[Home](https://www.selecthub.com/) \> [Content Management](https://www.selecthub.com/category/content-management/) \> [CMS Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/cms-software/) \> [Grav CMS](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/grav-cms/) \> Grav CMS vs Kirby CMS # Grav CMS vs Kirby CMS Last Updated: May 4th, 2026 Our analysts compared [Grav CMS](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/grav-cms/) vs [Kirby CMS](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/kirby/) based on data from our 400+ point analysis of [CMS Software](https://www.selecthub.com/c/cms-software/), user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our [free software selection platform](https://www.selecthub.com/about/start-free-selection-project-site/?category=CMS Software&cta=cms-software). [Overview](#product-overview) [Pricing](#product-pricing) [Our Review](#product-analyst-summary) [User Ratings](#user-sentiment-section) [Features](#product-benefits-features) [Screenshots](#product-screenshots) Remove Add to Compare [![Grav CMS Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/7d6ff84af104d3d7a8e3b9f86dc7a030-fe1eb05f03335d4e90fd9ea4996bf0b5/resources/normal/logo.png?1747919970)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/grav-cms/) Remove Add to Compare [![Kirby CMS Software Tool](https://cdn.selecthub.com/products/b29d8617d91303db3e1e5fb653ca0a89-07e3d4afb389037efe69b4dcffacdfc7/resources/normal/logo.png?1736352978)](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/kirby/) [ ![Product Awards](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/awards_badge.svg) ](#awards-section) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Grav%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F7d6ff84af104d3d7a8e3b9f86dc7a030-fe1eb05f03335d4e90fd9ea4996bf0b5%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1747919970) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Grav%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F7d6ff84af104d3d7a8e3b9f86dc7a030-fe1eb05f03335d4e90fd9ea4996bf0b5%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1747919970) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Grav%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F7d6ff84af104d3d7a8e3b9f86dc7a030-fe1eb05f03335d4e90fd9ea4996bf0b5%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1747919970&price=1) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Grav%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2F7d6ff84af104d3d7a8e3b9f86dc7a030-fe1eb05f03335d4e90fd9ea4996bf0b5%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1747919970&price=1) [Get Free Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Kirby%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fb29d8617d91303db3e1e5fb653ca0a89-07e3d4afb389037efe69b4dcffacdfc7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736352978) [Demo](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-demo/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Kirby%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fb29d8617d91303db3e1e5fb653ca0a89-07e3d4afb389037efe69b4dcffacdfc7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736352978) [Request Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Kirby%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fb29d8617d91303db3e1e5fb653ca0a89-07e3d4afb389037efe69b4dcffacdfc7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736352978&price=3) [Pricing](https://pmo.selecthub.com/get-product-pricing/?category=CMS+Software&product%5Fname=Kirby%2BCMS&product%5Flogo=https%3A%2F%2Fd3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net%2Fproducts%2Fb29d8617d91303db3e1e5fb653ca0a89-07e3d4afb389037efe69b4dcffacdfc7%2Fresources%2Fnormal%2Flogo.png%3F1736352978&price=3) ### Products Insights Product Ranking ## #10 among all CMS Software ## #11 among all CMS Software [Find out who the leaders are](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard?post%5Ftype=auto%5Fvs%5Farticle&category%5Fslug=cms-software&product%5Fslug=grav-cms&category=CMS+Software) Price Starts From $0 Free, Open-Source [ Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Grav CMS&category=CMS Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/7d6ff84af104d3d7a8e3b9f86dc7a030-fe1eb05f03335d4e90fd9ea4996bf0b5/resources/normal/logo.png?1747919970) $115/Site, One-Time [ Free Trial is available →](https://pmo.selecthub.com/free-trial/?product%5Fname=Kirby CMS&category=CMS Software&product%5Flogo=https://d3uimxdj41cg3o.cloudfront.net/products/b29d8617d91303db3e1e5fb653ca0a89-07e3d4afb389037efe69b4dcffacdfc7/resources/normal/logo.png?1736352978) Pros What we like about Grav CMS and Kirby CMS: * Open-source platform with no licensing fees, making it easy to try and deploy * Flat-file setup skips the database, giving fast page loads out of the box * Intuitive admin panel that non-technical users find easy to pick up * Plugin and theme system lets you tailor the look and add features as needed * Adapts to your developer workflow instead of forcing you into a fixed structure * Blueprint system lets you define custom content models for unique project needs * Flat-file architecture delivers quick load times without database overhead * Built-in CSRF protection and role-based permissions help safeguard sensitive content Cons What we dislike about Grav CMS and Kirby CMS: * May not scale well for sites with ambitious growth or heavy content volumes * Users worry about long-term support, citing plugin abandonment and slower development * Flat-file system has a steeper learning curve when customizing themes beyond basic edits * Plugin and theme library isn't as deep as larger competing platforms * File-based system can hit performance limits when handling large volumes of pages * Flat-file structure makes complex data relationships and collections harder to manage * PHP-based templating means front-end work leans on developer skills * Smaller ecosystem than mainstream CMS platforms, so niche plugins may be missing ### Our Review **Bottom line:** Grav CMS and Kirby both ditch the database for a flat-file approach, but they fit different buyers. Pick Grav if you want a free, open-source CMS for a fast, lightweight site. Pick Kirby if you're a developer or agency building custom, design-led sites and don't mind paying per site. Grav CMS leans toward small sites, blogs, and projects where speed and simple management matter more than a deep plugin catalog. You get Markdown content, Twig templates, and a modular page system that's quick to deploy. Users praise the admin panel for being easy to learn, even without a technical background. Kirby is built around flexibility for developers. Its blueprint system lets you define custom content types, and the PHP templating engine gives you fine control over design. Users rave about how it adapts to your workflow rather than forcing you into a fixed structure, which suits agencies building bespoke sites. On pricing, Grav CMS starts at $0 as a free, open-source platform. Kirby starts at $115 per site as a one-time license. The models are different, so weigh the per-site fee against the customization and developer experience Kirby offers. Neither fits content-heavy sites with deep data relationships well. If you're handling large catalogs or complex collections, a database-driven CMS is the safer bet. For smaller, fast-loading sites where you value control, both are strong choices, with Grav skewing toward simplicity and Kirby toward developer flexibility. ### User Sentiment Summary Grav CMS has a user sentiment rating of based on reviews. Kirby CMS has a user sentiment rating of 98 based on 9 reviews. we're gathering data ![Excellent User Sentiment](https://www.selecthub.com/display/images/scores/excellent.svg) 9 reviews Synopsis Evaluating all review platforms, our market analysts have compiled the following user sentiment data. we're gathering data 98% of users recommend this product Kirby CMS has a 'excellent' User Satisfaction Rating of 98% when considering 9 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites. User Review Scores **G2.com, Inc** n/a **4.8** (5) **Capterra Inc** n/a **5.0** (4) ### Awards SelectHub awards earned by these products based on a comprehensive analysis by our research analysts. No awards. Kirby CMS stands above the rest by achieving an ‘Excellent’ rating as a User Favorite. ![User Favorite Award]() ### Product Assistance Training Resources Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Documentation In Person Live Online Videos Webinars Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Knowledge Base 24/7 Live Support Email Phone Chat FAQ Forum Knowledge Base 24/7 Live Support ### Product Basics Company Size i Small Medium Large Small Medium Large Platforms Supported Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Windows Mac Linux Android Chromebook Deployment Supported Cloud On-Premise Mobile Cloud On-Premise Mobile Comparison of Top Alternatives [ Grav CMS Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/grav-cms/alternatives/) [ Kirby CMS Alternatives](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/kirby/alternatives/) ### Screenshots ![Screenshots]()![Screenshots]() ![Screenshots]() ### Key Features * **Flat-file architecture** – Stores content in plain text files instead of a database, which simplifies installation and cuts server resource use. * **Markdown content** – Lets you write and format content in Markdown, which is quick for anyone comfortable with plain text editing. * **Twig templating** – Uses the Twig engine for dynamic templates, giving you flexible control over the presentation layer. * **Modular page system** – Breaks pages into reusable components so you can build content blocks once and use them across the site. * **Built-in caching** – Includes a caching layer that reduces server load and speeds up page delivery without extra plugins. * **Flat-file architecture** – Skips the database and stores content in text files, which keeps deployment simple and load times quick. * **Kirbytext support** – Lets you write content in Markdown or Kirbytext, giving editors flexibility in how they format and style text. * **Customizable templating** – Uses PHP for templates, so developers can build custom designs and logic without a separate templating syntax to learn. * **Blueprint content models** – Lets you define custom content types and fields per project, which suits bespoke sites and unique data structures. * **Role-based permissions** – Supports granular user roles, letting you control who can access and edit specific content and features. ### Top Alternatives in CMS Software [ BLOX CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/blox-cms/) [ Citavi ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/citavi/) [ Concrete CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/concrete-cms/) [ Craft CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/craft-cms/) [ CraftCMS - DUPE ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/craft/) [ ExpressionEngine ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/expressionengine/) [ GovOS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/govos/) [ Kentico ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/kentico/) [ Kirby CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/kirby/) [ Netlify CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/netlify-cms/) [ October CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/october-cms/) [ Relayto ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/relayto/) [ Revize ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/revize/) [ Shakr - ACQUIRED ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/shakr/) [ Silverstripe CMS ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/silverstripe-cms/) [ SmugMug ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/smugmug/) [ Tridion ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/tridion/) [ TYPO3 ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/typo3/) [ Umbraco ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/umbraco/) [ UniCheck ](https://www.selecthub.com/p/cms-software/unicheck/) ### Head-to-Head Comparison ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Alfresco Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Alfresco](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/grav-cms-vs-alfresco-platform/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Craft CMS Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Craft CMS](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/craft-cms-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![DocStar Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS DocStar](https://www.selecthub.com/enterprise-content-management-software/docstar-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![DocuShare Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS DocuShare](https://www.selecthub.com/enterprise-content-management-software/docushare-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Egnyte Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Egnyte](https://www.selecthub.com/enterprise-content-management-software/egnyte-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![IBM FileNet Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS IBM FileNet](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/grav-cms-vs-ibm-filenet/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Laserfiche Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Laserfiche](https://www.selecthub.com/enterprise-content-management-software/laserfiche-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Nuxeo Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Nuxeo](https://www.selecthub.com/enterprise-content-management-software/nuxeo-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![OnBase Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS OnBase](https://www.selecthub.com/enterprise-content-management-software/onbase-vs-grav-cms/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![OpenText ECM Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS OpenText ECM](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/grav-cms-vs-opentext-ecm/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Oracle WebCenter Content Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Oracle WebCenter Content](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/grav-cms-vs-oracle-webcenter-content/) ![Grav CMS Software Tool]() ![Umbraco Software Tool]() [Grav CMS VS Umbraco](https://www.selecthub.com/cms-software/umbraco-vs-grav-cms/) **About SelectHub (and our data)** We’re the employee-owned Austin-based startup democratizing software data so you can make your decisions in an influence-free zone. Our market data is crowdsourced from our user-base of 100,000+ companies. WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more... ![SelectHub Products Reporting and Analytics]() [ Build Your Requirements](https://pmo.selecthub.com/content-management-software-requirements-onsite/) ![SelectHub Products Cost and Pricing Guide]() [ Get Your Free Comparison Report](https://pmo.selecthub.com/request-custom-scorecard/?category=CMS%20Software) **Tier 1:** Fully/moderately supported out-of-the-box allowing for quick and easy deployment. Fully or moderately supported out-of-the-box with industry-leading capabilities and is immediately available after installation without needing any add-ons, integrations, or custom development. **Tier 2:** Supported with workarounds or add-ons that may require additional costs. Not directly available in the software, but can be accomplished using other built-in features, workarounds, or add-ons/products from the vendor with or without any additional cost. **Tier 3:** Requires partner integrations or custom development that is often at an additional cost. Requires additional integrations, plugins, marketplace applications from a third-party vendor, or custom development using the APIs, libraries, extensions, and development framework supported by the software, with or without any additional cost. 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