Contao vs Subrion CMS
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Contao
Accessible open-source CMS for professional websites
VS
Subrion CMS
Open-source PHP content management system
| Feature | Contao | Subrion CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 74 · Good | 8 · At risk |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | LGPL-3.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 439 | ★ 284 |
| First released | 2006 | 2011 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Joomla | WordPress, Joomla |
What are Contao and Subrion CMS?
Contao
Contao is an open-source content management system focused on producing accessible, standards-compliant websites. It is built on Symfony components and offers a flexible front-end module system.
- Accessibility-focused output
- Front-end module system
- Granular permissions
- Built on Symfony
Subrion CMS
Subrion is a full-featured PHP and MySQL content management system with a drag-and-drop layout editor and an extensible plugin and template marketplace. It targets blogs, business sites, and directory-style portals.
- Drag-and-drop layouts
- Plugin marketplace
- Multi-language support
- Built-in SEO tools
Contao vs Subrion CMS: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — LGPL-3.0 for Contao versus GPL-3.0 for Subrion CMS. Subrion CMS is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for Contao. Contao is the more established project (first released 2006), while Subrion CMS arrived in 2011. Contao lists first-class Docker deployment; Subrion CMS does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Contao if…
- Strong accessibility support
- Good for agencies
Watch out for
- Smaller community
- Less known outside Europe
Choose Subrion CMS if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 256 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Contao or Subrion CMS better?
Neither is universally better. Contao has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Contao and Subrion CMS free and open-source?
Yes. Contao is licensed under LGPL-3.0 and Subrion CMS under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Contao and Subrion CMS with Docker?
Contao: yes. Subrion CMS: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Contao or Subrion CMS?
Subrion CMS has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for Contao. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.