Self-hosted Decap CMS
$0
forever
Free, open-source MIT-licensed software. Users provide their own hosting, Git backend, authentication, and deployment infrastructure.
Check current pricing →
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS)
Open-source, Git-based CMS for editing content in static-site projects through a browser-based admin interface.
Editorial overview
Aggregated Overview
Decap CMS offers broad Git backend support, flexible content modeling, editorial workflows, previews, media integrations, and an MIT license. Setup requires developer involvement for authentication, repository configuration, and frontend rendering. No reliable public rating from major software revie
This profile combines documented product information and independent evidence where available. It is not a hands-on test unless TechZella explicitly identifies one.
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify 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, Azure, Bitbucket, Forgejo, Gitea, GitHub
TechZella assessment
8.1/10
Overview
Decap CMS is an open-source content management system for websites built with static site generators and Git-based workflows. It provides a browser-based admin interface at a site’s /admin route.
Editors create and update structured content through configured collections and fields. Decap CMS then reads and commits files in a connected Git repository, while the site’s frontend framework generates the published experience.
The project was renamed from Netlify CMS to Decap CMS in February 2023. The core project remains self-hostable and is distributed under the MIT license.
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free and open-source core under the MIT license.
- Keeps content and history in Git repositories.
- Supports multiple Git hosting and authentication options.
- Provides branch-based editorial workflows and deploy previews.
- Offers flexible content modeling and extensibility.
- Works with a broad range of static-site stacks.
Cons
- Requires technical setup for Git, authentication, YAML configuration, and deployment.
- Does not independently render or deliver the frontend website.
- Performance can depend on Git provider API behavior and repository size.
- Advanced centralized roles and hosted infrastructure require Decap Turbo.
- Open-source support primarily relies on documentation and community channels.
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) Pricing & Plans
Decap Turbo Free
€0
month
Closed-beta managed plan with one site, one seat, and community support.
Check current pricing →Decap Turbo Pro
€19
month
Closed-beta managed plan with one site, three included seats, request shielding, database-backed content access, basic roles, site variables, and standard email support. Additional seats cost €6 monthly, and additional sites cost €10 monthly.
Check current pricing →Decap Turbo Enterprise
Custom
month
Custom plan for agencies and organizations needing expanded site and seat capacity, custom roles, SSO/SAML, and dedicated support with an SLA.
Check current pricing →Pricing may change. Verify current plans on the vendor's website.
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify 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 Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS).
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) Features
Content Management
- Structured collections and fields
- Markdown and rich text editing
- Nested objects and repeatable lists
- Relation fields
- Folder and file collections
- Slug generation and custom paths
- Content search
- Localization and translation support
Editorial Workflow
- Draft, review, and publish states
- Branch-based editorial workflow
- GitHub pull requests
- GitLab merge requests
- Bitbucket pull request support
- Deploy preview links
Git and Backend Integrations
- GitHub
- GitLab
- Bitbucket
- Azure
- Gitea
- Forgejo
- Git Gateway
- Custom proxy and test backends
- Local backend testing
Media and Extensibility
- Built-in media library
- Cloudinary integration support
- Uploadcare integration support
- Custom media integrations
- Custom widgets
- Custom editor components
- React-based preview templates
Authentication and Administration
- OAuth authentication
- PKCE authentication
- Implicit authentication
- Git Gateway authentication
- Optional hosted authentication through Decap Turbo
- Optional Turbo roles and site variables
Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) Specifications
| Product type | Open-source Git-based headless CMS |
|---|---|
| License | MIT |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted web application |
| Primary interface | Browser-based single-page application |
| Content storage | Files in a connected Git repository |
| Backend integrations | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure, Gitea, Forgejo, Git Gateway, proxy, and test backends |
| Frontend compatibility | Static-site generators and frontend frameworks including Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, Next.js, Astro, Nuxt, Eleventy, and others |
| API | Uses configured Git-provider or proxy APIs to read and update repository content; not a standalone content delivery API |
| Authentication | OAuth, PKCE, implicit authentication, Git Gateway, or custom authentication proxy |
| Integrations | Cloudinary, Uploadcare, S3-compatible storage through Decap Turbo, Git hosting providers, and deploy preview systems |
| Free trial | No separate trial. Self-hosted Decap CMS is free, and Decap Turbo has a free plan rather than a time-limited trial |
| Managed service | Decap Turbo, currently listed as closed beta |
| Current stable support | Decap CMS 3.x is listed as actively supported; 1.x and 2.x are legacy Netlify CMS versions |
| Content delivery | Handled by the connected static-site generator or frontend application |
Our evidence-based assessment
TechZella Score
A proprietary editorial score based on product capabilities, usability, value, performance, support and user sentiment evidence.
8.1/10Moderate confidence
Decap CMS offers broad Git backend support, flexible content modeling, editorial workflows, previews, media integrations, and an MIT license. Setup requires developer involvement for authentication, repository configuration, and frontend rendering. No reliable public rating from major software review platforms was verified.
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.
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FAQ
Is Decap CMS the same as Netlify CMS?
Decap CMS is the successor and new name for Netlify CMS. The project changed names in February 2023.
Does Decap CMS require Netlify?
No. Decap CMS can connect to supported Git providers and custom authentication or proxy services. Netlify services are optional.
What programming languages does Decap CMS support?
Decap CMS is frontend-agnostic at the content-management level. It is commonly used with static-site generators and frontend stacks such as Jekyll, Hugo, Gatsby, Next.js, Astro, Nuxt, Eleventy, and similar systems.
Does Decap CMS have an API?
Decap CMS uses backend APIs to read and update repository content. It does not function as a standalone content delivery API. Developers determine how repository content is rendered or exposed by the frontend application.
Can nontechnical editors use Decap CMS?
Yes, editors can use its browser interface after a developer configures collections, authentication, media handling, and previews. Technical setup remains the main implementation requirement.
Does Decap CMS support drafts and approvals?
Yes. Its editorial workflow can create branches and pull requests or merge requests for unpublished entries, depending on the connected Git backend.
Is there a hosted version?
Decap Turbo is an optional managed service that adds hosted authentication, Git API request shielding, database-backed content access, roles, and site variables. The service is listed as being in closed beta.