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Migrate from Netlify CMS to SvelteKit

Complete guide to migrating your Netlify CMS website to SvelteKit. Leave Netlify CMS's officially deprecated behind and get svelte compiles to vanilla js. Free migration tool included.

20-40 minutes
Medium
100% Free
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TL;DR

You can migrate from Netlify CMS to SvelteKit for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose SvelteKit as the destination, and download your content — posts, pages, and media — in minutes. No API keys, passwords, or CLI tools required. Difficulty: Medium. Estimated time: 20-40 minutes.

Official docs: SvelteKit Documentation

Why Teams Leave Netlify CMS

Git-based CMS for static site generators (now Decap CMS). Static site teams wanting a free, Git-backed editorial UI, but these limitations push teams toward modern alternatives.

Officially deprecated — succeeded by Decap CMS

This is the most common reason teams migrate away from Netlify CMS. SvelteKit eliminates this issue entirely.

Limited to Git-based workflows (slow for large content volumes)

With SvelteKit, svelte compiles to vanilla js — smallest possible bundle sizes.

No real-time collaboration or content scheduling

Modern architectures like SvelteKit are designed to avoid this from the ground up.

Admin UI is basic compared to commercial headless CMS options

After migrating, you'll no longer need to worry about this — SvelteKit takes a fundamentally different approach.

What SvelteKit Brings to the Table

Full-stack Svelte framework with SSR and SSG. Built with JavaScript/TypeScript (Svelte), it's teams wanting excellent performance with a simpler, more intuitive framework.

Svelte compiles to vanilla JS — smallest possible bundle sizes

Intuitive syntax — easier to learn than React or Vue

Excellent developer experience with fast HMR

File-based routing with SSR, SSG, and SPA modes

SvelteKit is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports JavaScript/TypeScript, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.

Netlify CMS vs SvelteKit at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics

MetricNetlify CMSSvelteKit
Ease of Use⭐⭐⭐ 3/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Performance⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Flexibility⭐⭐⭐ 3/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Cost⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Scalability⭐⭐ 2/5⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Ecosystem⭐⭐ 2/5⭐⭐ 2/5
LanguageJavaScript (Git-backed)JavaScript/TypeScript (Svelte)
PricingFreeFree (open-source)
Open SourceYesYes

Ratings are based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026. Individual experience may vary.

What Gets Migrated

A detailed breakdown of how your Netlify CMS content maps to SvelteKit

Content Types from Netlify CMS

  • markdown files
  • YAML/JSON data files
  • images

Technical Details

Export Method
Files are already in your Git repo
Source Language
JavaScript (Git-backed)
Destination Format
Markdown/MDX files with frontmatter, organized by content type
URL Handling
301 redirect map generated automatically to preserve SEO equity

What may need manual attention

Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in SvelteKit. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.

How It Works

Migrate your content in three simple steps

1

Connect

Enter your Netlify CMS site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.

2

Configure

Select SvelteKit as destination and choose content options.

3

Export

Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.

Is Netlify CMS to SvelteKit the Right Move for You?

Migrating from Netlify CMS to SvelteKit makes the most sense if you're experiencing officially deprecated — succeeded by decap cms or outgrowing Netlify CMS's architecture. SvelteKit is best for teams wanting excellent performance with a simpler, more intuitive framework.

You should migrate if: your Netlify CMS site is slow, your hosting costs are climbing, you need developer flexibility, or you want to adopt a modern JAMstack architecture.

You might want to stay if: your Netlify CMS site benefits from content lives in your git repository — no external database and you don't have JavaScript/TypeScript developers on your team.

The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your Netlify CMS URL, select SvelteKit, and download your content. The more important question is whether SvelteKit's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to migrate from Netlify CMS to SvelteKit?
Most migrations from Netlify CMS complete in 20-40 minutes. Content is exported from Netlify CMS, then structured for SvelteKit. Complex sites with extensive custom fields may take longer.
Will I lose my SEO rankings when migrating from Netlify CMS?
No. We help you set up proper 301 redirects from your old Netlify CMS URLs to preserve search rankings. SvelteKit actually tends to improve Core Web Vitals scores, which can boost rankings over time.
What Netlify CMS content can be migrated to SvelteKit?
Netlify CMS content types like markdown files, YAML/JSON data files, images are all migrated to SvelteKit. Content is converted to Markdown/MDX files or structured for your chosen headless CMS.
Do I need JavaScript/TypeScript experience to migrate?
No coding experience is required for the migration itself — LeaveWP handles the export and conversion automatically. However, customizing your SvelteKit site afterward will benefit from JavaScript/TypeScript (Svelte) knowledge. For teams without that expertise, the generated code is well-structured and documented, making it approachable for developers of any level.
How much does it cost to host a SvelteKit site after migrating from Netlify CMS?
SvelteKit sites can be deployed to Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare Pages, or any Node.js host — often on generous free tiers. static SvelteKit sites can be hosted for free on Vercel or Netlify (up to generous bandwidth limits), which is significantly cheaper than running a Netlify CMS instance.
Can I migrate Netlify CMS custom fields and metadata to SvelteKit?
Yes. Custom fields, metadata, and taxonomies from Netlify CMS are preserved during migration. In SvelteKit, these become frontmatter fields in your Markdown/MDX files, which you can extend or restructure to fit your content model.

Related Migration Guides

Explore more migration paths from Netlify CMS or to SvelteKit

Netlify CMS to SvelteKit Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Migrate?

Start your free migration from Netlify CMS to SvelteKit today.

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