Skip to content
SPECIFICTION
Get listed

Kiln

kilncms.com

From $4.99/mo Free plan Open source WebAPISelf-hosted
Visit kilncms.com
Spec score 9.0 #15 of 165 in Content Management Systems

What it is

Kiln is an open-source, click-to-edit CMS for static sites. Invited editors change content directly on a site, with edits saved as Git commits in a repository owned by the site owner. Supported content includes text, images, documents, blocks, galleries, events, and calendar items. The publishing workflow includes drafts, scheduled publishing, named versions, history, and restoration. Owners sign in with GitHub, while invited editors and members can use Google sign-in and be scoped to particular pages or sections. Reviewer seats can comment only; suggest mode lets owners approve or decline proposed changes field by field. Kiln works with GitHub repositories and hosts that redeploy on push, including Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel, and GitHub Pages. A REST API and kiln-mcp support scoped, sanitized edits by scripts and agents; optional AI assistance uses an API key supplied by the user. Site content remains plain HTML in the customer's repository, even after leaving Kiln. Self-hosted costs nothing; Kiln Cloud is $4.99 a month, and Fully managed is $14.99 a month.

Spec sheet

What it does
Kiln lets invited users edit marked content directly on static webpages, then saves each publication as a Git commit.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Intended users
Kiln describes itself for people who build static sites and want clients or other non-technical editors to update site content themselves.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Paid from
4.99Read 20 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Integrations
Kiln works with GitHub repositories and hosts that redeploy on push, including Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel, and GitHub Pages.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Support
Self-hosted plans include community support on GitHub, while Fully managed includes priority support.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
License
The editor, worker and setup tooling are publicly available under the GNU AGPL-3.0 license.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Access control
Owners can invite editors, reviewers and members by Google email and restrict editors to selected pages, sections and tools.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Access controls
Site owners sign in with GitHub, while invited editors and members can use Google sign-in without GitHub accounts; editors can be scoped to pages or sections.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
AI extensibility
Self-hosted installations can add an Anthropic-key AI helper for improving, shortening, changing tone, translating, generating alt text and drafting posts.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
API and AI
A REST API and kiln-mcp let scripts and agents edit scoped, sanitized fields; optional AI assist uses an API key supplied by the user.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Astro support
Source mode currently supports Astro content files, including formatted text, metadata, images, links, drafts, scheduling and entry ordering.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Builder migration
The rescue command copies up to 50 pages by default from Squarespace, Wix or WordPress.com into editable plain HTML and localizes assets.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Content storage
Site files and their complete version history remain in the customer’s GitHub repository rather than a Kiln database.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Data ownership
Site content remains plain HTML in the customer's GitHub repository on every plan, and the site can be kept after cancelling or leaving Kiln.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Documentation
The documentation covers installation, hosting modes, editor tools, source mode, access management, configuration, troubleshooting and API schemas.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Editing
Editors can change text, images, documents, blocks, galleries, events, and calendar content from the site itself.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
File limit
Uploaded documents are limited to 15 MB per file.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
File restrictions
Editors may change pages, stylesheets and approved media types, while SVG uploads are refused because browsers can execute scripts from them.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Galleries and events
Kiln provides multi-upload photo galleries with captions and fullscreen viewing plus structured event lists with calendar views.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
GitHub public traction
The kilncms/kiln repository page showed 1 star, 0 forks and 337 commits when checked.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Hosting integrations
Kiln works with hosts that rebuild after Git changes, including Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel and GitHub Pages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Images and files
Editors can replace and resize images, set alt text, and attach PDFs or other documents; uploaded files are limited to 15 MB each.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Limit: editor identity
Editors and members authenticate through Google, so every invited person needs a Google account.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Limit: integrations (G2 listing)
The single G2 reviewer reported a lack of API integration with other company tools; the listing concerns Glitch’s different Kiln product.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Limit: media management
The repository has no media library that lists or prunes uploaded images; each new image upload creates another file.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Maker identity
The product site brands the maker simply as Kiln and does not state a legal company name, headquarters or founding year on the reviewed pages.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
MCP integration
Kiln publishes a kiln-mcp server that lists pages, reads fields and applies edits through the REST API.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Plan billing
Plans are monthly, renew until canceled, and continue working through the already-paid month; failed payments receive seven additional editing days.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Praise: collaborative development (G2 listing)
The single G2 reviewer praised collaborative development and code reviews for improving code quality; the listing concerns Glitch’s different Kiln product.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Public API
The REST API exposes page listing, editable-field retrieval and sanitized edit commits through GET /api/v1/pages, GET /api/v1/fields and PATCH /api/v1/edits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Publishing
Kiln supports drafts, scheduled publishing, named versions, history, and restoration, with publishes saved as Git commits.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Publishing workflow
The editor supports previews, drafts, scheduled publication, per-page history and undo commits.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Rating on G2 (name collision)
5.0 out of 5 from 1 review; G2 identifies the listing’s seller as Glitch and describes a source-code product, so it is not evidence about Kiln CMS at kilncms.com.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
React limitation
React-based sites from tools such as Lovable, v0 or Bolt must be frozen into HTML, after which forms, sign-in and other app-dependent behavior stop working.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Repeatable content
Marked repeatable blocks can be duplicated, reordered, removed and filtered, including cards, rows and team members.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Review workflow
Kiln provides comment-only reviewer seats and a suggest mode where owners approve or decline proposed changes field by field.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Security controls
The setup guide says the GitHub App can access only repositories selected during installation, and invited Google-email addresses are the only ones allowed to sign in as editors or members.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Security model
The GitHub App is restricted to repositories selected during installation, while invited users authenticate with Google and never receive GitHub credentials.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Self-hosting effort
The maker estimates 30 to 45 minutes for a first self-hosted installation and provides an npx setup wizard plus a doctor command.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Supported site types
Kiln supports static HTML sites and documents a source mode for Astro-generated sites; the docs say Eleventy, Hugo, and Jekyll adapters are planned to follow.Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
System requirements
Kiln Cloud setup requires a GitHub repository of plain HTML and Node.js 20 or newer, with a host that redeploys on pushes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Text editing
Editors can format text with bold, italic, links, lists and the site’s configured style classes.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Token security
Self-hosted workers keep refresh tokens server-side and give browsers opaque session identifiers; GitHub access tokens expire after eight hours.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Trial terms
Both paid plans provide seven days without requiring a card, and editing stops after the trial if no subscription is started.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Unsupported generators
Kiln does not yet edit content files for Eleventy, Hugo or Jekyll projects.Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com

Plans and prices

Self-hosted Free Free forever Free forever · Open source under AGPL-3.0 · You run the worker and GitHub App · You provide the site host Read 20 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Kiln Cloud $4.99 a month Monthly, recurring 7-day free trial Read 20 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Fully managed $14.99 a month Monthly, recurring 7-day free trial Read 20 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Open source Free self-hosted Cloudflare sign-in service · own GitHub App · own repository and host · AI helper with own Anthropic key · GitHub-issue support Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Self-hosted Free Free forever Every editor feature, no limits · You deploy the sign-in worker and your own GitHub App · Community support Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com
Kiln Cloud $4.99 a month monthly per site Kiln-run sign-in service and GitHub App · own repository and host · editors, members, drafts, history, scheduling, comments and suggestions · no AI helper Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Fully managed $14.99 a month monthly per site Kiln setup and hosting · GitHub account required · domain email forwarding · everything in Kiln Cloud · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Concierge setup $399, paid once one-time on any plan hand-tagging including tables · menu setup · editor access setup · one revision round after a week Read 15 Oct 2026 · kilncms.com
Concierge setup & tagging $399, paid once One-time Optional hand-tagging, menu and editor-access configuration, and one revision round Read 29 Sep 2026 · kilncms.com

Every Kiln plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Edits are saved as Git commits
  • Supports drafts, scheduling, version history, and restoration
  • Editors can be restricted to pages or sections
  • Reviewer seats can comment without editing
  • Content remains in the customer's GitHub repository

Limits

  • Uploaded documents are limited to 15 MB
  • Self-hosted users run the worker and GitHub App
  • Self-hosted users provide the site host
  • Eleventy, Hugo, and Jekyll adapters are planned

Who it suits

Kiln is aimed at people who build static sites and want clients or other non-technical editors to maintain content themselves. It also suits teams that want edits retained as Git commits in a repository they control.

Kiln in depth

Read the full write-up

Kiln suits site owners who want clients or colleagues to edit a static site without touching its code. Its strongest fit is a GitHub-based publishing workflow; teams that want a hosted CMS independent of Git will need another approach.

Overview

Kiln puts editing on the site itself: editors can change text, images, documents, blocks, galleries, events, and calendar content. Each publish is saved as a Git commit, making Kiln a natural addition to a static site that already redeploys when its GitHub repository changes. That connection is also a constraint: Kiln is not a general-purpose editing layer for sites built around another publishing system.

Drafts, scheduled publishing, named versions, history, and restoration give owners useful controls over the lifecycle of a change. Content stays as plain HTML in the customer’s GitHub repository on every plan, and the site can be kept after leaving Kiln. That makes the content portable, though the site still depends on its own hosting and deployment setup.

Key features

Editing and review

Owners sign in with GitHub, while invited editors and members can use Google sign-in without GitHub accounts. Page- or section-level access is useful when different people maintain separate parts of a site. Comment-only reviewer seats keep feedback distinct from editing, and suggest mode lets owners approve or decline proposed changes field by field.

GitHub workflow and safeguards

Kiln works with GitHub repositories and hosts that redeploy on push, including Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel, and GitHub Pages. The setup guide says its GitHub App can access only repositories selected during installation; invited Google-email addresses are the only ones allowed to sign in as editors or members. These controls help limit access, but the GitHub-centered setup will not suit teams that avoid that provider.

API, AI, and file handling

A REST API and kiln-mcp let scripts and agents edit scoped, sanitized fields, which can support controlled automation rather than unrestricted repository access. Optional AI assist uses an API key supplied by the user. Uploaded documents have a 15 MB per-file limit, a meaningful constraint for teams managing large media or documents through the editor.

Kiln supports static HTML sites and documents a source mode for Astro-generated sites. Adapters for Eleventy, Hugo, and Jekyll are planned to follow, so those site types are not yet a documented supported path. Self-hosted plans include community support on GitHub; Fully managed includes priority support.

Pricing

PlanPriceWhat it meansSelf-hostedfreeFree forever and open source under AGPL-3.0. You run the worker and GitHub App and provide the site host; best for teams willing to operate the service themselves.Kiln Cloud$4.99 a monthMonthly recurring, with a 7-day free trial. It removes the need to self-host Kiln, while the site still uses its own host.Fully managed$14.99 a monthMonthly recurring, with a 7-day free trial and priority support. It is the clearest fit for owners who want managed service and a higher level of support.Concierge setup & tagging$399, paid onceOne-time optional service covering hand-tagging, menu and editor-access configuration, and one revision round; useful when setup help matters more than ongoing hosting.The free plan avoids a subscription but shifts operation of the worker and GitHub App to the customer. Cloud and Fully managed are recurring monthly commitments after their 7-day free trial; the listed plans do not state seat or usage quotas, so teams should not assume a particular capacity from the price alone.

Platforms

Kiln is available as a web service and self-hosted software, with API access. The self-hosted route offers the most operational control, while the managed plans suit owners who would rather not run Kiln themselves. In either case, its GitHub repository workflow and static-site focus shape the deployment choices.

Who it's for

Kiln is best for people building static sites who need clients or other non-technical editors to maintain content themselves. It is particularly persuasive when changes should be reviewed before publication and when keeping content in a customer-owned repository matters. It is a weaker choice for teams that need a broad range of documented static-site adapters today, larger-than-15-MB document uploads, or a publishing flow outside GitHub.

Pros and cons

Pro: Editors work on the page and can handle several content types, reducing the need to route routine updates through a developer.

Pro: Scoped access, comment-only review, and field-by-field suggestions support delegation without giving every contributor the same role.

Pro: Plain HTML stays in the customer’s repository even after leaving Kiln, limiting content lock-in.

Pro: The free self-hosted plan is open source, while paid monthly options add managed service and, at the top tier, priority support.

Con: Free self-hosting requires the customer to run the worker and GitHub App and provide hosting.

Con: GitHub is central to ownership and publishing, and support for several popular static-site generators is still planned rather than documented.

Con: The 15 MB upload cap can rule out larger documents.

Alternatives

Decap CMS is worth considering for a free, self-hosted Git-based CMS with a free plan capped at one site and one seat. Siteleaf offers a free Developer plan capped at 100 MB and 100 pages, with public GitHub repositories and API access; choose it if those limits fit your project. Mattrbld is another free option with Android and iOS platforms as well as self-hosted and web access.

Quiqr is a free, open-source alternative with Linux, macOS, Windows, and web platforms. deco CMS offers a free open-source core that can be self-hosted. Netlify is an alternative if your priority is a hosting platform with a free plan of 300 credits per month, one concurrent build, and one team owner. Sitepins has paid Pro and Team plans and a free trial. TinaCMS is another freemium, self-hosted option, with a free tier for two users and two roles.

Browse more options in Git-Based CMS or Content Management Systems.

Verdict

Choose Kiln if you need non-technical editors to update a GitHub-backed static site with scoped permissions and a review path, while keeping content in your repository. The main reason to look elsewhere is the operational and platform commitment: free use means running Kiln yourself, and its documented site support remains focused on static HTML and Astro.

Verdict

Kiln brings page-level editing and review controls to Git-backed static sites. Self-hosting is free, while managed plans have listed monthly prices and a 7-day free trial.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to KilnAll alternatives →