Backdrop CMS vs Pagekit
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 | Pagekit |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,046 | ★ 5,454 |
| First released | 2015 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress |
What are Backdrop CMS and Pagekit?
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
Pagekit
Pagekit is a modular, open-source content management system with a clean, modern interface built on Symfony components and Vue.js. It includes a blog and a marketplace for extensions.
- Modern Vue.js interface
- Modular architecture
- Built-in blog
- Marketplace for extensions
Backdrop CMS vs Pagekit: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Pagekit's repository is archived and no longer developed, while Backdrop CMS is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Backdrop CMS versus MIT for Pagekit. Pagekit is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Backdrop CMS. Pagekit has the considerably larger community, at 5,454 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 Pagekit if…
- Clean, modern admin
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Development has stalled
- Limited active maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Is Backdrop CMS or Pagekit better?
Pagekit is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Pagekit if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Backdrop CMS and Pagekit free and open-source?
Yes. Backdrop CMS is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Pagekit under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Backdrop CMS and Pagekit with Docker?
Backdrop CMS: yes. Pagekit: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Backdrop CMS or Pagekit?
Pagekit has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Backdrop CMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.