Bludit vs Grav
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Bludit
Simple flat-file CMS for fast websites and blogs
VS
Grav
Fast flat-file CMS with no database required
| Feature | Bludit | Grav |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 95 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,469 | ★ 15,670 |
| First released | 2015 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Wix | WordPress, Squarespace |
What are Bludit and Grav?
Bludit
Bludit is a lightweight flat-file CMS that stores content in JSON files, requiring no database. It is aimed at users who want a quick, simple website or blog without complex setup.
- No database needed
- Plugin and theme support
- Markdown editor
- Quick installation
Grav
Grav is a modern open-source flat-file CMS that requires no database, storing content in Markdown files. It is fast to deploy and well suited to blogs, documentation, and small to medium websites.
- No database needed
- Markdown-based content
- Plugin and theme ecosystem
- Fast page rendering
Bludit vs Grav: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Bludit is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 256 MB for Grav. Grav has the considerably larger community, at 15,670 GitHub stars versus 1,469.
Why pick each one
Choose Bludit if…
- Very easy to set up
- Easy to back up
Watch out for
- Not suited to large sites
- Smaller ecosystem
Choose Grav if…
- Trivial to back up and migrate
- Quick to set up
Watch out for
- Less ideal for very large sites
- Admin plugin needed for GUI editing
Frequently asked questions
Is Bludit or Grav better?
Neither is universally better. Grav has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Bludit and Grav free and open-source?
Yes. Bludit is licensed under MIT and Grav under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bludit and Grav with Docker?
Bludit: yes. Grav: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bludit or Grav?
Bludit has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 256 MB for Grav. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.