Suggestions appear as you type. Use the up and down arrows to choose one and Enter to open it.

This page's audience our own tag's counts — open to see them
–Visits
–Page views
–Clicks to vendors
–Time on page
–Reading now
Clicks to vendors, by tool
  • –
Top countries
  • –
Devices
  • –

– · visits, page views and clicks counted by our own tag, which counts more than our checked analytics; every figure rounded down · how we count

plain

Free#19 of 23 in Git-Based CMS

plain: A focused, self-hosted CMS for Markdown publishing through Git workflows. Ranked #19 of 23 in Git-Based CMS by our editors (7.4/10); pricing: Open source; best for self-hosted Markdown publishers.

7.4/10Editor score
Visit plain
plain7.4 Visit plain

At a glance

  • Editor score
    7.4 / 10
  • Pricing
    Open source
  • Best for
    Self-hosted Markdown publishers
  • Paid from
    Free
  • Visual editor
    No
  • Facts checked
    20 Sep 2026
plain screenshot

  • Where it wins

    • Markdown editing with side-by-side live preview and browser administration
    • Git history, drafts, publishing, and one-click restore
    • Generates static HTML and a read-only JSON API

  • Where it doesn't

    • No visual editor for non-Markdown content creation
    • Self-hosted deployment requires managing the hosting environment
    • Integration coverage centers on GitHub, Claude Code, and Anthropic API

Our verdict on plain

plain is an open-source, Git-native CMS for publishers building static websites from Markdown files and JSON configuration. Its browser-based administration interface supports Markdown editing, side-by-side live preview, drafts, publishing, media uploads, and version history. Content remains in the user’s Git repository, while plain generates static HTML and a read-only JSON API. It suits teams and individuals who want a self-hosted publishing workflow with Git as the content and deployment foundation, rather than a visual-first CMS.

The publishing workflow is centered on control and recoverability. Users can edit through the browser administration interface or directly in a code editor, maintain drafts, publish content, and restore earlier versions with one click. Deployment uses Git commits, and the hosting model is self-hosted, with no vendor-run server or account. That model fits publishers who already organize content and site changes through repositories. It is less suitable for teams seeking a managed publishing service or a broader visual editing experience.

plain also keeps its scope focused. It offers basic media management, static HTML generation, and read-only JSON API generation, while optional AI writing assistance can connect with Claude Code and the Anthropic API. GitHub is the listed Git provider. The published feature set does not include a visual editor, and the integration set is limited to those named connections. Choose plain when Markdown, Git history, static output, and self-hosting are priorities; consider an alternative when visual content creation or wider platform integrations matter more.

Your product? Our editors can test plain in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

plain pricing

Plans Open sourceFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.
See plans on plain-cms.com

plain fact sheet

Free planNot verified
Paid fromFree
Visual editorNo
Live previewYes
Git providersGithub
Content workflowDraft_review
Media managementBasic
Deployment methodGit_commit
Hosting modelSelf_hosted
DeploymentSelf-hosted
PlatformsWeb
SupportDocs
Built forSolo, Small business (editorial estimate)
Integrations3 integrations: GitHub, Claude Code, Anthropic API
PricingOpen source
Websiteplain-cms.com
Facts checked20 Sep 2026

plain integrations

plain lists 3 integrations on its own site.

  • GitHub
  • Claude Code
  • Anthropic API

Alternatives to plain

See all plain alternatives →

Used plain? Be the first to review it

The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used plain for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Your rating

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Posted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

Featured on iTechGuides — plain 7.4/10

plain is listed in our Git-Based CMS directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/plain/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/plain.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated · How we research and update