django CMS 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.
| Feature | django CMS | Wagtail |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 93 · Excellent | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 10,670 | ★ 20,505 |
| First released | 2009 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore | Adobe Experience Manager, WordPress |
What are django CMS and Wagtail?
django CMS
django CMS is an open-source content management system built on Python's Django framework. It offers front-end editing, a plugin architecture, and strong multilingual support for enterprise sites.
- Front-end editing
- Plugin-based content
- Strong multilingual support
- Django ecosystem integration
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
django CMS vs Wagtail: key differences
Both projects are written in Python. Django CMS is the more established project (first released 2009), while Wagtail arrived in 2014.
Why pick each one
Choose django CMS if…
- Great for Python teams
- Scalable enterprise architecture
Watch out for
- Requires Django knowledge
- More setup than PHP CMSes
Choose Wagtail if…
- Excellent editing experience
- Great for Python developers
Watch out for
- Requires Django expertise
- Heavier hosting needs
Frequently asked questions
Is django CMS or Wagtail better?
Wagtail is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider django CMS if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are django CMS and Wagtail free and open-source?
Yes. django CMS is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Wagtail under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run django CMS and Wagtail with Docker?
django CMS: yes. Wagtail: yes.