Contao vs Plone

Contao and Plone are both popular content management systems, each with its own set of features and capabilities. Contao is known for its user-friendly interface and flexibility, while Plone is praised for its robust security and scalability.

General information

Contao
Plone
Introduction :
Contao is an open-source content management system that was first released in 2006. It is known for its user-friendly interface and robust features, making it a popular choice for small to medium-sized businesses. Contao offers a wide range of customizable templates and extensions, allowing users to create unique and professional websites without extensive coding knowledge. Its active community and regular updates contribute to its ongoing popularity in the CMS market.
Introduction :
Plone is an open-source content management system that was launched in 2001. It is known for its security, scalability, and flexibility, making it a popular choice for large organizations and government agencies. Plone's user-friendly interface and robust features, such as version control and workflow management, have contributed to its popularity among users looking for a reliable and customizable CMS solution.
Advantages :
  • Easy to use for beginners
  • Strong community support
  • Flexible and customizable design options
  • SEO-friendly features
  • Regular updates and security patches
Advantages :
  • Highly customizable and flexible design options
  • Strong security features to protect content
  • Easy integration with third-party applications
  • Scalable for growing websites and businesses
  • Active community for support and updates
Disadvantages :
  • Limited number of available plugins/extensions.
  • Steeper learning curve compared to some platforms.
  • Less user-friendly interface for beginners.
  • Smaller community support compared to popular platforms.
  • Higher cost for premium features and support.
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Limited number of available plugins
  • Not as widely supported as other platforms
  • Customization options can be overwhelming
  • Requires more technical expertise to maintain
Website users : Thousands
Contao is used by thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice for content management and web development.
Website users : Approximately 0.1% of websites
Plone is used by a small percentage of websites compared to other popular platforms like WordPress and Shopify.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Contao may require some technical knowledge, but with the available documentation and community support, it is manageable for beginners.
๐Ÿ”ด Difficulty : Hard.
Plone has a steep learning curve and requires technical skills to get started, making it more challenging compared to other platforms.
Year launched : 2006
Contao was launched in 2006, making it a relatively newer platform compared to others in the market.
Year launched : 2001
Plone was launched in 2001, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create websites.
Official website : https://contao.org/
Official website : https://plone.org/


Commercial details

Contao
Plone
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Contao is fully open source and written in PHP. The platform allows for complete customization and flexibility in development.
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
Plone is fully open source, written in Python. The platform allows for complete customization and contribution from the community.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
It is unclear if there is a free option for Contao. Further research is needed to determine if a free option is available.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Plone offers a free, open-source option with no licensing fees. It provides robust features and customization capabilities for users.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Contao offers a paid option for users looking for additional features, support, and hosting services, providing more flexibility and customization options.
โšช Paid option : Unknown.
Plone offers various services and support options, but specific details about a paid option are unclear. Further research is needed for comparison.


Platform details

Contao
Plone
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options for Contao may vary, with unclear information on official hosting services or third-party providers offering hosting services.
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
There may be hosted options available for Plone, but specific details on pricing and providers are unclear.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Contao offers a self-host option, allowing users to host their website on their own servers or with a third-party vendor.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Plone can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users flexibility and control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not natively support headless functionality but can be achieved through plugins or custom development using its API.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Plone does not natively support headless functionality but can be achieved through the use of plugins or APIs.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not natively support static content generation but can be achieved perhaps via a popular plugin for added functionality.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation is possible in Plone through the use of popular plugins, offering flexibility and customization options.


Key features

Contao
Plone
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Contao offers native content management capabilities, making it a strong platform for efficiently managing and organizing content.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Plone excels in content management with its robust native features, making it a top choice for efficiently organizing and maintaining content.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Contao can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering flexibility and customization options for bloggers.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Plone can be used for blogging with the help of third-party plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for bloggers.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Contao can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering a decent level of functionality and customization.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Plone can be used for e-commerce with the help of third-party plugins/extensions, offering a range of features for online stores.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not have native forum functionality but can be enhanced with popular third-party plugins for community and forum features.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Plone can support community/forum features through add-ons like Ploneboard, but may require additional setup compared to platforms with native support.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions/paywalls are supported through third-party plugins/extensions, enhancing functionality for monetizing content on the platform.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Content subscriptions and paywalls can be implemented in Plone through various third-party plugins/extensions for enhanced functionality.


Other features

Contao
Plone
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Contao does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced with the Multisite extension for managing multiple websites efficiently.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Multi-site functionality in Plone is typically achieved through the use of third-party add-ons or plugins, offering flexibility and customization options.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Contao natively supports multi-language functionality, allowing users to easily create and manage multilingual websites without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸข Multi-language : Support natively.
Plone natively supports multi-language capabilities, allowing for easy management of content in multiple languages without the need for additional plugins.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Supports XML sitemaps through a popular third-party plugin, providing enhanced functionality for SEO optimization and site indexing.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Plone does not natively support XML sitemaps but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for this functionality.


When choosing between Contao and Plone, consider your specific needs and priorities. If you value ease of use and customization, Contao may be the better option. On the other hand, if security and scalability are top concerns, Plone could be the ideal choice. Ultimately, the decision should be based on which platform aligns best with your website goals and requirements.