PublicCMS vs WordPress
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted content management systems options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Not the right match-up?
PublicCMS
High-performance Java content management system
VS
WordPress
The most popular content management system in the world
| Feature | PublicCMS | WordPress |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Content Management Systems | Content Management Systems |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-2.0 |
| Language | Java | PHP |
| Setup difficulty | Hard | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 512 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, source | docker, bare-metal, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 2,085 | ★ 21,316 |
| First released | 2015 | 2003 |
| Replaces | WordPress | Wix, Squarespace, WordPress.com |
Why pick each one
Choose PublicCMS if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Active community (2.1k GitHub stars)
- Written in Java
Choose WordPress if…
- Unmatched ecosystem and documentation
- Easy for non-technical users
Frequently asked questions
Is PublicCMS or WordPress better?
WordPress is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider PublicCMS if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are PublicCMS and WordPress free and open-source?
Yes. PublicCMS is licensed under Apache-2.0 and WordPress under GPL-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run PublicCMS and WordPress with Docker?
PublicCMS: check the project docs for container support. WordPress: yes.