Bludit vs Joomla
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
Joomla
Versatile CMS balancing power and ease of use
| Feature | Bludit | Joomla |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,469 | ★ 5,142 |
| First released | 2015 | 2005 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Wix | Wix, Squarespace |
What are Bludit and Joomla?
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
Joomla
Joomla is a long-established open-source CMS that sits between WordPress and Drupal in complexity. It offers built-in multilingual support, flexible templating, and a wide range of extensions for building websites and portals.
- Built-in multilingual content
- Flexible access control levels
- Large extension directory
- Strong templating system
Bludit vs Joomla: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Bludit versus GPL-2.0 for Joomla. Bludit is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Joomla. Joomla is the more established project (first released 2005), while Bludit arrived in 2015. Joomla has the considerably larger community, at 5,142 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 Joomla if…
- Good middle ground in flexibility
- Multilingual without extra plugins
Watch out for
- Smaller community than WordPress
- Extension quality varies
Frequently asked questions
Is Bludit or Joomla better?
Neither is universally better. Joomla has the larger community, while Bludit is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Bludit and Joomla free and open-source?
Yes. Bludit is licensed under MIT and Joomla under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bludit and Joomla with Docker?
Bludit: yes. Joomla: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bludit or Joomla?
Bludit has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Joomla. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.