Kiln vs Outstatic
Kiln
kilncms.comOutstatic
outstatic.comSide by side
| Figure | Kiln | Outstatic |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $4.99/mo | $9.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 9 | 2 |
| Spec score · Git-Based CMS | 8.9 (#4) | 8.0 (#12) |
| Content storage | Site files and their complete version history remain in the customer’s GitHub repository rather than a Kiln database. | Outstatic stores content in the connected GitHub repository, without requiring a database or server to set up. |
| Integrations | Kiln works with GitHub repositories and hosts that redeploy on push, including Cloudflare Pages, Netlify, Vercel, and GitHub Pages. | Outstatic documents GitHub authentication through OAuth applications or GitHub Apps, and PRO adds Google login and email sign-in. |
| Support | Self-hosted plans include community support on GitHub, while Fully managed includes priority support. | The license page says sponsors receive dedicated support channels. |
Plans
Kiln
- Self-hostedFree
- Kiln Cloud$4.99 a month
- Fully managed$14.99 a month
- Open sourceFree
- Self-hostedFree
- Kiln Cloud$4.99 a month
- Fully managed$14.99 a month
- Concierge setup$399, paid once
- Concierge setup & tagging$399, paid once
In their own words
Kiln
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.
Outstatic
Outstatic is a Markdown-focused content management system for websites. Its editor works with Markdown and MDX files in GitHub repositories, where content is stored without a separate database or server. Content is arranged into Collections, Documents, and Singletons; Singletons can hold unique items such as a homepage or site settings. The editor lists custom fields and AI completion. The homepage names support for Docsify, VuePress, MkDocs, SvelteKit, Next.js, Hugo, Docusaurus, Nuxt, Astro, Hexo, Eleventy, VitePress, Zola, Nextra, Fumadocs, Markdoc, and Contentlayer. Outstatic supports self-hosting and a hosted PRO dashboard. GitHub login is documented through OAuth applications or GitHub Apps; PRO adds Google and email sign-in. A PRO project API key can bring AI completion, member management, added login options, automatic content setup, and a managed GitHub relay to a self-hosted instance. The free plan is free; PRO is $9.99 a month, billed $9.99/user/mo. Eligible new PRO subscriptions include a 14-day trial.