Bludit 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.
Bludit
Simple flat-file CMS for fast websites and blogs
VS
PublicCMS
High-performance Java content management system
| Feature | Bludit | 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 | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,469 | ★ 2,095 |
| First released | 2015 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Wix | WordPress |
What are Bludit and PublicCMS?
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
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
Bludit vs PublicCMS: key differences
Bludit is written in PHP, while PublicCMS is built with Java. Licensing differs — MIT for Bludit versus Apache-2.0 for PublicCMS. Bludit is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. Bludit lists first-class Docker deployment; PublicCMS does not.
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 PublicCMS if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Bludit or PublicCMS better?
Neither is universally better. PublicCMS 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 PublicCMS free and open-source?
Yes. Bludit is licensed under MIT and PublicCMS under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bludit and PublicCMS with Docker?
Bludit: yes. PublicCMS: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Bludit or PublicCMS?
Bludit has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.