ExpressionEngine
expressionengine.com
What it is
ExpressionEngine is an open source CMS from Packet Tide for storing, managing and publishing website content. Its flexible channels and fields support custom content types, editorial workflows, multilingual content, SEO tools and a media library. Templates can include HTML, JavaScript, PHP and ExpressionEngine tags, and the CMS provides more than 20 field types. Editors can update content on a site's front end, while administrators can also bring the control panel there. One installation can manage multiple sites and share design, content and members; each additional MSM site requires an additional MSM Pro License. The free Core plan allows one control panel user. Pro costs $249, paid once, includes unlimited control panel users and one year of updates. Continued updates are available through renewal options, including a Pro Renewal Subscription at $49 a year. ExpressionEngine runs on web, self-hosted and API platforms. Learning resources include documentation, forums and ExpressionEngine University.
Spec sheet
- Free plan
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- API
- ExpressionEngine's legacy API libraries support operations including managing templates and channels and creating, editing, and deleting channel entries.Read 28 Sep 2026 · docs.expressionengine.com
- Privacy
- ExpressionEngine includes tools for cookie consent and GDPR compliance.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Support
- Support plans provide guaranteed first responses ranging from one business day to two business hours, depending on plan.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Community Channels
- The community connects through Slack, forums, and GitHub.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Company Owner
- Packet Tide owns and develops ExpressionEngine.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Content Management
- It stores, manages, and publishes website content.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Content model
- Content is stored in flexible channels with fields that can be served anywhere on a site.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Core user limit
- The Core edition is intended for projects requiring control panel access for one user.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Custom content types
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Custom user roles
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Developer Add-Ons
- A developer community creates add-ons that extend system capabilities.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Editorial workflows
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Email integrations
- Its built-in email system supports PHPMail, Sendmail, and SMTP.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Expiry Behavior
- An expired subscription shows a control-panel warning but does not take the site down.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Extensibility
- A community add-on ecosystem extends ExpressionEngine's capabilities.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Field types
- ExpressionEngine provides more than 20 field types.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Free Tier Limit
- The free Core plan is limited to control panel access for 1 user.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Front-end editing
- Editors can update content directly on the front end without using the control panel.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Included Updates
- The Pro license includes one year of updates.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Learning Resources
- Documentation, forums, and ExpressionEngine University provide learning resources.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- License Currency
- Prices are listed in USD.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Long-term support
- ExpressionEngine 7 is listed as an LTS version with ongoing bug-fix and security-fix support dates not yet specified on the version-support table.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Media library
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Monitoring integration
- ExpressionEngine supports deep application monitoring with New Relic out of the box.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Multi-site
- A single installation can manage multiple sites and share design, content, and members between them.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Multi-Site Pricing
- Each additional MSM site requires an additional MSM Pro License after the initial site license.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Multilingual content
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Nonprofit License
- Nonprofit or charitable projects may request a free license.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Open Source CMS
- ExpressionEngine is an open source CMS for website content.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Payments integration
- The official Simple Commerce add-on integrates ExpressionEngine with PayPal and uses PayPal Instant Payment Notification to track purchases.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Platform type
- self_hostedRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Pro User Limit
- The Pro plan includes unlimited control panel users.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Product type
- Packet Tide describes ExpressionEngine as a free, open source content management system.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Renewal Grace Period
- Customers have 1 year after license end to renew before repurchasing a full site license.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Security history
- ExpressionEngine says it has never had a serious security issue in its 15-year history.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- SEO tools
- YesRead 22 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Server requirements
- Recommended requirements include PHP 7.4 or 8.2 running with PHP-FPM and MySQL 5.6 or newer, including MySQL 8.Read 28 Sep 2026 · docs.expressionengine.com
- Subscription Billing
- Renewal subscriptions continue updates yearly and renew automatically.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Support Rating Floor
- The stated support rating has never been below 98%.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Support Satisfaction
- Customers reported a 100% satisfaction rating in the last 60 days.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Templating
- Templates can contain HTML, JavaScript, PHP, and ExpressionEngine tags.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
- Update Cost
- Additional Pro updates start at $49 per year.Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Plans and prices
Core Free Unlimited Features · 1 Control Panel User Perfect for projects that only require control panel access for 1 user. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Pro $249, paid once Includes one year of updates. Additional updates start at $49/year. Unlimited Features · Unlimited Control Panel Users Includes one year of updates; additional updates start at $49/year. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Pro Renewal Subscription $49 a year Continued updates each year · Automatic renewal · Discounted Price Continued updates each year; automatic renewal; discounted price. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Pro Renewal $59, paid once billed annually 1 year of updates Provides 1 year of updates. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Additional MSM Site $49, paid once Includes one year of updates. Additional updates start at $39/year. Unlimited Features · Unlimited Control Panel Users Includes one year of updates; additional updates start at $39/year. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
MSM Pro Renewal Subscription $39 a year Continued updates each year · Automatic renewal · Discounted Price Continued updates each year; automatic renewal; discounted price. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
MSM Pro Renewal $49, paid once billed annually 1 year of updates Provides 1 year of updates. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
MSM Pro Renewal $49 a year 1 year of updates Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Pro Renewal $59 a year 1 year of updates Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
MSM Pro License Renewal $49 a year billed annually at $49 Provides 1 year of updates. Read 28 Sep 2026 · expressionengine.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Supports custom content types and multilingual content.
- Editors can update content directly on the front end.
- One installation can manage multiple sites.
- Core is free for one control panel user.
Limits
- Core allows only one control panel user.
- Pro costs $249, paid once.
- Each additional MSM site requires an additional MSM Pro License.
- Additional Pro updates start at $49 per year.
Who it suits
It suits site teams that need a self-hosted CMS with flexible content structures, editorial workflows or multilingual publishing. Its multiple-site features may suit organizations managing more than one site from an installation.
Verdict
ExpressionEngine provides flexible content modeling, front-end editing and multi-site management in an open source CMS. Compare the one-user Core limit with Pro's upfront license and ongoing update options.
Where Specifiction places it
- Web Content Management Software#1 of 249.0
- Content Management Systems#9 of 1659.1
- Website Development tools#2 of 309.1
