Flat-file PHP CMS with a built-in MCP server. Build by hand, in a web builder or with an AI agent — clients edit only what you allow.
Free, open-source desktop CMS for creating static websites locally and publishing them anywhere
Stage
Established
Established
Founded
Not given
Not given
Based in
US
PL
Pricing model
Not given
Open source
Pricing
Standard: $195 one-time per domain. Pro: $395 one-time per domain. Enterprise: custom pricing available. All licenses include two years of updates; after that the license converts to perpetual at no additional cost. No subscription fees.
The Publii core application is free and open-source under the GPL-3.0 license. Free and premium themes and plugins are available in the Marketplace; hosting, domains, and third-party services may involve additional costs.
Key features
Flat-file JSON storage with no database required
Built-in MCP server for AI agents like Claude, Cursor, and ChatGPT
Twig templating engine with CMS-specific filters and functions
REST API with API keys and OAuth 2.1 authentication
Command-line tool (tcms) for content, sync, and deployments
Image processing with watermarking and OKLCH color handling
Passkey (WebAuthn) authentication and member logins
Block, WYSIWYG, and Markdown editors
Responsive images with lazy loading and WebP conversion
SEO settings and structured data support
Automatic XML sitemap generation
Multiple publishing destinations
HTML and CSS minification
Handlebars theme system
Multiple author profiles
What makes it different
One-time license per domain with perpetual use after two years of updates
Content stays on your server with no platform dependency or subscription
AI agents and human editors use the same access controls and permissions
Built-in MCP server ships with the CMS, not as a bolt-on plugin
No database, PHP, or public admin panel required on hosting
Privacy-first with no tracking by default
Write and publish offline, sync to any host
Smaller attack surface than dynamic CMSs
Trusted by creators and developers for over a decade
Total CMS
Publii