FlatPress

Name: FlatPress
Author: FlatPress

by FlatPress

Free plan Self-hostedWeb

Visit FlatPress Alternatives Pricing

What FlatPress is

FlatPress is a free, self-hosted blogging engine that runs on PHP and stores data in files instead of using a database. It is designed for one user; multiple users are unsupported, and every user has administrative powers. Themes powered by Smarty customize the blog, while a plugin system with widget support and community plugins extends it. Core tools include RSS and Atom feeds, a media manager, image galleries, search, and SEO meta-tag editing. Comments include spam protection, with optional Akismet integration. FlatPress Protect adds HTTP response-header features, and another included plugin provides a two-click GDPR-compliant way to embed YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo videos. Current requirements are PHP 7.2 through 8.5 plus the intl and multibyte string extensions. The software is distributed under GNU GPLv2. The project points users to its wiki and support forum, and says PHPStan and CodeQL run through GitHub Actions on pull requests and regularly in the background. The listed plan costs nothing.

Who it suits

FlatPress suits individuals who can host PHP software and want a file-based blog without a database. It is not suited to unsupported multi-user setups.

What it does well

Free GNU GPLv2 software
No database required
Smarty themes and plugin extensions
Built-in feeds, galleries, search, and media tools
Comment spam protection available

What to know first

Designed for a single user only
Requires PHP 7.2–8.5 and extensions
Self-hosted setup is required
Every supported user has administrative powers

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
FlatPress	GNU GPLv2 software · self-hosted on a PHP web server	Free

As flatpress.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Verdict

FlatPress provides a compact, extensible blogging system for single-user PHP hosting. Its file storage and GPLv2 license simplify deployment, while the single-user design limits shared administration.

Facts from FlatPress's own pages

Blog analytics: Yes · flatpress.org, 22 Sept 2026
Comments: The software supports comments with spam protection, including an optional Akismet integration for comment spam detection. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Compatibility: The current requirements state PHP 7.2 to 8.5, with the intl and multibyte string PHP extensions mandatory. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Founded: 2006 · flatpress.org, 28 Sept 2026
Free plan: Yes · flatpress.org, 22 Sept 2026
Included tools: Core plugins include RSS and Atom feeds, a media manager, image galleries, search, and SEO meta tag editing. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
License: FlatPress is distributed under GNU GPLv2, which permits use, adaptation, and modification under the license terms. · flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Plugins: FlatPress has a plugin system with widget support, and community-contributed plugins are available. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Privacy feature: An included plugin offers a two-click GDPR-compliant way to embed YouTube, Facebook, and Vimeo videos. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Product: FlatPress is a lightweight blogging engine that runs on PHP and stores data in files, so it does not need a database. · flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Project history: The official site says FlatPress has been around since 2006 and describes it as mature and well-tested. · flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Security checks: The project says PHPStan and CodeQL run through GitHub Actions on pull requests and regularly in the background. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Security feature: The included FlatPress Protect plugin adds features to HTTP response headers. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Single-user limit: FlatPress is designed as a single-user system; using multiple users is unsupported, and each user has administrative powers. · wiki.flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026
Support: The project directs users to its wiki and support forum for documentation, questions, and community support. · github.com, 12 Oct 2026
Theme customization: custom code · flatpress.org, 22 Sept 2026
Themes: The blog can be customized with themes powered by Smarty. · flatpress.org, 12 Oct 2026