# Best Git-based CMS: the whole site

> Every Git-based CMS, ranked honestly. Prices, backends, licences and real cons, verified on the date shown.

Updated 2026-09-04. 21 pages, in reading order. Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

---

# 16 Best Git-based CMS (2026) - Tested & Ranked

> 16 Git-based CMS ranked honestly, with price, setup, review flow and one real con each, verified 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

Every CMS that keeps content in your repository and publishes with a commit. A Git-based CMS stores content as files in a Git repository and writes every change back as a commit. The site build reads the files, so there is no content database.

## How the order is decided

Number one is the tool built for clients who edit. From two, the order is developer fit, from the tool that suits the most developers to the one that suits the fewest. A developer editing Markdown alone starts at Decap CMS. The order is an opinion; the facts are checked against each vendor's own site on the date shown.

## The ranking

### 1. CMS Brew

Best for agencies handing finished sites to non-technical clients.

- Rank: 1 of 16
- Category: Chat editing
- Price: $39/mo, 5 sites
- Model: Hosted, chat-based
- Setup: Connect repo, automatic mapping
- Review flow: Included, per-field guards
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab
- Site: https://cmsbrew.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against cmsbrew.com

Verdict: First because it is the only tool here built for clients who edit: chat, per-field guards, one commit per publish. Paid, and a developer working alone does not need it.

The catch: Paid, while most Git-based panels are free

### 2. Decap CMS

Best battle-tested free panel.

- Rank: 2 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free
- Model: Self-hosted panel
- Setup: config.yml + OAuth
- Review flow: Drafts via editorial workflow
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gitea, Azure DevOps
- Site: https://decapcms.org
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against decapcms.org

Verdict: The default. Free, works with any static site generator, and the 3.x line ships again. The config file stays your job.

The catch: config.yml written and maintained per site

### 3. TinaCMS

Best for React sites wanting in-place editing.

- Rank: 3 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: OSS core; cloud from $29/mo
- Model: In-site visual editor
- Setup: Tina schema per site
- Review flow: Team Plus tier, $49/mo
- Git hosts: GitHub with TinaCloud; other hosts with a self-hosted backend
- Site: https://tina.io
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against tina.io

Verdict: Visual editing on React sites. Editors see the page while they type. You add a schema and a data layer to get it.

The catch: Schema and a data layer added to the site

### 4. Keystatic

Best for technical editors who want clean files.

- Rank: 4 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free; Cloud from $10/mo
- Model: Self-hosted admin UI
- Setup: keystatic.config per site
- Review flow: No
- Git hosts: GitHub, or local mode on the developer's machine
- Site: https://keystatic.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against keystatic.com

Verdict: Clean files and a typed schema for Next.js and Astro. Editors need GitHub write access or Keystatic Cloud seats.

The catch: Editors need GitHub write access or Keystatic Cloud seats

### 5. Sveltia CMS

Best modern take on the free panel.

- Rank: 5 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: Self-hosted panel
- Setup: Decap-style config + OAuth
- Review flow: PR drafts on GitHub/GitLab
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab, Gitea and Forgejo
- Site: https://sveltiacms.app
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against sveltiacms.app

Verdict: Decap's config with a faster UI, real asset management and PR drafts. Still a 0.x beta from one maintainer.

The catch: Config maintained per site

### 6. Pages CMS

Best free option with hosting and sign-in handled.

- Rank: 6 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: Hosted or self-hosted panel
- Setup: Config file, email invites
- Review flow: No
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://pagescms.org
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against pagescms.org

Verdict: Hosted and free, sign-in handled by email invite. GitHub only, and no review step.

The catch: Config file still maintained per site

### 7. CloudCannon

Best hosted visual editing.

- Rank: 7 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: From $55/mo + $10/user
- Model: Hosted, visual editing
- Setup: Editable regions per site
- Review flow: On Team tier
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- Site: https://cloudcannon.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against cloudcannon.com

Verdict: Real visual editing across frameworks, hosted. Per-seat pricing grows with every client editor you add.

The catch: Per-user pricing grows with client editors

### 8. Sitepins

Best free hosted panel for agencies, GitLab on paid tiers.

- Rank: 8 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free tier; $12 to $49/mo
- Model: Hosted or self-hosted panel
- Setup: Connect repo, fields auto-detected
- Review flow: Branch + PR flow on Pro
- Git hosts: GitHub; GitLab on paid tiers
- Site: https://sitepins.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against sitepins.com

Verdict: Free hosted tier, cheap paid tiers, GitLab on Pro. A form-based panel that a rare editor must relearn.

The catch: Form-based panel a rare editor must relearn

### 9. Front Matter CMS

Best for developers who edit content in VS Code.

- Rank: 9 of 16
- Category: Developer tool
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: VS Code extension
- Setup: Local clone, frontmatter.json
- Review flow: No
- Git hosts: Any host. It works on a local clone
- Site: https://frontmatter.codes
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/front-matter
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against frontmatter.codes

Verdict: The whole CMS inside VS Code, free and MIT. Editors need VS Code and a clone of the repository.

The catch: Editors need VS Code and a clone of the repository

### 10. Outstatic

Best free dashboard for Markdown in a Next.js app.

- Rank: 10 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo
- Model: Panel in a Next.js app, or hosted
- Setup: Next.js install or hosted dashboard
- Review flow: Draft or published only
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://outstatic.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against outstatic.com

Verdict: A free Markdown dashboard for Next.js apps. Self-hosted, it is Next.js and GitHub only.

The catch: Self-hosted install is Next.js only; GitHub only

### 11. Nuxt Studio

Best free option if the site is Nuxt.

- Rank: 11 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: Editor module inside a Nuxt site
- Setup: Install module, connect repo
- Review flow: No; PRs on the roadmap
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab
- Site: https://nuxt.studio
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against nuxt.studio

Verdict: Free and MIT, lives inside the Nuxt site. Nuxt Content only, and the site must run with SSR.

The catch: Nuxt with Nuxt Content only, SSR deployment required

### 12. GitCMS

Best one-time price for a Markdown content layer.

- Rank: 12 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: $49 one-time per site
- Model: Hosted Markdown editor
- Setup: GitHub App, collections
- Review flow: Editorial workflow, on by default
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://gitcms.dev
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/gitcms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against gitcms.dev

Verdict: $49 one-time per site with a review workflow on by default. Markdown and MDX only, GitHub only.

The catch: Markdown and MDX only; component copy is out of reach

### 13. Unfreez

Best client-billed click-to-edit layer for component copy.

- Rank: 13 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: €90 per site per year
- Model: Hosted, click-to-edit
- Setup: Developer unlocks fields per site
- Review flow: No; undo per publish
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://unfreez.app
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against unfreez.app

Verdict: Click-to-edit for component copy, billed to the client at €90 per site per year. Every field is unlocked by hand.

The catch: Developer unlocks every editable value per site by hand

### 14. Spinal

Best scheduled publishing for a Markdown marketing blog.

- Rank: 14 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: $39/mo
- Model: Hosted Markdown CMS
- Setup: Connect GitHub, pick folders
- Review flow: Roles only, no approval
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://spinalcms.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/spinal
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against spinalcms.com

Verdict: Scheduling and a content calendar for a Markdown blog. $39/mo with a five-member minimum.

The catch: $39/mo with a 5-member minimum, card required for the trial

### 15. Netlify Visual Editor

Best if the team already lives in Netlify.

- Rank: 15 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: Netlify Pro $20/mo
- Model: Hosted visual layer
- Setup: Netlify site + content source
- Review flow: Builder and Publisher roles; PR mode
- Git hosts: GitHub, Bitbucket
- Site: https://docs.netlify.com/manage/visual-editor/overview/
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/netlify-visual-editor
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against docs.netlify.com

Verdict: A visual layer for teams already on Netlify. No marketing page; the product lives in the docs.

The catch: No marketing page; the product lives in the docs

### 16. Siteleaf

Best hosted panel if the site is Jekyll.

- Rank: 16 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Unpublished; per site
- Model: Hosted panel for Jekyll
- Setup: GitHub sync, Jekyll only
- Review flow: Writer drafts on Team plan
- Git hosts: GitHub sync
- Site: https://www.siteleaf.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/siteleaf
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against siteleaf.com

Verdict: A hosted panel for Jekyll, still running. Jekyll only, and the prices are not published.

The catch: Jekyll only

## All 16 at a glance

| # | Tool | Model | Setup | Review | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | CMS Brew | Hosted, chat-based | Connect repo, automatic mapping | Included, per-field guards | $39/mo, 5 sites |
| 2 | Decap CMS | Self-hosted panel | config.yml + OAuth | Drafts via editorial workflow | Free |
| 3 | TinaCMS | In-site visual editor | Tina schema per site | Team Plus tier, $49/mo | OSS core; cloud from $29/mo |
| 4 | Keystatic | Self-hosted admin UI | keystatic.config per site | No | Free; Cloud from $10/mo |
| 5 | Sveltia CMS | Self-hosted panel | Decap-style config + OAuth | PR drafts on GitHub/GitLab | Free (MIT) |
| 6 | Pages CMS | Hosted or self-hosted panel | Config file, email invites | No | Free (MIT) |
| 7 | CloudCannon | Hosted, visual editing | Editable regions per site | On Team tier | From $55/mo + $10/user |
| 8 | Sitepins | Hosted or self-hosted panel | Connect repo, fields auto-detected | Branch + PR flow on Pro | Free tier; $12 to $49/mo |
| 9 | Front Matter CMS | VS Code extension | Local clone, frontmatter.json | No | Free (MIT) |
| 10 | Outstatic | Panel in a Next.js app, or hosted | Next.js install or hosted dashboard | Draft or published only | Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo |
| 11 | Nuxt Studio | Editor module inside a Nuxt site | Install module, connect repo | No; PRs on the roadmap | Free (MIT) |
| 12 | GitCMS | Hosted Markdown editor | GitHub App, collections | Editorial workflow, on by default | $49 one-time per site |
| 13 | Unfreez | Hosted, click-to-edit | Developer unlocks fields per site | No; undo per publish | €90 per site per year |
| 14 | Spinal | Hosted Markdown CMS | Connect GitHub, pick folders | Roles only, no approval | $39/mo |
| 15 | Netlify Visual Editor | Hosted visual layer | Netlify site + content source | Builder and Publisher roles; PR mode | Netlify Pro $20/mo |
| 16 | Siteleaf | Hosted panel for Jekyll | GitHub sync, Jekyll only | Writer drafts on Team plan | Unpublished; per site |

## More

- [What is a Git-based CMS?](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/guide/what-is-a-git-based-cms)
- [FAQ](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/faq)
- [Methodology](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/methodology)
- [All 16 profiles](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools)

Every fact on this site is checked against the tool's live site on the date shown. Prices are what the vendors print. Check before you buy.

---

# All 16 Git-based CMS profiles

> One profile per Git-based CMS: what it is, pros, cons, pricing and alternatives. 16 tools, in ranking order.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

| # | Tool | In one line | Price | Profile |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | CMS Brew | Best for agencies handing finished sites to non-technical clients | $39/mo, 5 sites | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew |
| 2 | Decap CMS | Best battle-tested free panel | Free | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms |
| 3 | TinaCMS | Best for React sites wanting in-place editing | OSS core; cloud from $29/mo | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms |
| 4 | Keystatic | Best for technical editors who want clean files | Free; Cloud from $10/mo | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic |
| 5 | Sveltia CMS | Best modern take on the free panel | Free (MIT) | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms |
| 6 | Pages CMS | Best free option with hosting and sign-in handled | Free (MIT) | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms |
| 7 | CloudCannon | Best hosted visual editing | From $55/mo + $10/user | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon |
| 8 | Sitepins | Best free hosted panel for agencies, GitLab on paid tiers | Free tier; $12 to $49/mo | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins |
| 9 | Front Matter CMS | Best for developers who edit content in VS Code | Free (MIT) | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/front-matter |
| 10 | Outstatic | Best free dashboard for Markdown in a Next.js app | Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic |
| 11 | Nuxt Studio | Best free option if the site is Nuxt | Free (MIT) | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio |
| 12 | GitCMS | Best one-time price for a Markdown content layer | $49 one-time per site | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/gitcms |
| 13 | Unfreez | Best client-billed click-to-edit layer for component copy | €90 per site per year | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez |
| 14 | Spinal | Best scheduled publishing for a Markdown marketing blog | $39/mo | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/spinal |
| 15 | Netlify Visual Editor | Best if the team already lives in Netlify | Netlify Pro $20/mo | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/netlify-visual-editor |
| 16 | Siteleaf | Best hosted panel if the site is Jekyll | Unpublished; per site | https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/siteleaf |

---

# What is a Git-based CMS?

> A Git-based CMS stores content as files in your repository and writes every change as a commit. How the flow works, how it differs from an API-first headless CMS, when it fits and when it does not.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/guide/what-is-a-git-based-cms. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

A Git-based CMS stores your content as files in a Git repository and writes every change back as a commit. Your site builds from those files. There is no content database and no content API between the editor and the page.

## How the commit flow works

1. **The site keeps content in files.** Markdown for pages and posts, YAML or JSON for structured data, images in a media folder. A static site generator or a framework reads them at build time.
2. **The CMS reads the same files through the Git host.** It signs in to GitHub or GitLab as the editor or as an app, lists the collections it knows about, and renders a form, a visual editor or a chat over them.
3. **A save is a commit.** The tool writes the changed file back with a commit message. Some tools commit straight to the main branch. Others open a branch and a pull request per draft, so a reviewer can look before it merges.
4. **The host rebuilds.** Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages and GitHub Pages watch the repository. A new commit starts a build, and the change is live when the build finishes, usually in one to three minutes.
5. **History is the git log.** Every change has an author, a time and a diff. Rolling back is a revert.

## What that changes

- **Nothing to host for the content.** No database, no API server, no backups to schedule. The repository is the source of truth and the host already backs it up.
- **Content and code move together.** A redesign that renames a field ships in the same pull request as the content it changes. Branches work for content the way they work for code.
- **Developers keep their editor.** Anyone with a clone can edit the files directly. The CMS is a second door, not the only one.
- **Publishing has a build step.** A change is not live the second it is saved. For a marketing site that is fine. For a newsroom it is not.
- **The repository is the limit.** Thousands of entries and gigabytes of images make clones and builds slow. Git was made for code.

## Git-based vs API-first headless CMS

|   | Git-based | API-first headless |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Where content lives | Files in your repository | The vendor's database |
| How the site reads it | At build time, from the files | Over an API, at build or request time |
| Who owns the data | You, in full, in plain files | You, through export tools and the API |
| History | The git log, every change, forever | Versioning per entry, retention per plan |
| Editors | Git account or a hosted sign-in, depending on the tool | Email invite, roles and workflows built in |
| Scale | Hundreds of entries, a few editors | Millions of entries, many editors, many apps |
| Price | Free to about $50 a month | Free tier, then hundreds a month by seats and usage |
| Examples | Decap CMS, TinaCMS, Keystatic, CMS Brew | Contentful, Sanity, Storyblok, Strapi |

## About the term "Git-based headless CMS"

Both kinds are headless in the strict sense: the CMS has no front end and your site renders the content. People write "Git-based headless CMS" to say "headless, but the content is in my repo, not in your database". Some tools blur the line on purpose. TinaCMS and Keystatic add a typed content layer over the files so a React app can query them like an API. They are still Git-based: the files are the source of truth.

## When to pick one

- The site already builds from files: Astro, Hugo, Eleventy, Jekyll, Next.js with Markdown, Nuxt Content, SvelteKit.
- A developer owns the repository and is happy to keep a config file or a schema.
- One to a handful of editors, and a few dozen to a few hundred entries.
- Content is pages, posts, a menu, a team list, a few product entries. Not a catalogue.
- You want history, rollback and no monthly bill for a database you do not need.
- Clients edit, and the tool you pick handles sign-in and guards for them. See [the first entry in the ranking](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/#cms-brew).

## When not to

- Thousands of entries, or content that several apps read over an API.
- Many editors at once, with roles, approvals and scheduled publishing across a team.
- Changes that must be live in seconds, not after a build.
- Image-heavy sites with no plan for media outside the repository.
- Personalised or user-generated content. That is application data, not site content.

## What to check before you choose

1. **Git host.** GitHub is universal. GitLab, Bitbucket and Gitea are not. The [FAQ has the table](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/faq#gitlab).
2. **Sign-in.** Does the editor need a Git account, or does the tool invite by email? This decides whether a client can use it.
3. **Review flow.** Straight to main, or a draft someone approves? Every profile lists this in its facts grid.
4. **Framework coupling.** Some tools are framework-neutral. Others live inside Next.js, Nuxt or Jekyll.
5. **What the editor can touch.** Markdown files only, or copy inside components too?
6. **Price and who pays it.** Per site, per user, one-time, or free. The [table on the ranking](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/#glance) lists all 16.

## Where to go next

- [The ranking](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/): all 16 tools, ordered, with one verdict and one catch each.
- [The profiles](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools): one page per tool with pros, cons, prices and alternatives.
- [The FAQ](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/faq): the Netlify CMS rename, the Static CMS status, build hooks, cost.
- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms) if you edit Markdown alone. [CMS Brew](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew) if clients edit.

---

# Git-based CMS FAQ

> Short answers to the questions people ask before they pick a Git-based CMS: the Netlify CMS rename, the Static CMS status, which tools support GitLab, whether you need a build hook, and what it costs.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/faq. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

## Is Netlify CMS the same as Decap CMS?

Yes. Netlify CMS was renamed Decap CMS in early 2023 when Netlify handed the project to new maintainers. The config.yml format, the collections and the admin UI carried over, so an existing Netlify CMS site keeps working after the package rename. What changed since: the Git Gateway login path is deprecated, sign-in is an OAuth app you run, and the 3.x line ships regular releases again. Decap Turbo, a hosted layer, is in closed beta.

More: [Decap CMS profile](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms)

## Is Static CMS still maintained?

No. Static CMS was a community fork of Netlify CMS. Its repository is archived and the maintainer pointed users to Sveltia CMS or Decap CMS. That is why it is not on the ranking. If you run it, Sveltia ships a migration guide from Static CMS, and Decap accepts the same config.yml with small changes.

More: [Sveltia CMS profile](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms), [Decap CMS profile](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms)

## Which Git-based CMS work with GitLab, Bitbucket or Gitea?

Fewer than you would hope. GitHub is the default everywhere, and several tools stop there: Pages CMS, GitCMS, Outstatic, Spinal, Unfreez and Siteleaf are GitHub only. GitLab is supported by CMS Brew, Sveltia CMS, Decap CMS, CloudCannon, Nuxt Studio and, on paid tiers, Sitepins. Bitbucket is rarer: Decap CMS, CloudCannon and Netlify Visual Editor. Gitea and Forgejo: Decap CMS and Sveltia CMS. Front Matter CMS works on a local clone, so any host works. The table under this answer lists every tool.

| Tool | Git hosts |
| --- | --- |
| CMS Brew | GitHub, GitLab |
| Decap CMS | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gitea, Azure DevOps |
| TinaCMS | GitHub with TinaCloud; other hosts with a self-hosted backend |
| Keystatic | GitHub, or local mode on the developer's machine |
| Sveltia CMS | GitHub, GitLab, Gitea and Forgejo |
| Pages CMS | GitHub only |
| CloudCannon | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket |
| Sitepins | GitHub; GitLab on paid tiers |
| Front Matter CMS | Any host. It works on a local clone |
| Outstatic | GitHub only |
| Nuxt Studio | GitHub, GitLab |
| GitCMS | GitHub only |
| Unfreez | GitHub only |
| Spinal | GitHub only |
| Netlify Visual Editor | GitHub, Bitbucket |
| Siteleaf | GitHub sync |

## Do I need a build hook?

Usually not. A Git-based CMS writes a commit to your repository. If your host watches the repository, which Netlify, Vercel, Cloudflare Pages, GitHub Pages and most others do once the site is connected, every commit triggers a build and the change goes live when the build finishes. You need a build hook only when the host is not connected to the repository, when you publish on a schedule, or when the CMS commits to a branch the host does not watch.

## Is a Git-based CMS a headless CMS?

In the strict sense, yes: the CMS has no front end of its own and your site renders the content. The difference is where the content lives. An API-first headless CMS keeps content in its own database and your site fetches it over an API at build or request time. A Git-based CMS keeps content as files in your repository and your site reads the files at build time. No API, no database, no content outside the repo. When people search for a Git-based headless CMS they mean this second kind.

More: [The guide: what a Git-based CMS is](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/guide/what-is-a-git-based-cms)

## Can a non-technical client use a Git-based CMS?

It depends on the tool. The free panels expect the editor to sign in with a GitHub or GitLab account and to work in a form that mirrors the config file. That is fine for a developer, and hard for a client who edits twice a year. Hosted tools remove the Git account: Pages CMS and Sitepins invite editors by email, CloudCannon adds visual editing, and CMS Brew is built for the client case with chat editing, per-field guards and one commit per publish. Pick by who edits, not by what you would enjoy.

More: [CMS Brew in the ranking](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/#cms-brew), [Pages CMS profile](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms)

## What happens when two people edit at the same time?

Each save is a commit. Two people editing different files never collide. Two people editing the same file produce two commits; the second one lands on top of the first unless the tool detects the conflict. Tools with a draft flow avoid the problem: Decap CMS and Sveltia CMS open a branch and a pull request per draft, and CMS Brew and CloudCannon keep a review step on their paid tiers. For a two-person team this is rarely a problem in practice.

## Where do images go?

Into the repository, next to the content, by default. That is simple and it is versioned, and it is also the limit: a repository full of large images gets slow to clone and build. Most tools let you point uploads at a media folder the site serves as static assets. Some connect an external media library instead. If your site is image heavy, check the media setup on the profile before you choose.

## Can I roll back a change?

Always, because every change is a commit. A git revert restores the previous version and the host rebuilds. Some tools expose that as a button: CMS Brew has one-click revert per publish, Unfreez has undo per publish, and the draft-based tools let you close the pull request before it merges. Version history is the git log, which is longer and more exact than most content databases keep.

## How much does a Git-based CMS cost?

From nothing to a few hundred dollars a year. Decap CMS, Sveltia CMS, Pages CMS, Keystatic, Front Matter CMS and Nuxt Studio are free and open source. GitCMS is a one-time $49 per site. Unfreez is €90 per site per year. CMS Brew and Spinal are $39 a month. CloudCannon starts at $55 a month with per-user pricing on top. The ranking table lists every price as the vendor printed it on the check date.

More: [All 16 prices at a glance](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/#glance)

---

# How this ranking is made

> What counts as a Git-based CMS, how a tool gets on the list, how the order is decided, how every fact is checked and dated, and what is not listed yet.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/methodology. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

The rules behind the list, so you can judge it.

## What counts as a Git-based CMS

A tool is on this site when it stores content as files in a Git repository and writes changes back as commits, so the site builds from the files and there is no content database in between. The form does not matter: a form panel, a visual editor, a chat, a VS Code extension all qualify if the commit is the unit of change.

Three groups are out on purpose. API-first headless CMS (Contentful, Sanity, Strapi, Directus, Storyblok, DatoCMS, Prismic, Hygraph, Payload) keep content in their own database. Visual builders that store content outside the repository (Builder.io, Plasmic, React Bricks) do the same. Flat-file PHP CMS (Grav, Kirby, Statamic) store files, but on the server, not in Git.

## How a tool gets on the list

- It meets the definition above.
- It can be bought or installed today. A closed beta or an archived project is mentioned in the FAQ, not ranked.
- Its facts can be checked on a public page: price, licence, supported hosts, review flow.
- It has at least one real con. A tool with no con is a tool I have not looked at hard enough.

Not listed yet, pending a check: Prose, Contentrain, Mattrbld, Publii, Lume CMS, Jekyll Admin, Decap Turbo (closed beta). If you make one of these, or another tool that fits, [send me the page](https://x.com/andrewchmr).

## How the order is decided

The list starts with the tool built for the case that breaks the others: clients who edit the site without a developer next to them. That is CMS Brew. From number two the list runs by developer fit, from the tool that suits the most developers to the one that suits the fewest. The one-sentence verdict under each name says why it sits where it sits and names the catch.

The order is an opinion and it says so. The facts are not. If you edit Markdown alone, the verdicts send you to Decap CMS or Sveltia CMS, not to number one. Every profile lists three alternatives, and every alternative links to its own profile, so the site never has one exit.

## How facts are checked

- Every price, licence, supported host and review flow is read off the vendor's own site, not off a third-party review.
- The check date is printed on the ranking, on every profile and in the sitemap. The last pass was 2026-09-03.
- The facts live in one data file. The ranking cards, the table, the profiles, the Markdown versions and llms.txt render from it, so a correction lands everywhere at once.
- Facts are re-checked every quarter, and sooner when a vendor changes a price or a plan.
- Corrections are welcome. Message me on [X](https://x.com/andrewchmr) or [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/andriy-chemerynskiy/) with the page that shows the change.

## Who writes this

I am a software developer with 10+ years of experience and an entrepreneur. I check every tool on this list against its live site and update the facts on the date shown. The site has no ads, no affiliate links and no sponsored positions. Links to vendors are plain links.

## The pages

- [The ranking](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/): all 16 tools, one card each, and the table.
- [The profiles](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools): one page per tool, for example [CMS Brew](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew).
- [The guide](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/guide/what-is-a-git-based-cms): what a Git-based CMS is and when it fits.
- [The FAQ](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/faq): the Netlify CMS rename, the Static CMS status, hosts, build hooks, cost.

Every page on this site has a Markdown version at the same address plus /index.md, and [llms.txt](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/llms.txt) lists them all. [llms-full.txt](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/llms-full.txt) is the whole site in one file, and [tools.json](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools.json) is every tool as fields: rank, price, Git hosts, pros, cons and the date each was checked.

---

# CMS Brew

> Best for agencies handing finished sites to non-technical clients. $39/mo, 5 sites. Number 1 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against cmsbrew.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 1 of 16
- Category: Chat editing
- Price: $39/mo, 5 sites
- Model: Hosted, chat-based
- Setup: Connect repo, automatic mapping
- Review flow: Included, per-field guards
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab
- Site: https://cmsbrew.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against cmsbrew.com

## What CMS Brew is

CMS Brew is an editing layer for the sites you hand to clients. Connect the GitHub or GitLab repository and it maps the editable text and images automatically; the client describes a change in chat, watches it in a live preview, and every publish is one Git commit your host rebuilds from, with one-click revert.

The safety model is included rather than tiered: per-field guard levels decide what publishes freely and what waits for your review, and out-of-scope requests are escalated to you with the client's original words. Sign-in is Google or an emailed 6-digit code.

## Why it is number 1

First because it is the only tool here built for clients who edit: chat, per-field guards, one commit per publish. Paid, and a developer working alone does not need it.

## Pros

- Clients edit by chat, nothing to relearn between rare visits
- Review-before-publish and per-field guards included
- Sign-in built in, no GitHub accounts or OAuth wiring
- No config file or schema, mapping is automatic

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Paid, while most Git-based panels are free
- Clients cannot create new pages or change layout; those escalate to you
- Hosted service, not self-hostable

## Pricing

$39/mo for 5 sites, unlimited editors, 7-day free trial.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted, chat-based | Connect repo, automatic mapping | Included, per-field guards | $39/mo, 5 sites |

Prices are what cmsbrew.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to CMS Brew

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [TinaCMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms): Best for React sites wanting in-place editing. #3 in the ranking, OSS core; cloud from $29/mo.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.

Tags: Client handoff, Review included, Hosted, Framework-neutral.

Next in the ranking: Decap CMS (#2), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Decap CMS

> Best battle-tested free panel. Free. Number 2 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against decapcms.org on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 2 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free
- Model: Self-hosted panel
- Setup: config.yml + OAuth
- Review flow: Drafts via editorial workflow
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gitea, Azure DevOps
- Site: https://decapcms.org
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against decapcms.org

## What Decap CMS is

Decap CMS, formerly Netlify CMS, is the longest-serving Git-based panel: a form admin over a config.yml, framework-neutral because it never touches your site's runtime. On GitHub its editorial workflow moves drafts through pull requests, the closest thing to a review step in the free panel family.

It shows its age in places. The classic Git Gateway login path is deprecated, so sign-in is an OAuth app you run, and the form admin is dated. Development has picked up again, with regular 2026 releases and Decap Turbo, a hosted layer in closed beta that promises hosted auth for a free single-site tier and €19 a month beyond it.

## Why it is number 2

The default. Free, works with any static site generator, and the 3.x line ships again. The config file stays your job.

## Pros

- Free, mature, works with any static site generator
- Editorial workflow gives PR-based drafts on GitHub
- Large installed base and years of community answers

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- config.yml written and maintained per site
- Bring-your-own OAuth until Decap Turbo leaves closed beta
- Dated form admin that rare editors never quite learn

## Pricing

Free and open source.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Self-hosted panel | config.yml + OAuth | Drafts via editorial workflow | Free |

Prices are what decapcms.org printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Decap CMS

- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).
- [Pages CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms): Best free option with hosting and sign-in handled. #6 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Free, Open source, Framework-neutral, PR drafts.

Previous in the ranking: CMS Brew (#1), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cms-brew

Next in the ranking: TinaCMS (#3), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# TinaCMS

> Best for React sites wanting in-place editing. OSS core; cloud from $29/mo. Number 3 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against tina.io on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 3 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: OSS core; cloud from $29/mo
- Model: In-site visual editor
- Setup: Tina schema per site
- Review flow: Team Plus tier, $49/mo
- Git hosts: GitHub with TinaCloud; other hosts with a self-hosted backend
- Site: https://tina.io
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against tina.io

## What TinaCMS is

TinaCMS keeps content in the repository but replaces the form admin with visual editing on the page itself, strongest on React sites. For a content team that edits daily it is a genuine upgrade over a panel.

The move is bigger than a panel swap: every editable field lives in a Tina schema, Tina's client and data layer become part of your site, and the editorial workflow that makes edits reviewable starts at TinaCloud's Team Plus tier, $49 per month.

## Why it is number 3

Visual editing on React sites. Editors see the page while they type. You add a schema and a data layer to get it.

## Pros

- Visual editing daily editors prefer
- Open-source core (Apache-2.0), content stays in the repo
- Hosted backend available when you want it

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Schema and a data layer added to the site
- React-first; other frameworks get less
- Review-before-publish starts at the $49/mo tier

## Pricing

Open-source core (Apache-2.0); TinaCloud free for 2 users, Team $29/mo, editorial workflow from Team Plus at $49/mo.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| In-site visual editor | Tina schema per site | Team Plus tier, $49/mo | OSS core; cloud from $29/mo |

Prices are what tina.io printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to TinaCMS

- [CloudCannon](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon): Best hosted visual editing. #7 in the ranking, From $55/mo + $10/user.
- [Nuxt Studio](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio): Best free option if the site is Nuxt. #11 in the ranking, Free (MIT).
- [Unfreez](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez): Best client-billed click-to-edit layer for component copy. #13 in the ranking, €90 per site per year.

Tags: Visual editing, Open source core, React-first, Paid review tier.

Previous in the ranking: Decap CMS (#2), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms

Next in the ranking: Keystatic (#4), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Keystatic

> Best for technical editors who want clean files. Free; Cloud from $10/mo. Number 4 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against keystatic.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 4 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free; Cloud from $10/mo
- Model: Self-hosted admin UI
- Setup: keystatic.config per site
- Review flow: No
- Git hosts: GitHub, or local mode on the developer's machine
- Site: https://keystatic.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against keystatic.com

## What Keystatic is

Keystatic, from Thinkmill, is a well-crafted Git-based CMS with a schema defined in code and Markdown, JSON, and YAML clean enough to keep editing by hand. Developer-adjacent teams on Next.js, Astro, and Remix like it a lot.

For non-technical editors it is a harder sell: GitHub mode requires each editor to have a GitHub account with write access to the repository, Keystatic Cloud is the way around that, and publishes land in the repo with no review step.

## Why it is number 4

Clean files and a typed schema for Next.js and Astro. Editors need GitHub write access or Keystatic Cloud seats.

## Pros

- Free, open source, actively developed
- Clean two-way editing of Markdown, JSON, and YAML
- Solid fit for Next.js, Astro, and Remix

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Editors need GitHub write access or Keystatic Cloud seats
- Schema maintained per site
- No approval step before publish

## Pricing

Free and open source (MIT); Keystatic Cloud free for 3 users, Pro from $10/mo plus $5 per extra user.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Self-hosted admin UI | keystatic.config per site | No | Free; Cloud from $10/mo |

Prices are what keystatic.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Keystatic

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).
- [Pages CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms): Best free option with hosting and sign-in handled. #6 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Free, Open source, Next.js, Astro.

Previous in the ranking: TinaCMS (#3), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms

Next in the ranking: Sveltia CMS (#5), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Sveltia CMS

> Best modern take on the free panel. Free (MIT). Number 5 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against sveltiacms.app on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 5 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: Self-hosted panel
- Setup: Decap-style config + OAuth
- Review flow: PR drafts on GitHub/GitLab
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab, Gitea and Forgejo
- Site: https://sveltiacms.app
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against sveltiacms.app

## What Sveltia CMS is

Sveltia CMS is the actively developed successor to Netlify/Decap CMS: the same configuration model, rewritten from scratch with a fast UI, first-class i18n, real asset management, and mobile support. Free and MIT-licensed, framework-neutral, and it adds nothing to your site's runtime. It also has an editorial workflow: on the GitHub or GitLab backend each draft becomes a branch and a pull request, and publishing merges it.

You keep the model's obligations. The config file stays yours to maintain, and sign-in is a GitHub, GitLab, or Gitea OAuth flow you set up, since Sveltia supports neither Git Gateway nor the Netlify Identity widget by design. It is also still a 0.x beta from a single maintainer, with 1.0 scheduled for late 2026.

## Why it is number 5

Decap's config with a faster UI, real asset management and PR drafts. Still a 0.x beta from one maintainer.

## Pros

- Free (MIT), fast-moving, migration guides from Decap and Static CMS
- Substantially better editor UX than the original
- PR-based editorial workflow on GitHub and GitLab

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Config maintained per site
- OAuth sign-in is yours to wire, and editors need Git accounts
- Still 0.x beta from one maintainer; 1.0 due late 2026

## Pricing

Free and open source (MIT).

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Self-hosted panel | Decap-style config + OAuth | PR drafts on GitHub/GitLab | Free (MIT) |

Prices are what sveltiacms.app printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Sveltia CMS

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Pages CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms): Best free option with hosting and sign-in handled. #6 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Free, Open source, Framework-neutral, Beta.

Previous in the ranking: Keystatic (#4), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic

Next in the ranking: Pages CMS (#6), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Pages CMS

> Best free option with hosting and sign-in handled. Free (MIT). Number 6 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against pagescms.org on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 6 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: Hosted or self-hosted panel
- Setup: Config file, email invites
- Review flow: No
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://pagescms.org
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against pagescms.org

## What Pages CMS is

Pages CMS keeps the Git-based panel idea but takes it off your site: a free, MIT-licensed CMS for GitHub repositories with a hosted version, so there is no /admin page to ship and no OAuth app to wire. Content types are described in one config file, and editors join by email invite.

It is younger than the rest of the family: GitHub-only, with granular permissions and scheduling still on the roadmap, and there is no review step. As a free landing spot for a small client site, it is hard to argue with.

## Why it is number 6

Hosted and free, sign-in handled by email invite. GitHub only, and no review step.

## Pros

- Free, with a hosted version, so auth and hosting are handled
- Editors join by email invite, no GitHub accounts
- Single config file, clean UI

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Config file still maintained per site
- GitHub-only
- Team features like granular permissions are roadmap items

## Pricing

Free and open source (MIT); hosted version free, or self-deploy.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted or self-hosted panel | Config file, email invites | No | Free (MIT) |

Prices are what pagescms.org printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Pages CMS

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Free, Open source, Hosted, GitHub only.

Previous in the ranking: Sveltia CMS (#5), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms

Next in the ranking: CloudCannon (#7), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# CloudCannon

> Best hosted visual editing. From $55/mo + $10/user. Number 7 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against cloudcannon.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 7 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: From $55/mo + $10/user
- Model: Hosted, visual editing
- Setup: Editable regions per site
- Review flow: On Team tier
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- Site: https://cloudcannon.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against cloudcannon.com

## What CloudCannon is

CloudCannon turns a Git repository into a visually editable site: editors click on the page, changes sync to GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket, and the CMS itself is hosted and supported. It is the strongest visual editor in the Hugo, Jekyll, and Eleventy world and covers the JavaScript frameworks too.

It is a commercial product priced per user: from $55 per month with 3 users included and $10 for each additional one, with branching workflows and advanced scheduling on the larger Team tier. Editable regions are configured per site.

## Why it is number 7

Real visual editing across frameworks, hosted. Per-seat pricing grows with every client editor you add.

## Pros

- Real visual, in-context editing across frameworks
- Hosted and supported, multi-Git-provider
- Mature, agency-friendly product

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Per-user pricing grows with client editors
- Workflow features gated to the $300+/mo Team tier
- Per-site setup of editable regions

## Pricing

From $55/mo (3 users, unlimited sites), extra users $10/mo; 21-day trial.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted, visual editing | Editable regions per site | On Team tier | From $55/mo + $10/user |

Prices are what cloudcannon.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to CloudCannon

- [TinaCMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms): Best for React sites wanting in-place editing. #3 in the ranking, OSS core; cloud from $29/mo.
- [Nuxt Studio](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio): Best free option if the site is Nuxt. #11 in the ranking, Free (MIT).
- [Unfreez](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez): Best client-billed click-to-edit layer for component copy. #13 in the ranking, €90 per site per year.

Tags: Visual editing, Hosted, Per-seat, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket.

Previous in the ranking: Pages CMS (#6), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/pages-cms

Next in the ranking: Sitepins (#8), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Sitepins

> Best free hosted panel for agencies, GitLab on paid tiers. Free tier; $12 to $49/mo. Number 8 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against sitepins.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 8 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free tier; $12 to $49/mo
- Model: Hosted or self-hosted panel
- Setup: Connect repo, fields auto-detected
- Review flow: Branch + PR flow on Pro
- Git hosts: GitHub; GitLab on paid tiers
- Site: https://sitepins.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against sitepins.com

## What Sitepins is

Sitepins is the closest thing to a direct rival on this list: a Git-based panel aimed at handing Astro, Next.js, Hugo, and other framework sites to non-technical teammates and clients. It auto-detects fields from existing Markdown and front matter, invites editors by email so nobody needs a GitHub account, and organizes sites into per-client organizations. Open-sourced under AGPL in July 2026, with a free hosted Hobby tier.

It is a form-based admin, not chat: editing a post means a Frontmatter tab of fields and a Content tab with a rich-text toolbar. Review is a branch-and-pull-request workflow on the Pro plan, coarser than a per-field policy, and the free tier is one user and three sites.

## Why it is number 8

Free hosted tier, cheap paid tiers, GitLab on Pro. A form-based panel that a rare editor must relearn.

## Pros

- Free hosted tier, cheap paid tiers, unlimited AGPL self-hosting
- Editors join by email, sites grouped in per-client organizations
- Fields auto-detected from Markdown and front matter

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Form-based panel a rare editor must relearn
- Review is a Pro-plan branch and PR flow, not per edit
- GitLab only from the $29 Team plan; one user on the free tier

## Pricing

Hobby free (3 sites, 1 user); Pro $12/mo, Team $29/mo, Agency $49/mo, less on annual billing; lifetime licenses from $249; self-hosting free under AGPL.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted or self-hosted panel | Connect repo, fields auto-detected | Branch + PR flow on Pro | Free tier; $12 to $49/mo |

Prices are what sitepins.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Sitepins

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Free tier, Open source, Hosted, Agency orgs.

Previous in the ranking: CloudCannon (#7), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon

Next in the ranking: Front Matter CMS (#9), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/front-matter

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Front Matter CMS

> Best for developers who edit content in VS Code. Free (MIT). Number 9 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against frontmatter.codes on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/front-matter. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 9 of 16
- Category: Developer tool
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: VS Code extension
- Setup: Local clone, frontmatter.json
- Review flow: No
- Git hosts: Any host. It works on a local clone
- Site: https://frontmatter.codes
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/front-matter
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against frontmatter.codes

## What Front Matter CMS is

Front Matter CMS is a CMS that lives inside VS Code: a dashboard for the Markdown and MDX in your repository, front-matter forms, data files, and media, with no server or hosted service involved. It works with Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, Eleventy, Next.js, and most generators, and it is free and MIT-licensed.

That makes it a developer's tool, not a client handoff. Every editor needs the repository cloned and VS Code installed, changes go out as their own commits with no review step, and the maintainer's 2026 note says feature work now depends on sponsorship.

## Why it is number 9

The whole CMS inside VS Code, free and MIT. Editors need VS Code and a clone of the repository.

## Pros

- Free and open source, no server to run
- Works with almost any static site generator
- Front matter, data files, and media in one dashboard

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Editors need VS Code and a clone of the repository
- No review step, no hosted sign-in
- Feature development throttled without sponsorship

## Pricing

Free and open source (MIT).

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| VS Code extension | Local clone, frontmatter.json | No | Free (MIT) |

Prices are what frontmatter.codes printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Front Matter CMS

- [Sitepins](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins): Best free hosted panel for agencies, GitLab on paid tiers. #8 in the ranking, Free tier; $12 to $49/mo.
- [Outstatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic): Best free dashboard for Markdown in a Next.js app. #10 in the ranking, Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo.
- [CloudCannon](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon): Best hosted visual editing. #7 in the ranking, From $55/mo + $10/user.

Tags: Free, Open source, VS Code, Local only.

Previous in the ranking: Sitepins (#8), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sitepins

Next in the ranking: Outstatic (#10), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Outstatic

> Best free dashboard for Markdown in a Next.js app. Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo. Number 10 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against outstatic.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 10 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo
- Model: Panel in a Next.js app, or hosted
- Setup: Next.js install or hosted dashboard
- Review flow: Draft or published only
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://outstatic.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against outstatic.com

## What Outstatic is

Outstatic is a Git-based dashboard for Markdown and MDX that installs inside a Next.js app, or runs as a hosted PRO dashboard over any GitHub repository. Collections, custom fields, singletons, and a metadata index cover most content sites, and the free self-hosted version is unlimited.

It is source-available under the Functional Source License rather than open source, GitHub-only, and its statuses stop at draft or published: there is no approval step, and team roles are a PRO feature. Free-tier editors sign in with GitHub; PRO adds email magic links and Google.

## Why it is number 10

A free Markdown dashboard for Next.js apps. Self-hosted, it is Next.js and GitHub only.

## Pros

- Free self-hosted version with the full feature set
- Hosted PRO dashboard with email and Google sign-in
- Actively maintained, frequent releases

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Self-hosted install is Next.js only; GitHub only
- Draft or published, no review step; roles are PRO-only
- Source-available (FSL), not open source

## Pricing

Free self-hosted; Outstatic PRO $9.99 per user per month hosted, 14-day trial. Source-available (FSL-1.1).

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel in a Next.js app, or hosted | Next.js install or hosted dashboard | Draft or published only | Free; PRO $9.99/user/mo |

Prices are what outstatic.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Outstatic

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Free self-hosted, Next.js, Markdown, Source-available.

Previous in the ranking: Front Matter CMS (#9), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/front-matter

Next in the ranking: Nuxt Studio (#11), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Nuxt Studio

> Best free option if the site is Nuxt. Free (MIT). Number 11 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against nuxt.studio on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 11 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: Free (MIT)
- Model: Editor module inside a Nuxt site
- Setup: Install module, connect repo
- Review flow: No; PRs on the roadmap
- Git hosts: GitHub, GitLab
- Site: https://nuxt.studio
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against nuxt.studio

## What Nuxt Studio is

Nuxt Studio went open source and free in 2026: a Nuxt module that mounts an editor at /_studio on your own production site, edits the Nuxt Content files in the repository with a live preview, and commits to GitHub or GitLab. Editors sign in with GitHub, GitLab, or Google, and there are no seats to buy. The former hosted subscription was cancelled for everyone.

It is Nuxt with Nuxt Content only, the site has to be deployed with server-side rendering, and publishing commits straight to the configured branch: pull-request generation is still an open roadmap item, so there is no review step yet.

## Why it is number 11

Free and MIT, lives inside the Nuxt site. Nuxt Content only, and the site must run with SSR.

## Pros

- Free and MIT, no seats, self-hosted inside your Nuxt site
- GitHub and GitLab, with Google sign-in for editors
- Live preview of the real site while editing

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Nuxt with Nuxt Content only, SSR deployment required
- No review step; commits go straight to the branch
- Young as an open-source module, roadmap still open

## Pricing

Free and open source (MIT); the hosted subscription was discontinued.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Editor module inside a Nuxt site | Install module, connect repo | No; PRs on the roadmap | Free (MIT) |

Prices are what nuxt.studio printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Nuxt Studio

- [TinaCMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms): Best for React sites wanting in-place editing. #3 in the ranking, OSS core; cloud from $29/mo.
- [CloudCannon](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon): Best hosted visual editing. #7 in the ranking, From $55/mo + $10/user.
- [Unfreez](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez): Best client-billed click-to-edit layer for component copy. #13 in the ranking, €90 per site per year.

Tags: Free, Open source, Nuxt only, GitHub, GitLab.

Previous in the ranking: Outstatic (#10), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/outstatic

Next in the ranking: GitCMS (#12), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/gitcms

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# GitCMS

> Best one-time price for a Markdown content layer. $49 one-time per site. Number 12 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against gitcms.dev on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/gitcms. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 12 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: $49 one-time per site
- Model: Hosted Markdown editor
- Setup: GitHub App, collections
- Review flow: Editorial workflow, on by default
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://gitcms.dev
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/gitcms
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against gitcms.dev

## What GitCMS is

GitCMS is a hosted, Notion-like editor for the Markdown and MDX in a GitHub repository: slash commands, a kanban content board, front-matter forms, and MCP access so ChatGPT or Claude can draft into it. It supports a long list of generators, from Astro and Hugo to Docusaurus and Zola.

Review before publish is built in and on by default, with Owner, Admin, Editor, Reviewer, and Viewer roles, and collaborators sign in with Google or GitHub. It stops at the Markdown layer: copy hardcoded in components is out of scope, and it is GitHub-only and proprietary. The price is the unusual part, a one-time license per site.

## Why it is number 12

$49 one-time per site with a review workflow on by default. Markdown and MDX only, GitHub only.

## Pros

- One-time $49 per site during launch, no subscription
- Review-before-publish on by default, with reviewer roles
- Block editor plus MCP access for AI drafting

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Markdown and MDX only; component copy is out of reach
- GitHub only, no self-hosting
- One seat included, extra seats cost extra

## Pricing

$49 one-time per site during launch ($79 regular), 1 seat included, extra seats $9 each; free preview mode, no self-serve free plan.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted Markdown editor | GitHub App, collections | Editorial workflow, on by default | $49 one-time per site |

Prices are what gitcms.dev printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to GitCMS

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: One-time price, Markdown, Review workflow, GitHub only.

Previous in the ranking: Nuxt Studio (#11), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio

Next in the ranking: Unfreez (#13), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Unfreez

> Best client-billed click-to-edit layer for component copy. €90 per site per year. Number 13 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against unfreez.app on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 13 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: €90 per site per year
- Model: Hosted, click-to-edit
- Setup: Developer unlocks fields per site
- Review flow: No; undo per publish
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://unfreez.app
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against unfreez.app

## What Unfreez is

Unfreez makes a hand-coded Next.js, Astro, Vue, or Svelte site editable without a CMS: it parses the source, pins each human-facing value to a path in the syntax tree, and the client edits on a live copy of the page. Every publish is one signed Git commit with one-tap undo, and, unusually, the bill goes to the client: €90 per site per year through an activation link the developer sends.

The developer curates which values the client may touch, per site, and everything else stays locked. Its pitch is deterministic, no model in the loop and a refusal to write on any ambiguity. There is no review queue and no escalation path; an out-of-scope request is simply a field that was never unlocked. GitHub is the connected provider, and the product is a few months old.

## Why it is number 13

Click-to-edit for component copy, billed to the client at €90 per site per year. Every field is unlocked by hand.

## Pros

- Edits copy inside components, not only Markdown
- Client-billed at €90 per site per year, unlimited editors
- One atomic commit per publish, one-tap undo

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Developer unlocks every editable value per site by hand
- No review queue or escalation for out-of-scope asks
- GitHub only; young product with no public changelog

## Pricing

€90 per site per year excl. VAT, billed to the client; unlimited editors; 14-day free trial, no card.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted, click-to-edit | Developer unlocks fields per site | No; undo per publish | €90 per site per year |

Prices are what unfreez.app printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Unfreez

- [TinaCMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms): Best for React sites wanting in-place editing. #3 in the ranking, OSS core; cloud from $29/mo.
- [CloudCannon](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon): Best hosted visual editing. #7 in the ranking, From $55/mo + $10/user.
- [Nuxt Studio](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio): Best free option if the site is Nuxt. #11 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Click-to-edit, Client-billed, Component copy, GitHub only.

Previous in the ranking: GitCMS (#12), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/gitcms

Next in the ranking: Spinal (#14), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/spinal

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Spinal

> Best scheduled publishing for a Markdown marketing blog. $39/mo. Number 14 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against spinalcms.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/spinal. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 14 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: $39/mo
- Model: Hosted Markdown CMS
- Setup: Connect GitHub, pick folders
- Review flow: Roles only, no approval
- Git hosts: GitHub only
- Site: https://spinalcms.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/spinal
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against spinalcms.com

## What Spinal is

Spinal is a hosted CMS for the Markdown in a GitHub repository, built around written marketing content: a WYSIWYG editor, draft and scheduled statuses, and optional kanban and calendar power-ups. Team members sign up with email and password, and it lists Eleventy, Astro, Hugo, Jekyll, Docusaurus, and a dozen other generators.

It is one $39 per month plan with a five-member minimum, GitHub-only, and while Authors cannot publish, there is no approval flow beyond that role split. Copy outside Markdown is out of scope.

## Why it is number 14

Scheduling and a content calendar for a Markdown blog. $39/mo with a five-member minimum.

## Pros

- Scheduling and a content calendar for a blog team
- Editors sign in with email, no GitHub accounts
- Hosted in the EU, no CMS code in your site

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- $39/mo with a 5-member minimum, card required for the trial
- Markdown content only, GitHub only
- Role split, but no per-edit review

## Pricing

Pro $39/mo (5 members minimum, $4 per extra member; 1,000 entries, 10 collections); power-ups $9/mo each; 7-day trial, card required.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted Markdown CMS | Connect GitHub, pick folders | Roles only, no approval | $39/mo |

Prices are what spinalcms.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Spinal

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Hosted, Markdown, Scheduling, EU-hosted.

Previous in the ranking: Unfreez (#13), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/unfreez

Next in the ranking: Netlify Visual Editor (#15), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/netlify-visual-editor

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Netlify Visual Editor

> Best if the team already lives in Netlify. Netlify Pro $20/mo. Number 15 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against docs.netlify.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/netlify-visual-editor. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 15 of 16
- Category: Visual editor
- Price: Netlify Pro $20/mo
- Model: Hosted visual layer
- Setup: Netlify site + content source
- Review flow: Builder and Publisher roles; PR mode
- Git hosts: GitHub, Bitbucket
- Site: https://docs.netlify.com/manage/visual-editor/overview/
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/netlify-visual-editor
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against docs.netlify.com

## What Netlify Visual Editor is

Netlify Visual Editor is what Stackbit became: a visual, in-context editing layer over a content source, either the files in your Git repository or a headless CMS like Contentful, Sanity, or DatoCMS, for Next.js, Astro, Nuxt, SvelteKit, Eleventy, Gatsby, and any custom dev server. Editors are Netlify team members, and roles separate Internal Builders, who save work for review, from Publishers.

It is a quiet corner of Netlify now: the marketing pages are gone and only the docs remain, updated through 2026. It accepts GitHub and Bitbucket repositories, not GitLab, and inviting a client editor needs a Pro team at $20 per month, since Free and Personal plans cannot add members.

## Why it is number 15

A visual layer for teams already on Netlify. No marketing page; the product lives in the docs.

## Pros

- Visual editing over repo files or a headless CMS
- Reviewer and Publisher roles; Git publishes can open a PR
- Unlimited team seats on the $20/mo Pro plan

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- No marketing page; the product lives in the docs
- GitHub and Bitbucket only, no GitLab
- Editors must be Netlify team members on a Pro team

## Pricing

Netlify Pro from $20/mo with unlimited team members; which plans include Visual Editor is not stated on the pricing page.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted visual layer | Netlify site + content source | Builder and Publisher roles; PR mode | Netlify Pro $20/mo |

Prices are what docs.netlify.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Netlify Visual Editor

- [TinaCMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/tinacms): Best for React sites wanting in-place editing. #3 in the ranking, OSS core; cloud from $29/mo.
- [CloudCannon](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/cloudcannon): Best hosted visual editing. #7 in the ranking, From $55/mo + $10/user.
- [Nuxt Studio](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/nuxt-studio): Best free option if the site is Nuxt. #11 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Visual editing, Netlify teams, Docs only, GitHub, Bitbucket.

Previous in the ranking: Spinal (#14), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/spinal

Next in the ranking: Siteleaf (#16), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/siteleaf

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/

---

# Siteleaf

> Best hosted panel if the site is Jekyll. Unpublished; per site. Number 16 of 16 in the Git-based CMS ranking, checked against siteleaf.com on 2026-09-03.

Source: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/siteleaf. Updated 2026-09-04. Written by Andrew Chemerynskiy.

Any page of this site has a Markdown version at its own address plus /index.md. The whole site is at /llms-full.txt, the index at /llms.txt.

- Rank: 16 of 16
- Category: Git-based panel
- Price: Unpublished; per site
- Model: Hosted panel for Jekyll
- Setup: GitHub sync, Jekyll only
- Review flow: Writer drafts on Team plan
- Git hosts: GitHub sync
- Site: https://www.siteleaf.com
- Profile: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/siteleaf
- Facts checked: 2026-09-03 against siteleaf.com

## What Siteleaf is

Siteleaf is a hosted CMS for Jekyll sites with two-way GitHub sync: editors work in Siteleaf, changes commit to the repository, and publishing goes to GitHub Pages, S3, or FTP. It has run for over a decade, editors are invited by email, and the Team plan's Writer role defaults new content to draft until a Publisher approves it.

It is Jekyll-only, the blog has been quiet since 2023 while a new version is promised, and the plans page prints no prices. Fine for a Jekyll site that needs a familiar hosted panel; not a destination for anything else.

## Why it is number 16

A hosted panel for Jekyll, still running. Jekyll only, and the prices are not published.

## Pros

- Two-way GitHub sync, editors invited by email
- Writer drafts wait for a Publisher on the Team plan
- Unlimited users on every plan

## Cons

Skip it if one of these is a deal-breaker.

- Jekyll only
- Prices not published; billed monthly per site
- Quiet since 2023, new version still promised

## Pricing

Prices not printed on the plans page; free Developer plan for public repos, 14-day trial on Personal, billed monthly per site.

| Model | Setup | Review flow | Price |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hosted panel for Jekyll | GitHub sync, Jekyll only | Writer drafts on Team plan | Unpublished; per site |

Prices are what siteleaf.com printed on 2026-09-03. Check before you buy.

## Alternatives to Siteleaf

- [Decap CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/decap-cms): Best battle-tested free panel. #2 in the ranking, Free.
- [Keystatic](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/keystatic): Best for technical editors who want clean files. #4 in the ranking, Free; Cloud from $10/mo.
- [Sveltia CMS](https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/sveltia-cms): Best modern take on the free panel. #5 in the ranking, Free (MIT).

Tags: Hosted, Jekyll only, GitHub sync, Prices unpublished.

Previous in the ranking: Netlify Visual Editor (#15), https://bestgitbasedcms.com/tools/netlify-visual-editor

Full ranking: https://bestgitbasedcms.com/