Bludit vs Wagtail
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
Wagtail
Developer-friendly Django CMS with a great editor experience
| Feature | Bludit | Wagtail |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 83 · Excellent | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | PHP | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 128 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,469 | ★ 20,505 |
| First released | 2015 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Wix | Adobe Experience Manager, WordPress |
What are Bludit and Wagtail?
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
Wagtail
Wagtail is an open-source Django content management system focused on a refined editor experience and developer flexibility. It powers many large, content-rich websites with structured page models.
- Refined editor interface
- StreamField flexible content
- Headless API option
- Strong accessibility focus
Bludit vs Wagtail: key differences
Bludit is written in PHP, while Wagtail is built with Python. Licensing differs — MIT for Bludit versus BSD-3-Clause for Wagtail. Bludit is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Wagtail. Wagtail has the considerably larger community, at 20,505 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 Wagtail if…
- Excellent editing experience
- Great for Python developers
Watch out for
- Requires Django expertise
- Heavier hosting needs
Frequently asked questions
Is Bludit or Wagtail better?
Neither is universally better. Wagtail 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 Wagtail free and open-source?
Yes. Bludit is licensed under MIT and Wagtail under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Bludit and Wagtail with Docker?
Bludit: yes. Wagtail: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Bludit or Wagtail?
Bludit has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Wagtail. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.