# Typeroll vs EmDash

> EmDash and Typeroll are both open-source Astro CMSs with MCP servers. One runs as a full-stack app, the other publishes static sites. Compare them.

URL: https://typeroll.com/compare/emdash/  
Updated: 2026-11-02

COMPARE

# Typeroll and EmDash compared

EmDash describes itself as "a full-stack TypeScript CMS built on Astro" and, on its website, as "the spiritual successor to WordPress", brought to you by Cloudflare. Typeroll is also open source and built for Astro, but publishes your site as static files to your own Cloudflare account instead of running the CMS alongside the site.

[Start a 30-day trial](https://app.typeroll.com/login?mode=signup)

[Astro CMS](https://typeroll.com/astro-cms/)

## Side by side

|  | EmDash | Typeroll |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| How it relates to Astro | An Astro integration added to your project; content queried with Astro Live Collections | Generates the Astro project from the CMS; you do not maintain the Astro code |
| Content storage | Database: Cloudflare D1, SQLite, Turso/libSQL or PostgreSQL | CMS database (Firestore), frozen into a version at each publication |
| Media | Cloudflare R2, S3-compatible storage or local files | Your own Cloudflare R2 bucket |
| Runs on | Cloudflare (D1, R2, Workers) or any Node.js server with SQLite | CMS: Typeroll Cloud or self-hosted; site: static files on Cloudflare Pages |
| Public site | Served by the EmDash/Astro application | Static HTML, CSS and images; CMS updates never change the live site until you publish |
| Editing | Admin panel, inline visual editing, visual schema builder | Visual block editor with responsive previews, built-in AI assistant |
| AI agents | Built-in MCP server, CLI and agent skills | Hosted MCP server (OAuth) or local stdio, REST API, skills |
| Extensibility | Plugins in sandboxed Worker isolates with declared capabilities | Built-in blocks and modules, custom block types, Extensions as separate services |
| WordPress import | Import wizard (WXR, REST API, WordPress.com) | Agent-led migration via REST API or helper plugin, with URL parity checks |
| Multilingual | Not described in the README or website (checked 2026-11-01) | Language sections, hreflang, built-in wording in 50 languages |
| Many sites | Not described | Unlimited sites per Organization, Hosting Groups, roles, site sharing |
| Hosted offering | Not described (open source) | Typeroll Cloud (beta, 30-day trial) |

## Choose EmDash when

- You want a CMS that runs inside your own Astro application, with content read at request time from a database.
- You want WordPress-style plugins that run sandboxed next to the site.
- You prefer to own and operate the whole stack in your Cloudflare account or on a Node.js server.

## Choose Typeroll when

- You want the public site to be static files that keep running whatever happens to the CMS.
- Editors and AI agents should work in the same CMS, without touching code.
- You manage many sites, for clients or brands, from one Organization.
- You want a hosted CMS (Typeroll Cloud) while the sites stay in your own accounts.

![](https://typeroll.com/media/a3e29e5a8dbeef20-scenes-page-compare-emdash-tight.webp)

## Sources

Facts about EmDash come only from its own documentation and website, checked on 1 November 2026. If something has changed, tell us and we will correct it.

- EmDash repository README, [https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash](https://github.com/emdash-cms/emdash) (retrieved 2026-11-01)
- EmDash website, [https://emdashcms.com/](https://emdashcms.com/) (retrieved 2026-11-01)

GOOD QUESTIONS

## Questions and answers

**Are both open source?**

Yes, both are MIT-licensed.

**Do both have an MCP server?**

Yes. EmDash says every site ships with one; Typeroll has one hosted endpoint for all your sites plus a local option.

**Can I move from EmDash to Typeroll?**

There is no dedicated EmDash importer. Your agent can import the published site with the URL import recipe (`tr-import-url`, for any site it can read) and keep or redirect every URL.

## Related

- [All comparisons](https://typeroll.com/compare/)

START BUILDING

## Try Typeroll alongside your current tools.

Free during the beta. No payment card. After the beta, USD 39 per month, or USD 29 per month billed annually.

[Start a 30-day trial](https://app.typeroll.com/login?mode=signup)

[All comparisons](https://typeroll.com/compare/)