What is Kirby used for?

Kirby is a file-based PHP CMS that lets developers design custom editing panels, sold under a paid license rather than as free software. It is a good fit for building client websites with a custom editing interface, running a flat-file site without database administration and using a headless CMS for a front-end project.

Is Kirby open source?

Yes. Kirby is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at getkirby/kirby and is written mainly in PHP.

Yes. Kirby is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.

Can I self-host Kirby?

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

What is Kirby an alternative to?

Kirby is an open-source alternative to Webflow. Other open-source alternatives to Webflow include Craft CMS, WordPress and Microweber.

Is Kirby actively maintained?

Yes. The most recent commit to Kirby was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 5.6.0, published on 16 September 2026. The project has 1.5k stars on GitHub.

Kirby: open-source alternative to Webflow

About Kirby

Kirby is a content management system built on PHP that stores content in files rather than a traditional database. Developers design their own editing interface by combining forms, galleries, articles, spreadsheets and other building blocks, which makes it adaptable to very different sites while remaining approachable for editors.

This repository holds Kirby's core application folder, and the project recommends starting from the Starterkit or Plainkit repositories instead. Topics also mention headless CMS use, so content can be consumed through an API as well as templates. The project provides documentation, a forum, an issue tracker, a feedback platform, an online demo and a community Discord.

The README states plainly that Kirby is not free software: you can try it on a local machine or a test server for as long as you need, and you buy a license when you are ready to launch. The source can be read on GitHub under a custom license agreement. It suits web developers and agencies who prefer a paid, flat-file CMS with a customizable panel.

Key features

File-based content without a required database
Customizable editing panel
Flexible content fields and blueprints
Headless CMS capability
Starterkit and Plainkit starting points
Free to try before buying a license

Good fit for

→Building client websites with a custom editing interface
→Running a flat-file site without database administration
→Using a headless CMS for a front-end project

Built with: PHP
Tags: cms; flat-file; php; headless-cms; file-based; commercial; source-available; content-management

Kirby: questions and answers

What is Kirby used for?: Kirby is a file-based PHP CMS that lets developers design custom editing panels, sold under a paid license rather than as free software. It is a good fit for building client websites with a custom editing interface, running a flat-file site without database administration and using a headless CMS for a front-end project.
Is Kirby open source?: Yes. Kirby is open source under a custom licence. Its source code is on GitHub at getkirby/kirby and is written mainly in PHP.
Is Kirby free?: Yes. Kirby is open source, so the software itself is free to use under the terms of its own licence.
Can I self-host Kirby?: Yes. Kirby can be self-hosted on your own server or infrastructure; there is no official hosted version.
What is Kirby an alternative to?: Kirby is an open-source alternative to Webflow. Other open-source alternatives to Webflow include Craft CMS, WordPress and Microweber.
Is Kirby actively maintained?: Yes. The most recent commit to Kirby was on 2 October 2026, and the latest release is 5.6.0, published on 16 September 2026. The project has 1.5k stars on GitHub.