MODX Revolution vs Statamic
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Statamic
Laravel-powered flat-file CMS for custom sites
| Feature | MODX Revolution | Statamic |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 80 · Excellent | 89 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | GPL-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 512 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 1,411 | ★ 4,897 |
| First released | 2005 | 2012 |
| Replaces | WordPress, Drupal | WordPress, Contentful |
What are MODX Revolution and Statamic?
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
Statamic
Statamic is a content management system built on Laravel that can run flat-file or database-backed. It offers a friendly control panel and a developer-focused workflow for building custom websites.
- Flat-file or database storage
- Built on Laravel
- Git-friendly content
- Polished control panel
MODX Revolution vs Statamic: key differences
Both projects are written in PHP. Licensing differs — GPL-2.0 for MODX Revolution versus MIT for Statamic. MODX Revolution is the more established project (first released 2005), while Statamic arrived in 2012. Statamic has the considerably larger community, at 4,897 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 Statamic if…
- Great for Laravel developers
- Easy version control of content
Watch out for
- Solo and Pro licenses can be paid
- Best suited to developers
Frequently asked questions
Is MODX Revolution or Statamic better?
Neither is universally better. Statamic has the larger community; both share a medium setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are MODX Revolution and Statamic free and open-source?
Yes. MODX Revolution is licensed under GPL-2.0 and Statamic under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run MODX Revolution and Statamic with Docker?
MODX Revolution: yes. Statamic: yes.