Why we love Kirby CMS (and you might too)
Written by Sam Serrien ·
If you've ever been frustrated by a heavy, sluggish CMS that gets in the way more than it helps, we know the feeling. That's why we switched to Kirby CMS — a flat-file CMS that does what it needs to do, without the overhead. In this article, we explain why.
What exactly is Kirby CMS?
Kirby is a file-based content management system built with PHP. That might sound old-fashioned, but it's the exact opposite. No database needed, no complex migrations, no dependency on plugins that stop working after two years.
Content is stored as simple text files and folders. This makes it blazingly fast, easy to back up, and perfect for version control with Git. Developers get full control over the output — no imposed HTML structures or mandatory themes.
Pro tip
Kirby works fantastically as a headless CMS. Use the built-in REST or GraphQL API to serve content to your React, Vue, or Svelte frontend. Best of both worlds.
5 reasons why we prefer Kirby
1. No database, no problems
Flat-file means your content simply lives in files. You can copy, zip, and email the entire project if needed. No MySQL dumps, no migrations, no corrupted tables on a Friday evening.
2. The panel is beautiful
Kirby's admin panel is minimalist, fast, and customizable. You build exactly the fields your client needs — nothing more, nothing less. No 47 menu items they'll never click on.
The Kirby panel — clean, fast, and tailored to your content.
3. Developer experience
Writing templates in Kirby feels like plain PHP — no obscure template engines or custom syntax. Everything is logical, well-documented, and consistent. The learning curve is minimal for anyone already working with PHP.
4. Performance
Without database queries, Kirby is fast out of the box. Add a caching layer on top and you have a site that loads in under 100ms. Try doing that with WordPress and 30 plugins.
Note
Kirby is not free for commercial projects. A license costs €99 per site — but that's a one-time cost that pays for itself many times over in saved maintenance.
5. Security
No database means less attack surface. No SQL injection possible, no database credentials to leak. Combined with the fact that there is no public-facing plugin ecosystem (like WordPress), the security baseline is much higher.
When is Kirby the right choice?
Kirby is ideal for mid-sized websites where you want full control over the design and content structure. Think corporate sites, portfolios, magazines, and small e-commerce setups.
It's less suitable if you need a massive plugin ecosystem, or if your client absolutely wants WordPress (old habits die hard). But in 90% of cases, Kirby is the better choice.
✅ Kirby is a good fit for
- Corporate websites
- Portfolios & agencies
- Online magazines
- Headless CMS setups
- Developer-driven projects
⚠️ Look elsewhere if
- You need 100+ plugins
- Non-technical devs need to build
- Large multi-user editorial teams
- Free hosting is required
GeNx is Certified Kirby Partner
We are officially recognized by the Kirby team as a certified partner. This means we have direct access to support, beta releases, and the partner network.
Frequently asked questions
Conclusion
Kirby CMS is not the most well-known CMS in the world, and that might just be its greatest strength. It's built by developers, for developers — with a healthy dose of respect for the people who ultimately need to manage content in it.
If you're looking for a CMS that is fast, secure, and flexible without the complexity of the major players, then Kirby is more than worth a try. And as a certified partner, we're happy to help you get started.