / API | $32 | $5,120 |
| Full-stack | $35 | $5,600 |
| Mobile (React Native / Flutter) | $35 | $5,600 |
| DevOps / Cloud | $40 | $6,400 |
| AI / Automation engineer | $45 | $7,200 |
| QA / Test engineer | $25 | $4,000 |
| UI / UX design | $28 | $4,480 |
*160 hrs/month full-time. Rates are indicative for planning, in USD, and depend on seniority, contract length and timezone overlap. Longer engagements and multi-role teams are discounted — ask.
Is a Strapi developer from us the right call?
We are a good choice when
- You run Strapi in production and need someone to maintain and extend it.
- Your front-end team is waiting on API changes.
- You are on Strapi 4 and want the move to 5 planned and tested.
- You are an agency building on Strapi and need back-end capacity.
Look elsewhere when
- You have not chosen a CMS and want a site online this week.
- Your editors want to design pages freely with drag and drop. A page builder suits that better.
- You need someone on site.
- The work is one afternoon of configuration.
Strapi in detail: six answers
What breaks when upgrading from Strapi 4 to 5?
Mainly custom code that calls the Entity Service, front ends that expect the nested data and attributes response format, and plugins without a version 5 release. The official upgrade tool handles part of the code changes. The remainder is manual and needs testing against real content.
Which database should we use?
PostgreSQL or MySQL for anything in production. SQLite is fine for local development. MongoDB has not been supported since version 4, so a version 3 project on MongoDB needs a data migration as well as a code upgrade.
REST or GraphQL?
REST is built in and simpler to cache. GraphQL is a plugin and is useful when front ends need differently shaped responses from the same content. Either way, population depth and query complexity should be limited so that one request cannot load the whole database.
Can editors change content types on the live site?
No, and that is by design. Content types are stored as schema files in the code base, and the builder is switched off in production. Model changes are made in development, committed and deployed.
Do we own the code and the content model?
Yes. Everything is committed to your repository and belongs to you under the agreement. The community edition of Strapi is open source, and paid features are licensed to you by Strapi.
How does the engagement end?
It runs from month to month. Tell us before the next month begins, and the developer completes a handover note and gives back any access.
Tell us about your Strapi project
Version, database, front ends and the task. Four short facts are enough to begin. We reply within one business day.