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Grav vs MODX Revolution

A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.

Not the right match-up?
Grav Fast flat-file CMS with no database required VS MO MODX Revolution CMS and application framework with creative freedom
FeatureGravMODX Revolution
Deploy effortUnder-an-hour setupUnder-an-hour setup
Health score95 · Excellent80 · Excellent
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITGPL-2.0
LanguagePHPPHP
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM256 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker, bare-metal, source
GitHub stars★ 15,671★ 1,411
First released20142005
ReplacesWordPress, SquarespaceWordPress, Drupal

What are Grav and MODX Revolution?

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

Read the full Grav guide →

MODX Revolution

MODX Revolution is an open-source content management system and web application framework that imposes no constraints on markup or design. It is used to build custom websites and applications.

  • Complete design freedom
  • Flexible templating
  • Extensible with packages
  • Granular permissions

Read the full MODX Revolution guide →

Grav vs MODX Revolution: key differences

Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — MIT for Grav versus GPL-2.0 for MODX Revolution. Grav is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for MODX Revolution. MODX Revolution is the more established project (first released 2005), while Grav arrived in 2014. Grav has the considerably larger community, at 15,671 GitHub stars versus 1,411.

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
Grav details

Choose MODX Revolution if…

  • No markup constraints
  • Good for custom builds

Watch out for

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Smaller community
MODX Revolution details

Frequently asked questions

Is Grav or MODX Revolution better?

Grav is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider MODX Revolution if its specific feature set fits your needs better.

Are Grav and MODX Revolution free and open-source?

Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and MODX Revolution under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Grav and MODX Revolution with Docker?

Grav: yes. MODX Revolution: yes.

Which is lighter on resources, Grav or MODX Revolution?

Grav has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for MODX Revolution. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.

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