Best plain Alternatives in 2026
The top plain alternatives are CloudCannon, CrafterCMS and Decap CMS: 15 Git-Based CMS our editors would look at instead of plain, in our ranking order.
plain: A focused, self-hosted CMS for Markdown publishing through Git workflows. Where it falls short: no visual editor for non-markdown content creation.
Switching from plain? For most git-based cms buyers the best plain alternative is CloudCannon, built for teams needing full editorial workflows. On a budget, Kiln starts at $4.99/site/mo. CrafterCMS has a free plan.
Why People Look for a plain Alternative
- 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
- No visual editor — 13 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallCloudCannon9.4
Teams needing full editorial workflows
Visit CloudCannon - Lowest priceKiln8.5
Paid plans from $4.99/site/mo
Visit Kiln - Best free optionCrafterCMS9.2
Has a free plan
Visit CrafterCMS - Best for visual editorDecap CMS9.1
Visual editor (plain: no)
Visit Decap CMS
All 15 plain Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forTeams needing full editorial workflows
- Better than plain:
- Editor score 9.4 vs 7.4
A full editorial layer for teams managing static sites through Git.
9.4/10★★★★★Visit CloudCannon -
Best forOpen-source enterprise content teams
- Better than plain:
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.4
A broad Git-based CMS for enterprise teams that need APIs, workflows, and localization.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit CrafterCMS -
Best forFree, flexible Git CMS projects
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.4
A flexible free Git CMS for teams building and editing static-site content.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Decap CMS -
Best forOpen-source teams needing advanced workflows
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.4
A broad open-source CMS for teams that need Git workflows, previews, and approval controls.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Sveltia CMS -
Best forVisual Git CMS teams using frameworks
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.9 vs 7.4
A visual Git CMS for framework-based teams managing Markdown, MDX, and JSON.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit TinaCMS -
Best forCommerce teams wanting AI-assisted Git editing
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.4
A strong fit for commerce teams that want visual editing with Git and AI agents.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit deco CMS -
Best forDevelopers building structured framework sites
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.4
A structured, open-source CMS for developers building framework-based sites.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Keystatic -
Best forFree CMS projects needing rich media controls
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.4
A free, developer-friendly CMS for Git workflows and media-heavy web projects.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Mattrbld -
Best forLow-cost sites needing approvals and versions
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.4
A low-cost Git-based CMS with visual editing, approvals, and version control.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Kiln -
Best forTeams wanting broad Git workflows and SEO
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.4
A flexible Git CMS for teams that need visual editing, previews, and branching.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit Sitepins -
Best forAstro teams wanting a free visual Git CMS
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.4
A free, open-source visual CMS that keeps Astro content in Git.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Conloca -
Best forDocumentation teams using Docusaurus or Next.js
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.4
A focused Markdown and MDX CMS for teams working in GitHub.
- Visual editor
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Dhub -
Best forSmall GitHub-based content teams
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.4
A flexible GitHub CMS for small teams, with focused workflows and limited ecosystem coverage.
- Visual editor
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Outstatic -
Best forSmall teams editing content in GitHub
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.4
A free, flexible GitHub CMS for teams comfortable with repository-based publishing.
- Visual editor
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Pages CMS -
Best forJekyll publishers needing hosting flexibility
- Better than plain:
- Visual editor
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.4
A flexible Jekyll CMS for teams publishing through GitHub and static hosting destinations.
- Live preview
- Visual editor
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Siteleaf
plain Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to plain?
CloudCannon: #1 in our Git-Based CMS ranking, with an editor score of 9.4 out of 10. A full editorial layer for teams managing static sites through Git.
Is there a free alternative to plain?
Yes. CrafterCMS, Decap CMS, Sveltia CMS, TinaCMS and deco CMS have a free plan or a free tier (14 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
What is the cheapest paid alternative to plain?
Of the alternatives here that publish a price, Kiln starts lowest, at $4.99/site/mo.
Why do people look for plain alternatives?
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.
How do I switch from plain?
Export your data from plain (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel plain.
How to Switch from plain
- Export your data from plain (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel plain.
plain vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Visual editor | Live preview | Git providers | Content workflow | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | plain | Free | No | Yes | Github | Draft_review | 7.4 | |
| 1 | CloudCannon | No | $10/mo | 9.4 | ||||
| 2 | CrafterCMS | Yes | Free | 9.2 | ||||
| 3 | Decap CMS | Yes | €19/mo | Yes | Yes | Multiple | Draft_review | 9.1 |
| 4 | Sveltia CMS | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Multiple | Approval | 9.0 |
| 5 | TinaCMS | Yes | $24/mo | Yes | Yes | Github | Branching | 8.9 |
| 6 | deco CMS | Yes | $20/user/mo | Yes | Yes | Github | Approval | 8.8 |
| 7 | Keystatic | Yes | $10/mo | Yes | Yes | Github | Branching | 8.7 |
| 8 | Mattrbld | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | Multiple | Approval | 8.6 |
| 9 | Kiln | Yes | $4.99/site/mo | Yes | Yes | Github | Approval | 8.5 |
| 10 | Sitepins | Yes | $10/mo | Yes | Yes | Multiple | Branching | 8.4 |
| 11 | Conloca | Yes | Free | Yes | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 12 | Dhub | Yes | $16/mo | Yes | Github | Draft_review | 8.2 | |
| 13 | Outstatic | Yes | $9.99/user/mo | Yes | Github | Draft_review | 8.1 | |
| 14 | Pages CMS | Yes | Free | Yes | Github | Branching | 8.0 | |
| 15 | Siteleaf | Yes | $9/mo | Yes | Yes | Github | Draft_review | 7.9 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update