Grav vs October CMS: PHP Content Systems Compared
If You Need a PHP CMS That Isn’t WordPress
Both Grav and October CMS target developers who want something cleaner than WordPress but more feature-complete than a static site generator. Grav takes the radical approach of eliminating the database entirely — everything lives as files. October CMS takes the framework approach — it’s Laravel with a CMS layer bolted on. Different architectures, different trade-offs, same goal: build and manage websites without WordPress’s baggage.
Updated March 2026: Verified with latest Docker images and configurations.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Grav | October CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Flat-file (no database) | Laravel + MySQL/PostgreSQL |
| Language | PHP | PHP (Laravel) |
| Content format | Markdown + YAML | Database records + Twig |
| Admin panel | Yes (built-in) | Yes (built-in) |
| Page builder | No (template-based) | Yes (drag-and-drop) |
| Plugin system | Yes (GPM package manager) | Yes (Marketplace) |
| Theme system | Yes (Twig templates) | Yes (Twig templates) |
| Multi-language | Built-in | Plugin required |
| User roles | Yes | Yes (fine-grained) |
| Content scaffolding | No | Yes (Tailor) |
| Media manager | Yes | Yes |
| CLI tools | Yes (bin/grav, bin/gpm) | Yes (php artisan) |
| Version control friendly | Excellent (everything is files) | Partial (code yes, content no) |
| Backup complexity | Copy the directory | Database dump + files |
| Docker image | lscr.io/linuxserver/grav | Custom Dockerfile required |
| Idle RAM | ~100–200 MB | ~200–400 MB |
| License | MIT | Proprietary EULA |
Installation Complexity
Grav is a single container with zero dependencies:
services:
grav:
image: lscr.io/linuxserver/grav:1.7.49.5
container_name: grav
restart: unless-stopped
environment:
- PUID=1000
- PGID=1000
- TZ=UTC
ports:
- "8080:80"
volumes:
- grav-config:/config
volumes:
grav-config:The LinuxServer.io image includes PHP, Nginx, and the Admin plugin. First visit at http://localhost:8080/admin creates your admin account. No database to provision, no migrations to run.
October CMS requires Composer, a custom Dockerfile, MySQL, and optionally Redis:
composer create-project october/october ~/october-cms
cd ~/october-cmsThen build a custom Docker image with PHP extensions, configure MySQL, set up environment variables, and run database migrations. The setup process involves 5+ steps compared to Grav’s single container pull.
Architecture: Files vs Database
This is the fundamental difference between these two systems.
| Aspect | Grav (flat-file) | October CMS (database) |
|---|---|---|
| Content storage | Markdown files in /user/pages/ | MySQL/PostgreSQL tables |
| Configuration | YAML files | Database + .env file |
| Backup | cp -r or tar | mysqldump + file backup |
| Version control | Full site in git | Code in git, content in DB |
| Migration | Copy directory to new server | Export DB + copy files |
| Content editing | Markdown files or admin UI | Admin UI or Tailor |
| Performance scaling | Filesystem caching | Database query optimization |
Grav’s flat-file approach means your entire site — content, config, themes, plugins — is a single directory. You can version-control everything in git, back up with cp, and migrate by copying a folder. No database means no connection strings, no credentials leaks, no migration scripts.
October CMS stores content in a relational database, which gives you structured queries, content relationships, and Tailor’s scaffolding system. But it also means database backups, migration management, and connection configuration.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Resource | Grav | October CMS |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | ~100–200 MB | ~200–400 MB (app + MySQL) |
| Container count | 1 | 2–3 (app + MySQL + Redis) |
| Disk (application) | ~50 MB | ~100 MB + database files |
| Page load time | Fast (cached flat files) | Moderate (database queries) |
| Cold start | ~2 seconds | ~5–10 seconds |
Grav with caching enabled serves pages extremely fast — flat files with PHP opcache and page caching approach static site performance. October CMS adds database query overhead, though Laravel’s query builder and caching help.
Community and Support
| Metric | Grav | October CMS |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ~14.5K | ~11K |
| License | MIT (fully open source) | Proprietary EULA |
| Plugin count | ~300 (free) | ~1,000+ (free + paid) |
| Theme count | ~100 | ~200+ |
| Documentation | Comprehensive docs site | Comprehensive docs site |
| Commercial backing | Trilby Media | October CMS Ltd |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
Licensing matters here. Grav is MIT-licensed — fully open source, no restrictions, no yearly fees. October CMS uses a proprietary EULA: the first year is free, but continued updates and Marketplace access require a paid license. For a personal project, October’s free year is fine. For long-term maintenance, factor in the license cost.
Use Cases
Choose Grav If…
- You want zero database dependencies — flat files only
- You prefer Markdown for content authoring
- You want your entire site version-controlled in git
- Backup means “copy a directory” — no database exports
- You need a fully open-source CMS with no license fees
- Your server has limited RAM (512 MB or less)
Choose October CMS If…
- You’re a Laravel developer and want to leverage your existing skills
- You need a visual page builder with drag-and-drop components
- You want structured content with Tailor’s scaffolding system
- You need a large plugin marketplace with commercial-quality plugins
- You’re building a client site that needs fine-grained user roles and permissions
- You’re comfortable with MySQL and database-backed CMS architecture
Final Verdict
If you want the simplest possible self-hosted CMS with zero database overhead and full git compatibility, Grav is the right tool. If you’re a Laravel developer building structured, content-heavy sites with client-facing features, October CMS gives you framework-level power with CMS conveniences — but at the cost of a proprietary license and heavier infrastructure. For most self-hosting use cases (blogs, documentation sites, personal wikis), Grav’s flat-file approach is lighter, simpler, and fully open source.
FAQ
Can Grav handle e-commerce?
With the Snipcart plugin, yes — basic e-commerce. For a full storefront, WordPress with WooCommerce or a dedicated e-commerce platform is more appropriate.
Does October CMS require Composer?
Yes. Project creation and plugin installation use Composer. If you’re not familiar with PHP dependency management, Grav’s built-in GPM (Grav Package Manager) is simpler.
Can I migrate from WordPress to either?
Grav has a WordPress import plugin that converts posts to Markdown files. October CMS has a WordPress migration plugin on the Marketplace. Both paths work, but Grav’s is simpler because it produces portable Markdown files.
Is October CMS truly free?
The software is free for the first year. After that, updates and Marketplace access require a paid license. You can continue running the installed version without paying, but you won’t receive security patches or new features.
Which is better for documentation sites?
Grav. Its Markdown-first, flat-file approach is purpose-built for documentation. The Learn2 skeleton theme provides a complete documentation site out of the box, similar to Read the Docs.
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