Decap CMS vs Gridea
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A web editing interface for sites built with static site generators, storing content in Git.
Open source · MIT
A desktop app for writing Markdown posts that publish to a static blog.
The short answer
Choose Decap CMS if you need…
- Teams that want non-developers to edit content on a static site
- Sites built with a static site generator that keep content in a Git repository
- Developers who want a self-hosted, MIT-licensed editor instead of a hosted CMS
- Projects that can define their content structure in a YAML config file
Choose Gridea if you need…
- Bloggers who want to own their content as plain static files
- People who prefer writing in Markdown on a desktop app
- Writers who want to sync their blog source folder through OneDrive, iCloud or Dropbox
- Users who want to add Gitalk or DisqusJS comments to a static blog
Side-by-side
| Decap CMS | Gridea | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 19.5k | 10.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Intermediate | Beginner |
| How you get it | Install with a package manager | Download the app |
| Main language | JavaScript | TypeScript |
| Last code update | 5 days ago | 3 years ago |
What each one is
Decap CMS
Decap CMS is a single-page admin app you add to a static website at the /admin path. It gives editors a clean interface for changing content that is stored in a Git repository, based on a YAML config that describes your site's content model. It is the renamed successor of Netlify CMS.
Gridea
Gridea is a desktop writing app for people who want a blog without running a database or server. You write posts in a Markdown editor, add images and labels, and the app generates a static website you can host on platforms such as GitHub Pages. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and is built with Electron, Vue and TypeScript.
Best for
Decap CMS
- Teams that want non-developers to edit content on a static site
- Sites built with a static site generator that keep content in a Git repository
- Developers who want a self-hosted, MIT-licensed editor instead of a hosted CMS
- Projects that can define their content structure in a YAML config file
Gridea
- Bloggers who want to own their content as plain static files
- People who prefer writing in Markdown on a desktop app
- Writers who want to sync their blog source folder through OneDrive, iCloud or Dropbox
- Users who want to add Gitalk or DisqusJS comments to a static blog
Strengths
Decap CMS
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Content is stored in Git, so changes have version history
- Offers both a quick CDN-based install and a more flexible npm-based install
Gridea
- Writes in Markdown and generates a static site, so the output is simple files
- Available on Windows, macOS and Linux with an interface in several languages
- MIT licensed and open source
Not ideal for
Decap CMS
- Sites that need a traditional database-backed CMS, since content lives in Git rather than a database
- Users who want a fully hosted, no-setup service, because the README's quick start still requires configuration (a hosted option called Decap Turbo is mentioned separately)
- Non-technical people setting up the site alone, since the README expects editing a YAML config and possibly a build system
Gridea
- People who want a hosted blog with no setup, since the README describes publishing to static hosts like GitHub Pages
- Users who need a mobile or web-only editor, because the README only lists desktop platforms
- Teams needing collaborative editing, which the README does not mention
Trade-offs
Decap CMS
- Requires a YAML configuration to describe the content model, which takes setup effort
- The README is truncated, so details on authentication and Git backends are not covered here
- Mentions a hosted paid-style option (Decap Turbo) alongside the open-source project, so check what is included before relying on it
Gridea
- The README itself says the project is young and has shortcomings
- Last push in the metadata is July 2023, so recent maintenance is unclear
- Setup for development requires Node.js and yarn, and the README gives little detail on publishing steps
Getting started
Decap CMS
Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/decaporg/decap-cmsGridea
Download a prebuilt release from the releases page
https://github.com/getgridea/gridea/releasesFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Decap CMS and Gridea?
Decap CMS: A web editing interface for sites built with static site generators, storing content in Git. Gridea: A desktop app for writing Markdown posts that publish to a static blog. Decap CMS suits teams that want non-developers to edit content on a static site, while Gridea suits bloggers who want to own their content as plain static files.
Are Decap CMS and Gridea free?
Decap CMS: Free and open source. Gridea: Free and open source.
Which is easier to set up, Decap CMS or Gridea?
Gridea is easier to get started with (rated beginner); Decap CMS is rated intermediate and usually needs more setup.
Is Decap CMS or Gridea more popular?
Decap CMS has more GitHub stars (19.5k) than Gridea (10.2k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Decap CMS and Gridea?
Other options people compare them with include Jekyll, Hexo, Vuestic Admin, PicGo, ZY Player.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.