emdash
EmDash is a full-stack TypeScript CMS based on Astro; the spiritual successor to WordPress
The Lens
EmDash is a TypeScript-first CMS built on Astro that runs on Cloudflare Workers or Node.js. Positioned as a modern WordPress alternative for developers: sandboxed plugin architecture, portable text storage, and AI-agent-friendly APIs. MIT-licensed, fully free, and Cloudflare-native.
Cloudflare deployment uses D1 (SQLite) and R2 for storage, which means near-zero ops overhead if you are already on Cloudflare. Node.js deployment works with local SQLite. The Astro foundation means fast builds and clean static output. But this is early-stage software: the commit count is still modest and the ecosystem is thin.
Developer-first teams comfortable with beta software should experiment here. Ghost is better for publishers today. Payload CMS is the more production-hardened TypeScript option. EmDash's appeal is the Astro integration and Cloudflare-native deployment story, especially for teams already running edge infrastructure.
The catch: the plugin ecosystem barely exists. This has not proven staying power yet. Watch it for six months before building anything serious on top.
Free vs Self-Hosted vs Paid
fully freeFree tier: MIT-licensed, completely free.
Self-hosted (Cloudflare): Near-zero cost using Cloudflare D1 (SQLite), R2 (storage), and Workers. Cloudflare free tier covers small sites.
Self-hosted (Node.js): Local SQLite, standard server hosting costs.
Paid: No paid tier.
Fully free; Cloudflare deployment can run at near-zero cost on the free tier.
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License: MIT License
Use freely, including commercial. Just keep the license.
Commercial use: ✓ Yes
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