SHSelfHostIndex

Bludit vs Pico

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?
Bludit Simple flat-file CMS for fast websites and blogs VS Pico Stupidly simple flat-file CMS
FeatureBluditPico
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score83 · Excellent65 · Good
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITMIT
LanguagePHPPHP
Setup difficultyEasyEasy
Min. RAM128 MB128 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcebare-metal, docker, source
GitHub stars★ 1,469★ 3,905
First released20152012
ReplacesWordPress, WixWordPress

What are Bludit and Pico?

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

Read the full Bludit guide →

Pico

Pico is a minimal, fast flat-file content management system that uses Markdown files for content and Twig templates for layout. It needs no database and no admin backend.

  • No database required
  • Markdown content
  • Twig templating
  • Tiny footprint

Read the full Pico guide →

Bludit vs Pico: key differences

Both projects are written in PHP. Pico is the more established project (first released 2012), while Bludit arrived in 2015. Pico has the considerably larger community, at 3,905 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
Bludit details

Choose Pico if…

  • Extremely lightweight
  • Zero configuration to start

Watch out for

  • No admin UI by default
  • Not for large dynamic sites
Pico details

Frequently asked questions

Is Bludit or Pico better?

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

Are Bludit and Pico free and open-source?

Yes. Bludit is licensed under MIT and Pico under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Bludit and Pico with Docker?

Bludit: yes. Pico: yes.

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