CMS for Static HTML Websites

· Sitecake

The problem with adding a CMS to a static site

You've built a static HTML website — or bought a template — and it looks exactly how you want it. Then you need to hand it over to a client who wants to edit the text and swap images occasionally.

Most CMS options force you to rebuild the entire site from scratch inside their template system. That means learning a new templating language, recreating your design in a theme, and maintaining a database server. For a small static site, none of that makes sense.

A CMS that works with your existing HTML

SiteCake is a flat-file CMS that drops onto a static HTML website without rebuilding anything. You add a single CSS class to the HTML elements you want to make editable, upload two files, and the site is editable.

There is no separate admin panel. Editing happens inline — you click on the page, change the text, drag in a new image, and hit publish. Content saves directly back to your HTML files. No database is ever created.

How to add SiteCake to a static site

  1. Mark editable regions — add class="sc-content" to any div you want clients to edit.
  2. Upload two files — the sitecake/ folder and sitecake.php go into your website root alongside your HTML files.
  3. Log in and edit — point the browser to yourdomain.com/sitecake.php, log in, and start editing on the real page.

The whole process takes about five minutes on an existing site. There's nothing to configure, no database to install, and no server requirements beyond PHP 7.4+.

What you can edit

Anything outside the sc-content areas — navigation, layout, footer — is protected and cannot be accidentally changed.

Why not WordPress?

WordPress requires a MySQL database, a PHP/MySQL hosting plan, ongoing security updates, and plugin management. For a 5-page brochure site, that's significant overhead.

SiteCake stores content directly in your HTML files. There is no database. Backups are a folder copy. The site stays static between edits, so it loads as fast as plain HTML. Security surface is minimal — no database credentials, no plugin vulnerabilities.

Pricing

SiteCake is a one-time license — no subscription, no monthly fee.

Both licenses include a free trial. See full pricing and download →