LocalGov Drupal Free plan 8.9 Visit Government Site Builder
produkt.gsb.bund.de
What it is
Government Site Builder (GSB) is a web content management solution for creating, reviewing, approving, and publishing material on internet, intranet, and extranet sites. Its current release, GSB 11, is based on TYPO3 and intended for modern, accessible websites. Federal authorities required or choosing to participate in Dienstekonsolidierung are its primary users; states and municipalities can also reuse it. GSB 11 meets Germany’s BITV 2.0 accessibility requirements. Its modular editorial system has extensions for consent management, content modules and templates, website logins, metadata cleaning during uploads, and site configuration import and export. Search extensions include Solr and an adaptation for ITZBund hosting requirements. The product page describes regular updates and security checks by the federal government’s BSI, along with configurations intended to improve security and data protection. Authorities in Dienstekonsolidierung are generally hosted at ITZBund, though self-hosting is possible. Self-hosting or an external provider makes the authority responsible for updates, upgrades, and patches. The Open Source distribution is free under GPL 3.0; hosting, support, training, and custom development may cost extra.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- GSB is a web content management solution for creating, reviewing, approving, and publishing content on internet, intranet, and extranet sites.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Intended users
- GSB 11 is developed for federal authorities required or choosing to participate in Dienstekonsolidierung, and is also open for reuse by states and municipalities.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Security
- The product page says regular updates and security checks by the federal government (BSI) support security, and describes GSB-specific configurations as improving security and data protection.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Support
- ITZBund support handles faults and questions about IT procedures it operates, with contacts provided for support requests and live websites.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Accessibility
- GSB 11 meets the requirements of Germany’s BITV 2.0 accessibility regulation.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Compatibility
- The GSB 11 backend is optimized for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari, while Internet Explorer is unsupported.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Current version
- GSB 11 is the current TYPO3-based platform for modern, accessible websites.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Customization limit
- Customer-specific changes require review and approval by the central GSB requirements management, and customers are responsible for maintaining their own approved extensions and their update compatibility.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Editorial features
- The product overview describes a modern modular architecture intended to support intuitive editorial work.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Extensions
- Listed extensions include consent management, content modules and templates, website user login, metadata cleaning on upload, and site configuration import and export.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Hosting
- Authorities in Dienstekonsolidierung are generally hosted at ITZBund, while self-hosting is also possible; self-hosting or using an external provider means they are responsible for applying updates, upgrades, and patches.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Intranet limit
- GSB 11 can technically serve an intranet, but intranet-specific features such as forums, chat, and user-generated content are not planned for the near term.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
- Search integration
- The listed extensions include Solr integration and a GSB extension that adapts Solr search to ITZBund hosting requirements.Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
Plans and prices
GSB 11 Open Source distribution Free GPL 3.0; hosting, support, training, and custom development may incur costs Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
GSB 11 ITZBund hosting Priced on request Bronze D hosting is free at least through end of 2026 for obligated Dienstekonsolidierung authorities; higher service levels may cost extra Read 4 Oct 2026 · produkt.gsb.bund.de
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Meets Germany’s BITV 2.0 accessibility requirements.
- Open Source distribution is free under GPL 3.0.
- Includes Solr search extensions.
- Self-hosting is possible.
- Supports internet, intranet, and extranet sites.
Limits
- Self-hosted users handle updates, upgrades, and patches.
- Custom changes require central review and approval.
- Intranet forums, chat, and user-generated content are not planned near-term.
- Internet Explorer is unsupported.
Who it suits
GSB 11 is aimed primarily at federal authorities participating in Dienstekonsolidierung, and is also available for reuse by states and municipalities. It can suit organizations able to manage updates themselves if they self-host or use an external provider.
Government Site Builder in depth
Read the full write-up
Government Site Builder is a TYPO3-based content management system for public authorities building internet, intranet, or extranet sites. It is best suited to German federal authorities in Dienstekonsolidierung, with states and municipalities also able to reuse it. Its free open-source distribution is a strong starting point, provided the authority can accept centralized review of custom changes and take on maintenance if it hosts the system itself.
Overview
GSB 11 supports the full content lifecycle: creation, review, approval, and publication. Its modular architecture is intended to support editorial work, while the platform’s focus on public authorities makes it a more natural fit for government teams than organizations seeking an unrestricted general-purpose CMS.
It meets Germany’s BITV 2.0 accessibility requirements, a meaningful baseline for public-sector sites. Authorities still need to consider the accessibility of their own content and implementation.
Key features
Editorial workflow and extensions
The product supports editorial review and approval before publication. Listed extensions add consent management, content modules and templates, website login, metadata cleaning during uploads, and site-configuration import and export. Together, these address common site operations; the information provided does not establish that every authority will need or receive the same configuration.
Search and security
Solr integration is available, including an extension adapted to ITZBund hosting requirements. The federal government’s BSI performs regular updates and security checks, and GSB-specific configurations are intended to improve security and data protection. Those measures support the shared platform, but do not remove the customer’s patching duties when it chooses self-hosting or an external provider.
Customization and intranet limits
Customer-specific changes must pass review and approval by central GSB requirements management. Customers also maintain their approved extensions and ensure they remain compatible with updates. This governance can suit authorities that value coordinated changes, but it constrains teams that need to adapt the CMS independently.
GSB 11 can technically run an intranet, but intranet-specific capabilities such as forums, chat, and user-generated content are not planned for the near term. It is therefore a better match for publishing and controlled editorial workflows than for an intranet centered on collaboration.
Pricing
The GSB 11 Open Source distribution costs nothing under GPL 3.0. Hosting, support, training, and custom development may incur costs, so the zero-price distribution does not cover the full cost of operating a site.
The GSB 11 ITZBund hosting plan has custom pricing. Bronze D hosting is free at least through the end of 2026 for obligated Dienstekonsolidierung authorities; higher service levels may cost extra. Authorities generally use ITZBund hosting, while self-hosting is possible. With self-hosting or an external provider, the authority is responsible for updates, upgrades, and patches.
Platforms
GSB 11 is available as self-hosted software and for the web. Its backend is optimized for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and Safari; Internet Explorer is unsupported.
Who it's for
GSB 11 is aimed first at federal authorities required or choosing to participate in Dienstekonsolidierung. States and municipalities can also reuse it. It is most compelling for public bodies that want a government-oriented CMS, can work within central approval for custom changes, and have a suitable hosting arrangement. It is a weaker fit for teams that need independent customization or intranet collaboration features such as forums and chat.
Pros and cons
Pros
No-cost open-source distribution: the software is free under GPL 3.0, although operating and service costs may still apply.
Public-sector accessibility baseline: compliance with BITV 2.0 addresses a relevant requirement for German authority websites.
Government-oriented security support: regular BSI updates and security checks support the shared platform.
Useful publishing extensions: consent management, upload metadata cleaning, configuration transfer, and Solr integration cover several common site needs.
Cons
Self-hosting means ongoing upkeep: the authority must apply updates, upgrades, and patches when it operates the hosting itself or uses an external provider.
Custom changes are centrally governed: each customer-specific change needs approval, and customers must maintain their approved extensions and update compatibility.
Intranet collaboration is limited: forums, chat, and user-generated content are not planned for the near term.
Hosting costs can vary: Bronze D is free only at least through the end of 2026 for obligated Dienstekonsolidierung authorities, while higher service levels may cost extra.
Alternatives
Government Website Builders is a broader list for readers comparing government-focused site platforms.
Isomer is worth considering for Singapore government agencies and public healthcare institutions seeking a free web-based option; its use is limited to those organizations.
LocalGov Drupal may suit UK and Irish councils seeking a free, open-source CMS that can be self-hosted or used through its web and API platforms.
S3WaaS is another government website option to consider.
CMS Max may fit organizations that prefer a paid web and API platform; its Lite plan starts at $40 a month and includes unlimited admin accounts with permissions and API access.
GOSS iCM is an alternative for readers considering a paid platform available on web, API, and self-hosted deployments.
Govstack CMS is another paid web-based option, with pricing available by request.
Jadu Central may suit buyers seeking a paid platform with web, API, Linux, Windows, and self-hosted options; pricing is available by request.
Town Web is a paid municipal website option with web, Android, and iOS platforms; its Municipal website plan starts at $99 a month, with a contract-term price and a one-time build fee also applying.
Verdict
Choose Government Site Builder if you are a German public authority that wants a free, government-oriented CMS with BITV 2.0 compliance and can work within central change approval. Its main advantage is a public-sector platform with a no-cost open-source distribution and government security support. Look elsewhere if you need autonomous customization, a richer collaboration-focused intranet, or a deployment whose maintenance is handled without your team taking on self-hosting responsibilities.
Verdict
GSB 11 combines content management, accessibility compliance, and a set of editorial and search extensions for public authorities. Hosting and customization constraints matter: self-hosting shifts maintenance responsibility to the customer, and custom changes require approval.
Where Specifiction places it
- Government Website Builders#14 of 337.6
