Best Self-Hosted Headless CMS in 2026

API-first CMS platforms that deliver content as data, letting developers build frontends with any technology.

The top-rated pick is TinaCMS with 13,336 GitHub stars.

2 self-hosted headless cms — ranked by GitHub stars. Browse all

TinaCMS

A fully open-source headless CMS with Git support, Markdown editing, and live visual preview for React-based sites.

Alternative to:

Contentful

WollyCMS

Self-hosted, open-source headless CMS built specifically for Astro.js with a block-based page builder.

Alternative to:

Contentful

Why self-host?

Self-hosting puts you in control. You own your data, avoid vendor lock-in, and eliminate recurring subscription costs. For teams handling sensitive data or operating under strict compliance requirements, running your own infrastructure is often the only viable option.

Want to compare all open source options including cloud-hosted ones? See the best open source headless cms →