Grav vs Monstra
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
Monstra
Lightweight flat-file CMS that needs no database
| Feature | Grav | Monstra |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | GPL-3.0 |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,620 | ★ 389 |
| First released | 2014 | 2012 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Squarespace | WordPress |
Why pick each one
Choose Monstra if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- Written in PHP
- Tiny footprint — runs in 64 MB RAM
Frequently asked questions
Is Grav or Monstra better?
Neither is universally better. Grav has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Grav and Monstra free and open-source?
Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and Monstra under GPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Grav and Monstra with Docker?
Grav: yes. Monstra: check the project docs for container support.