MODX Revolution 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 | MODX Revolution | PublicCMS |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Read-the-docs project |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 86 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | Java |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,411 | ★ 2,097 |
| First released | 2005 | 2015 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress |
What are MODX Revolution and PublicCMS?
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
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
MODX Revolution vs PublicCMS: key differences
MODX Revolution is written in PHP, while PublicCMS is built with Java. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MODX Revolution versus Apache-2.0 for PublicCMS. MODX Revolution is the lighter option, starting around 512 MB of RAM against 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. MODX Revolution is the more established project (first released 2005), while PublicCMS arrived in 2015. MODX Revolution lists first-class Docker deployment; PublicCMS does not.
Why pick each one
Choose MODX Revolution if…
- No markup constraints
- Good for custom builds
Watch out for
- Steeper learning curve
- Smaller community
Choose PublicCMS if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Frequently asked questions
Is MODX Revolution or PublicCMS better?
Neither is universally better. PublicCMS has the larger community, while MODX Revolution is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are MODX Revolution and PublicCMS free and open-source?
Yes. MODX Revolution is licensed under GPL-2.0 and PublicCMS under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MODX Revolution and PublicCMS with Docker?
MODX Revolution: yes. PublicCMS: check the project docs for container support.
Which is lighter on resources, MODX Revolution or PublicCMS?
MODX Revolution has the smaller minimum footprint at 512 MB of RAM, compared to about 1,024 MB for PublicCMS. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.