Total CMS
Flat-file PHP CMS with a built-in MCP server so coding agents can query your schemas directly.
Total CMS stores content as flat JSON files — no database to configure — and ships an MCP server plus a `tcms` CLI so agents like Claude Code or Cursor can read your real schemas and content instead of guessing at hooks. Clients get edit access to only the fields you expose, while the design and templates, on any front end from hand-coded HTML to the built-in Site Builder, stay untouched. It runs on PHP 8.2+, Slim 4 and Twig 3, costs nothing per month, and offers a 45-day free trial.
What holds up
- +No database to set up — content lives as flat JSON files, nothing to configure or break on your host.
- +Built-in MCP server lets agents query real schemas and Twig signatures instead of guessing at hooks.
- +$0 monthly subscription by their own pricing — no recurring CMS fee on top of hosting.
- +Works with any front end — hand-coded HTML, JS frameworks, or the built-in Site Builder, same backend.
Mind the limits
- −Requires PHP 8.2+ hosting — not an option if your server or stack isn't PHP.
- −Self-hosted by design, so updates and server security are on you, not a vendor.
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