MODX Revolution vs Pico
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Pico
Stupidly simple flat-file CMS
| Feature | MODX Revolution | Pico |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 65 · Good |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 128 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,411 | ★ 3,905 |
| First released | 2005 | 2012 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress |
What are MODX Revolution and Pico?
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
Pico
Pico is a minimal, fast flat-file content management system that uses Markdown files for content and Twig templates for layout. It needs no database and no admin backend.
- No database required
- Markdown content
- Twig templating
- Tiny footprint
MODX Revolution vs Pico: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MODX Revolution versus MIT for Pico. Pico is the lighter option, starting around 128 MB of RAM against 512 MB for MODX Revolution. MODX Revolution is the more established project (first released 2005), while Pico arrived in 2012. Pico has the considerably larger community, at 3,905 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 Pico if…
- Extremely lightweight
- Zero configuration to start
Watch out for
- No admin UI by default
- Not for large dynamic sites
Frequently asked questions
Is MODX Revolution or Pico better?
Pico is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider MODX Revolution if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are MODX Revolution and Pico free and open-source?
Yes. MODX Revolution is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Pico under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MODX Revolution and Pico with Docker?
MODX Revolution: yes. Pico: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, MODX Revolution or Pico?
Pico has the smaller minimum footprint at 128 MB of RAM, compared to about 512 MB for MODX Revolution. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.