Cockpit review
Open source, self-hosted
Cockpit is a deliberately small self-hosted headless CMS written in PHP. It adds content management to a project without imposing a framework, a front end or a way of working, and it runs comfortably on cheap shared hosting.
The core is MIT licensed. A Pro edition with additional features is sold separately.
Who Cockpit is for
Developers who want a lightweight content API on inexpensive PHP hosting without adopting a large platform.
Not suitable for large teams or complex editorial workflows.
Strengths and limits
What it does well
- Tiny footprint that runs on almost any PHP host, including shared hosting.
- MIT licensed core with no framework lock-in.
- REST and GraphQL both available.
- SQLite by default, so there is no database server to provision.
Where it falls short
- Minimal by design, so anything sophisticated is your own work.
- Small community and limited third-party material.
- The admin interface is basic.
- Some features sit in the paid Pro edition.
Cockpit pricing
The Cockpit Core is MIT licensed and free to self-host. A Pro edition with additional capabilities is sold commercially; check the site for current pricing.
Verdict
A sensible choice when you want a content API on cheap PHP hosting and nothing more. It does the small job well and stays out of the way.
Anything with real editorial requirements has outgrown it before it starts.
Cockpit FAQ
Is Cockpit free?
The Core is MIT licensed and free to self-host. A separately sold Pro edition adds further features, so check the site for its current price.
Other platforms worth a look
This is an independent review. We have no affiliate relationship with Cockpit, earn nothing if you sign up, and no vendor pays for placement in the directory. Prices were read from the vendor's own pages in August 2026 and change without notice.