01CMS

Lightweight headless CMS with GraphQL & REST (2026)

Name: Apito
Availability: InStock
Author: Apito

Lightweight headless CMS on your own database: GraphQL and REST APIs, schema reviewed like code, self-host or cloud. Compare with Strapi and Directus.

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Headless · Multi-channel · Schema-driven

A lightweight headless CMS is a content API with a small admin: you model content, publish GraphQL and REST, and render it in your own frontend. Apito keeps schema changes as a draft until a person reviews the plan and publishes, and you can self-host the Engine or use Apito Cloud.

Read the full lightweight CMS vs headless CMS comparison.

What makes Apito a lightweight headless CMS

GraphQL and REST from the schema

Models are the source of the generated GraphQL API and the REST shim. You call them after publish.

Schema reviewed before it is live

Changes stay a draft. Console shows the plan on Schema Changes, and a person publishes. The CLI does not publish for you.

Self-host or Apito Cloud

Run the open-core Engine on your host with the CLI or Compose, or use Free Cloud and Pro on Apito-managed hosts.

Console for models, not a site builder

The same Console designs models, reviews the draft, and publishes. Your frontend stays outside Apito.

Lightweight headless CMS vs Strapi and Directus

Strapi alternative · Directus alternative

	Apito	Strapi	Directus
API style	GraphQL plus a REST shim, generated from models	REST and GraphQL from the Content API	REST and GraphQL on the connected database
Database ownership	Project database follows the model plan you publish	SQLite, MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL that Strapi creates. Not a pre-existing database	Your SQL database (Postgres, MySQL, SQLite, SQL Server, Oracle, or CockroachDB)
Admin / editor UI	Console for models, schema review, and publish	Admin panel with Content Manager and Content-type Builder	Data Studio for content, files, and users
Self-host	Open-core Engine on your host, or Apito Cloud	You install and run the Strapi app	Docker on your infrastructure, or Directus Cloud

08Ready when you are

Ready to build with our CMS?

Start building with a lightweight headless CMS and GraphQL + REST content APIs.

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Database Schema Modeling

Design Your Database Schema Visually

Create and manage your database models with Apito's intuitive visual schema designer. Build complex relationships and data structures without writing SQL.

Schema & Database Modeling

Visual Schema Designer

Drag and drop interface to create tables, fields, and relationships visually

Auto-Generated APIs

GraphQL and REST APIs are automatically generated from your schema design

Relationship Management

Define complex relationships between models with one-to-one, one-to-many, and many-to-many

Lightweight CMS & API tools

Content Management UI

API Roles & Permissions

Extensible Plugin System

Unlimited Possibilities with Custom Plugins

Apito is designed to be infinitely extensible. Use community plugins for common needs or build your own custom plugins in any language. The possibilities are truly unlimited.

Popular Community Plugins

50+ plugins available

Security

Authentication

JWT, OAuth, SAML integration

15k+ downloads

Storage

File Storage

AWS S3, Google Cloud, local storage

12k+ downloads

Communication

Email Service

SendGrid, Mailgun, SMTP support

8k+ downloads

Data

Database Sync

Real-time data synchronization

6k+ downloads

Security

Rate Limiting

API throttling and protection

9k+ downloads

Performance

Caching

Redis, Memcached integration

11k+ downloads

Build Your Own Plugins

Create custom plugins in your favorite programming language. Our plugin SDK provides everything you need to extend Apito's functionality exactly how you want it.

Hot-reload plugin development

Sandboxed execution environment

Built-in plugin marketplace

Version management & rollbacks

Plugin dependency resolution

Real-time monitoring & logs

Supported Languages

🟨

JavaScript

Node.js runtime support

🔷

TypeScript

Full type safety

🐍

Python

AI/ML integrations

🐹

High-performance plugins

🦀

Rust

System-level extensions

☕

Java

Enterprise integrations

Simple Plugin Development

process-order-plugin.js

import

{ init, registerQuery, StringField, StringArg, IntArg } from '@apito-io/js-apito-plugin-sdk';

async function

main

() {

// Initialize plugin

const plugin = init('process-order-plugin', '1.0.0');

// Register order processing query

plugin.registerQuery('processOrder',

StringField('Process customer order'), {

'orderId': StringArg('Order ID'),

'amount': IntArg('Order amount')

}, processOrderResolver);

async function

processOrderResolver(context, args) {

// Process the order

const status = 'Order processed successfully';

return status + " - Order #" + args.orderId;

}

main().catch(console.error);

}

Ready to Extend Apito?

Join our community of developers building amazing plugins and extensions.