Side by side
dotCMS vs Wagtail
Both stand on content management systems. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Choose dotCMS if you need a broad content platform with visual editing, developer tools, multiple publishing options, and flexible deployment. Its free plan covers companies under $5M revenue; organizations evaluating commercial tiers should request pricing based on their scale.
Visit dotCMS
Choose Wagtail if your team wants an open-source CMS with configurable editorial workflows, flexible content structures and headless publishing. It may be less suitable if you need marketing analytics or ecommerce included from the start, or lack coding skills for setup.
Visit WagtailThe facts
| dotCMS | Wagtail | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Maker | dotCMS | Not published |
| Website | dotcms.com | wagtail.org |
| On content management systems | #14 of 165 | #18 of 165 |
dotCMS: what it does well
- Combines content modeling, workflows, asset management, localization, and multisite management.
- Offers visual editing, device preview, WYSIWYG, block, and inline editing.
- Provides REST and GraphQL APIs, plus static and remote publishing.
- Deployment choices include managed cloud, Cloud Anywhere, and self-hosting.
- Free plan includes unlimited users and content.
What to know first
- The free plan is limited to companies under $5M revenue.
- Commercial tiers require a pricing request.
Wagtail: what it does well
- Open-source Python CMS built on Django, with no licensing fees.
- Supports configurable review workflows and scheduled publishing.
- Headless operation and a content API support multiple endpoints.
- Includes image tools, form building and reusable snippets.
- Administration panel includes accessibility checks and validation.
What to know first
- Coding skills are needed to set up Wagtail and launch a site.
- Marketing analytics are not included out of the box.
- Ecommerce is not included out of the box.
Alternatives to dotCMS Alternatives to Wagtail The whole list