Backdrop CMS vs Microweber
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Backdrop CMS | Microweber |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 79 · Good |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | HTML |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,046 | ★ 3,439 |
| First released | 2015 | 2013 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress, Wix |
What are Backdrop CMS and Microweber?
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
Microweber
Microweber is an open-source drag-and-drop website builder and content management system that includes blogging and e-commerce features. It uses a live editing interface so content can be arranged visually on the page.
- Live drag-and-drop editing
- Built-in online store
- Blogging module
- Template marketplace
Backdrop CMS vs Microweber: key differences
Backdrop CMS is written in PHP, while Microweber is built with HTML. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Backdrop CMS versus MIT for Microweber. Microweber is the more established project (first released 2013), while Backdrop CMS arrived in 2015. Microweber has the considerably larger community, at 3,439 GitHub stars versus 1,046.
Why pick each one
Choose Backdrop CMS if…
- Cheaper to run than Drupal
- Familiar to Drupal users
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Fewer modules than Drupal
Choose Microweber if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Active community (3.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in HTML
Frequently asked questions
Is Backdrop CMS or Microweber better?
Neither is universally better. Microweber has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Backdrop CMS and Microweber free and open-source?
Yes. Backdrop CMS is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Microweber under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Backdrop CMS and Microweber with Docker?
Backdrop CMS: yes. Microweber: yes.