SHSelfHostIndex

Grav vs Superdesk

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 SU Superdesk End-to-end news creation, production, curation, distribution, and
FeatureGravSuperdesk
CategoryContent Management SystemsContent Management Systems
LicenseMITAGPL-3.0
LanguagePHPShell
Setup difficultyEasyMedium
Min. RAM256 MB512 MB
Deploymentdocker, bare-metal, sourcedocker
GitHub stars★ 15,620★ 746
First released20142026
ReplacesWordPress, Squarespace—

Why pick each one

Choose Grav if…

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

Choose Superdesk if…

  • Released under the AGPL-3.0 license
  • First-class Docker support for quick deployment
  • Written in Shell
  • Lightweight — runs in 512 MB RAM
Superdesk details

Frequently asked questions

Is Grav or Superdesk better?

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

Are Grav and Superdesk free and open-source?

Yes. Grav is licensed under MIT and Superdesk under AGPL-3.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.

Can I run Grav and Superdesk with Docker?

Grav: yes. Superdesk: yes.

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