ExpressionEngine vs MODX
ExpressionEngine
expressionengine.comMODX
modx.comSide by side
| Figure | ExpressionEngine | MODX |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $3.25/mo | $36/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 10 | 8 |
| Spec score · Web Content Management Software | 9.0 (#1) | 8.8 (#5) |
| Spec score · Content Management Systems | 9.1 (#9) | 9.1 (#8) |
| Spec score · Website Development tools | 9.1 (#2) | 8.8 (#6) |
| 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 | hybrid |
| Product type | Packet Tide describes ExpressionEngine as a free, open source content management system. | MODX Revolution is a content management system and application framework for building custom digital experiences. |
| SEO tools | Yes | Yes |
| Support | Support plans provide guaranteed first responses ranging from one business day to two business hours, depending on plan. | MODX offers free community support and commercial support from the team that created and maintains MODX CMS. |
Plans
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
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
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.
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.