Solo
$0
forever
Free self-hosted edition for one user, with custom content modeling, multisite localization, previewing, Twig, and GraphQL.
Check current pricing →
Craft CMS
Craft CMS is a flexible PHP content management system for custom websites, localized publishing, and headless applications.
Craft CMS Decision Snapshot
A quick way to understand who this product may suit, where its limits matter, and which facts are most relevant before you compare alternatives.
Platforms
API, Linux, macOS, MySQL, PHP, PostgreSQL
TechZella assessment
8.4/10
Overview
Craft CMS is a PHP-based content management system developed by Pixel & Tonic. It is designed for custom websites where teams need control over content structures, templates, permissions, and publishing workflows.
Craft supports traditional server-rendered sites through Twig templates and headless implementations through its built-in GraphQL API. Projects can run on compatible hosting infrastructure or on the first-party Craft Cloud platform.
The system uses a content-first model rather than imposing standard blog or page types. Developers define fields, entries, relationships, locales, and layouts for each project.
Craft CMS Pros & Cons
Pros
- Highly flexible content modeling for custom websites and applications
- Built-in GraphQL API supports headless implementations
- Multisite and localization features support international publishing
- Twig, Composer, CLI tools, and project configuration support developer workflows
- Plugin Store provides extensions for forms, SEO, storage, marketing, and commerce
- Offers both self-hosted deployment and managed Craft Cloud hosting
Cons
- Commercial self-hosted editions add project licensing costs
- Implementation typically requires experienced PHP and web developers
- Forms, SEO, and some business functions commonly require plugins
- The blank-slate approach can require more initial modeling than template-led systems
- Major version upgrades may require compatibility checks for plugins and custom code
- Craft Cloud pricing is higher than basic shared hosting for small sites
Craft CMS Pricing & Plans
Team
$279
per project
Self-hosted Craft 5 license for small teams. Includes one year of updates, with $99 per year for later updates.
Check current pricing →Pro
$399
per project
Self-hosted Craft 5 license for professional business or organizational projects. Includes one year of updates, with $99 per year for later updates.
Check current pricing →Enterprise
By request
custom
Custom licensing, procurement support, first-party SAML SSO, and dedicated premium support.
Check current pricing →Craft Cloud Team
$120
month when billed annually
Managed hosting with Craft Team, two environments, asset storage, unlimited build minutes, unlimited database storage, and a seven-day trial.
Check current pricing →Craft Cloud Pro
$240
month when billed annually
Managed hosting with Craft Pro, three environments, asset storage, unlimited build minutes, unlimited database storage, and a seven-day trial.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Craft CMS Competitors & Alternatives
Compare similar products directly, then see which alternatives may make more sense when your requirements differ.
Direct competitors
These products address broadly similar requirements. The descriptions focus on documented reasons a buyer might compare them with Craft CMS.
Craft CMS Features
Content Management
- Custom fields and content types
- Entries, categories, tags, and relationships
- Live Preview
- Content versioning and scheduling
- Asset management with custom fields
- Multisite and localization
- Customizable dashboards
- User groups, roles, and permissions
Developer Experience
- Twig templating
- Built-in GraphQL API
- GraphiQL interface
- Headless mode
- Composer-based installation and updates
- Project configuration management
- Command-line interface
- Debug toolbar
Integrations
- Craft Plugin Store
- Craft Commerce
- Stripe integration
- Shopify integration
- Amazon S3 asset storage
- Google Cloud Storage asset storage
- Salesforce, Mailchimp, and HubSpot connectivity through integrations and plugins
- Zapier and IFTTT connectivity through plugins
Hosting and Infrastructure
- Self-hosted deployment
- Craft Cloud managed hosting
- MySQL and PostgreSQL support
- Cloud CDN and static caching on Craft Cloud
- Automatic and manual backups on Craft Cloud
- GitHub, Bitbucket, and GitLab deployment workflows on Craft Cloud
Security and Support
- Two-factor authentication
- Passkeys
- SAML SSO for Enterprise
- Community support
- Developer support plans
- Email support options
- Enterprise support options
Craft CMS Specifications
| Product type | Software |
|---|---|
| CMS model | Traditional, hybrid, and headless |
| Current major version | Craft CMS 5 |
| Deployment | Self-hosted or Craft Cloud |
| Programming language | PHP |
| Framework | Yii 2 |
| Template engine | Twig |
| API | Built-in GraphQL API with GraphiQL |
| Minimum PHP | PHP 8.2+ |
| Supported databases | MySQL 8.0.17+, MariaDB 10.4.6+, or PostgreSQL 13+ |
| Recommended development environment | DDEV and Docker-based local development |
| Integrations | Craft Commerce, Stripe, Shopify, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Salesforce, Mailchimp, HubSpot, and third-party plugins |
| Free trial | Seven-day Craft Cloud trial; self-hosted Team and Pro trial on non-public domains |
| Control panel languages | 25 languages |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Vendor headquarters | Bend, Oregon, United States |
Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
8.4/10Moderate confidence
Craft provides flexible content modeling, live preview, localization, Twig templating, GraphQL, plugins, and commerce integrations. G2 showed 4.2 out of 5 from 48 reviews, with reviewers commonly citing flexibility and ease of use. Commercial licenses and developer requirements reduce value for simpler projects.
Methodology v1.0. The assessment weighs feature coverage (25%), ease of use (15%), value for money (20%), performance (15%), support (10%) and user sentiment (15%), using researched product evidence and verified review evidence where available. It is a TechZella editorial assessment, not a direct user-review average.
Community feedback
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience.
Write a Review
Please log in to submit a review.
FAQ
Is Craft CMS free?
Craft Solo is free. Team and Pro require paid self-hosted licenses for commercial projects, while Craft Cloud charges a recurring hosting fee.
Does Craft CMS have an API?
Yes. Craft includes a built-in GraphQL API with public and private schemas, access tokens, mutations, and an integrated GraphiQL interface.
Does Craft CMS offer a free trial?
Craft Cloud offers a free seven-day trial with a valid payment method. Self-hosted Team and Pro licenses can be trialed on a non-public domain during development.
Which platforms does Craft CMS support?
Craft is a self-hosted PHP application that runs on modern hosting environments. Craft 5 requires PHP 8.2 or later, Composer 2, and a supported MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL database.
What integrations are available?
Official and marketplace options include Craft Commerce, Stripe, Shopify, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, Salesforce, Mailchimp, HubSpot, form tools, SEO tools, and automation connectors.
Is Craft CMS suitable for ecommerce?
Yes. Craft Commerce provides a first-party ecommerce extension, while Stripe and Shopify integrations support additional commerce architectures.