Flat-file PHP CMS with Markdown content, a REST API and an MCP server
Grav is an open source flat-file CMS. Content lives in Markdown and YAML files, templates use Twig, and there is no database. Grav 2 adds a REST API, a new admin and a built-in MCP server.
Grav keeps content in plain Markdown and YAML files, so it can be moved and versioned in Git. Templates use Twig and the stack is built on Symfony components. Grav 2 needs PHP 8.3 or later. You download it, unzip it into your web root and host it yourself. The company behind it, Trilby Media, also offers managed hosting and services.
Grav 2 adds a first-party REST API, a new admin (Admin 2.0) with collaborative editing and a built-in MCP server. Agents can read, write and publish with the same permissions as a human admin. The downloads page lists 535 plugins, 139 themes and 56 skeletons. Setup and templates need a developer.
Strengths
Watch out for
What each plan costs and what the bill is counted by: seats, sites, usage or a one-off license. The bottom of each card shows what you pay on top.
Free
No licence fee. The project is funded by donations through Open Collective.
Developers and small teams who want a database-free site
Costs extra
Premium themes and plugins cost extra. You bring your own hosting.
$50 once
One-time payment. Premium licence: one licence, unlimited updates, lifetime support.
Teams building a documentation site on Grav
Costs extra
Requires Grav, which is free. You bring your own hosting.
$140 once
One-time payment. Bundle price; the vendor lists a $35 saving.
Teams publishing documentation with a better editing workflow
Costs extra
Requires Grav, which is free. You bring your own hosting.
$200 once
One-time payment. Bundle price; the vendor lists a $50 saving.
Teams publishing documentation that also need site search
Costs extra
Requires Grav, which is free. You bring your own hosting.
Prices checked See current prices on the vendor's site
Free, included in the cheapest plan, on a higher plan, or enterprise only. Open a feature to compare it across every platform.
