Grav 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.
Grav
Fast flat-file CMS with no database required
VS
Kirby
File-based CMS for designers and developers
| Feature | Grav | Kirby |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 84 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | Proprietary |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,671 | ★ 1,531 |
| First released | 2014 | 2012 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Squarespace | WordPress, Squarespace |
What are Grav and Kirby?
Grav
Grav is a modern open-source flat-file CMS that requires no database, storing content in Markdown files. It is fast to deploy and well suited to blogs, documentation, and small to medium websites.
- No database needed
- Markdown-based content
- Plugin and theme ecosystem
- Fast page rendering
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
Grav vs Kirby: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Grav versus Proprietary for Kirby. Kirby is the more established project (first released 2012), while Grav arrived in 2014. Grav has the considerably larger community, at 15,671 GitHub stars versus 1,531.
Why pick each one
Choose Grav if…
- Trivial to back up and migrate
- Quick to set up
Watch out for
- Less ideal for very large sites
- Admin plugin needed for GUI editing
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 Grav or Kirby better?
Grav is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Kirby if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Grav and Kirby free and open-source?
Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and Kirby under Proprietary. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Grav and Kirby with Docker?
Grav: yes. Kirby: yes.