Freedom251 › Content Management Systems
Kirby
by Kirby
What Kirby is
Kirby is a paid, self-hosted content management system that stores site content in files and folders. Its web-based Kirby Panel manages editing and can be customized for different projects. Built-in capabilities include editorial workflows, custom user roles, multilingual content, SEO tools, a media library, and custom content types. A PHP template engine and PHP API support frontend development. Kirby can deliver content to mobile apps, static site generators, and custom frontends through content representations, its REST API, KQL, or custom routes. The plugin directory lists integrations such as Nuxt KQL, Plausible Analytics, Mastodon, and email services. Kirby says its file-based architecture removes SQL injection as an attack vector. Every REST API request requires authentication, using HTTP Basic Auth for remote requests and session authentication for same-site requests. A license covers one installation on one domain, while customers provide hosting and the domain. Three years of feature updates are included. Kirby 5 requires PHP 8.2 or later. Basic pricing is €99 as a one-time payment, with Enterprise at €349 as a one-time payment.
Who it suits
Kirby suits teams and developers building self-hosted sites that need structured editing, workflows, custom roles, multilingual content, or headless delivery. It requires customers to provide hosting and a domain.
What it does well
- File-based self-hosted architecture
- Customizable web editing panel
- Editorial workflows and custom roles
- Headless delivery options
- Three years of feature updates
What to know first
- Paid license covers one installation and domain
- Customers provide hosting and domain
- Requires PHP 8.2 or later
- No free plan
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kirby Enterprise | One-time payment; includes 3 years of feature updates. · € 349 per site · No revenue limit · One installation on one domain | €349, paid once |
| Kirby Basic | One-time payment; includes 3 years of feature updates. · € 99 per site · For projects below €1 million in total annual revenue/funding · One installation on one domain | €99, paid once |
As getkirby.com lists them, read 9 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
Kirby combines a customizable editing panel with file-based storage and headless delivery options. Its per-installation licensing, hosting responsibility, and PHP requirement should be considered before deployment.
Facts from Kirby's own pages
- API authentication
- Kirby requires authentication for every REST API request and supports HTTP Basic Auth for remote requests and session authentication for same-site requests. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Custom content types
- Yes · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Custom user roles
- Yes · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Editing
- The Kirby Panel is a web interface for managing a site and can be customized for different project needs. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Editorial workflows
- Yes · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2012 · getkirby.com, 19 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- No · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Headless use
- Kirby can serve content to mobile apps, static site generators, and custom frontends using content representations, its REST API, KQL, or custom routes. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Kirby's plugin directory lists integrations including Nuxt KQL, Plausible Analytics, Mastodon, and email services. · plugins.getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- License scope
- A paid license covers one Kirby installation on one domain, and customers provide their own hosting and domain. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Media library
- Yes · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Multilingual content
- Yes · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Platform requirements
- Kirby 5 requires PHP 8.2 or later and supports installation by manual download, Herd, Kirby CLI, Composer, or Git. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Platform type
- self_hosted · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Product
- Kirby is a self-hosted content management system that stores and manages content in files and folders. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- Kirby says its file-based architecture removes SQL injection as an attack vector and that vulnerability reports normally receive a response within 24 hours. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Security updates
- The security policy lists Kirby 5 as actively supported with security updates through June 24, 2028. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- SEO tools
- Yes · getkirby.com, 22 Sept 2026
- Support
- Kirby provides a support forum and Discord chat for its community. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Templates
- Kirby includes a PHP-based template engine and PHP API for building a site's frontend. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Trial
- Kirby can be evaluated locally or on a test server for as long as needed, and its online demo is erased after an hour. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
- Updates
- A license includes three years of feature updates, after which the installed version can continue to be used or the license can be upgraded for newer releases. · getkirby.com, 9 Oct 2026
Where Kirby stands on Freedom251
- Content Management Systems#128 of 165