ClassicPress 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.
Not the right match-up?
ClassicPress
Community-led WordPress fork without the block editor
VS
Grav
Fast flat-file CMS with no database required
| Feature | ClassicPress | Grav |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker, one-click | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 856 | ★ 15,620 |
| First released | 2018 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress | WordPress, Squarespace |
Why pick each one
Choose ClassicPress if…
- Released under the GPL-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
Frequently asked questions
Is ClassicPress 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 ClassicPress and Grav free and open-source?
Yes. ClassicPress is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Grav under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run ClassicPress and Grav with Docker?
ClassicPress: yes. Grav: yes.