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Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about ClearCMS.

General​

What is ClearCMS?​

ClearCMS is a visual website builder. Create and manage websites without writing code. It includes a drag-and-drop editor, modern performance, and is available as a managed cloud service or for self-hosting (open source, MIT license).

Is ClearCMS really free?​

Yes! The Free plan is genuinely free with no credit card required. It includes 1 site, unlimited editors, and a custom domain. The open source version can be self-hosted at no cost.

Who is ClearCMS for?​

ClearCMS is designed for:

  • Content creators who want to manage websites without developers
  • Small businesses needing a professional web presence
  • Agencies managing multiple client sites
  • Developers who want a modern, customizable CMS

How is ClearCMS different from WordPress?​

ClearCMS uses modern web technology for better performance. Key differences:

  • True visual editing — you see the real page, not a preview
  • API-first — use it as a headless CMS with any frontend
  • Built-in edge hosting with global CDN
  • No plugins to manage or update

Account & Billing​

Can I upgrade or downgrade my plan?​

Yes, change your plan anytime from Settings → Billing. Upgrades take effect immediately. Downgrades apply at your next billing cycle.

What payment methods do you accept?​

We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and PayPal. Enterprise customers can pay by invoice.

Do you offer refunds?​

Yes, we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans. Contact support for a full refund, no questions asked.

Is there a discount for annual billing?​

Yes, annual plans are approximately 20% cheaper than monthly billing.

Do you offer nonprofit or education discounts?​

Yes! Nonprofits and educational institutions receive 50% off. Contact us with proof of status.

Sites & Content​

How many sites can I create?​

Account plans (personal workspace):

  • Free: 1 site
  • Pro: 5 sites
  • Business: 10 sites

Org plans (team workspace):

  • Team: 20 sites
  • Growth: 75 sites
  • Scale: 200 sites
  • Enterprise: Unlimited

See Teams & Permissions for full plan comparison.

Can I use my own domain?​

Yes, on every plan — including Free. Connect any domain you own with automatic SSL certificates. See the Custom Domain Guide for setup instructions.

How do I backup my site?​

Backups are automatic on all plans:

  • Free: 3 manual backups/day, 3 versions retained
  • Pro / Team: Unlimited manual + daily scheduled, 10 versions retained
  • Business / Growth: Unlimited manual + hourly/daily/weekly, 30 versions retained
  • Scale: Unlimited manual + hourly/daily/weekly, 100 versions retained
  • Enterprise: Custom retention

You can also export your content anytime. See Publishing & Versions for version history details.

Can I export my data?​

Yes, export all your content as JSON, CSV, or SQL from Site Settings → Export. Your data is always yours.

What happens if I delete my site?​

Deleted sites are kept for 30 days in case you change your mind. After that, all data is permanently removed.

Technical​

What technology does ClearCMS use?​

  • Frontend: React, Tailwind CSS
  • Backend: Astro, Node.js
  • Console: Next.js
  • Database: Turso (SQLite edge)
  • Hosting: Vercel, Cloudflare
  • License: MIT (open source)

How fast are ClearCMS sites?​

Very fast. Sites are served from edge locations worldwide with sub-100ms time to first byte, automatic image optimization, and 90+ Lighthouse scores.

Does ClearCMS support SEO?​

Yes, comprehensive SEO features include:

  • Custom meta titles and descriptions
  • Open Graph / Twitter cards
  • Automatic sitemap generation
  • Structured data (JSON-LD)
  • Canonical URLs
  • Mobile-responsive design

See our SEO Guide for details.

Can I use ClearCMS as a headless CMS?​

Yes! The Free plan includes read-only API access. Pro and above get full CRUD API access. Use ClearCMS as a backend for any frontend — see the Headless API and Design Tokens docs.

Can I self-host ClearCMS?​

ClearCMS Core is open source (MIT license). Self-hosting support is planned for later in 2026. For now, the managed cloud service is the recommended way to use ClearCMS. Follow progress on GitHub.

Security​

Is my data secure?​

Yes, we take security seriously:

  • All data encrypted in transit (TLS 1.3)
  • Data encrypted at rest (AES-256)
  • Regular security audits
  • Two-factor authentication available

Where is my data stored?​

Data is stored in secure data centers:

  • Primary: US (Vercel/AWS)
  • Database: Global edge (Turso)
  • Backups: Redundant cloud storage

Enterprise customers can choose specific regions.

Do you sell my data?​

Never. Your data is yours. We don't sell, share, or use your content for advertising.

Is ClearCMS GDPR compliant?​

Yes, we are GDPR compliant. We offer:

  • Data export
  • Data deletion
  • Data processing agreements
  • EU data residency (Enterprise)

Support​

How do I get help?​

What are your support hours?​

  • Community: 24/7 community support
  • Email: Business hours (Mon-Fri, 9am-6pm EST)
  • Priority: Extended hours with faster response times

Migration​

Can I migrate from WordPress?​

Yes, we offer migration tools and guides. Contact support for assisted migrations on Team and Enterprise plans. See the Content Types guide for supported data types.

Can I migrate from Squarespace/Wix?​

Content can be exported and imported. Contact support for migration assistance.

Will my URLs change?​

We support custom redirects to maintain your existing URL structure and SEO rankings.

Still have questions?​

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