How to Build Your Own Craft CMS
Replace Craft CMS with a custom build. Craft empowers the entire creative process
Build Difficulty: 5/5
Build a working replacement in a weekend with AI tools
Estimated Timeline
Based on 56 features at Weekend Project difficulty, expect about One weekend with AI-assisted development.
Recommended Tech Stack
Full-stack React framework with API routes and server components
PostgreSQL database, auth, and real-time subscriptions
Utility-first styling for rapid UI development
Key Features to Replicate
Top features across 8 categories. See all 56 features
Content Management(10 features)
Preview content from multiple targets including single-page applications
Intuitive authoring experience allowing authors to focus on content creation
Element indexes support inline editing of all visible elements from table view
User-friendly interface designed to make sense for content creators with intuitive authoring experience
Schedule content to be published at specific times
+5 more in this category
Content Modeling(5 features)
23 built-in custom field types including Address, Assets, Categories, Checkboxes, Color, Country, Date, Dropdown, Email, Entries, Icon, Lightswitch, Matrix, Money, Multi-select, Number, Plain Text, Radio Buttons, Table, Tags, Time, URL, and Users
Easily define content with custom fields managed centrally in Craft with 23+ built-in field types
Reuse custom fields in the same field layout with unique names, handles, instructions, and conditions
Manage nested entries instead of blocks with cards, entry lists, or classic blocks view mode for complex content
Relate anything-to-anything and edit related items without leaving current context
Support(5 features)
Access to community support through Discord and other channels
Assigned customer support manager for Enterprise tier users
Developer-to-developer support directly from the Craft core development team
Direct email support for issues and questions
Support plans and SLAs available in addition to community support
Admin Interface(4 features)
Customize system email messages and provide custom email templates
Personalize the control panel with custom branding
Centrally manage licenses and plugins for your Craft installation
Personalize the dashboard to display relevant content and information
Ecommerce(4 features)
Powerful first-party ecommerce platform for Craft
Flexible and customizable ecommerce capabilities to build exactly the store needed
Build integrated content-first storefronts with Shopify
Sync and add custom fields to Stripe products, subscriptions, customers, and more
Localization(4 features)
Control panel translated into 25 languages with support for hundreds of locales
Translate and localize content from single fields to entire projects for unlimited sites and languages
Serve multiple related and localized sites from a single Craft installation
Translate and localize content for unlimited sites, languages, and locales
Security(4 features)
Two-factor authentication to enhance user account security
Single sign-on and SAML authentication for enterprise security
Built with GDPR compliance to ensure data protection
Speed up logins with passkeys based on fingerprint or facial recognition
Developer Experience(3 features)
Manage configuration and database schema
Developer debugging toolbar for development and troubleshooting
Bring your own front end with Twig templates or keep completely decoupled with GraphQL API
Cost Calculator
Pricing data not available for Craft CMS. Check their website for current pricing.