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Best open source CMS[047]

The best open source CMS projects — headless CMSes, page builders, content modeling tools, and self-hosted publishing platforms. Includes headless CMS, enterprise CMS, and traditional CMS options.

47 projects · 666,975 combined GitHub stars · 9 languages · sorted by popularity

// CMS & CONTENT№ 001
Strapi

Strapi

TYPESCRIPT

The leading open-source headless CMS

★ STARS

72.1k

⑂ FORKS

9.7k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 002
Affine

Affine

★ FEATUREDTYPESCRIPT

All-in-one workspace for note-taking, whiteboarding, and task management with real-time collaboration and local-first architecture.

★ STARS

68.1k

⑂ FORKS

4.8k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 003
Ghost

Ghost

JAVASCRIPT

Independent technology for modern publishing

★ STARS

52.8k

⑂ FORKS

10.1k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 004
Mastodon

Mastodon

★ FEATUREDRUBY

A free, open-source social media platform that puts users in charge of their data and connections

★ STARS

49.9k

⑂ FORKS

7.4k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 005
Logseq

Logseq

★ FEATUREDCLOJURE

A privacy-first, open-source platform for networked thought. Organize, connect, and discover your ideas with ease.

★ STARS

42.7k

⑂ FORKS

2.6k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 006
Payload CMS

Payload CMS

TYPESCRIPT

The most powerful TypeScript-first Headless CMS

★ STARS

42.3k

⑂ FORKS

3.7k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 007
Outline

Outline

TYPESCRIPT

The fastest knowledge base for growing teams

★ STARS

38.4k

⑂ FORKS

3.3k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 008
Tiptap

Tiptap

TYPESCRIPT

The headless editor framework for web artisans

★ STARS

36.7k

⑂ FORKS

3.0k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 009
Directus

Directus

TYPESCRIPT

The flexible backend for all your projects

★ STARS

35.4k

⑂ FORKS

4.7k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 010
Lexical

Lexical

TYPESCRIPT

Lexical is an extensible text editor framework that provides excellent reliability, accessibility and performance

★ STARS

23.4k

⑂ FORKS

1.7k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 011
WordPress

WordPress

PHP

A versatile, user-friendly platform for building and managing websites, from simple blogs to complex e-commerce stores.

★ STARS

21.1k

⑂ FORKS

12.9k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 012
Docmost

Docmost

TYPESCRIPT

A feature-rich wiki platform with real-time collaboration, rich-text editing, advanced permissions, and support for diagrams, translations, and file management.

★ STARS

20.0k

⑂ FORKS

1.3k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 013
Docs

Docs

PYTHON

Transform document collaboration with real-time editing, version control, and secure sharing features that enhance team productivity and communication.

★ STARS

16.5k

⑂ FORKS

585

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 014
Plate

Plate

TYPESCRIPT

The rich-text editor for React

★ STARS

16.2k

⑂ FORKS

1.3k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 015
Scalar

Scalar

TYPESCRIPT

Scalar is an open-source tool for building, customizing, and hosting interactive API documentation with OpenAPI support.

★ STARS

15.0k

⑂ FORKS

835

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 016
TinaCMS

TinaCMS

TYPESCRIPT

A headless CMS that simplifies content management with real-time editing, Git-based workflows, and developer-friendly customization.

★ STARS

13.3k

⑂ FORKS

696

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 017
Wallabag

Wallabag

PHP

Self-hosted web article archiving tool that extracts content for comfortable reading. Import from Pocket, Instapaper. Open source with API access.

★ STARS

12.7k

⑂ FORKS

867

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 018
Fumadocs

Fumadocs

TYPESCRIPT

A flexible Next.js framework for creating stunning documentation sites with MDX support, built-in search, and customizable components.

★ STARS

11.8k

⑂ FORKS

661

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 019
KeystoneJS

KeystoneJS

TYPESCRIPT

A powerful, customizable content management system and application framework built on Node.js, GraphQL, and React

★ STARS

9.9k

⑂ FORKS

1.3k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 020
Gumroad

Gumroad

RUBY

A digital marketplace platform where creators can sell digital products, from courses to software, with built-in payment processing and content delivery.

★ STARS

9.0k

⑂ FORKS

1.9k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 021
Builder.io

Builder.io

TYPESCRIPT

Visual headless CMS

★ STARS

8.7k

⑂ FORKS

700

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 022
Fluxer

Fluxer

TYPESCRIPT

Free, open-source instant messaging and VoIP platform with full Markdown support, voice/video calls, moderation tools, and self-hosting options for communities.

★ STARS

8.5k

⑂ FORKS

488

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 023
Sanity

Sanity

TYPESCRIPT

Sanity Studio – Rapidly configure content workspaces powered by structured content

★ STARS

6.1k

⑂ FORKS

890

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 024
Drupal

Drupal

PHP

A flexible and extensible content management system for creating dynamic websites and digital experiences

★ STARS

4.3k

⑂ FORKS

2.0k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 025
twill-cms

twill-cms

PHP

A powerful, open-source CMS for Laravel that simplifies content management with a modular approach and intuitive admin panel.

★ STARS

4.0k

⑂ FORKS

585

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 026
Piwigo

Piwigo

PHP

Open source photo management software for organizing, sharing and managing large photo libraries. Perfect for teams, organizations and individuals.

★ STARS

3.8k

⑂ FORKS

483

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 027
craft-cms

craft-cms

PHP

Build custom websites with a user-friendly CMS that puts content first. Features flexible architecture, GraphQL API, and powerful ecommerce capabilities.

★ STARS

3.6k

⑂ FORKS

690

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 028
Anthias

Anthias

PYTHON

Free open-source digital signage software that turns Raspberry Pi or old PCs into powerful display solutions. Manage images, videos, and web content easily.

★ STARS

3.5k

⑂ FORKS

707

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 029
Shopware

Shopware

PHP

A flexible and customizable ecommerce solution that enables businesses to build responsive online stores with advanced features and automation capabilities.

★ STARS

3.3k

⑂ FORKS

1.2k

OPEN PROJECT
// CMS & CONTENT№ 030
Keystatic

Keystatic

TYPESCRIPT

First-class CMS experience, TypeScript API, Markdown and YAML/JSON-based storage

★ STARS

2.0k

⑂ FORKS

140

OPEN PROJECT

// FREQUENTLY ASKED

What are the best open source cms projects?

The most popular open source cms projects by GitHub stars are Strapi, Affine, Ghost, Mastodon, Logseq. 47 curated open source cms projects are indexed on Open Source Startups.

How many open source cms projects are there?

47 open source cms projects are currently curated and tracked.

What programming languages are most common for cms?

Open source cms projects most commonly use TypeScript, JavaScript, HTML, Python, Vue, PHP.

What is the best open source headless CMS?

Strapi, Directus, Payload, KeystoneJS, and Ghost are the most-starred open source headless CMS options. All are self-hostable, expose an API for any frontend (Next.js, Nuxt, mobile), and ship with admin UIs out of the box.

What is the best open source CMS for enterprise?

For enterprise, Drupal, WordPress, Plone, and Strapi Enterprise are the most battle-tested. They support SSO, role-based access, multi-site, and have long-term support releases.

Are these CMSes self-hostable?

Yes — every open source CMS listed here runs on your own infrastructure. Most ship as a Docker image; many also offer one-click deploys to Vercel, Railway, or Fly.io.

What's the best open source CMS system in 2026?

Strapi, Payload, Directus, and Ghost are the most actively maintained open source CMS systems heading into 2026, with steady release cadence, security updates, and a healthy plugin ecosystem.

What is the best PHP open source CMS?

WordPress, Drupal, October CMS, Statamic (community edition), and Bagisto are the most popular PHP-based open source CMS platforms. WordPress remains the dominant choice; Drupal owns the enterprise tier.