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WonderCMS

WonderCMS/wondercms

A tiny flat-file CMS in PHP that stores content in a JSON file, with no database and a one-step install by uploading its files.

Open-source alternative to:WordPress

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744
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169
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Last commit
6 days ago

What is it?

WonderCMS is a flat-file content management system written in PHP. Site content is stored in a JSON file rather than a database, so installing it means unzipping the package and uploading the files to a web server. The core consists of five files, and the project positions itself as lightweight and free of configuration.

The admin area lets you create and edit pages inline, manage subpages and menu order, set per-page SEO titles and descriptions, and upload files. Themes and plugins can be installed from within the admin panel, and plugins hook into the core through a listener system. Built-in one-click updates and backups are also provided.

The system runs on Apache, NGINX, IIS and Caddy, requires PHP 7.4 or later with the cURL, mbstring and Zip extensions, and supports HTTPS. Login credentials are hashed with PHP's password_hash, and CSRF tokens are used for admin actions. The project does not add tracking cookies and only sets a single PHP session cookie.

Key features

  • 01Stores content in a JSON file, so no database setup is needed.
  • 02One-step install by uploading the files, with 1-click updates and backups.
  • 03Inline page editing with subpages, menu ordering and per-page SEO fields.
  • 04Theme and plugin installer, with plugins attached through hooks and listeners.
  • 05Works on Apache, NGINX, IIS and Caddy, with an optional functions.php for custom code.

Use cases

  • Building a simple personal or small business website on shared PHP hosting.
  • Publishing a landing page or brochure site that rarely changes.
  • Running a small blog without maintaining a database server.
  • Moving a site to a new host by copying its files.

Quick start

  1. 1

    Download the latest version from the WonderCMS website

  2. 2

    Unzip and upload the files to your web server

  3. 3

    Or clone the repository from GitHub

    git clone https://github.com/WonderCMS/wondercms.git

Things to know

  • Requires PHP 7.4 or greater with cURL, mbstring and Zip extensions.
  • NGINX or IIS servers need one additional configuration step.

In collections

Self-hosted apps

Topics

#cms#php#flat-file-cms#website-builder#blog#no-database#self-hosted#content-management#content-management-system#fast

FAQ

What is wondercms?
A tiny flat-file CMS in PHP that stores content in a JSON file, with no database and a one-step install by uploading its files. WonderCMS is a flat-file content management system written in PHP. Site content is stored in a JSON file rather than a database, so installing it means unzipping the package and uploading the files to a web server. The core consists of five files, and the project positions itself as lightweight and free of configuration.
Is wondercms free to use? What license does it have?
wondercms is open source under the MIT license. Check the license terms before using it in commercial products.
Is wondercms still maintained?
Actively maintained. The last commit to wondercms was on Nov 2, 2026.
What can I use wondercms for?
Building a simple personal or small business website on shared PHP hosting. Publishing a landing page or brochure site that rarely changes. Running a small blog without maintaining a database server. Moving a site to a new host by copying its files.
How do I install wondercms?
Download the latest version from the WonderCMS website Unzip and upload the files to your web server Or clone the repository from GitHub: git clone https://github.com/WonderCMS/wondercms.git
Where can I get wondercms?
The source code and installation instructions are on GitHub: https://github.com/WonderCMS/wondercms

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