TinaCMS

Git-backed CMS layer over Astro / Next.js / Hugo. Visual editing, content stays in the repo.

VISIT TINACMS

Key takeaway: TinaCMS is the modern Git-backed CMS: content lives in your repository as Markdown or JSON, edited through a visual, contextual UI. Pick it for developer-owned sites and docs where Git is the source of truth and you still want non-technical editing.

Quick facts

  • CategoryGit-backed
  • LanguageTypeScript
  • PricingFreemium
  • LicenseApache-2.0
  • Created2019
  • GitHub stars12.4k
  • Statusactive

What it is

TinaCMS sits over an SSG (Astro / Next.js / Hugo) and provides a Git-backed editing UI for non-technical content authors. Content lives in your repo as Markdown / MDX / JSON; TinaCMS provides the visual layer. Cloud option for the editing service; the rest stays self-hosted.

Best for

  • Astro / Next.js / Hugo sites with non-technical content authors
  • Teams that want Git-tracked content with a visual editor
  • Static-first sites where running a separate CMS service feels like overhead

When not to pick it

Skip TinaCMS if your team is comfortable editing Markdown directly, or if you need real-time collaboration (Git-backed CMS does not handle merge conflicts gracefully for multi-author edits).

My take

TinaCMS is the most polished Git-backed CMS in 2026. Pair with Astro for the cleanest content-team workflow.

Git-backed with visual editing

Tina stores content in your Git repo and layers a visual editor on top, so editors get live, on-page editing while every change is a commit, reviewable and versioned like code. It integrates cleanly with the modern SSG stack (Next.js, Astro, Hugo) and is a strong fit for documentation, marketing sites, and developer-led projects that want content under version control rather than in a database.

Trajectory versus Decap

The main Git-CMS decision in 2026 is Tina versus Decap (formerly Netlify CMS). Tina is actively developed with a company behind it and a more polished, component-aware visual editor; Decap is community-maintained at a slower pace. For new Git-backed projects, Tina is usually the choice unless you specifically want zero vendor dependency.

Frequently asked questions

How does TinaCMS store content?

In your Git repository, as Markdown, MDX, or JSON. Edits made in Tina’s visual editor become commits, so content is versioned and reviewable like code.

TinaCMS or Decap CMS?

Both are Git-backed. TinaCMS is actively developed with a polished visual editor and a company behind it; Decap is community-maintained and slower-moving. For new projects, TinaCMS is the more future-proof pick.

Is TinaCMS good for documentation sites?

Yes. Git-backed storage, MDX support, and contextual visual editing make it a strong fit for docs and developer-led content where version control matters.

Links

Compare TinaCMS side-by-side

TinaCMS vs Decap CMS →

Similar tools you should also consider

Decap CMS

Git-as-CMS, formerly Netlify CMS. Free, open-source, simpler than TinaCMS.

Read the take →

If TinaCMS 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 TinaCMS is genuinely your fit.