Concrete CMS vs ImpressPages
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Concrete CMS | ImpressPages |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 13 · At risk |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 852 | ★ 500 |
| First released | 2008 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Wix, Squarespace | WordPress, Wix |
What are Concrete CMS and ImpressPages?
Concrete CMS
Concrete CMS is an open-source content management system known for its intuitive in-context editing, letting users edit pages directly on the front end. It targets non-technical website owners who want easy visual control.
- In-context front-end editing
- Drag-and-drop block layouts
- Built-in marketplace
- Workflow and versioning
ImpressPages
ImpressPages is an open-source PHP content management system featuring an intuitive inline editor with drag-and-drop layout building. It targets users who want a simple, visual way to manage small to medium websites.
- Inline drag-and-drop editing
- MVC architecture
- Plugin and theme support
- Beginner friendly
Concrete CMS vs ImpressPages: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Concrete CMS versus GPL-3.0 for ImpressPages. ImpressPages is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Concrete CMS. Concrete CMS is the more established project (first released 2008), while ImpressPages arrived in 2012.
Why pick each one
Choose Concrete CMS if…
- Very approachable for non-technical editors
- No separate admin needed for content
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Fewer themes available
Choose ImpressPages if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Written in PHP
Watch out for
- Maintenance has slowed
- Smaller ecosystem
Frequently asked questions
Is Concrete CMS or ImpressPages better?
Neither is universally better. Concrete CMS has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Concrete CMS and ImpressPages free and open-source?
Yes. Concrete CMS is licensed under MIT and ImpressPages under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Concrete CMS and ImpressPages with Docker?
Concrete CMS: yes. ImpressPages: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Concrete CMS or ImpressPages?
ImpressPages has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Concrete CMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.