Laravel-based CMS with flat-file content and an optional database
Statamic is a Laravel-based CMS that stores content as flat files by default and can also use a database. Developers build in Laravel, and editors work in a control panel with blueprints, a block editor and Live Preview. Core is free; Pro is a paid per-site licence.
Statamic has been sold since 2012. Its cofounders, Jack McDade and Mubashar Iqbal, built the first flat-file version. Version 3 became a Composer package for Laravel apps, and Statamic 6 is the current major version. Content is stored as Markdown files with YAML data by default, so it can be versioned in Git. Data repositories let content live in a database instead.
Statamic is open core. The vendor calls Core free and open source. Pro and Enterprise are commercial software under a proprietary licence that allows one production site per licence and no redistribution. The licence type of Core is not stated on the pages we read. Editors use a control panel with blueprints, 40+ fieldtypes, the Bard block editor and Live Preview. The API, multi-site and multi-user features need Pro.
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
Free to use. No licence fee.
Learning, personal sites and client sites you manage yourself with one admin
Costs extra
You bring your own hosting. Paid addons and starter kits are sold separately.
$349 per site
Per-site licence, plus $99 per year for continued updates and developer support. Free to use in development.
Client or company sites with several users, several languages or headless use
Costs extra
The $99 yearly renewal covers updates and support. Non-profits and schools get 20% off. A 14-day refund applies. Paid addons are sold separately.
Custom
Price not published. Contact sales for a quote.
Large organizations with several sites and users that need guaranteed support
Costs extra
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.
