A TinaCMS alternative for Astro sites

TinaCMS and Markstage both keep your content as files in git and both let people edit on the page. They differ in what you run, what it costs and what the editor covers beyond the page.

Who each one is for

TinaCMS suits developers who want click-to-edit on their pages, MDX, and a hosted backend (TinaCloud) or a self-hosted one. It works with Astro, Next.js and other frameworks.

Markstage suits teams with an Astro site whose writers should work on the real design, and who want staging, roles, single sign-on, a forms inbox and releases included, on their own server, for free. Markstage is pre-release.

Side by side

Where TinaCMS is stronger

• MDX. TinaCMS has edited MDX for longer. Markstage's MDX support is new, and shows components as cards rather than as the site renders them.
• A hosted option. TinaCloud runs the backend for you. Markstage needs a server you look after.
• Many frameworks. TinaCMS supports more than Astro. Markstage has one adapter today, Astro; adapters beyond Astro are planned (roadmap).
• A large community. TinaCMS has about 13.9k stars on GitHub and years of use.

Moving from TinaCMS to Markstage

Your Markdown and JSON files stay where they are. List the same folders as collections in markstage.config.mjs, add the @markstage/astro integration, and mark the fields your components show so they can be edited on the page. MDX files become collections with format: 'mdx': their words and simple component settings are edited, their code is kept as written. When you are ready, remove the tina() integration and the island routes. Run the Markstage server with Docker Compose or systemd and nginx; see the deploy guide.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a free TinaCMS alternative for Astro?

Yes. Markstage is free to self-host, with no per-user fees, and edits Astro sites on their real design. TinaCMS itself is also free to self-host, but it then needs a database adapter, and its hosted plan is free for two users.

Does TinaCMS work with Astro?

Yes. TinaCMS has an Astro guide and an @tinacms/astro integration with visual editing. Its docs say visual editing needs server output and an adapter, or every editable region wrapped in <TinaIsland>.

Can Markstage edit MDX like TinaCMS?

Partly. Markstage edits MDX files' words and a component's simple settings, and keeps imports, expressions and code settings exactly as written. Components show as cards on the canvas, not as the site renders them. If writers need to see and change components as rendered, TinaCMS fits better.

Do I need a database to self-host?

TinaCMS's self-hosted backend uses a database adapter (its docs name MongoDB and Postgres) as a cache of your files. Markstage needs no database server: one SQLite file holds people, sessions, the inbox, drafts in progress, trash, releases, the media index and the audit log; the content stays in git.

Which one has staging?

Markstage has local, staging and production built in, each a git branch plus a server. TinaCMS has an editorial workflow on protected branches with pull requests and preview links, on its Team plan and up.

Sources

Checked on 2026-11-03: TinaCMS pricing · TinaCMS Astro guide · TinaCMS self-hosting · TinaCMS editorial workflow · TinaCMS on GitHub · Astro: TinaCMS guide. Markstage facts: the full comparison.