Directus
Best for self-hosting
Why teams pick it
Self-hostable with full control or managed cloud option available
Open-source alternatives to Contentful
Compare community-driven replacements for Contentful in content management systems (cms) workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.
Contentful
Contentful stores content as entries and assets and delivers via REST/GraphQL APIs with roles, localization, and workflows.Read more
Key stats
- 18Alternatives
- 5Support self-hosting
Run on infrastructure you control
- 17Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
- 7Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses
Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Contentful.
Start with these picks
These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Contentful.
Webiny
Privacy-first alternative
Why teams pick it
Self‑hosted on AWS gives full data ownership and compliance control
All open-source alternatives
Why teams choose it
- Built on Laravel framework with Eloquent ORM integration
- Multilingual content management out of the box
- Bootstrap-based responsive admin dashboard
Watch for
Requires Laravel and PHP expertise for customization
Migration highlight
International Corporate Website
Manage content in multiple languages with a single CMS instance, leveraging Laravel's routing for localized URLs and Bootstrap's responsive design for mobile users.
Twill
Laravel CMS toolkit for rapidly building custom admin consoles
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyPHP
Why teams choose it
- Pre-built Vue.js admin UI components eliminate custom HTML for admin interfaces
- No lock-in: use custom data models, existing Eloquent models, or headless architecture
- Modular feature system—enable only what you need, disable the rest
Watch for
Requires Laravel expertise; not suitable for non-PHP projects
Migration highlight
Multi-site Publishing Platform
Agencies build a unified admin console managing content across multiple client websites with shared media libraries and localized content workflows.
TinaCMS
Headless CMS with Markdown, GraphQL, and live preview
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- GraphQL API for querying file‑based content
- Supports Markdown, MDX, JSON, YAML formats
- Optional live preview for visual editing
Watch for
Tied to the React ecosystem for front‑end integration
Migration highlight
Blog with Markdown posts
Authors write posts in Markdown; developers fetch content via GraphQL for static generation.
Webiny
Serverless enterprise CMS for fast, secure, scalable content
Active developmentPrivacy-firstIntegration-friendlyTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Drag‑and‑drop Page Builder with automatic prerendering and CloudFront caching
- Headless CMS exposing a GraphQL API with revisions, localization, and fine‑grain permissions
- File Manager with searchable assets and built‑in image editor
Watch for
Deployment limited to AWS; multi‑cloud support is not yet available
Migration highlight
Marketing landing pages
Rapidly launch SEO‑optimized microsites without writing code
Directus
Real-time API and dashboard for any SQL database
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPrivacy-firstTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Instant REST and GraphQL APIs for any SQL database without migrations
- Supports PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, OracleDB, CockroachDB, MariaDB, MS-SQL
- No-code Vue.js dashboard safe for non-technical users
Watch for
Business Source License requires commercial agreement for enterprises over $5M revenue/funding
Migration highlight
Headless CMS for Multi-Channel Publishing
Content teams manage articles, media, and metadata through the no-code dashboard while developers consume structured content via GraphQL across web, mobile, and IoT applications.
Vvveb
Drag-and-drop CMS with page builder for websites and ecommerce
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPrivacy-firstHTML
Why teams choose it
- Visual drag-and-drop page builder with dark/light editor themes
- Full ecommerce suite: subscriptions, digital products, variants, one-page checkout
- Hybrid headless architecture with GraphQL and REST APIs
Watch for
AGPL-3.0 license requires derivative works to be open-sourced under same terms
Migration highlight
Multi-Brand Ecommerce Network
Launch separate storefronts for different product lines under one installation, each with localized content, currency, and checkout flows while sharing inventory and customer data.
Grav
Fast, file-based CMS with zero installation required
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyPHP
Why teams choose it
- Zero-installation flat-file architecture—no database configuration required
- Built-in Package Manager (GPM) for CLI-driven plugin, theme, and core updates
- Markdown content editing with Twig templating and YAML configuration
Watch for
Flat-file approach may not scale for sites with thousands of pages
Migration highlight
Developer Portfolio Site
Deploy a fast, version-controlled portfolio in minutes with Markdown posts and custom Twig templates, no database overhead.
Strapi
Fully customizable JavaScript headless CMS for any digital experience
Self-host friendlyActive developmentIntegration-friendlyTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Fully extensible admin panel and plugin ecosystem
- Multi‑database support: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite
- Out‑of‑the‑box REST and GraphQL API generation
Watch for
Enterprise‑grade features require paid plans
Migration highlight
E‑commerce product catalog
Manage product data, media, and localized descriptions via Strapi, delivering content to a React storefront through GraphQL.
Ghost
Modern publishing platform for blogs, memberships, and newsletters
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyJavaScript
Why teams choose it
- Built‑in membership, subscription, and newsletter system
- Fast Node.js core with SEO‑optimized output
- Extensible theming with Handlebars and a JSON API
Watch for
Requires a Node.js runtime, not a PHP stack
Migration highlight
Personal blog with paid subscriptions
Earn recurring revenue while publishing directly from Ghost
Joomla
Open-source PHP CMS for building websites and applications
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPHP
Why teams choose it
- Multilingual website support built into core functionality
- Extensible architecture with modular components and plugins
- Supports MySQL, MariaDB, and PostgreSQL databases
Watch for
Steeper learning curve compared to simpler CMS platforms
Migration highlight
Corporate Multilingual Portal
Deploy a single CMS instance serving content in multiple languages with centralized management and localized user experiences
Payload
Next.js native CMS that lives directly in your /app folder
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Installs directly into your Next.js /app folder, eliminating separate backend services
- Query your database from React Server Components without REST/GraphQL
- Fully TypeScript with automatic type generation for collections
Watch for
Requires familiarity with Next.js and server components
Migration highlight
Corporate blog with multi‑language support
Publish, schedule, and preview articles in multiple locales, with drafts and versioning, all from the same Next.js codebase.
October
A Laravel‑based CMS that simplifies web development workflow
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPHP
Why teams choose it
- Built on Laravel, inheriting its robust ecosystem and conventions
- One‑line Composer installation with optional Artisan setup command
- Extensive plugin marketplace, highlighted by the RainLab suite
Watch for
Requires a paid license per deployed website
Migration highlight
Portfolio website
Launch a personal portfolio in minutes using Composer install and the built‑in installer.
Keystone
Headless CMS with auto-generated GraphQL API and admin UI
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPermissive licenseTypeScript
Why teams choose it
- Auto-generated GraphQL API from schema definitions
- Built-in React admin UI for content management
- Schema-first architecture eliminates boilerplate code
Watch for
Requires Node.js expertise and GraphQL familiarity
Migration highlight
Marketing Website Backend
Launch a headless CMS for marketing content with auto-generated APIs and editor-friendly admin UI in days instead of weeks
Craft Cms
Flexible PHP CMS for bespoke content and headless experiences
Self-host friendlyActive developmentPrivacy-firstPHP
Why teams choose it
- Clean-slate content modeling with no predefined structures or assumptions
- Auto-generated GraphQL API for headless and decoupled applications
- Built-in ecommerce platform for custom commerce experiences
Watch for
Self-hosted solution requires server management and maintenance
Migration highlight
Multi-Channel Marketing Platform
Manage content once and deliver to web, mobile apps, and digital signage via GraphQL API while maintaining brand consistency across channels.
Microweber
Drag-and-Drop CMS and Website Builder on Laravel
Active developmentPermissive licenseFast to deployHTML
Why teams choose it
- Intuitive drag-and-drop interface for images, text, videos, and modules with 75+ pre-designed layouts
- Real-time text editing with Live Edit view for immediate visual feedback
- Built-in e-commerce solution with product management, categories, and shop features
Watch for
Requires PHP 8.2+ and multiple extensions, which may limit hosting options
Migration highlight
Launch an Online Store Without Coding
Entrepreneurs drag products, images, and payment modules onto pages to create a fully functional e-commerce site in hours instead of weeks.
Statamic
Flat-first Laravel CMS powered by Git for modern sites
Active developmentFast to deployIntegration-friendlyPHP
Why teams choose it
- Flat‑file architecture with Git‑based version control
- Deep Laravel integration and Composer installation
- Dual templating engine: Blade and Antlers
Watch for
Requires Laravel and PHP knowledge to get started
Migration highlight
Corporate marketing website
Deploy a performant, version‑controlled site with custom Blade components and SEO‑optimized static pages.
Drupal
Enterprise content management platform for ambitious digital experiences
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPHP
Why teams choose it
- Modular architecture with thousands of free, installable extensions
- Flexible content modeling for complex digital experiences
- Scalable from personal blogs to enterprise community platforms
Watch for
Steeper learning curve compared to simpler CMS platforms
Migration highlight
Enterprise Community Portal
Build member-driven platforms with complex permissions, user-generated content, and integrated forums using core modules and community extensions.
ApostropheCMS
Full-stack Node.js CMS with in-context editing and headless flexibility
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsJavaScript
Why teams choose it
- In-context editing lets content creators modify live pages without switching to admin interfaces
- Headless-ready architecture works with Astro, React, Vue, or any frontend framework via REST APIs
- Built on Node.js and MongoDB for full-stack JavaScript development with ES6+ and Vite
Watch for
Requires Node.js 20+ and MongoDB 6.0+ infrastructure, limiting hosting options versus PHP-based CMSs
Migration highlight
Marketing Website with Content Team Autonomy
Marketing teams update pages, landing pages, and campaigns directly on live site without developer intervention, accelerating content velocity while maintaining brand consistency
Choosing a content management systems (cms) alternative
Teams replacing Contentful in content management systems (cms) workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.
- 5 projects let you self-host and keep customer data on infrastructure you control.
- 17 options are actively maintained with recent commits.
Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Contentful.