How do I move off Keystatic vs TinaCMS vs Decap CMS Cloud and Self-Host Cost as of 2026-03-28 without getting stuck?
Choose a git-backed CMS by comparing current hosted pricing, OSS escape hatches, and editorial workflow limits.
Blockers
- Open Authoring is available only with the GitHub backend.
- Native GitHub mode requires collaborators to sign in with GitHub and have repo write access.
- A self-run Git Gateway requires JWT-capable identity.
Who this is for
- cost-sensitive
- small-team
- low-ops
Candidates
Keystatic
Keystatic is a git-backed CMS for Markdown, YAML, and JSON content with no database, and it can run in local, GitHub, or Keystatic Cloud storage modes. As of 2026-03-28, Keystatic Cloud is free for up to 3 users per team, and Pro starts at $10/month for a team plus $5/month per user beyond 3. Keystatic Cloud also adds cloud images and experimental multi-player editing, while self-hosted usage stays on the OSS path. The main workflow constraint is that native GitHub mode requires collaborators to have write access to the repository, sign in with GitHub, and complete custom GitHub App setup.
When to choose
Use this when you want the cheapest OSS escape hatch and your content model is mostly files already living in the repo. It is the strongest fit for developer-led teams that can tolerate GitHub-centric permissions and do not need a mature PR-based editorial workflow for non-technical contributors.
Tradeoffs
Very low software cost and no database are attractive, but Cloud is still fairly lightweight compared with fuller editorial products. The hosted value is mainly easier auth plus image tooling rather than deep workflow controls.
Cautions
As of 2026-03-28, the official docs show Cloud removes the need for GitHub accounts for editors, but GitHub mode still requires repo write access. If you need external contributors, formal review queues, or open authoring, verify fit carefully before committing.
TinaCMS
TinaCMS has a managed TinaCloud path plus an Apache-2.0 self-hosted backend. As of 2026-03-28, TinaCloud pricing is Free at $0 for 2 users, Team at $29/month, Team Plus at $49/month, Business at $299/month, and Enterprise is custom; all prices are per project. TinaCloud is the easier route for editorial workflow and non-repo users, while self-hosting requires you to run the backend API and provide auth, database, and git integrations yourself. Official docs also state that search is not currently supported in self-hosted Tina, and self-hosting has feature gaps versus TinaCloud.
When to choose
Use this when editors need a more productized workflow than Keystatic offers and you can justify SaaS spend for a single project. The decisive factor is whether TinaCloud's managed collaboration and editorial workflow are worth more than the extra infrastructure and feature caveats of self-hosting.
Tradeoffs
Tina gives the richest hosted editorial workflow of the three, but the hosted path is the most expensive once you move past a tiny team. The OSS backend reduces lock-in, but the operational burden moves to you.
Cautions
As of 2026-03-28, official docs say self-hosted Tina still lacks built-in search support, and the self-hosting docs warn that some features are unavailable outside TinaCloud. Repo-based media on TinaCloud also has single-branch caveats with branching and editorial workflow, so branch-heavy teams should review media behavior before rollout.
Decap CMS
Decap CMS is an MIT-licensed open-source git-based CMS with no first-party hosted pricing surfaced in the official docs; as of 2026-03-28, the official posture is effectively self-hosted software plus whatever hosting, identity, and git-provider costs you choose. The docs list Decap CMS 3.10.1 as the latest release, published on February 23, 2026. Editorial workflow is PR/MR-based and works with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, and Open Authoring is available only with the GitHub backend. For non-GitHub-style editor login, the official path is Git Gateway with Netlify Identity or a self-run Git Gateway plus JWT-capable identity.
When to choose
Use this when software license cost must stay near zero and you are comfortable assembling hosting and auth yourself. It is the best fit when Git-based review is the product and you can live inside the boundaries of the supported backends.
Tradeoffs
The software itself is cheap and portable, but you own the integration surface. Compared with TinaCloud or Keystatic Cloud, the editorial UX and user management story depend much more on your surrounding platform choices.
Cautions
As of 2026-03-28, Open Authoring requires the GitHub backend and does not work with Git Gateway, and Open Authoring users cannot publish from the CMS. If you want non-technical contributors without GitHub accounts, Git Gateway changes the workflow by writing directly to your repo rather than forking.
Try with your AI agent
$ npm install -g pocketlantern $ pocketlantern init # Restart Claude Code, Cursor, or your MCP client, then ask: # "How do I move off Keystatic vs TinaCMS vs Decap CMS Cloud and Self-Host Cost as of 2026-03-28 without getting stuck?"