Comparison

ZeroCMS vs Sveltia CMS for Astro 2026.

Both keep your content in the repository. ZeroCMS leads on codebase footprint, AI, and cost and compliance. Sveltia CMS leads on API reach.

ZeroCMS

Git-based · Cloud · From $15 / month, editors need no seat

Connect a GitHub repository and Zero reads your Astro Zod schemas and .astro components to generate the editor — no plugins, no config, nothing added to your repository. Editors work against a live preview of the real site, and every publish lands as a clean commit. An AI agent works in the editor, and eight content checks run on demand or as a pre-publish gate.

Overview

  • Astro fit
  • Codebase fit
  • Editing
  • Publishing and review
  • Governance and access
  • Git and the repository
  • APIs and extensibility
  • AI capabilities

Reviewed 1 Sep 2026 Full CMS comparison →

Sveltia CMS

Git-based · Self-hosted · Free

Sveltia is a client-side admin app you add to your own site, a modern Svelte rewrite of Netlify/Decap CMS that reads the same configuration. It commits directly to your Git repository through an OAuth backend and edits the files already there, which Astro reads back through astro:content. It is MIT-licensed with no hosted service of its own.

No screenshots yet

Overview

  • Astro fit
  • Codebase fit
  • Editing
  • Publishing and review
  • Governance and access
  • Git and the repository
  • APIs and extensibility
  • AI capabilities

Reviewed 3 Sep 2026 Full CMS comparison →

Pick ZeroCMS when

You want a CMS that adds nothing to the repository and runs content checks before anything publishes.

  • You want the CMS to leave your codebase alone
  • AI agents edit the content
  • AI should do the routine work

Pick Sveltia CMS when

You want a CMS that connects to self-hosted Git and runs locally with no account.

  • The budget is zero
  • Other systems read and write the content

What actually differs.

Codebase fit

Code in your repository

ZeroCMS

Nothing. The editor is generated from the schemas and components already in the repository.

Sveltia CMS

An admin route served by your own site, a config file owned by the CMS and the content model declared a second time.

AI capabilities

AI context

ZeroCMS

The AI sees your entries and the site's own code.

Sveltia CMS

The vendor does not say what the AI sees.

Governance and access

Multi-site

ZeroCMS

Several sites on one account, with per-site access.

Sveltia CMS

One site per account.

Editing

Custom field controls

ZeroCMS

No custom field controls.

Sveltia CMS

Custom field controls are supported.

APIs and extensibility

Extension points

ZeroCMS

AI skills.

Sveltia CMS

Custom fields, editor plugins and forking the source.

Astro fit

Preview output modes

ZeroCMS

Previews static and server-rendered.

Sveltia CMS

No preview for any output mode.

Publishing and review

Review before publish

ZeroCMS

Every change is shown as a diff before it goes live.

Sveltia CMS

You are told an entry changed, without being shown what.

Cost, licence and compliance

Customer-specific plans

ZeroCMS

Plans for agencies.

Sveltia CMS

No audience-specific plans.

Every aspect, side by side, in the full Astro CMS comparison →
Still not sure?

Zero adds nothing to the repository.

Sveltia CMS adds three things to your repository, the content model declared a second time among them. That matters if you want the repo left alone. Connect an Astro repo and see the difference in ten minutes.

Connect your repo Try the live demo

14 days free · no credit card