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Craft VS Total CMS

Compare Craft VS Total CMS and see what are their differences

Craft

A CMS built to do one thing and do it well: manage content

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
Total CMS

A flat-file PHP CMS with a built-in MCP server. No database, any PHP host, and clients edit only the parts you choose, so your design holds.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $195 / One-off (Standard)
Alternatives Is it good?
cobwebs.app
Tap a thing and the counter resets. A quiet, local-first day counter for the things you keep meaning to do. No account needed, no spreadsheet. sponsored
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Project Management popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
184 vs 15

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Craft
Total CMS
Website buildwithcraft.com totalcms.co
Pricing —
Paid Free trial $195 / One-off (Standard) Official pricing
Platforms —
Web PHP
Company — Startup from the United States · 1 - 9 employees · 2015
Listed in
Project Management Note Taking Automation Task Management +1
Website Design Website Builder CMS Self-Hosted CMS MCP Servers Blogging AI +4

About Craft and Total CMS

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Craft
Total CMS

No description of Craft yet.

Total CMS is a flat-file content management system for web professionals who build sites for other people. Content is stored as plain JSON or Markdown files on your own server, with no database to install, configure, or migrate. Drop it on any PHP 8.2+ host, or install with Composer, and it runs....

Read more about Total CMS

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Craft 6 features
Total CMS 16 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Craft CMS offers a clean, intuitive interface that is easy for content editors and developers alike, enhancing productivity and reducing the learning curve.
  • Highly Customizable
    The platform is extremely flexible, allowing developers to build custom content models, fields, and templates to suit specific project needs.
  • Robust Security
    Craft prioritizes security with features like customizable user permissions, secure default settings, and regular software updates.
  • Strong Developer Community
    There is an active and supportive developer community, providing plenty of third-party plugins, forum support, and resources.
  • JSON and GraphQL APIs
    Craft CMS provides robust APIs, including JSON and GraphQL, making it easy to integrate with other systems and build headless applications.
  • Excellent Performance
    Craft CMS is optimized for performance, offering features like caching mechanisms and efficient database management, ensuring fast load times.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Craft CMS is a premium product with license fees, which might be a constraint for smaller projects or developers looking for completely free solutions.
  • Learning Curve for Non-Developers
    While the interface is user-friendly, non-developers might find the flexibility and customization options overwhelming initially.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Unlike some other CMS platforms, Craft has a minimalistic approach, meaning that many advanced features need to be added through plugins or custom development.
  • Plugin Dependency
    Relying on third-party plugins can sometimes lead to compatibility issues or require additional management and updates.
  • Hosting Requirements
    Craft CMS has specific hosting requirements that might necessitate more powerful server environments, potentially increasing hosting costs.
  • No database
    Content is stored as JSON or Markdown files on your own server
  • Any PHP host
    Runs on PHP 8.2+ shared hosting or a VPS; install by upload or Composer
  • Client-safe editing
    Clients edit only the fields you choose, so the design stays as built
  • Custom schemas
    Design your own content types and fields (Pro)
  • Built-in MCP server
    AI tools read the site's real schemas and version-matched docs; Pro adds writes, OAuth and API keys
  • One-line SEO
    Meta tags, Open Graph, canonical URLs and structured data from a single Twig call
  • Content versioning
    Every save keeps the previous version, restorable at any time
  • Access groups
    One permission system governing both people and AI agents
  • REST API
    Same-origin on Standard; external access with API keys on Pro
  • Twig templating
    130+ custom filters and functions
  • Site Builder
    Create pages, routes and templates from the admin
  • Image processing
    Resize, crop, convert and watermark images on the fly
  • Extensions
    Add features with first- and third-party extensions
  • Automations
    Run handlers on schedules, webhooks or content events (Pro)
  • Multilingual
    Per-locale content with fallback; admin available in seven languages
  • One-time license
    Priced per domain with two years of updates; no subscription

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Craft
Total CMS

Overall verdict

  • Craft CMS is considered a strong option for those looking for a customizable and developer-friendly platform. Its emphasis on flexibility and modern development practices make it a suitable choice for building bespoke websites and applications.

Why this product is good

  • Craft, developed by Pixel & Tonic, is widely regarded as a flexible, user-friendly CMS (Content Management System) that offers a high degree of customization. It provides developers with full control over HTML and allows for complex content structures. Its intuitive interface is appreciated by both content managers and developers alike. Craft also has a strong emphasis on security and best practices, and its support and community are noted to be responsive and helpful.

Recommended for

  • Developers seeking a highly customizable and flexible CMS.
  • Businesses wanting a tailored content management solution.
  • Agencies looking for a CMS that offers both ease of use for content editors and robust tools for developers.

No analysis of Total CMS yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Craft 3 videos + Add
Total CMS 0 videos + Add

Give Me a Refund! TESTING 2 CRAFT KITS FROM WALMART review SaltEcrafter #61

More videos

  • - The Craft Halloween Movie Review
  • - CRAFT Reviews #16 | Handmade Inspiration | SoCraftastic

No Total CMS videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Craft
Total CMS
100% 100%
Project Management
0% 0%
0% 0%
Website Design
100% 100%
100% 100%
Task Management
0% 0%
0% 0%
CMS
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Craft and Total CMS.

What makes your product unique?

Total CMS's answer:

It combines things that usually come separately: flat-file storage with no database, an admin built for handing sites to clients, and an MCP server built into every install. Because the MCP server runs inside the app, AI tools read the documentation for the exact version installed, not whatever was current when they were trained.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Total CMS's answer:

If you build sites for clients, Total CMS is designed around the handoff: you decide exactly what clients can edit, and the design stays as built. It runs on any PHP host without a database, it's a one-time license rather than a subscription, and support comes directly from the developer who builds it. If you need something free and open source, other flat-file CMSs will suit you better.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Total CMS's answer:

Web professionals who build sites for other people: freelancers, independent designers and small agencies. Also technical business owners who built their own site and need staff to update it safely, and developers who work with coding agents like Claude Code.

What's the story behind your product?

Total CMS's answer:

Total CMS started in 2015 as a way for web designers to make their sites editable by clients without a database. It grew to more than 4,500 licenses. In December 2025 it was rebuilt from scratch as Total CMS 3, a standalone PHP CMS that works with any front end. Version 3.5 added a built-in MCP server, Site Builder and extensions; 3.6 added one-line SEO and content versioning. It's built by Joe Workman under Aspect Services, LLC, founded in 2008.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

Total CMS's answer:

PHP 8.2+, Slim 4, Twig 3, Symfony Console for the CLI, flat-file JSON and Markdown storage, Composer, HTMX, CodeMirror, and the Model Context Protocol with OAuth 2.1.

User comments

Share your experience with using Craft and Total CMS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Craft no reviews yet
Total CMS no reviews yet

We have no reviews of Total CMS yet. Be the first one to post

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