# Total CMS

> Total CMS is a commercial flat-file PHP CMS for web professionals: structured content modeling, no database, content stored as JSON on disk, Twig templating, a REST API, a CLI, and a built-in MCP server so AI agents can query a live site directly. One-time license per domain; free 45-day trial with full Pro features.

Key facts: PHP 8.2+, no MySQL ever, content can live in git, editions are Standard ($195) and Pro ($395) as one-time purchases. AI agents can connect to any Total CMS site's built-in MCP server for live schemas and content instead of relying on this file alone.

## Product

- [Home](https://totalcms.co/): What Total CMS is and who it's for
- [Features](https://totalcms.co/features/): Content modeling, admin, image processing, Twig, REST API, CLI, MCP server, automations
- [Pricing](https://totalcms.co/pricing/): Editions, one-time pricing, and the full feature matrix
- [Free Trial](https://totalcms.co/trial/): 45 days, full Pro features, no credit card
- [Changelog](https://totalcms.co/changelog/): Release history

## Comparisons

Honest head-to-head comparisons, each with a feature table, when-to-choose-them guidance, FAQ, and cited sources:

- [All comparisons](https://totalcms.co/vs/): Index of every comparison
- [Total CMS vs WordPress](https://totalcms.co/vs/wordpress): Flat files versus a database and a plugin ecosystem
- [Total CMS vs Craft CMS](https://totalcms.co/vs/craft): Both commercial and Twig-based; should content live in a database?
- [Total CMS vs Kirby](https://totalcms.co/vs/kirby): Two commercial flat-file CMSs with different philosophies
- [Total CMS vs Statamic](https://totalcms.co/vs/statamic): Flat-file with or without a Laravel framework attached
- [Total CMS vs Grav](https://totalcms.co/vs/grav): Commercial versus free and open source
- [Total CMS vs Webflow](https://totalcms.co/vs/webflow): What code export really includes when you leave a hosted builder
- [Total CMS vs Squarespace](https://totalcms.co/vs/squarespace): What a subscription buys and what exports when you leave

## Guides

- [All guides](https://totalcms.co/guides/): Index of every guide
- [Hosted vs self-hosted](https://totalcms.co/guides/hosted-vs-self-hosted): Renting a platform versus owning the software
- [The best flat-file CMS in 2026](https://totalcms.co/guides/best-flat-file-cms): Grav, Kirby, Statamic, Total CMS, and Publii compared
- [PHP CMS without a database](https://totalcms.co/guides/php-cms-without-a-database): How database-free works and what it costs you
- [WordPress alternatives for freelancers](https://totalcms.co/guides/wordpress-alternatives-for-freelancers): Judged on handover, maintenance, and per-project cost

## Documentation

- [Documentation](https://docs.totalcms.co/): Full product docs — collections, schemas, fields, Twig, forms, APIs, MCP, extensions, CLI
- [REST API](https://docs.totalcms.co/apis/rest-api/): Read/write API, all editions
- [MCP Server](https://docs.totalcms.co/mcp/server/): Connect AI agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf) to a live site

## Optional

- [Store](https://totalcms.co/store/): Buy a license
- [Privacy](https://totalcms.co/privacy/): Privacy policy
- [Terms](https://totalcms.co/terms/): Terms of service