Best content management systems
Traditional and headless CMSs plus static site generators, from WordPress and Drupal to API-first content platforms and Git-based editors.
40 apps, ordered by visits from AppBreakup and how often our research lists each one as an alternative. Open any app to see its alternatives.
All content management systems
- Alternatives to Contentful
Hosted headless CMS and content platform used by large brands for multi-channel content.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Storyblok
Headless CMS with a visual editor that shows your live site while you edit components.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Sanity
Headless content platform with a customisable React editing studio and real-time collaboration.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Payload
Open-source TypeScript CMS and app framework that installs directly into a Next.js app.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to WordPress
The open-source PHP CMS behind a large share of the web, from blogs to big publisher sites.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web, iOS, Android - Alternatives to Strapi
Open-source headless CMS in Node.js with an admin panel and auto-generated REST and GraphQL APIs.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Drupal
Open-source PHP CMS built for complex, structured sites in government, universities and enterprises.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Craft CMS
Developer-friendly PHP CMS with flexible custom fields and a polished editing experience.
Free plan + paidSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to TinaCMS
Open-source Git-backed CMS with visual editing for Markdown and MDX sites.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Decap CMS
Open-source Git-based CMS that adds an editing interface to static sites.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Statamic
Laravel-based CMS that stores content in flat files or a database, with a free core edition.
Free plan + paidSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Directus
Turns any SQL database into a headless CMS with an admin app, instant APIs and automation.
Free plan + paidSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Kirby
File-based PHP CMS with a customisable editing panel and a one-off per-site licence.
PaidSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Keystatic
Free, open-source CMS from Thinkmill that edits Markdown, YAML and JSON files in your codebase.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Pages CMS
Free, open-source editor for content and media stored in a GitHub repository.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted - Alternatives to Hugo
Very fast open-source static site generator written in Go, shipped as a single binary.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux - Alternatives to Prismic
Headless website builder where developers create page sections and marketers assemble pages.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Eleventy
Simple, flexible JavaScript static site generator that supports many template languages.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux - Alternatives to Astro
Open-source web framework for content-driven sites, shipping little JavaScript by default.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux - Alternatives to CloudCannon
- Alternatives to Umbraco
Open-source .NET CMS with a friendly backoffice, plus paid cloud hosting and a headless edition.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Grav
Open-source flat-file CMS in PHP that stores pages as Markdown, no database required.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to DatoCMS
Hosted headless CMS from Italy with GraphQL APIs, modular content and strong image handling.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to ProcessWire
Lean open-source PHP CMS and framework with a flexible field system and a clean API.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Sitecore
Enterprise digital experience platform with CMS, personalisation and AI marketing tools.
PaidWeb - Alternatives to Contentstack
Enterprise headless CMS with workflows, governance and AI agents for large content teams.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Hygraph
GraphQL-native headless CMS that can also pull in content from other APIs.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Jekyll
Ruby static site generator for blogs and simple sites, with built-in GitHub Pages support.
Open sourceSelf-hostablemacOS, Linux, Windows - Alternatives to Gatsby
React-based open-source framework with a GraphQL data layer, now maintained under Netlify.
Open sourceSelf-hostableWindows, macOS, Linux - Alternatives to Keystone
Open-source Node.js headless CMS that generates a GraphQL API and admin UI from your schema.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Squidex
Open-source headless CMS built on .NET, with hosted cloud plans from a German company.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Builder.io
Visual headless CMS and AI design-to-code tool for building pages from your own components.
Free plan + paidWeb - Alternatives to Joomla
Free, open-source PHP CMS with multilingual sites and user access levels built in.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to TYPO3
Open-source enterprise PHP CMS with long-term support releases and strong multi-site features.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Concrete CMS
Free, open-source PHP CMS where editors change content directly on the page.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Cockpit
Lightweight self-hosted headless CMS in PHP with a one-off Pro licence.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to ApostropheCMS
Open-source Node.js CMS with in-context page editing and headless APIs.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to October CMS
Laravel-based CMS with a plugin marketplace and cheap per-project licences.
PaidSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to Wagtail
Open-source CMS built on Django, with StreamField content blocks and a clean editor.
Open sourceSelf-hostableSelf-hosted, Web - Alternatives to ButterCMS
Hosted headless CMS with a built-in blog engine, aimed at marketing teams and SaaS sites.
Free plan + paidWeb
Our picks by need
Popular comparisons
Common questions
What are the best content management systems?
Based on how often our research lists them as alternatives and visits from AppBreakup, the leading content management systems right now are Contentful, Storyblok, Sanity, Payload and WordPress.
Are there free content management systems?
Yes. Contentful (free plan + paid), Storyblok (free plan + paid), Sanity (free plan + paid), Payload (open source) and WordPress (open source) have a free option, out of 36 free or freemium apps we track.
Which content management systems are open source?
Payload, WordPress, Strapi, Drupal, TinaCMS and Decap CMS, and 18 more.