
Webflow
WiX
SquareSpace
Invision
Axure
Zeplin
Balsamiq
🔥 Design real websites right on the canvas.

Statamic
WordPress
Kirby
Craft
Webflow
SquareSpace
CouchCMS
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.

Which is more popular?
Based on our record, Framer seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 19 times since March 2021.
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
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|---|---|---|
| Website | framer.com | totalcms.co |
| Pricing | ||
| Platforms | — | |
| Company | Startup from The Netherlands · 50 - 99 employees · 2013 | Startup from the United States · 1 - 9 employees · 2015 |
| Listed in |
In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.


No description of Framer 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....
What each product offers, as listed by its team.


Possible disadvantages
Walkthroughs and reviews on video.
Introducing Framer Playground
More videos
No Total CMS videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.
How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.


As answered by people managing Framer and Total CMS.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Share your experience with using Framer and Total CMS. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.


Framer is known as the best Figma alternative for layout and design options available. Use the stop points in Framer to make sure your website functions properly on all devices. You can alter navigation bars, logos,...
Use Framer’s breakpoints to ensure your website works seamlessly on any device. Extensive no-code positioning options allow you to customize navigation bars, badges, sidebars, and other elements to create a website...
Framer is known for having a steep learning curve. Due to its feature-rich interface, it takes fundamental design knowledge to master the platform. However, prototypes created with Framer are almost similar to the...
We have no reviews of Total CMS yet. Be the first one to post
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.


Framer Framer.com Prototyping tool with free tier for small projects. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
Another thing to think about is taking advantage of a free Stripe account, and creating products, with a free payment links to start accepting payments for products without a website. You could build a free website with framer.com... Source: almost 3 years ago
Is this only on framer.com? If you load https://app.framerstatic.com/tinyTourCardDark-TORTZ2D4.png on its own what do you see? Source: almost 3 years ago
Tracking Total CMS since Oct 2026.
When comparing Framer and Total CMS, you can also consider the following products.

Build dynamic, responsive websites in your browser. Launch with a click. Or export your squeaky-clean code to host wherever you'd like. Discover the professional website builder made for designers.
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Build better, easier to manage websites. Enjoy radical efficiency. It's everything you never knew you always wanted in a CMS.
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Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix' website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today
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WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.
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Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs, e-commerce, domains, hosting, analytics, 24/7 support - all included.
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Kirby is a website for businesses to use to sort contacts and other information. The site is easy to use and features several details for businesses of all sizes.
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