Kirby vs PublicCMS
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Kirby | PublicCMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 84 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | Proprietary | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 256 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,531 | ★ 2,097 |
| First released | 2012 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Squarespace | WordPress |
What are Kirby and PublicCMS?
Kirby
Kirby is a flexible file-based content management system that stores content in plain text files and gives developers full control over markup. It is popular for portfolios and custom-designed websites.
- File-based content storage
- Flexible panel for editors
- No database required
- Developer-friendly templating
PublicCMS
PublicCMS is an open-source content management system written in Java that generates static pages for high performance and supports managing multiple sites. It is aimed at organizations needing a fast, template-driven publishing platform.
- Static page generation
- Template-driven
- Multi-site support
- High performance
Kirby vs PublicCMS: key differences
Kirby is written in PHP, while PublicCMS is built with Java. Licensing differs — Proprietary for Kirby versus Apache-2.0 for PublicCMS. Kirby is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. Kirby is the more established project (first released 2012), while PublicCMS arrived in 2015. Kirby lists first-class Docker deployment; PublicCMS does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Kirby if…
- Easy backups and version control
- Highly customizable
Watch out for
- Commercial license required for production
- Free only for personal use
Choose PublicCMS if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is Kirby or PublicCMS better?
Neither is universally better. PublicCMS has the larger community, while Kirby is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Kirby and PublicCMS free and open-source?
Yes. Kirby is licensed under Proprietary and PublicCMS under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kirby and PublicCMS with Docker?
Kirby: yes. PublicCMS: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, Kirby or PublicCMS?
Kirby has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.