Concrete CMS vs Kirby
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 | Kirby |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 82 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 852 | ★ 1,531 |
| First released | 2008 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Wix, Squarespace | WordPress, Squarespace |
What are Concrete CMS and Kirby?
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
Kirby
Kirby is a flexible file-based content management system that stores content in plain text files and gives developers full control over markup. It is popular for portfolios and custom-designed websites.
- File-based content storage
- Flexible panel for editors
- No database required
- Developer-friendly templating
Concrete CMS vs Kirby: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Concrete CMS versus Proprietary for Kirby. Kirby 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 Kirby 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 Kirby if…
- Easy backups and version control
- Highly customizable
Watch out for
- Commercial license required for production
- Free only for personal use
Frequently asked questions
Is Concrete CMS or Kirby better?
Neither is universally better. Kirby has the larger community, while Concrete CMS is simpler to set up (easy difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Concrete CMS and Kirby free and open-source?
Yes. Concrete CMS is licensed under MIT and Kirby under Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Concrete CMS and Kirby with Docker?
Concrete CMS: yes. Kirby: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Concrete CMS or Kirby?
Kirby 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.