Contao vs MODX
Contao
contao.orgMODX
modx.comSide by side
| Figure | Contao | MODX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $36/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 8 |
| Spec score · Content Management Systems | 8.9 (#17) | 9.1 (#8) |
| Custom content types | Yes | Yes |
| Custom user roles | Yes | Yes |
| Editorial workflows | Yes | Yes |
| Founded | 2006 | 2004 |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | Contao is based on Symfony and can be extended with packages from the Contao extension directory or Packagist. | MODX can integrate with services that support an API through JavaScript snippets, MODX Extras, or Zapier, whose MODX Extra provides access to over 500 applications. |
| Media library | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual content | Yes | Yes |
| Platform type | self_hosted | hybrid |
| SEO tools | Yes | Yes |
| Support | The project offers free forum support from its community and professional support through Contao partners. | MODX offers free community support and commercial support from the team that created and maintains MODX CMS. |
Plans
MODX
- Pro Site Core$90 a month
- Pro Site Plus$145 a month
- Pro Site Max$225 a month
- FreeFree
- Base$36 a month
- Pro$91 a month
- Business$320 a month
- Enterprise$4,000 a month
In their own words
Contao
Contao is a free, open-source content management system for professional websites and scalable web applications. One installation can operate multiple websites and multilingual sites. Editors can work in TinyMCE, change multiple records together, and restore earlier versions. Administrators can assign permissions to individual backend fields for users or groups, while editorial workflows, custom roles, custom content types, a media library, and multilingual content support organize publishing. The core includes calendar, news and blog, newsletter, form-generation, and full-text-search modules. SEO features include schema.org data and generated XML sitemaps, with stated WCAG 2.1 AA support. Passkeys or two-factor authentication and account locking address access security. Contao runs on web servers with current PHP and MySQL, and can be installed through Contao Manager or Composer. It is based on Symfony and extendable through its directory or Packagist.
MODX
MODX is a content management system and application framework for building custom digital experiences. It can model blogs, landing pages, catalogs, forms, PDFs, CSV downloads, and custom input fields. Reusable Templates, Chunks, Snippets, and Plugins render pages or add functionality and logic. Editorial workflows, custom roles, multilingual content, SEO tools, media libraries, and attribute-based access controls support publishing and content management. Community-made Extras extend it with integrations for areas such as e-commerce, maps, menus, OAuth, social, and SEO. Connections to API-enabled services can use JavaScript snippets, Extras, or Zapier, whose MODX Extra connects to over 500 applications. MODX is available as self-hosted software, through an API, and on the web. The self-hosted Free plan costs nothing. Managed MODX Cloud plans begin at $36 a month billed annually; other listed plans include self-hosted and managed options, with different storage, support, and hosting features. MODX was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in Dallas, Texas.