OSI-licensed only · self-hostable
Strapi is a headless CMS: you model content types, edit entries in an admin panel and consume them through REST or GraphQL APIs. Strapi's Community Edition is itself open source under the MIT licence; code under its ee/ directory is covered by a separate Enterprise licence. People look for alternatives when they want a different language, a Git-based workflow or a fully open codebase.
Every tool below is under an OSI-approved licence (MIT, BSD-3-Clause), checked against its repository. One popular headless CMS, Directus, is listed separately because its licence is source-available, not open source.
Licences checked against each repository on November 7, 2026.
| Tool | Best for | Licence | Runs as |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payload | Code-first CMS inside a Next.js app | MIT | Server |
| Keystone | Schema-first CMS with generated GraphQL | MIT | Server |
| Wagtail | Python and Django teams | BSD-3-Clause | Server |
| Ghost | Publishing, newsletters and memberships | MIT | Server |
| Decap CMS | Git-based editing for static sites | MIT | Server |
| Cockpit | Lightweight headless CMS | MIT | Server |
| Squidex | ASP.NET Core teams | MIT | Docker |
| ApostropheCMS | In-context editing plus headless use | MIT | Server |
Best for: Code-first CMS inside a Next.js app
Describes itself as the open-source, fullstack Next.js framework, usable as a headless CMS or as the backend of a larger application.
Best for: Schema-first CMS with generated GraphQL
A headless CMS and app framework for Node.js: define a schema and it generates a GraphQL API and a management UI.
Best for: Python and Django teams
An open source CMS built on Django, aimed at good editor experience and precise control for designers and developers.
Best for: Publishing, newsletters and memberships
Describes itself as independent technology for modern publishing, memberships, subscriptions and newsletters. It can run as a Node.js content system without its built-in front end.
Best for: Git-based editing for static sites
A simple way for teams to edit content on sites built with a static site generator. It is the renamed Netlify CMS and stores content in Git.
Best for: Lightweight headless CMS
A headless CMS with collections, singletons and trees, GraphQL and REST APIs, multi-language support and MongoDB or SQLite backends.
Best for: ASP.NET Core teams
An open-source headless CMS and content management hub with OData filtering and Swagger definitions, built with ASP.NET Core and CQRS.
Best for: In-context editing plus headless use
A full-stack CMS for developers and content teams built on Node.js and MongoDB, with in-context editing on live pages and headless use with any front-end framework.
One email a week with the open-source projects, launches and releases added to TechLogHub. Unsubscribe in one click.
One email a week: new and trending developer tools, fresh comparisons, and what shipped. Unsubscribe in one click.
| If you need… | Start with |
|---|---|
| Closest to Strapi, code-first on Node | Payload or Keystone |
| A Python or Django team | Wagtail |
| Blog, newsletter or membership site | Ghost |
| Editing a static site from Git | Decap CMS |
| Lightweight with SQLite | Cockpit |
| A .NET stack | Squidex |
Public source code, but under licences the Open Source Initiative doesn't approve. Fine to use; read the terms first.
Source code is public and self-hosting is possible, but the licence is source-available, not OSI-approved.
Quick answers to common questions
Mostly. The Community Edition is under the MIT licence, but code under the ee/ directory is covered by a separate Enterprise licence.
It depends on your stack. Payload and Keystone suit Node and TypeScript teams, Wagtail suits Django teams, and Ghost suits publishing.
No. Its repository lists the Monospace Sustainable Core License, which is source-available rather than OSI-approved.
Usually through its REST or GraphQL APIs or a database export, followed by a script that maps fields to the new schema. Test with one content type first.
Most need one (Postgres, MongoDB or SQLite). Decap CMS is the exception because it stores content in Git.
List it on TechLogHub and we'll review it for this page.
