Backdrop CMS vs PublicCMS
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 | PublicCMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,046 | ★ 2,097 |
| First released | 2015 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress |
What are Backdrop CMS and PublicCMS?
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
PublicCMS
PublicCMS is an open-source content management system written in Java that generates static pages for high performance and supports managing multiple sites. It is aimed at organizations needing a fast, template-driven publishing platform.
- Static page generation
- Template-driven
- Multi-site support
- High performance
Backdrop CMS vs PublicCMS: key differences
Backdrop CMS is written in PHP, while PublicCMS is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for Backdrop CMS versus Apache-2.0 for PublicCMS. Backdrop CMS is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. PublicCMS has the considerably larger community, at 2,097 GitHub stars versus 1,046. Backdrop CMS lists first-class Docker deployment; PublicCMS does not.
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 PublicCMS if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Backdrop CMS or PublicCMS better?
Neither is universally better. PublicCMS has the larger community, while Backdrop CMS is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Backdrop CMS and PublicCMS free and open-source?
Yes. Backdrop CMS is licensed under GPL-2.0 and PublicCMS under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Backdrop CMS and PublicCMS with Docker?
Backdrop CMS: yes. PublicCMS: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Backdrop CMS or PublicCMS?
Backdrop CMS has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.