Automad vs Backdrop CMS
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Automad
Flat-file CMS and template engine in one
VS
Backdrop CMS
Comprehensive CMS forked from Drupal for smaller sites
| Feature | Automad | Backdrop CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 83 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 937 | ★ 1,046 |
| First released | 2014 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WordPress | WordPress, Drupal |
What are Automad and Backdrop CMS?
Automad
Automad is a flexible flat-file content management system with a built-in template engine and an in-page editing dashboard. It stores all content in text files for easy version control.
- Flat-file content
- Built-in template engine
- In-page editing dashboard
- Git-friendly
Backdrop CMS
Backdrop CMS is an open-source content management system forked from Drupal 7, aimed at small to medium organizations. It keeps Drupal's power while focusing on lower cost and easier use.
- Drupal-derived power
- Configuration management
- Lower hosting requirements
- Layout system
Automad vs Backdrop CMS: key differences
Automad is written in TypeScript, while Backdrop CMS is built with PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Automad versus GPL-2.0 for Backdrop CMS. Automad is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Backdrop CMS.
Why pick each one
Choose Automad if…
- No database to manage
- Self-contained and portable
Watch out for
- Small community
- Limited extensions
Choose Backdrop CMS if…
- Cheaper to run than Drupal
- Familiar to Drupal users
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Fewer modules than Drupal
Frequently asked questions
Is Automad or Backdrop CMS better?
Neither is universally better. Backdrop CMS has the larger community, while Automad is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Automad and Backdrop CMS free and open-source?
Yes. Automad is licensed under MIT and Backdrop CMS under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Automad and Backdrop CMS with Docker?
Automad: yes. Backdrop CMS: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Automad or Backdrop CMS?
Automad has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Backdrop CMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.