SHSelfHostIndex

Grav vs PureBlog

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?
GR Grav Fast flat-file CMS with no database required VS PU PureBlog Blogging platform, designed for personal use
FeatureGravPureBlog
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITLicenseRef-Pure-Blog-1
LanguagePHP
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM256 MB50 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcebare-metal
GitHub stars★ 15,620—
First released20142026
ReplacesWordPress, SquarespaceBlogger, Blogspot

Why pick each one

Choose Grav if…

  • Trivial to back up and migrate
  • Quick to set up
Grav details

Choose PureBlog if…

  • Released under the LicenseRef-Pure-Blog-1 license
  • Tiny footprint — runs in 50 MB RAM
PureBlog details

Frequently asked questions

Is Grav or PureBlog better?

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

Are Grav and PureBlog free and open-source?

Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and PureBlog under LicenseRef-Pure-Blog-1. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Grav and PureBlog with Docker?

Grav: yes. PureBlog: check the project docs for container support.

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