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Siteleaf

siteleaf.com

From $7/mo Free plan WebAPI
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Spec score 8.7 #27 of 165 in Content Management Systems

What it is

Siteleaf is a content management system for building and publishing static websites with Jekyll. Users can work with existing or custom Jekyll themes and edit through a visual editor or Markdown. They can drag in images and text files, preview changes, and sync content and theme updates with GitHub to review edits or return to earlier states. Siteleaf can publish to Amazon S3, GitHub Pages, Rackspace Cloud Files, and hosts that support FTP or SFTP. It also supports imports from WordPress, Tumblr, Ghost, and Drupal through Jekyll importers. A JSON API exposes Jekyll content, and the service says tasks can be automated with Zapier. Generated static files do not require a database or complicated server setup. Siteleaf no longer provides built-in hosting for v2 sites. Plans range from Developer at free to Enterprise starting at $299 a month. New sites receive a 14-day Personal plan trial without a credit card.

Spec sheet

What it does
Siteleaf is a cloud content-management system for static websites, especially Jekyll sites, combining hosted editing with Git-based development.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Product
Siteleaf is a content management system for creating and publishing static websites.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Free plan
YesRead 20 Sep 2026 · siteleaf.com
Trial
Each new site starts with a free 14-day Personal plan trial, with no credit card required.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
API
Siteleaf exposes a version 2 REST API for sites, pages, collections, documents, files, publishing, and other management operations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · learn.siteleaf.com
Support
Developer plans receive GitHub Discussions and documentation support, Personal receives email support, and Business receives priority support.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
API and Zapier
Siteleaf provides a JSON API for its Jekyll content, and its homepage says tasks can be automated with Zapier.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
API authentication
API access uses an API key and secret obtained through the authentication endpoint and then Basic Auth on subsequent requests.Read 15 Oct 2026 · learn.siteleaf.com
Collaboration
Users can be invited as Admins, Publishers, or Writers, with workflow control on higher plans.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Company legal name
The service terms identify the provider as Oak Studios LLC.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Documentation depth
Official documentation covers getting started, content management, Liquid and Jekyll themes, deployment, collaboration, API endpoints, and migration from v1.Read 15 Oct 2026 · learn.siteleaf.com
Editing
Users can edit with a visual editor or Markdown, drag and drop images or text files, and preview changes before publishing.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Editing modes
The product provides visual editing, Markdown editing, drag-and-drop image or file uploads, and cloud previews.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
GitHub sync
Siteleaf syncs content and theme changes with GitHub and lets users review edits and revert to earlier states.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
GitHub synchronization
Changes can synchronize in both directions between Siteleaf and GitHub, including commit history and rollback capability.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Historical team size
A Herman Miller case study described Oak Studios as a four-person company at the time of that case study.Read 15 Oct 2026 · hermanmiller.com
Hosting limit
Siteleaf says it no longer offers built-in Siteleaf Hosting for v2 sites.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Hosting limitation
Siteleaf no longer includes built-in Siteleaf Hosting for v2, so customers must provide a publishing destination.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Import and export
The product advertises importing from WordPress, Drupal, Tumblr, Ghost, and other systems, plus moving content out of Siteleaf.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Imports
Siteleaf lists WordPress, Tumblr, Ghost, and Drupal among sources for importing content through Jekyll importers.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Independent company description
Clutch describes Oak as an independent design-led product studio that makes Dropmark and Siteleaf.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clutch.co
Jekyll
Siteleaf is compatible with Jekyll and supports using existing Jekyll themes or custom themes.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Jekyll compatibility
Siteleaf supports existing Jekyll themes and custom Gem-based themes, with third-party Jekyll plugins on Team and higher plans.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Limit: customer-managed hosting
Toolradar identifies the absence of built-in hosting as a disadvantage because users must manage their own hosting solution.Read 15 Oct 2026 · toolradar.com
Limit: Jekyll dependence
Toolradar says advanced customization may require users to understand Jekyll, limiting suitability for teams wanting a general-purpose CMS.Read 15 Oct 2026 · toolradar.com
Maker and launch
Siteleaf is made by Oak, and the maker's announcement says Siteleaf launched on June 5, 2013.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Maker founding year
Clutch lists Oak Studios as founded in 2008.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clutch.co
Maker headquarters
Oak Studios lists Brooklyn, New York as its location.Read 15 Oct 2026 · oak.is
Maker size
Clutch lists Oak Studios in the 6–9 employee range.Read 15 Oct 2026 · clutch.co
News: Siteleaf V3
Siteleaf’s blog says a third major version is in development and asks users which features they want next.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Node SDK
A public JavaScript Node library exists for the Siteleaf v2 API and installs with npm, but its README labels it an alpha work in progress.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Praise: portability
ContentToolkit highlights the bring-your-own-host model and publishing flexibility as protection against hosting lock-in.Read 15 Oct 2026 · contenttoolkit.co
Praise: practical feature fit
API Evangelist reported that GitHub, Jekyll, Amazon S3, and the API matched the needs of a large network of research websites.Read 15 Oct 2026 · apievangelist.com
Praise: workflow balance
ContentToolkit praises Siteleaf for combining a polished editor for nontechnical users with Jekyll and Git version-control workflows.Read 15 Oct 2026 · contenttoolkit.co
Publishing destinations
Siteleaf can publish to Amazon S3, GitHub Pages, Rackspace Cloud Files, and hosts supporting FTP or SFTP.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Rating on G2
0 out of 5 from 0 reviews; G2 shows no review data for Siteleaf.Read 15 Oct 2026 · g2.com
Ruby SDK and CLI
The public siteleaf-gem repository provides a Ruby API interface and command-line client installable with RubyGems under the MIT license.Read 15 Oct 2026 · github.com
Security and data
Siteleaf's GDPR page says customer data belongs to customers, is not sold to third parties, and is stored with an EU-US Privacy Shield compliant hosting provider.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Security and privacy
Siteleaf says customer data is stored with an EU-US Privacy Shield compliant provider, processed in secure US facilities, and deleted after account deletion.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Static output
Siteleaf generates static files, which the maker says do not rely on a database or complicated server setup.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Static publishing
It generates static sites that can be published to Amazon S3, GitHub Pages, Rackspace Cloud Files, FTP, or SFTP destinations.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Structured content
Document collections, advanced metadata, and custom permalinks support structured Jekyll content.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Team collaboration
Users can invite collaborators and assign Admin, Publisher, or Writer roles on plans that include roles.Read 7 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Terms limitation
The terms describe the service as provided at the user’s risk and say technical support is for paying accounts by email in English.Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com

Plans and prices

Developer Free 100 MB · 100 pages · public GitHub repositories · API within limits · select Jekyll plugins · unlimited collaborators Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Personal $7 a month paid annually; $9 paid monthly 500 MB · 500 pages · private GitHub repositories · S3, Rackspace, FTP publishing · cloud previews · custom Gem-based themes Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Team $29 a month paid annually; $36 paid monthly 1 GB · unlimited pages · Admin/Publisher/Writer roles · increased API limits · third-party Jekyll plugins Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Business $89 a month paid annually; $108 paid monthly 10 GB · increased build-time limit · priority publishing · priority support Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com
Enterprise $299 a month starts at; contact [email protected] 100 GB · enterprise support · tailored build process Read 15 Oct 2026 · siteleaf.com

Every Siteleaf plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports visual editing and Markdown
  • Syncs content and themes with GitHub
  • Publishes to S3, GitHub Pages, and FTP/SFTP hosts
  • Offers a JSON API for Jekyll content
  • 14-day Personal trial requires no credit card

Limits

  • Built-in hosting is no longer offered for v2 sites
  • Developer is limited to 100 MB and 100 pages
  • Personal costs $7 a month billed annually

Who it suits

Siteleaf suits people and teams building Jekyll-based static sites who want visual or Markdown editing and GitHub review. It also fits teams publishing to external hosting destinations and assigning collaborator roles on eligible plans.

Siteleaf in depth

Read the full write-up

Siteleaf is a CMS for making and publishing static websites, with Jekyll support and GitHub-based change review. It suits site owners who want flexible editing and control over deployment destinations. Its chief compromise is that v2 sites need hosting arranged elsewhere.

Overview

Siteleaf generates static files rather than depending on a database or a complicated server setup. That makes it a considered choice for Jekyll projects, but not a turnkey website service: v2 sites cannot use built-in Siteleaf Hosting, so you need to publish to a destination such as Amazon S3, GitHub Pages, Rackspace Cloud Files, or a host accepting FTP or SFTP.

Existing Jekyll themes can be reused, and custom themes are supported. Importers also make WordPress, Tumblr, Ghost, and Drupal sources possible starting points for a Jekyll-based site. This breadth helps with migration, though it does not change the need to adopt a static-site workflow.

Key features

Editors can work visually or in Markdown, drag and drop images or text files, and preview changes before publishing. A media library and draft-review workflow support content preparation; the combination is useful for writers who want a CMS interface without giving up Jekyll.

GitHub sync covers both content and theme changes. Collaborators can review edits and revert to earlier states, giving teams a way to track changes rather than treating publishing as a one-way handoff. Roles—Admin, Publisher, and Writer—are available on plans that include them. Siteleaf also offers a JSON API for Jekyll content and says tasks can be automated with Zapier, which suits workflows that need programmatic access or automation.

Pricing

Every new site begins with a free 14-day Personal plan trial, with no credit card required. After that, the free Developer plan is a narrow option for small, public projects: it allows 100 MB and 100 pages, requires public GitHub repositories, and includes API access within limits and community support. Its caps make it a poor fit for a growing publication or private project.

Personal costs $7 a month billed annually, or $9 paid monthly. It raises the limits to 500 MB and 500 pages, adds private GitHub repositories, cloud previews, basic support, and publishing to S3, Rackspace, or FTP. This is the practical step up for an individual who needs privacy or more room; monthly billing costs more than the annual rate.

Team costs $29 a month billed annually, or $36 paid monthly. It removes the page cap, allows up to 1 GB of storage, and adds user roles, increased API limits, and third-party Jekyll plugins. It fits collaborative sites that need those controls, though storage remains finite. Business costs $89 a month billed annually, or $108 paid monthly, and raises storage to 10 GB while adding increased build time, priority publishing, and priority support. Enterprise starts at $299 a month and uses custom pricing; it includes 100 GB of storage, higher API rate limits, enterprise support, and a tailored build process. Those upper tiers make most sense when publishing capacity and support priorities justify the higher spend.

Platforms

Siteleaf is available on the web and through an API. Its Git integration is with GitHub; the deployment options span several external destinations, but v2 hosting must be arranged separately.

Who it's for

Choose Siteleaf if you already use Jekyll, value GitHub review and rollback, and want to select your own publishing destination. It is less suitable if you want a single service that also hosts your v2 site, or if the Developer plan's public-repository requirement and small quotas are restrictive.

Pros and cons

Flexible editing: Visual and Markdown editing, drag-and-drop file handling, and previews support different authoring habits.

Useful GitHub workflow: Review and rollback apply to content and theme changes, which can help teams manage revisions.

Multiple publishing destinations: S3, GitHub Pages, Rackspace, FTP, and SFTP let owners keep an existing hosting setup.

Hosting is separate: Siteleaf no longer offers built-in hosting for v2 sites, so deployment requires an external destination.

Free tier is constrained: Developer's 100 MB, 100-page limit and public-repository requirement rule it out for some private or larger sites.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Git-Based CMS and Content Management Systems.

Kiln is worth considering if you want a free, open-source self-hosted option and are willing to run its worker and GitHub App and provide the site host.

Decap CMS is another free option.

Dhub is another freemium option.

Mattrbld is a free alternative.

Outstatic is another freemium option.

Quiqr is a free alternative.

deco CMS offers an open-source, self-hostable core.

Netlify is another freemium option.

Verdict

Siteleaf is best for Jekyll site owners who want approachable editing, GitHub review, and a choice of publishing destination. Its strongest reason to choose it is the combination of that workflow with theme compatibility and revision controls; its clearest reason to look elsewhere is the need to supply separate hosting, alongside tight limits on the free plan.

Verdict

Siteleaf combines Jekyll editing, GitHub-based change review, and several external publishing destinations. Readers should account for plan-specific storage and page limits, and arrange hosting separately for v2 sites.

Where Specifiction places it

Alternatives to SiteleafAll alternatives →