The Publii Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Publii in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Publii
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source desktop CMS that publishes static websites
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among website and landing page builders, read from Publii’s own pages.
Made by TidyCustoms · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Publii’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Publii’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.8
GPA, above 100 of the 104 other website and landing page builders we grade
Publii is a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that keeps your site content on your computer and generates static HTML pages. You publish the result to a host of your choice, so the server needs no database, PHP or CMS login. The app is free; themes and plugins on its marketplace include paid ones.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Publii, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You supply and pay for hosting, premium themes and plugins cost extra, and dynamic features need outside services.
- 1
Best for a free desktop app that makes static sites
Publii is a free, open-source desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux that generates static HTML you publish to your own host.
- 2
It is free
Publii has no paid plan at all.
- 3
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, Windows and Linux.
- 4
Offline desktop editing
Write and change settings without a connection or cloud account; files stay on your computer until you publish.
- 5
Three editors
Compose posts with a block editor, a WYSIWYG toolbar or a Markdown editor, depending on how you prefer to write.
- 6
Many publishing targets
Publish to GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, Netlify, Amazon S3, Google Cloud, FTP or SFTP, or export a folder of files.
- 7
A 2.8 GPA, above 100 of 104
That is against the other website and landing page builders we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Publii is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Publii at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- It is free
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux
- Made by
- TidyCustoms
- Category
- Website & Landing Page Builders
- Our grade
- 2.8 GPA, good
The report card
Best for a free desktop app that makes static sites
Publii is a free, open-source desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux that generates static HTML you publish to your own host. You supply and pay for hosting, premium themes and plugins cost extra, and dynamic features need outside services.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The app is free and open source, with unlimited sites and no account, against a category where the cheaper quarter pays $6.75 a month; hosting is extra. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Free outright, with no cap on sites and no sign-up. |
| Features | C | Offline editing, several editors, many publishing targets and a WordPress importer, but static output only, with no database or hosted multi-user editor. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and you pick a theme, build the site and set up your own host. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | Windows, Mac and Linux desktop only, with publishing links to GitHub Pages, Netlify and S3. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Publii is for
- Fits if you want a free site editor and already have or will pick a host
- Works for people who like keeping site files on their own computer
Who it is not for
- Watch out: you must arrange and pay for your own hosting
- Watch out: premium themes and plugins are paid extras
- Not for you if you need shop, login or database features, as the output is static
- Tight if several people edit one site, as content lives on one computer
Good to know
Good for
- Bloggers and small business owners who want a site without a CMS on the server
- Freelancers running several client sites from one app
- People moving off WordPress who want a lighter setup
Worth knowing
- You must arrange and pay for your own hosting; the app only generates the files.
- Premium themes and plugins on the Publii marketplace are paid extras.
- The published site is static, with no database or PHP behind it, so dynamic features need outside services.
- Content is edited on one computer; there is no hosted multi-user editor.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Publii is free to use.
Free outright, with no cap on sites and no sign-up.
Publii app
$0
Free, open-source desktop app; unlimited sites with no per-site fee and no account needed.
Read from getpublii.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: macOS, Windows and Linux
Free open-source desktop CMS that publishes static websites. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, works offline, local-first, Markdown, templates, no-code.
- Offline desktop editing
- Write and change settings without a connection or cloud account; files stay on your computer until you publish.
- Three editors
- Compose posts with a block editor, a WYSIWYG toolbar or a Markdown editor, depending on how you prefer to write.
- Many publishing targets
- Publish to GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, Netlify, Amazon S3, Google Cloud, FTP or SFTP, or export a folder of files.
- WordPress importer
- Brings in posts, pages, images, authors and menus from a WordPress export file, with a report listing unresolved links.
- SEO, privacy and AI-crawler tools
- Sitemaps, feeds, JSON-LD data and cookie controls are built in; plugins add an llms.txt file and AI crawler rules.
- Unlimited sites per app
- Each site has its own content, settings and publishing destination, with no per-site fee for the application.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
What it works with
- GitHub Pages
- GitLab Pages
- Netlify
- Amazon S3
- Google Cloud
- WordPress
Publii is made by TidyCustoms.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
100/104
Other website and landing page builders it is graded above
Publii's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 100 of the 104 other website and landing page builders we grade, and level with 2.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 104 of 104) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 2).
Publii has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 105 website and landing page builders we grade, cut by the letter each got. Publii’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 94 of 104
- AFree plan and trialAbove 104 of 104
- CFeaturesAbove 5 of 104
- CEase of useAbove 6 of 104
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 2 of 104
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 91 website and landing page builders. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Publii is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
Publii is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.8 is higher than 100 of the 104 other website and landing page builders we grade.
What you could make
- Markdown and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A builder that other people can use without writing code.
- Apps for macOS, Windows and Linux that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages and Netlify among them.
What this rests on. Publii’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
RapidWeaver Elements, WordPress.com, Mobirise, Nicepage and Pinegrow
The 5 tools Publii is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 1.6GPA
RapidWeaver Elements
Free trial · from $99/yr
Mac-only visual website builder that publishes to your own server.
- Publii has a free plan. RapidWeaver Elements does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Publii lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Publii is open source, according to its own site.
- 3.4GPA
WordPress.com
Free plan · from $4/mo
Hosted WordPress with themes, plugins and a free plan.
- Only WordPress.com lists a web app.
- Only WordPress.com lists iOS and Android apps.
- Publii is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Mobirise
Free plan · from $149/yr
Free desktop website builder with paid themes, extensions and AI.
- Only Publii lists a Linux app.
- Only Mobirise lists a web app.
- Publii is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Nicepage
Free plan · from $6.75/mo
Drag-and-drop page builder for HTML, WordPress and Joomla sites.
- Only Publii lists a Linux app.
- Only Nicepage lists a web app.
- Publii is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.0GPA
Pinegrow
Free trial · from $49.50/yr
Visual HTML, CSS and Tailwind editor for desktop and browser.
- Publii has a free plan. Pinegrow does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Pinegrow lists a web app.
- Publii is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Publii free?
Yes. Publii is free to use.
How much does Publii cost?
Publii lists one plan. Publii app: $0.
What platforms does Publii work on?
Publii is available on macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Publii have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Publii is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Publii have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Publii is listed for macOS, Windows and Linux.
Is Publii open source?
Yes. Publii is open source, according to its own site.
Does Publii work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Publii integrate with?
Publii's listing names GitHub Pages, GitLab Pages, Netlify, Amazon S3, Google Cloud and WordPress.
Who makes Publii?
Publii is made by TidyCustoms.
What are the alternatives to Publii?
The closest alternatives to Publii in our directory are RapidWeaver Elements, WordPress.com, Mobirise, Nicepage and Pinegrow.
How does Publii compare with other website and landing page builders?
Publii's GPA of 2.8 is higher than 100 of the 104 other website and landing page builders we grade, and level with 2.
Is Publii good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Publii A for value for money. Publii has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Publii?
Publii is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Publii’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Publii's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by TidyCustoms. Prices change, so check getpublii.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Publii, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/publii
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Publii: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/publii
Know someone choosing between website and landing page builders?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/publii/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded website and landing page builders after Publii, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Website & Landing Page Builders Insider's GuideEvery one of the 106 website and landing page builders we grade, compared
- WordPress.com Insider's GuideHosted WordPress with themes, plugins and a free plan3.4 GPA
- Zion Builder Insider's GuideLightweight visual page builder plugin for WordPress3.0 GPA
- Visual Composer Insider's GuideDrag-and-drop website builder plugin for WordPress2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Publii’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Publii is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by TidyCustoms. Prices and plans change: check getpublii.com before you buy.