Freedom251 › Content Management Systems
webEdition
by webEdition
What webEdition is
webEdition is a free, open-source web application framework and CMS for websites, portals, and web apps. It provides multilingual content, SEO tools, a media library, custom content types, and modules for navigation, databases, objects, users, customers, newsletters, glossaries, media, and multiple domains. Templates support PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript while allowing precise control over generated code. Editorial workflows, scheduled publishing, content changes, and version history with one-click restoration support content operations. Hooks connect document or object status changes to custom process logic and interfaces. webEdition is self-hosted on a domain server and requires PHP plus MySQL or MariaDB access. It runs in a browser without local installation and works from any operating system with a current browser. Online and manual installation are available. One-click updates cover patches and features, and users can create or restore backups on demand. The Free2Use plan costs nothing and displays webEdition branding.
Who it suits
It suits creative users and coders who want control over templates and self-hosted websites. It also fits teams needing workflows, multilingual content, SEO, and custom integrations.
What it does well
- Open-source CMS and framework
- Precise template code control
- Includes editorial workflows
- Supports multilingual content
- Offers on-demand backups
What to know first
- Requires self-hosting
- Needs PHP and MySQL or MariaDB
- Free2Use displays webEdition branding
- Major upgrades require a new license on Single Use
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free2Use | Fully functional CMS · website displays “powered by webEdition CMS” branding | Free |
| Single Use | Use per domain · no webEdition branding · updates free within current major version; major upgrades require a new license | €99, paid once |
| Partnerlizenz | Unlimited installations · no webEdition branding · free updates for all versions · *Goldpartner pay 1.200 € annually | On request |
As webedition.org lists them, read 12 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Verdict
webEdition combines extensive CMS modules with direct template control and self-hosted deployment. The free plan is functional but branded, while other licenses change branding and update terms.
Facts from webEdition's own pages
- Browser access
- The CMS is operated through a browser, requires no local computer installation, and can be accessed from any operating system with a current browser. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Content workflows
- Built-in productivity features include editorial workflows, scheduled publishing and content changes, and version history with one-click restoration. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Custom content types
- Yes · webedition.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Founded
- 2001 · webedition.org, 19 Oct 2026
- Free plan
- Yes · webedition.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany · webedition.org, 19 Oct 2026
- Hosting requirements
- webEdition is installed on the domain's server and requires PHP plus access to a MySQL or MariaDB database. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The maker offers online and manual installation downloads, and says its online installer downloads required files and creates the webEdition database schema. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Integrated modules
- The listed integrated modules include navigation, database and object management, user and customer management, newsletters, glossaries, media management, and multi-domain support. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Hooks let users respond to document or object status changes and connect those events to custom process logic and interfaces. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The maker presents webEdition as a framework for creative users and coders who want flexibility and control over their projects. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Media library
- Yes · webedition.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Multilingual content
- Yes · webedition.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Organization
- The webEdition e.V. says it was founded in Berlin on 20 February 2010 to coordinate the community and support CMS development. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Platform type
- self_hosted · webedition.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Product
- webEdition describes itself as an open-source web application framework and CMS for building websites, portals, and web apps. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Security
- The maker says security and quality assurance are handled by the webEdition e.V. development team and cites avoiding unchecked extensions as part of its approach. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- SEO tools
- Yes · webedition.org, 24 Sept 2026
- Support
- The maker directs users to webEdition partners or its community forum for questions, and to the bug tracker for system errors. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Template control
- Its template system allows precise control over generated code and supports PHP, MySQL, and JavaScript in templates. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
- Updates and backups
- The maker describes one-click updates for security patches and new features, plus backups that users can create and restore on demand. · webedition.org, 12 Oct 2026
Where webEdition stands on Freedom251
- Content Management Systems#110 of 165