Mela
What it is
Mela is a multi-site CMS for creating and managing websites from one dashboard. Users can begin from a blueprint or a blank slate, and the site is live and editable when created. Mela supports visual content modeling and front ends built against a typed, versioned contract. Each site includes native forms and a submissions inbox, privacy-first analytics, redirects and SEO controls, media, localization, and role-based access. Visual page building, an email designer, and an AI site generator are available as add-ons. The Email Builder exports email-safe HTML but does not send messages or include contact lists, scheduling, or open and click tracking. Form integrations for Brevo, Mailchimp, and Resend are listed as $9/mo add-ons. Developers can use the Next.js theme framework, while the MCP server works with Claude Code, Cursor, or any MCP client for content modeling, site import, media upload, and typed frontend scaffolding. Mela says its built-in site analytics are cookieless and describes safeguards including tenant isolation, encryption of form submissions at rest, scoped personnel access, and audit logging. The free plan includes one site; Pro is $33 a month and Agency is $108 a month.
For and against
For
- Manage multiple sites from one dashboard.
- Every site includes forms and a submissions inbox.
- Built-in analytics are described as cookieless.
- Free plan includes one site.
- Developer tools include a Next.js theme framework and MCP server.
Against
- Email Builder does not send emails.
- Email Builder lacks contact lists and campaign tracking.
- Brevo, Mailchimp, and Resend form integrations cost $9/mo as add-ons.
- Visual page building, email design, and AI site generation are add-ons.
The verdict
Mela combines multi-site management, built-in site tools, and developer-facing content and frontend options. Review the free plan's site limit and the add-on boundaries, especially if you need email sending or integrations.
Who it suits
Mela is aimed at freelance developers, agencies, studios, and small business owners managing websites. Its developer tooling may also suit teams building front ends with Next.js or MCP clients.
Plans and prices
Free
1 site · 2 locales · 1 org member · 1 client seat
Read 21 Oct 2026 · usemela.com
Pro
3 sites · 5 locales/site · 5 org members · 3 client seats/site
Read 21 Oct 2026 · usemela.com
Agency
10 sites · unlimited locales · 25 org members · 10 client seats/site
Read 21 Oct 2026 · usemela.com
On the record
- Accessibility target
- The company targets WCAG 2.1 Level AA for its admin application and first-party themes but says this is not a conformance certification.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Add-ons
- Visual page building, an email designer, and an AI site generator are available as add-ons.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- AI site generator
- An AI site generator is offered as an add-on that turns a business description into a starter site.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- AI tooling
- Mela's MCP server works with Claude Code, Cursor, or any MCP client to model content, import a site, upload media, and scaffold a typed frontend.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Analytics
- Built-in customer-site analytics are designed to be privacy-first and cookieless, without a cookie banner.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- API rate limits
- Public Delivery API keys are limited to 120 requests per minute; analytics and form submissions have separate limits.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Mela says it is built for freelance developers, agencies and studios, and small business owners.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Backups
- Publishing creates versions and the service advertises one-click restore plus automatic daily backups.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Built-in features
- Every site comes with native forms and a submissions inbox, privacy-first analytics, redirects and SEO controls, media, localization, and role-based access.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Company
- The privacy policy identifies the provider as Mela App, LLC.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Content and development
- Mela supports visual content modeling and front ends built against a typed, versioned contract.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Content modeling
- The visual content modeler lets users define content types, components and fields without database migrations.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Data restrictions
- The acceptable-use policy prohibits collecting HIPAA data, full payment-card data, bank credentials, government identifiers and children's regulated data without a written agreement.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Delivery API
- The public Delivery API exposes GET endpoints for content, globals, schemas and taxonomy terms, with per-site bearer keys.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Developer integration
- The theme framework is for Next.js and includes a versioned theme contract, Draft Mode integration, and revalidation helpers.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Documented API security
- API keys are scoped per site and environment, stored as SHA-256 hashes and shown in plaintext only at creation.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Email Builder
- Email Builder is an add-on for visually designing emails and exporting inbox-safe HTML.usemela.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Email builder limit
- The Email Builder creates and exports email-safe HTML but does not send emails or provide contact lists, scheduling, or open/click tracking.usemela.com · read 8 Oct 2026
