SHSelfHostIndex

Backdrop CMS vs MODX Revolution

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?
BA Backdrop CMS Comprehensive CMS forked from Drupal for smaller sites VS MO MODX Revolution CMS and application framework with creative freedom
FeatureBackdrop CMSMODX Revolution
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseGPL-2.0GPL-2.0
LanguagePHPPHP
Setup difficultyMediumMedium
Min. RAM512 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 1,044★ 1,403
First released20152005
ReplacesWordPress, DrupalWordPress, Drupal

Why pick each one

Choose Backdrop CMS if…

  • Cheaper to run than Drupal
  • Familiar to Drupal users
Backdrop CMS details

Choose MODX Revolution if…

  • No markup constraints
  • Good for custom builds
MODX Revolution details

Frequently asked questions

Is Backdrop CMS or MODX Revolution better?

Neither is universally better. MODX Revolution has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.

Are Backdrop CMS and MODX Revolution free and open-source?

Yes. Backdrop CMS is licensed under GPL-2.0 and MODX Revolution under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Backdrop CMS and MODX Revolution with Docker?

Backdrop CMS: yes. MODX Revolution: yes.

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