django CMS vs ExpressionEngine
django CMS
django-cms.org
ExpressionEngine
expressionengine.comSide by side
| Figure | django CMS | ExpressionEngine |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $2/mo | $3.25/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 6 | 10 |
| Spec score · Content Management Systems | 9.4 (#1) | 9.1 (#9) |
| Custom content types | Yes | Yes |
| Custom user roles | Yes | Yes |
| Editorial workflows | Yes | Yes |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Media library | Yes | Yes |
| Multilingual content | Yes | Yes |
| Platform type | self_hosted | self_hosted |
| SEO tools | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Community support includes technical documentation, Stack Overflow, Discord, GitHub Issues, and an AI chat service. | Support plans provide guaranteed first responses ranging from one business day to two business hours, depending on plan. |
Plans
django CMS
- django CMSFree
- Supporter Association Membership$2 a month
- Bronze Association Membership$500 a year
- Silver Association Membership$1,500 a year
- Gold Association Membership$3,000 a year
- Platinum Association Membership$15,000 a year
ExpressionEngine
- CoreFree
- Pro$249, paid once
- Pro Renewal Subscription$49 a year
- Pro Renewal$59, paid once
- Additional MSM Site$49, paid once
- MSM Pro Renewal Subscription$39 a year
- MSM Pro Renewal$49, paid once
- MSM Pro Renewal$49 a year
- Pro Renewal$59 a year
- MSM Pro License Renewal$49 a year
In their own words
django CMS
django CMS is an open-source content management system built on Django for creating and managing websites. Editors can change content directly on the page, while a drag-and-drop builder arranges reusable components such as text, images, videos, forms, and custom business elements. The system supports multiple languages and multi-site publishing, with SEO tools, a media library, custom content types, editorial workflows, and custom user roles. Permissions include granular privileges and separate editor and publisher roles. Developers can integrate existing Django applications through application views and placeholders. Deployment can use traditional Django rendering, hybrid rendering with a REST API, or headless delivery through REST endpoints; headless mode and the REST API are available through the djangocms-rest add-on. The core CMS is free and open, with no license fees. It is self-hosted and supports web, Linux, Windows, and API contexts. Installation requires Python 3.10 or later and uses pip. The maker, based in Zurich, Switzerland, was founded in 2007 and identifies enterprises, universities, and digital agencies as intended users.
ExpressionEngine
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.