ApostropheCMS vs October CMS
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
ApostropheCMS
In-context editing CMS built on Node.js
VS
October CMS
Laravel-based CMS focused on simplicity for developers
| Feature | ApostropheCMS | October CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 87 · Excellent | 93 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | JavaScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,626 | ★ 11,147 |
| First released | 2013 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Wix, Squarespace | WordPress, Wix |
What are ApostropheCMS and October CMS?
ApostropheCMS
ApostropheCMS is an open-source Node.js content management system known for its true in-context editing experience. Editors build and arrange pages visually while developers extend it with modules.
- True in-context editing
- Drag-and-drop layouts
- MongoDB-backed content
- Headless mode available
October CMS
October CMS is a self-hosted content management system built on the Laravel framework, designed to make web development simple again. It uses flat-file templating with a clean backend for content editors.
- Built on Laravel
- Flat-file twig-style templating
- Plugin marketplace
- Clean developer experience
ApostropheCMS vs October CMS: key differences
ApostropheCMS is written in JavaScript, while October CMS is built with PHP. October CMS has the considerably larger community, at 11,147 GitHub stars versus 4,626.
Why pick each one
Choose ApostropheCMS if…
- Intuitive editing for content teams
- Flexible module system
Watch out for
- Requires MongoDB
- Smaller plugin ecosystem
Choose October CMS if…
- Great for Laravel developers
- Simple, transparent architecture
Watch out for
- Some plugins are paid
- Less suited to non-developers
Frequently asked questions
Is ApostropheCMS or October CMS better?
Neither is universally better. October CMS has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are ApostropheCMS and October CMS free and open-source?
Yes. ApostropheCMS is licensed under MIT and October CMS under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ApostropheCMS and October CMS with Docker?
ApostropheCMS: yes. October CMS: yes.