
Statamic
Kirby
Craft
Webflow
SquareSpace
CouchCMS
Automad
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, WordPress seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 786 times since March 2021.
Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.
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| Website | totalcms.co | wordpress.org |
| 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 WordPress yet.
What each product offers, as listed by its team.


Possible disadvantages
Walkthroughs and reviews on video.
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Users, beware.. avoid WordPress!* | WordPress Review
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 WordPress.
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 WordPress. 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
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Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.


Tracking Total CMS since Oct 2026.
$ curl -s "https://detectzestack.p.rapidapi.com/analyze?url=example.com" \ -H "X-RapidAPI-Key: YOUR_KEY" \ -H "X-RapidAPI-Host: detectzestack.p.rapidapi.com" { "url": "https://example.com", "domain": "example.com", "technologies":... - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
Why is this effective? Traditional firewalls block known threats based on signatures, but hackers evolve quickly, using zero-day exploits that bypass these rules. CodeLock's AI model, continuously trained on evolving data, adapts to new... - Source: dev.to / 10 months ago
I've had my ups and downs with WordPress, I'm not a hardcore fan to be honest, but you can't deny it's popularity. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
When comparing Total CMS and WordPress, 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.
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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
Compare WiX to Total CMS or WordPress:

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 WordPress:

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.
Compare SquareSpace to Total CMS or WordPress:

A CMS built to do one thing and do it well: manage content
Compare Craft to Total CMS or WordPress:

Create a free website or build a blog with ease on WordPress.com. Dozens of free, customizable, mobile-ready designs and themes. Free hosting and support.
Compare WordPress.com to Total CMS or WordPress: