
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.

Obsidian
Notion
Joplin
Roam Research
Evernote
Anytype.io
Zettlr
Logseq is a local-first, non-linear, outliner notebook for organizing and sharing your personal knowledge base.

Which is more popular?
Based on our record, Logseq seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 300 times since March 2021.
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Website | totalcms.co | logseq.com |
| Pricing | ||
| Platforms | — | |
| Company | Startup from the United States · 1 - 9 employees · 2015 | Startup from the United States |
| Listed in |
In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.


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


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


No analysis of Total CMS yet.
Overall verdict
Why this product is good
Recommended for
Walkthroughs and reviews on video.
No Total CMS videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.
Logseq - A Roam Research Alternative for Notes / PKM / To Do / Journal
More videos
How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.


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


We have no reviews of Total CMS yet. Be the first one to post
Logseq is a powerful and advanced tool for thought that has been gaining attention among note-taking enthusiasts and productivity seekers. In this article, we will provide an overview of Logseq, explore what users can...
Outliners (think Workflowy, Roam, Logseq) rely on blocks and indentation for primary connections, and references to other blocks or pages for richer links. They’re optimized for capturing quick thinking.
Refined user interface: Logseq offers a refined user interface that is easy to understand and pleasing to the eyes. On the other hand, Obsidian looks like a jumble of various UI elements which are hard to figure out...
Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.


Tracking Total CMS since Oct 2026.
Using Logseq[1][2] for years and quite happy with it, especially since it has apps for tablets/iPad and phones as well, while being completely FOSS. [1] https://logseq.com/ [2] https://github.com/logseq/logseq. - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
Choose a local Markdown tool like Obsidian, Logseq, Foam, or Tolaria to store all your knowledge as plain .md files you own and control. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
I should call out another thing that convinced me was a user of forgetful (twsta) posted in the discord a skill for managing wok and todos from how they used to use Logseq. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
When comparing Total CMS and Logseq, you can also consider the following products.

Build better, easier to manage websites. Enjoy radical efficiency. It's everything you never knew you always wanted in a CMS.
Compare Statamic to Total CMS or Logseq:

A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.
Compare Obsidian to Total CMS or Logseq:

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.
Compare WordPress to Total CMS or Logseq:

All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.
Compare Notion to Total CMS or Logseq:

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.
Compare Kirby to Total CMS or Logseq:

Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.
Compare Joplin to Total CMS or Logseq: