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Installing fastCMS

fastCMS installs like a classic PHP script: upload the files, open your site, fill in one form. It takes about two minutes.

What you need

  • A domain name for your blog, pointed at your hosting. Not got one yet? Find a name with our free blog name generator, then register it at Namecheap (affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you) or any registrar you like.
  • Web hosting with PHP 8.2 or newer and Apache or LiteSpeed (almost every cPanel host). No database to set up: fastCMS uses a single file. Not sure which host? fastCMS runs well on Namecheap shared hosting (affiliate link); in cPanel, choose PHP 8.3 under Select PHP Version before you install.
  • An AI key from Anthropic (recommended), Google Gemini or DeepSeek, if you want to use AI. You pay the provider directly, usually a few cents per article.

The installer checks your server and tells you exactly what to fix if anything is missing.

Install

  1. Unzip fastcms-x.y.z.zip on your computer.
  2. Upload everything inside it to your website folder (for example public_html/, or a sub-folder like public_html/blog/) with your host's file manager or an FTP app. Make sure the hidden .htaccess files are uploaded too. In FTP apps, turn on show hidden files.
  3. Open your site in a browser. You'll see the installer.
  4. Fill in your site name and admin account (and your licence key, if you have it), then click Install.

You'll land on your dashboard with a Get started checklist that walks you through the rest.

After installing

  • Add an AI key in Settings → AI.
  • Plan your blog in AI Autopilot.
  • Set up a cron job so articles keep writing when you close the browser. In your hosting panel, add a job that runs every minute:
php /path/to/your/site/cron.php >/dev/null 2>&1

Next: Getting started.

Getting started →