What is HTMLy used for?

HTMLy is a databaseless PHP blogging platform and flat-file CMS that stores content as files and lists posts by date, type, category, tag or author. It is a good fit for running a simple personal blog and hosting a small site without a database server.

Is HTMLy open source?

Yes. HTMLy is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at danpros/htmly and is written mainly in PHP.

Yes. HTMLy is open source, so the software itself is free to use.

Can I self-host HTMLy?

Yes. HTMLy can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.

What is HTMLy an alternative to?

HTMLy is an open-source alternative to Medium and Blogger. Other open-source alternatives to Medium include Blogifier, Ghost and WriteFreely.

Is HTMLy actively maintained?

The most recent commit to HTMLy was on 25 January 2026, and the latest release is v3.1.1, published on 3 November 2025. The project has 1.4k stars on GitHub.

HTMLy: open-source alternative to Medium, Blogger

About HTMLy

HTMLy is an open-source blogging platform and flat-file CMS written in PHP. It does not use a database, so content is stored as files, which keeps installation and backup simple. The project prioritizes simplicity and speed and uses an algorithm that finds or lists content by date, type, category, tag or author, staying fast even with large numbers of posts and tags. It suits individual bloggers and small sites.

Installation takes a few steps: upload and extract the files to a web server, visit the installer page in a browser and follow the prompts, then delete the installer. An online installer can fetch the code for you. Requirements are PHP 7.2 or newer with the mbstring, XML, INTL and GD extensions, and ZIP for the backup feature. Cache and content directories need write permission.

There is a role system in which administrators can edit or delete all users' posts. The topics mention Markdown, and the project is licensed under GPL-2.0. A sign-in to the dashboard is optional if you just want to publish from configuration files.

Key features

Flat-file storage with no database
Posts organized by category, tag and author
Markdown content support
Web-based installer and online installer
Backup feature
Admin role for managing all users' posts

Good fit for

→Running a simple personal blog
→Hosting a small site without a database server

Built with: PHP
Tags: blog; cms; flat-file; php; markdown; no-database; blogging-platform; self-hosted

HTMLy: questions and answers

What is HTMLy used for?: HTMLy is a databaseless PHP blogging platform and flat-file CMS that stores content as files and lists posts by date, type, category, tag or author. It is a good fit for running a simple personal blog and hosting a small site without a database server.
Is HTMLy open source?: Yes. HTMLy is open source under the GPL-2.0 licence. Its source code is on GitHub at danpros/htmly and is written mainly in PHP.
Is HTMLy free?: Yes. HTMLy is open source, so the software itself is free to use.
Can I self-host HTMLy?: Yes. HTMLy can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is HTMLy an alternative to?: HTMLy is an open-source alternative to Medium and Blogger. Other open-source alternatives to Medium include Blogifier, Ghost and WriteFreely.
Is HTMLy actively maintained?: The most recent commit to HTMLy was on 25 January 2026, and the latest release is v3.1.1, published on 3 November 2025. The project has 1.4k stars on GitHub.