Grav CMS
Modern, fast, and powerful flat-file CMS
Grav CMS is a modern, open-source flat-file content management system. It requires no database or SQL installation wizard.
| Best for | developers building documentation hubs and blogs |
| Website | getgrav.org |
Company facts
| Social profiles | X, YouTube |
| Brand colour | #15151a |
Facilities and features
- Published pricing
- API
- Integrations
What stands out
The product uses a flat-file architecture with zero database lock-in.
“FLAT-FILE No Database”Grav CMS, own website
The product includes a built-in MCP server for agentic AI access.
“7 features MCP server”Grav CMS, own website
Strengths and trade-offs
- The product uses a flat-file architecture with zero database lock-in.
- The product includes a built-in MCP server for agentic AI access.
Appears in
Headless CMS platforms for developers
1
Flotiq98.02
Kuroco98.03
DatoCMS96.0RANKINGfull ranking →SOFTWAREVERIFIEDSelf-hosted headless CMS platforms
1Grav CMS94.02
Squidex94.03
Strapi94.0RANKINGfull ranking →How Grav CMS ranks
#6 in Headless CMS platforms for developers
How the score is made up: Evidence on its own site 20; How complete its published information is 18; Fit to this ranking's criteria 40; Buying information on its own site 16.
“A first-class REST API for headless and decoupled builds, a completely rebuilt Admin 2.0 ,”Grav CMS, own website
“Built for developers who need to ship fast”Grav CMS, own website
#1 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms
How the score is made up: Evidence on its own site 20; How complete its published information is 18; Fit to this ranking's criteria 40; Buying information on its own site 16.
“A first-class REST API for headless and decoupled builds, a completely rebuilt Admin 2.0 ,”Grav CMS, own website
“No database, no SQL, no installation wizard. You unzip it, drop Markdown into a folder, and you have a fast, secure, version-controllable website.”Grav CMS, own website
Alternatives to Grav CMS
| Squidex Create once, publish everywhere with this scalable headless CMS. | #2 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms | 94.0 |
| Strapi Open-source content framework for AI-powered websites | #3 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms | 94.0 |
 Liferay Digital Experience PlatformLaunch digital experiences that convert, scale and grow | #4 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms | 92.0 |
 ApostropheCMSBuild freely, edit effortlessly with a modern Node.js CMS. | #5 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms | 90.0 |
 dotCMSBuilt for compliance. Certified for AI. | #6 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms | 88.0 |
 SitepinsProduct | #7 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms | 88.0 |
Questions about Grav CMS
Who is Grav CMS best for?
Grav CMS is best for developers building documentation hubs and blogs.
Where does Grav CMS rank?
Grav CMS is ranked #1 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms (Lister Score 94.0) and #6 in Headless CMS platforms for developers (Lister Score 94.0).
What are the best alternatives to Grav CMS?
The closest alternatives on Lister are Squidex (#2 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms), Strapi (#3 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms) and Liferay Digital Experience Platform (#4 in Self-hosted headless CMS platforms).
Is this your company?
Claim Grav CMS to suggest corrections to its listing (pricing, features, details) or ask about an enhanced profile. We review every claim before anything changes.