Grav vs Keystatic
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
Grav
Fast flat-file CMS with no database required
VS
Keystatic
Git-based CMS for Markdown and structured content
| Feature | Grav | Keystatic |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | source, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,620 | ★ 2,262 |
| First released | 2014 | 2023 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Squarespace | Contentful, Netlify CMS |
Why pick each one
Choose Keystatic if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (2.3k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Frequently asked questions
Is Grav or Keystatic better?
Grav is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Keystatic if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Grav and Keystatic free and open-source?
Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and Keystatic under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Grav and Keystatic with Docker?
Grav: yes. Keystatic: yes.