SHSelfHostIndex

ApostropheCMS vs Drupal

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 DR Drupal Flexible enterprise CMS for complex content structures
FeatureApostropheCMSDrupal
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITGPL-2.0
LanguageJavaScriptPHP
Setup difficultyMediumHard
Min. RAM512 MB1,024 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 4,596★ 4,280
First released20132001
ReplacesWix, SquarespaceAdobe Experience Manager, Sitecore

Why pick each one

Choose ApostropheCMS if…

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

Choose Drupal if…

  • Scales to very large sites
  • Enterprise-grade security track record
Drupal details

Frequently asked questions

Is ApostropheCMS or Drupal better?

ApostropheCMS is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Drupal if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are ApostropheCMS and Drupal free and open-source?

Yes. ApostropheCMS is licensed under MIT and Drupal under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run ApostropheCMS and Drupal with Docker?

ApostropheCMS: yes. Drupal: yes.

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