Side by side
ExpressionEngine vs ProcessWire
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.
Free plan APISelf-hostedWeb
ExpressionEngine offers flexible content management with front-end editing and multi-site support. The free Core tier is limited to one control panel user; Pro expands access and includes a year of updates.
Visit ExpressionEngine
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+2
ProcessWire offers a flexible, self-hosted CMS with structured content, multilingual features, permissions, and developer access through an API. Its free core keeps entry costs low, while hosting and security remain the operator’s responsibility.
Visit ProcessWireThe facts
| ExpressionEngine | ProcessWire | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | See the plans | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 10 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | ProcessWire |
| Website | expressionengine.com | processwire.com |
| On content management systems | #27 of 165 | #31 of 165 |
ExpressionEngine: what it does well
- Free Core plan includes CMS features
- Supports multilingual content and editorial workflows
- More than 20 field types
- Front-end content editing is available
- Documentation, forums, and ExpressionEngine University
What to know first
- Core plan allows one control panel user
- Pro costs 249.00 USD once
- Additional Pro updates start at $49 per year
- Each additional MSM site requires another license
ProcessWire: what it does well
- Free and open-source core
- Supports custom fields and content types
- Built-in multilingual content tools
- Includes role-based access control
- Provides an API for site content
What to know first
- Requires self-hosted server setup
- Needs PHP, database, and image library
- Some modules are paid
- Security depends partly on server configuration
Alternatives to ExpressionEngine Alternatives to ProcessWire The whole list