A website you can actually run yourself. With AI built in.
Haloo is a lightweight content management system (CMS) written in PHP. Build pages, a blog and catalogs from a simple admin panel and host them on your own server — no separate database, no subscription, and an AI assistant that writes your content.
Too much for a static site, too heavy for WordPress. Haloo sits right in between.
For agencies, freelancers and small businesses who want an editable, fast and secure website — without 30 plugins, a database to babysit, or a monthly bill. Haloo does exactly that: content, design and AI, in one easy-to-install package.
Structured content
Pages, posts with categories and tags, a team, plus your own content types (products, services, events) with fields you define. All editable from the panel.
Visual page builder
Ready-made blocks (hero, gallery, stats, editorial sections) plus a drag & drop editor. Or just write Markdown. You choose how much control you want.
Zero dependencies
Just PHP and its standard extensions. No npm, no build step, no hundreds of MB of node_modules. Upload the files and it works.
# in the panel chat: you> write a launch post and add it to the menu ✓ create_post "We just launched Haloo 1.0" ✓ update_nav + Posts → Blog ✓ published at /blog/... you> copy the design from stripe.com ✓ import_design_from_url palette + fonts + radius proposed
Tell it what you want. It builds it in the panel.
The Claude assistant is not just a text generator — it is agentic: it has 18+ tools and uses them to create pages, posts and content types, write alt-text for images, or import a design from a URL. You describe, it does the work.
- Real-time streaming, token by token
- Real tool use: it acts on content, not just writes
- Built-in, transparent cost tracking
- Brand context for a consistent tone of voice
Change the whole look without touching code.
Colors, fonts and corners come from settings and apply everywhere as CSS variables. A theme system with layouts and components — the very theme you are looking at was built in minutes. Drop in a URL and the AI proposes a design mapping.
- Installable themes, each with its own layouts
- Import a design from a URL
- Unique theme generator (Design DNA)
- Light / dark, responsive, smooth transitions
Haloo vs WordPress and static sites.
| What matters | Haloo | WordPress | Static (Next/Hugo) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Separate database | no, SQLite | MySQL | no |
| Build step / node_modules | no | no | yes |
| Client-editable from a panel | yes | yes | hard |
| AI assistant in the panel | yes, agentic | yes, built in | no |
| AI on your own key, no markup | yes, Claude | bundled credits | no |
| Runs on €5 hosting | yes | partly | yes |
| Backup in a single file | yes, ZIP | complicated | git |
| Lock-in | zero, the code is yours | medium | low |
From zero to a live site, in 3 steps.
Download the archive
A single ZIP. No account, no card. It contains everything, pre-configured.
mycms-install-1.0.51.zipUpload to hosting
Unzip into public_html and open the installer. Green checks, then set up the admin account.
/install.php → 7 stepsBuild with AI
Add your Claude key, open the AI assistant and tell it what site you want. It does the rest.
“build me a landing site”Free. Open source. Yours.
Haloo is free and stays free — you only pay for hosting, like any website. If you would rather not deal with it, OWLIA offers managed hosting and turnkey setup.
Self-host
- All features
- Unlimited content and types
- AI assistant (your Claude key)
- One-click updates
- Automatic daily backups
Hosted by OWLIA
- Everything in self-host
- Managed hosting, in the EU
- Own domain + SSL
- Daily off-site backups
- Email support
Turnkey
- Full setup by OWLIA
- Bespoke theme and brand
- Migration of existing content
- Custom modules (CRM, courses, members)
- Team training
Frequently asked questions.
What is a CMS, exactly?
A CMS (content management system) is an app you use to manage a site's content — pages, posts, images — from a panel, without writing code for every change. Haloo is the lightweight kind: everything you need for a marketing site or a blog, nothing more.
Do I really not need a database?
No. Haloo uses SQLite — a single file created automatically on first run. Nothing to configure at your host, no MySQL to request.
Why not WordPress?
WordPress is great, but it comes with plugins, constant security updates and a database. Haloo is for sites where you want something light, fast and fully under your control. The code is explicit, no magic.
What exactly does the AI assistant do?
You talk to Claude right in the panel and it creates pages, posts and content types, writes copy in your brand tone, generates alt-text and imports a design from a URL. You use your own Anthropic key and pay only for what you use.
Can I build my own theme, like this one?
Yes — the theme you are looking at is just a folder with a manifest, layouts and components. Copy the structure, change the CSS, and you have a new theme. Or ask the AI to generate one.
Is it secure?
CSRF, bcrypt passwords, passkeys (WebAuthn), secrets encrypted at rest, HTML sanitization, SSRF and zip-slip protection. It went through a dedicated security audit.
Your site, under your control.
Download Haloo, upload it to your hosting and build with AI. Free, no lock-in.
Download Haloo v1.0.51 · PHP 8.1+ · ready in 2 minutes