Side by side

Grav vs Magnolia DXP

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.

Grav

Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1

Grav offers a database-free CMS with content, editorial, and administrative tools, plus an API in Grav 2. Its free core is self-hosted, and the newer version has a PHP 8.3-or-later requirement.

Visit Grav

Magnolia DXP combines authoring, personalization, AI assistance, and integrations for organizations with complex digital footprints. The listed free plan offers an entry point, while the paid deployment options start at substantial monthly prices.

Visit Magnolia DXP

The facts

	Grav	Magnolia DXP
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web	API, Self-hosted, Web
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Magnolia DX Core: $3,500 a month
Plans published	2	2
Maker	Grav	Magnolia DXP
Website	getgrav.org	magnolia-cms.com
On content management systems	#19 of 165	#15 of 165

Grav: what it does well

Core CMS is free under the MIT License.
Content is stored in files without a database.
Supports multilingual content and custom content types.
Admin 2.0 includes collaborative editing and media uploads.
Grav 2 provides a permission-aware REST API.

What to know first

Grav 2 requires PHP 8.3 or later.
Deployment requires a local web server.
Premium product prices vary.
A Premium license key covers one production site.

Magnolia DXP: what it does well

Visual WYSIWYG editor for marketers
Personalization by behavior, location, or device
AI agents assist with permitted workflows
Supports headless delivery and experimentation
Free plan is available

What to know first

DX Core starts at $3,500 a month
DX Cloud starts at $6,000 a month
DX Core uptime depends on customer infrastructure

Alternatives to Grav Alternatives to Magnolia DXP The whole list