Grav vs October CMS
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
October CMS
Laravel-based CMS focused on simplicity for developers
| Feature | Grav | October CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 93 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,671 | ★ 11,147 |
| First released | 2014 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Squarespace | WordPress, Wix |
What are Grav and October CMS?
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
October CMS
October CMS is a self-hosted content management system built on the Laravel framework, designed to make web development simple again. It uses flat-file templating with a clean backend for content editors.
- Built on Laravel
- Flat-file twig-style templating
- Plugin marketplace
- Clean developer experience
Grav vs October CMS: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Grav is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for October CMS.
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 October CMS if…
- Great for Laravel developers
- Simple, transparent architecture
Watch out for
- Some plugins are paid
- Less suited to non-developers
Frequently asked questions
Is Grav or October CMS better?
Grav is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider October CMS if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Grav and October CMS free and open-source?
Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and October CMS under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Grav and October CMS with Docker?
Grav: yes. October CMS: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Grav or October CMS?
Grav has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for October CMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.