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ApostropheCMS vs Craft CMS

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
AP ApostropheCMS In-context editing CMS built on Node.js VS CR Craft CMS Flexible CMS for custom-designed websites
FeatureApostropheCMSCraft CMS
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITMIT
LanguageJavaScriptPHP
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 4,596★ 3,600
First released20132013
ReplacesWix, SquarespaceWordPress, Sitecore

Why pick each one

Choose ApostropheCMS if…

  • Intuitive editing for content teams
  • Flexible module system
ApostropheCMS details

Choose Craft CMS if…

  • Excellent for bespoke sites
  • Clean control panel
Craft CMS details

Frequently asked questions

Is ApostropheCMS or Craft CMS better?

Neither is universally better. ApostropheCMS has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are ApostropheCMS and Craft CMS free and open-source?

Yes. ApostropheCMS is licensed under MIT and Craft CMS under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run ApostropheCMS and Craft CMS with Docker?

ApostropheCMS: yes. Craft CMS: yes.

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