Decap CMS
Git-as-CMS, formerly Netlify CMS. Free, open-source, simpler than TinaCMS.
VISIT DECAP CMSKey takeaway: Decap CMS (formerly Netlify CMS) is a free, Git-backed CMS with zero vendor dependency: content as files in your repo, edited through a simple admin. Pick it for static sites with one or few editors where avoiding any third-party service is the priority, and accept that development has slowed.
Quick facts
- CategoryGit-backed
- LanguageJavaScript
- PricingOpen source
- LicenseMIT
- Created2015
- GitHub stars18.3k
- Statusdeclining
What it is
Decap CMS is the rebranded Netlify CMS. Git-backed, free, open-source, simpler than TinaCMS. Maintenance pace slowed after Netlify deprioritised it; community-led now. Still works for simple content workflows but the trajectory is uncertain.
Best for
- Static sites with a single editor who wants a basic CMS UI
- Existing Netlify CMS deployments
- Open-source projects that do not want any vendor dependency
When not to pick it
Skip Decap for new projects with serious editorial requirements, TinaCMS is the more polished alternative. Maintenance trajectory is the concern, not capability.
My take
Decap works but is in a slow decline since Netlify deprioritised it. New projects should pick TinaCMS instead.
Zero-dependency Git CMS
Decap stores content as Markdown and data files in your Git repo and provides a form-based admin that commits changes through your Git provider. There is no database and no SaaS to depend on, which is its enduring appeal for fully owned, static-hosted sites. It wires up to the usual SSGs, though the integrations lean community-maintained.
The maintenance caveat
After Netlify stepped back, the project (renamed Decap) is community-maintained and moves slowly. For a single-author static site that values zero vendor lock-in, it still does the job. For anything you expect to actively grow over the next few years, TinaCMS is the better-supported Git-backed alternative.
Frequently asked questions
Is Decap CMS the same as Netlify CMS?
Yes. Decap CMS is the renamed continuation of Netlify CMS after Netlify reduced its involvement. It remains free and open source, now community-maintained.
Is Decap CMS still maintained?
It is community-maintained and moves slowly. It works well for simple static sites, but for actively growing projects TinaCMS has stronger ongoing development.
Does Decap need a database?
No. Content is stored as files in your Git repository and edits are committed through your Git provider, so there is no database or hosted backend to run.
Links
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If Decap CMS is your pick, the next conversation is short
The 30-min call is where your CMS choice becomes a real architecture, an editorial workflow your team can adopt, and a price range you can take to your stakeholders. Describe your content estate, your team\'s muscle memory, your timeline. I tell you whether Decap CMS is genuinely your fit.