Orchard Core vs Wagtail
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
| Feature | Orchard Core | Wagtail |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 92 · Excellent | 96 · Excellent |
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | BSD-3-Clause | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | C# | Python |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 8,187 | ★ 20,505 |
| First released | 2018 | 2014 |
| Replaces | Sitecore, WordPress | Adobe Experience Manager, WordPress |
What are Orchard Core and Wagtail?
Orchard Core
Orchard Core is an open-source, modular, and multi-tenant application framework and CMS built on ASP.NET Core. It enables building content-driven sites and SaaS-style multi-site setups.
- Multi-tenant by design
- Modular architecture
- GraphQL API
- Decoupled and headless modes
Wagtail
Wagtail is an open-source Django content management system focused on a refined editor experience and developer flexibility. It powers many large, content-rich websites with structured page models.
- Refined editor interface
- StreamField flexible content
- Headless API option
- Strong accessibility focus
Orchard Core vs Wagtail: key differences
Orchard Core is written in C#, while Wagtail is built with Python. Wagtail is the more established project (first released 2014), while Orchard Core arrived in 2018. Wagtail has the considerably larger community, at 20,505 GitHub stars versus 8,187.
Why pick each one
Choose Orchard Core if…
- Powerful multi-tenancy
- Modern .NET architecture
Watch out for
- Steep learning curve
- Smaller ecosystem than Umbraco
Choose Wagtail if…
- Excellent editing experience
- Great for Python developers
Watch out for
- Requires Django expertise
- Heavier hosting needs
Frequently asked questions
Is Orchard Core or Wagtail better?
Wagtail is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler medium setup. Consider Orchard Core if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Orchard Core and Wagtail free and open-source?
Yes. Orchard Core is licensed under BSD-3-Clause and Wagtail under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Orchard Core and Wagtail with Docker?
Orchard Core: yes. Wagtail: yes.