ApostropheCMS vs Joomla
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?
ApostropheCMS
In-context editing CMS built on Node.js
VS
Joomla
Versatile CMS balancing power and ease of use
| Feature | ApostropheCMS | Joomla |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,596 | ★ 5,122 |
| First released | 2013 | 2005 |
| Replaces | Wix, Squarespace | Wix, Squarespace |
Why pick each one
Choose ApostropheCMS if…
- Intuitive editing for content teams
- Flexible module system
Frequently asked questions
Is ApostropheCMS or Joomla better?
Neither is universally better. Joomla has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ApostropheCMS and Joomla free and open-source?
Yes. ApostropheCMS is licensed under MIT and Joomla under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ApostropheCMS and Joomla with Docker?
ApostropheCMS: yes. Joomla: yes.