MODX Revolution vs Pagekit
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | MODX Revolution | Pagekit |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 15 · At risk |
| Status | Actively maintained | Archived |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,411 | ★ 5,454 |
| First released | 2005 | 2014 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress |
What are MODX Revolution and Pagekit?
MODX Revolution
MODX Revolution is an open-source content management system and web application framework that imposes no constraints on markup or design. It is used to build custom websites and applications.
- Complete design freedom
- Flexible templating
- Extensible with packages
- Granular permissions
Pagekit
Pagekit is a modular, open-source content management system with a clean, modern interface built on Symfony components and Vue.js. It includes a blog and a marketplace for extensions.
- Modern Vue.js interface
- Modular architecture
- Built-in blog
- Marketplace for extensions
MODX Revolution vs Pagekit: key differences
The biggest difference is maintenance: Pagekit's repository is archived and no longer developed, while MODX Revolution is actively maintained. Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MODX Revolution versus MIT for Pagekit. Pagekit is the lighter option, starting around 256 MB of RAM against 512 MB for MODX Revolution. MODX Revolution is the more established project (first released 2005), while Pagekit arrived in 2014. Pagekit has the considerably larger community, at 5,454 GitHub stars versus 1,411.
Why pick each one
Choose MODX Revolution if…
- No markup constraints
- Good for custom builds
Watch out for
- Steeper learning curve
- Smaller community
Choose Pagekit if…
- Clean, modern admin
- Lightweight
Watch out for
- Development has stalled
- Limited active maintenance
Frequently asked questions
Is MODX Revolution or Pagekit better?
Pagekit is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Pagekit if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MODX Revolution and Pagekit free and open-source?
Yes. MODX Revolution is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Pagekit under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MODX Revolution and Pagekit with Docker?
MODX Revolution: yes. Pagekit: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, MODX Revolution or Pagekit?
Pagekit has the smaller minimum footprint at 256 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for MODX Revolution. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.