Freedom251 › Content Management Systems
Automad
What Automad is
Automad is a free, MIT-licensed, self-hosted flat-file content management system and template engine. It stores content in human-readable text files without a database, allowing files to sit under version control. Its browser dashboard handles settings, image uploads, theme installation, blog editing, block editing, and in-page editing. Headless mode exposes data and files through a read-only JSON API. URL embeds can be added from YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, SoundCloud, and Mixcloud, while custom snippet blocks can integrate Airtable. Themes and PHP extensions are installed through the dashboard or Composer. Administrators can set a custom dashboard URL or disable the dashboard publicly. Version 2 requires PHP 8.2 or newer with GD, cURL, and ZIP, plus a modern browser. Docker, Composer, and manual installation are supported. Version 2 is beta but described as stable and production-safe; version 1 is unsupported.
Who it suits
Automad suits people building self-hosted sites who want file-based content, template control, multilingual content, SEO tools, media handling, and extensibility. It requires PHP hosting and setup through supported installation methods.
What it does well
- No database required
- Human-readable files support version control
- Read-only headless JSON API
- Browser dashboard with block editing
- Free for private and commercial projects
What to know first
- Self-hosted setup required
- Version 2 is beta
- PHP 8.2 or newer required
- Version 1 is unsupported
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Automad | Free to use for private and commercial projects · MIT licensed · Self-hosted PHP application | Free |
As automad.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Automad offers a database-free, extensible CMS with dashboard editing, headless access, and free MIT licensing. Its PHP requirements and self-hosted deployment make setup responsibilities part of the choice.
Facts from Automad's own pages
- Airtable integration
- Custom snippet blocks can embed and customize Airmad, an Airtable integration, within the dashboard. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Custom content types
- Yes · automad.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Demo limits
- The free online demo requires no sign-up, runs for one hour before being discarded, and offers only the latest release. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Official installation options include Docker, Composer and manual download, with Apache, Caddy and FrankenPHP, LiteSpeed or Nginx recommended for production. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Editing
- Its browser-based dashboard supports settings, image uploads, theme installation and blog editing, and it includes block editing and in-page editing. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Embeds
- The block editor supports pasted URL embeds from services including YouTube, Vimeo, Instagram, SoundCloud and Mixcloud. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Automad can be extended with themes and PHP extensions installed through its dashboard or Composer. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · automad.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Headless API
- Headless mode makes data and files accessible through a read-only JSON API. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Maker
- Automad is a project by Marc Anton Dahmen, a senior software engineer based in Basel, Switzerland. · marcdahmen.de, 12 Oct 2026
- Media library
- Yes · automad.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Multilingual content
- Yes · automad.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Platform type
- self_hosted · automad.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Privacy
- The maker says limited telemetry may include the public domain name, Automad version and server type, and that private content and user data are not transmitted. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Product
- Automad is a flat-file content management system and template engine. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Requirements
- Automad version 2 requires PHP 8.2 or newer with the GD, cURL and ZIP modules, plus a modern browser for the dashboard. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The dashboard can be assigned a custom URL or disabled on a public site. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- SEO tools
- Yes · automad.org, 23 Sept 2026
- Storage
- Automad requires no database and stores content in human-readable text files that can be placed under version control. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Support
- Users can ask questions or request features through community discussions, report bugs on GitHub, or contact the maker by email; the maker says email replies may not be immediate. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Version status
- The getting-started page says Automad version 2 is in beta, considered stable and safe for production, and recommends it for new projects; version 1 is no longer supported. · automad.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where Automad stands on Freedom251
- Content Management Systems#73 of 165