Splitleaf
Agentic CMS and visual site builder that works with Claud Code on you desktop
4/ 5
Full profileSplitleaf vs RapidWeaver Elements
Our score, every feature we track, pricing plans, hosting and AI, side by side.
At a glance
The facts from each platform's profile, side by side.
| Metric | Splitleaf | RapidWeaver Elements |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 4 | 3.7 |
| Pricing | $129 once per person · unlimited sites | $99 to $249 per user, every year · CMS Pro $199 per domain |
| AI | Claude Code on your Claude plan, or your own Anthropic, OpenAI or OpenRouter key. No markup, staged changes you review | Built-in assistant on your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key, or an outside app over MCP |
| Hosting | Self-hosted | Desktop app |
| Source code | Closed source | Closed source |
| Created | 2026 | 2025 |
| Best for | Freelancers, agencies and teams who want to own their site files and pay once | Mac users building personal sites who publish by FTP |
| AI features | Claude Code on your Claude plan, or your own Anthropic, OpenAI or OpenRouter key. No markup, staged changes you review | Built-in assistant on your own OpenAI or Anthropic API key, or an outside app over MCP |
Features
How each platform offers a feature: free, in the cheapest paid plan, on a higher plan, or enterprise only. Open a feature to compare it across every platform.
Splitleaf
- AI content tools Included Built-in agent: Claude Code on your Claude plan, or your own key, with no markup
- Content modeling Included File-based CMS collections; no page or item limits
- Drafts and versioning Included Git history on every publish; AI changes are staged for you to keep or undo
- Drag-and-drop page builder Included Visual Designer on real HTML and CSS
- Git-based content Included Every publish is a commit to your own GitHub repository
- Reusable components Included Components shared across pages
RapidWeaver Elements
- AI content tools Included AI assistant that runs on your own API key
- Drag-and-drop page builder Included Visual, component-based builder on the Mac
- Markdown editor Tiered Markdown-based CMS (PHP); CMS Pro is a separate $199 license per domain
- Plugins and apps Included Elements Store components
- Reusable components Included Component-based builder
Pricing
Every plan, cheapest first, and what the bill is counted by. Open a profile for what each plan includes.
Splitleaf
- LicenseOne-time license $129once, per person Freelancers and agencies who want to own their site files
- Team syncPer seat $6per collaborator / month People building or editing sites together
Prices checked Vendor pricing page
RapidWeaver Elements
- Elements BaseYearly license $99per user / year Mac users building personal sites
- Elements PlusYearly license $149per user / year Users who want full design features
- Elements ProYearly license $249per user / year Designers building sites for clients
- CMS Pro (add-on)Per domain $199once, per domain Sites where clients edit content in the browser
Prices checked Vendor pricing page
Strengths and watch-outs
From our review of each platform.
Splitleaf
Strengths
- The site is files you own: take the folder and leave at any time.
- Visual Designer on real HTML and CSS, with no engine in between.
- AI agent built in: use Claude Code on the Claude plan you already pay for, or your own key, at the provider's price with no markup.
- Every AI change is staged for you to keep or undo.
- One price, paid once, for any number of sites. No page or CMS item limits.
- Works offline, with a 90-day license grace period.
Watch out for
- No built-in store, bookings or app market.
- Hosting is paid separately to your own host.
- Importing a live site is in beta; JavaScript-heavy sites do not import perfectly.
RapidWeaver Elements
Strengths
- Native Mac app that works offline.
- Tailwind CSS and Alpine.js under the hood.
- Publish anywhere by FTP, SFTP or S3.
- You keep using the last version from your paid year.
Watch out for
- Three yearly plans: Base ($99) puts a badge on your site, Plus ($149) forbids client work, Pro ($249) is required for client sites.
- CMS Pro is a separate $199 license per domain, and the CMS needs PHP 8.4 on the server.
- Elements Cloud backups need an active subscription.
- The project file syncs reliably only through iCloud Drive.
More comparisons
Everything on this page comes from our profiles of the two platforms, checked against each vendor's own documentation and pricing pages. Vendors change plans often: confirm prices on their site before you buy.