SelfHostHub

Self-hosted Content Management Systems (CMS)

SelfHostHub lists 48 open-source Content Management Systems projects you can host on your own server. The most-starred on GitHub are Strapi (73,339 stars), Payload CMS (45,335 stars) and WordPress (21,482 stars). 9 of them document a Docker install, and 13 offer a live demo you can try first.

Replacing a paid app? See open-source alternatives to WordPress.com.

Headless CMS that lets developers build content APIs fast while giving content creators a friendly editing interface.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Developer-first headless CMS and application framework.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

World's most-used blogging and CMS engine.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

Django content management system focused on flexibility and user experience.

Content Management Systems (CMS)BSD-3-Clause

CMS platform based on the Laravel PHP Framework.

Content Management Systems (CMS)⊘ Proprietary

CMS and web application platform.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

The friendly CMS. Free and open source with an amazing community.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Modern, fully featured open source video and media CMS, written in Python/Django/React, featuring a REST API.

Media Streaming - Video StreamingAGPL-3.0

Advanced Content Management System (CMS).

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

CMS with a focus on extensible in-context editing tools.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Multi-channel experience and engagement management platform.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-3.0

Content-first CMS that aims to make life enjoyable for developers and content managers alike.

Content Management Systems (CMS)⊘ Proprietary

Headless CMS, based on MongoDB, CQRS and Event Sourcing.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Ech0

2.1k

Lightweight federated publishing platform focused on personal idea sharing (documentation in Chinese).

Blogging PlatformsAGPL-3.0

Simple but full featured web publishing software.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Kirby

1.5k

File-based CMS. Easy to setup. Easy to use. Flexible as hell.

Content Management Systems (CMS)⊘ Proprietary

Speedy and secure content management system built on the Laravel PHP framework.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Bludit

1.5k

Build a site or blog in seconds. Bludit uses flat-files (text files in JSON format) to store posts and pages.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Online lab notebook for research labs. Store experiments, use a database to find reagents or protocols, use trusted timestamping to legally timestamp an experiment, export as pdf or zip archive, share with collaborators….

Content Management Systems (CMS)AGPL-3.0

MODX

1.4k

Advanced content management and publishing platform. The current version is called 'Revolution'.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

HTMLy

1.4k

Databaseless PHP blogging platform. A flat-file CMS that allows you to create a fast, secure, and powerful website or blog in seconds.

Blogging PlatformsGPL-2.0

TYPO3

1.2k

Powerful and advanced CMS with a large community.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

Powerful and easy to use CMS to build websites, blogs or e-commerce stores.

Content Management Systems (CMS)AGPL-3.0

Comprehensive CMS for small to medium sized businesses and non-profits.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

Flat-file content management system and template engine.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Flexible, elegant and easy-to-use CMS.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

Open source content management system.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

End-to-end news creation, production, curation, distribution, and publishing platform.

Content Management Systems (CMS)AGPL-3.0

Simple content platform to manage any structured content.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

WonderCMS is the smallest flat file CMS since 2008.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Author-friendly flat-file-cms with a visual markdown editor based on vue.js.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Content Management Tool, which strives to be as simple and straightforward as possible.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Create complex narratives and share rich collections, adhering to Dublin Core standards with Omeka on your server, designed for scholars, museums, libraries, archives, and enthusiasts.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-3.0

Content Management System for powering database driven websites using JSON schemas. Provides permission management and automatic REST APIs.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Powerful CMS that allows you to create professional websites and scalable web applications.

Content Management Systems (CMS)LGPL-3.0

CMS for designers.

Content Management Systems (CMS)CPAL-1.0

Simple, flexible and useful content management system (documentation in German).

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

The open source Enterprise Content Management software that handles any type of content, allowing users to easily share and collaborate on content.

Content Management Systems (CMS)LGPL-3.0

d9

174

Turn SQL databases into secure APIs through an intuitive admin interface. Data platform and headless CMS (fork of Directus).

Database ManagementGPL-3.0

Powerful translation management and content management system. Manage and translate your website or app content into multiple languages, using AI to translate faster.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Platform for social and solidarity economy networks with blog, e-Portfolios, CMS, RSS, thematic discussion, events agenda and collective intelligence for solidarity economy in the same system.

Content Management Systems (CMS)AGPL-3.0

Content management system built on Symfony, where pages are Markdown and themes are Twig, with optional Git-based flat-file storage.

Content Management Systems (CMS)MIT

Faster and easier management of website contents, scalable for small businesses to large corporations.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

Advanced open source content management platform.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-2.0

Neos or TYPO3 Neos (for version 1) is a modern, open source CMS.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-3.0

CMS system that is used to create, edit, and manage digital content, like websites, intranets, and custom solutions.

Content Management Systems (CMS)ZPL-2.0

Easy to use CMS with powerful MVC framework underlying.

Content Management Systems (CMS)BSD-3-Clause

Publication system for the Internet aimed at collaborative work, multilingual environments, and simplicity of use for web authors.

Content Management Systems (CMS)GPL-3.0

How to choose self-hosted Content Management Systems software

  1. Check project health. Stars show popularity, not maintenance. Open the source repository and look at recent commits and releases.
  2. Match the licence to your use. 22 use a GPL-family licence (copyleft, including AGPL) and 21 use a permissive licence such as MIT, Apache-2.0 or BSD. AGPL matters if you modify the software and offer it to others over a network.
  3. Pick a stack you can run. The most common platforms here are PHP (32), Docker (9), Nodejs (6) and Python (4). Docker is usually the easiest path for a home server or VPS.
  4. Try before you migrate. Use a live demo where one exists (13 here), or a throwaway container first, and confirm it can import your existing data before switching.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most popular self-hosted Content Management Systems software?

By GitHub stars, the top projects in this category are Strapi (73,339 stars), Payload CMS (45,335 stars) and WordPress (21,482 stars).

How many open-source Content Management Systems tools are listed?

48 projects are currently listed in the Content Management Systems category on SelfHostHub.

Which licences do self-hosted Content Management Systems projects use?

The most common licences in this category are MIT (19), GPL-2.0 (9) and AGPL-3.0 (6).

Can I run these Content Management Systems tools with Docker?

9 of the 48 projects list Docker as a supported platform. Check each project's documentation for the exact install steps.

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