AppBreakup
Submit an app

Cockpit alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Cockpit: small community and limited documentation, and few integrations and starters. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Cockpit, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Directus currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Strapi logoStrapiOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web3 of 362.6
2Squidex logoSquidexOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web5 of 559.6
3Grav logoGravOpen sourceYesSelf-hosted, Web5 of 557.2
  1. Strapi logo

    1. StrapiTop pick

    Best for: JavaScript teams that want a self-hostable headless CMS they can customise in code

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Cockpit

    Larger open-source headless CMS with a big plugin ecosystem.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed core that's free to self-host
    • Generates REST and GraphQL APIs from your content types
    • Extensible with custom code and plugins in Node.js

    Cons

    • Major version upgrades can be painful
    • SSO, audit logs and review workflows are paid
    • You run and scale the server yourself unless you pay for Cloud
    Visit Strapi Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Strapi a good Cockpit alternative?

    Verified facts

    3 of 3 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026strapi.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud starting price
    $35 per project/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026strapi.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud Pro
    $90 per project/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026strapi.io(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Squidex logo

    2. Squidex

    Best for: .NET teams and European organisations wanting a self-hostable, API-first CMS

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Cockpit

    Open-source headless CMS with workflows and EU cloud hosting.

    Pros

    • MIT-licensed and free to self-host
    • Workflows, versioning and rules built in
    • Cloud hosting in Europe

    Cons

    • Small community and ecosystem
    • Interface feels dated next to newer CMSs
    • Requires MongoDB
    Visit Squidex Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Squidex a good Cockpit alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026squidex.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud free plan
    Starter, free (label required)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026squidex.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Cloud Basic plan
    €19/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026squidex.io(opens source in a new tab)
    API
    GraphQL endpoint
    Checked Oct 25, 2026squidex.io(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Free under MIT, Docker and Kubernetes files provided
    Checked Oct 25, 2026squidex.io(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Grav logo

    3. Grav

    Best for: Developers and tinkerers who want a light, database-free PHP site

    Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Cockpit

    Flat-file PHP CMS if you also want rendered pages.

    Pros

    • No database: Markdown files that live happily in Git
    • Runs on cheap shared PHP hosting
    • MIT-licensed and free, with an optional admin panel

    Cons

    • Smaller community and theme choice than big CMSs
    • Third-party plugin quality varies
    • Large sites with many editors outgrow flat files
    Visit Grav Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Grav a good Cockpit alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    License
    MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026github.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Flat-file, no database
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getgrav.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Grav 2
    Adds first-party API and MCP server
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getgrav.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Requirements
    PHP 8.3+ (Grav 2)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getgrav.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Multi-language
    Built in
    Checked Oct 25, 2026getgrav.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Cockpit alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Directus logo

Best Cockpit alternative for most people

Directus

More features over SQL databases, free for smaller organisations.

Strapi logo

Best Cockpit alternative for a free option

Strapi

Larger open-source headless CMS with a big plugin ecosystem.

Directus logo

Best Cockpit alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Directus

More features over SQL databases, free for smaller organisations.

Squidex logo

Best Cockpit alternative for open source

Squidex

Open-source headless CMS with workflows and EU cloud hosting.

Grav logo

Best Cockpit alternative for self-hosting

Grav

Flat-file PHP CMS if you also want rendered pages.

Kirby logo

Best Cockpit alternative for working in the browser

Kirby

File-based PHP CMS with a customisable panel and API.

Cockpit alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Cockpit?

Directus ranks first right now. More features over SQL databases, free for smaller organisations. Strapi and Squidex follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Cockpit?

Yes. Directus (free plan + paid), Strapi (open source), Squidex (open source) and Grav (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Cockpit?

Yes: Strapi, Squidex and Grav. Strapi, Squidex and Grav can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Cockpit?

The complaints we hear most: small community and limited documentation; few integrations and starters; depends on a small team for updates.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Cockpit, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.