---
title: "Download Éclair"
description: "Download Éclair CMS 1.2.0 for free: a 402 KB archive with no database, released under the MIT license. Requirements, contents and SHA-256 checksum."
url: "https://eclaircms.org/en/download"
lang: "en"
author: "Thierry Gustin"
published: "2026-10-30"
updated: "2026-10-30"
---

# Download Éclair

> **Key takeaways** — Éclair CMS 1.2.0, released on October 29, 2026, is a free download: a 402 KB ZIP archive (under 1 MB unzipped) under the MIT license. It requires PHP 8.1 or later, Apache, LiteSpeed or Nginx, and no database. The complete source code is public on GitHub.

You can download Éclair CMS for free, with no sign-up: a single 402 KB archive contains the entire CMS, ready to upload to your hosting. No database to set up, no account to create, no “premium” version: everything is in the file.

[Download Éclair 1.2.0 (ZIP, 402 KB)](https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms/raw/main/dist/eclair-cms-1.2.0.zip)

## Éclair 1.2.0 at a glance

### 1.2.0

latest version, released on October 29, 2026

### 402 KB

for the ZIP archive, under 1 MB once unzipped

### MIT

a free software license, commercial use included

### PHP 8.1+

no database, on Apache, LiteSpeed or Nginx

## What’s in the Éclair archive?

An `eclair` folder to upload to your hosting, and three files to keep for yourself:

- **`eclair/`**: the complete CMS (application, admin in 7 languages, theme, `.htaccess` protections).
- **`LISEZ-MOI.txt`** (French for “read me”): the three-step installation and what to do if you forget your password.
- **`LICENSE.txt`**: Éclair’s MIT license.
- **`THIRD-PARTY-NOTICES.txt`**: the credit for the Lucide icons (ISC license) that some of the admin icons are derived from.

Then follow [the installation guide](https://eclaircms.org/en/installation) or, if you’re with o2switch, [the step-by-step cPanel guide](https://eclaircms.org/en/installation/o2switch).

## What do you need to run Éclair?

| Item | Requirement |
| --- | --- |
| PHP | 8.1 or later (8.3 recommended), with the `mbstring`, `json`, `dom` and `session` extensions |
| Web server | Apache or LiteSpeed (`.htaccess` file included), or Nginx |
| Database | None |
| HTTPS | Strongly recommended (Let’s Encrypt is free) |
| Disk space | Under 1 MB, plus your images |

## How do you download Éclair CMS safely?

To make sure the file you downloaded is the one that was published, compare its SHA-256 checksum with this one:

```text
a5d59d46641739b9e9292fb7367b6c83bde2dab4de797d2fbcf376dfcb3e8d83  eclair-cms-1.2.0.zip
```

To calculate your file’s checksum:

```bash
# macOS and Linux
shasum -a 256 eclair-cms-1.2.0.zip

# Windows (Command Prompt)
certutil -hashfile eclair-cms-1.2.0.zip SHA256
```

Once Éclair is installed, the admin’s **Security** page carries on this work: it compares every file with its original fingerprint and flags any modified or suspicious file.

## Where can you find the source code?

All of Éclair’s code is public on GitHub, along with the version history, the tests and the full guide in 7 languages:

- **Repository**: [github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms](https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms)
- **For developers**: `git clone https://github.com/Jacckisback/eclair-cms.git`, then see [the developer page](https://eclaircms.org/en/documentation/developers) to run the development server and the tests.
- **What’s new in each version**: [the changelog](https://eclaircms.org/en/changelog).

> **Is Éclair useful to you?** — A star on GitHub helps other people discover it, and a [donation](https://eclaircms.org/en/donate) helps fund its development.

## Questions about downloading

### Is Éclair CMS really free?

Yes. Éclair is distributed under the MIT license: you can use it, modify it and redistribute it, even for commercial use or client sites, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

### Do I need an account to download Éclair?

No. The download is direct and requires no sign-up, from this page or from the GitHub repository.

### How can I find out when a new version comes out?

Check the [changelog](https://eclaircms.org/en/changelog), follow the [blog’s RSS feed](https://eclaircms.org/feed.xml) or turn on “Watch › Releases” on the GitHub repository. You update by replacing the `app` and `assets` folders, as explained in [the documentation](https://eclaircms.org/en/documentation/updates).

### Can I install Éclair for my clients?

Yes, the MIT license allows it without restriction. You can also customize the theme for each client.