Grav vs Orchard Core
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
Orchard Core
Modular, multi-tenant CMS built on ASP.NET Core
| Feature | Grav | Orchard Core |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 92 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | MIT | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | PHP | C# |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,671 | ★ 8,187 |
| First released | 2014 | 2018 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Squarespace | Sitecore, WordPress |
What are Grav and Orchard Core?
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
Orchard Core
Orchard Core is an open-source, modular, and multi-tenant application framework and CMS built on ASP.NET Core. It enables building content-driven sites and SaaS-style multi-site setups.
- Multi-tenant by design
- Modular architecture
- GraphQL API
- Decoupled and headless modes
Grav vs Orchard Core: key differences
Grav is written in PHP, while Orchard Core is built with C#. Licensing differs — MIT for Grav versus BSD-3-Clause for Orchard Core. Grav is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for Orchard Core. Grav is the more established project (first released 2014), while Orchard Core arrived in 2018.
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 Orchard Core if…
- Powerful multi-tenancy
- Modern .NET architecture
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Smaller ecosystem than Umbraco
Frequently asked questions
Is Grav or Orchard Core better?
Grav is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Orchard Core if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Grav and Orchard Core free and open-source?
Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and Orchard Core under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Grav and Orchard Core with Docker?
Grav: yes. Orchard Core: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Grav or Orchard Core?
Grav has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for Orchard Core. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.