Total CMS is unclaimed —

Total CMS

Agents build. Clients edit. Design holds.·totalcms.co

Total CMS is a flat-file PHP content management system that stores content as JSON files instead of in a database. It includes a built-in MCP server so AI coding agents can query schemas and content directly, a Twig templating system, a REST API, and a CLI (tcms). Sites can be built by hand, in a web builder, or with an AI agent, while access-group permissions let clients edit only the content an operator chooses to expose.

What it's for

Building client websites without a databaseLetting clients edit only specific content while design stays lockedConnecting AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT) to build and query a live site via MCPBlogging with categories and tagsManaging image galleries and file downloadsBuilding headless sites consumed via the REST APIPodcasting with show/episode schemas and feedsRunning automations triggered by schedules, webhooks, or content events

Features 20

Access Groups & per-collection permissions
Automations triggered by schedule, webhook, or content events (Pro)
Built-in MCP server for AI agents (Claude Code, Cursor, ChatGPT)
CLI tool (tcms) for collections, schemas, sync, and deploys
Custom schemas for content modeling (Pro)
Data Views for cached cross-collection queries (Pro)
Deck repeatable fields (Pro)
Extension system with capability-based permissions
Flat-file JSON content storage, no database required
Image processing (ImageWorks) with watermarking
Import from WordPress, CSV, JSON, and RSS
Passkey (WebAuthn) authentication
PHP API for direct code integration
REST API with API key and OAuth 2.1 authentication (Pro)
RSS, Atom, podcast feed and sitemap builders
SEO metadata generation (title, description, canonical, Open Graph, JSON-LD)
Site Builder with dynamic page routing and no build step
Twig 3 templating with cms global functions
Undo history with save/delete version restore
White-label admin interface

At a glance

free tierfree trialself-hostableAPI

TypeWeb app

DeploymentSelf-hosted

PlatformsWeb

LanguagesEnglish, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish

Forweb professionals, freelancers, agencies, designers who hand off sites to clients

CompanyAspect Services, LLC · 2008

Integrations

AlgoliaChatGPTPinegrowBlocsWordPressClaude CodeStacksCursorUlyssesMarsEditBootstrap Studio

Resources

Pricing

Standard ($195) and Pro ($395) are one-time, per-domain purchases including two years of updates, after which the license becomes perpetual for the version received; no monthly subscription fee for these editions. Enterprise multi-site deployments are quoted per project and billed monthly or annually per site rather than as a fixed one-time fee. A 45-day free trial with full Pro features requires no credit card, and local development is free indefinitely.

Local DevelopmentFree

Free for local development only; does not apply to .local domains or live production sites.

Runs with every Pro feature on localhost, .localhost, 127.0.0.1 and .test domains, with no license key, no trial, and no time limit

StandardQuote

Includes two years of updates; after that the license converts to a perpetual license for the version received.

One-time purchase licensed per domain; covers a single production website

ProQuote

Most popular edition. Includes two years of updates; after that the license converts to a perpetual license for the version received.

One-time purchase licensed per domain; covers a single production website

EnterpriseQuote

Custom/quote-based licensing; can also be run self-hosted or offline/air-gapped.

Fits roughly five sites and up; monthly minimum applies; 24-month minimum term before perpetual right to run the software