ModX vs Pelican

ModX and Pelican are both content management systems, but they cater to different needs. ModX is a robust platform suitable for complex websites with dynamic content, while Pelican is a static site generator ideal for simple, fast-loading websites.

General information

ModX
Pelican
Introduction :
ModX is an open-source content management system that was launched in 2004. It is known for its flexibility and scalability, making it a popular choice for developers and designers looking to create custom websites. ModX allows for easy customization and management of content, making it a versatile platform for a wide range of projects. Its robust features and active community support contribute to its popularity among users.
Introduction :
Pelican is a static site generator that is open source and was first released in 2010. It is popular for its simplicity, speed, and flexibility, making it a preferred choice for developers who want to create fast and secure websites. Pelican allows users to write content in Markdown or reStructuredText and offers a range of plugins and themes for customization.
Advantages :
  • Highly customizable and flexible design options
  • Robust security features to protect websites
  • Easy to use and navigate for beginners
  • Extensive plugin library for added functionality
  • Strong community support for troubleshooting and guidance
Advantages :
  • Easy to use and beginner-friendly interface
  • Fast loading times for websites
  • Strong security features to protect content
  • Customizable themes and plugins for flexibility
  • Good for small to medium-sized websites
Disadvantages :
  • Steeper learning curve than some platforms
  • Limited number of available plugins and extensions
  • Less user-friendly interface for beginners
  • Requires more technical knowledge for customization
  • Limited community support compared to other platforms
Disadvantages :
  • Limited customization options
  • Steeper learning curve compared to others
  • Lack of built-in SEO features
  • Limited plugin and theme options
  • Less user-friendly interface compared to competitors
Website users : Hundreds of thousands
ModX is used by hundreds of thousands of websites worldwide, making it a popular choice among content management systems.
Website users : Thousands
Pelican is used by thousands of websites, making it a popular choice among content management systems for website creation and management.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Moderate learning curve with basic web development skills required. Resources available for beginners, but may take time to fully grasp.
๐ŸŸก Difficulty : Average.
Getting started with Pelican requires some technical knowledge and familiarity with static site generators, but resources are available for support.
Year launched : 2005
ModX was launched in 2005, making it one of the older content management systems available for website development.
Year launched : 2002
Pelican was launched in 2002, making it one of the earlier content management systems available for users to create and manage websites.
Official website : https://modx.com/
Official website : https://www.pelicanweb.org/


Commercial details

ModX
Pelican
๐ŸŸข Open source : Fully.
ModX is fully open source and written in PHP. The entire platform can be customized and extended by the community.
๐ŸŸก Open source : Partially.
Pelican is partially open source, with the core codebase being fully open source, but some plugins and themes may have different licenses.
โšช Free option : Unknown.
There may be free options available for ModX, but further research is needed to confirm the details and limitations.
๐ŸŸข Free option : Yes.
Pelican offers a free self-hosted option with no limitations on features, making it a cost-effective choice for users looking to manage their own content.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
ModX offers a paid option for users looking for advanced features, additional support, and a more robust hosting solution.
๐ŸŸข Paid option : Yes.
Pelican offers a paid option for users looking for additional features and support, providing a more comprehensive experience for those willing to invest.


Platform details

ModX
Pelican
โšช Hosted : Unknown.
Hosted options may be available through third-party vendors, but direct hosting by ModX is unclear. Further research is needed for confirmation.
๐ŸŸข Hosted : Yes.
Pelican offers a hosted option for users looking for a convenient and managed solution for their website hosting needs.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
ModX offers a self-host option, allowing users to choose their own hosting provider for more control and customization.
๐ŸŸข Self host : Yes.
Pelican can be self-hosted on various 3rd party vendors, giving users more control over their hosting environment.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
ModX does not natively support headless architecture but can be achieved through plugins and API integrations for headless features.
๐ŸŸก Headless CMS : Supported via plugin.
Pelican does not natively support headless features but can be integrated with plugins or APIs for headless functionality.
๐ŸŸก Static content generation : Supported via plugin.
Static content generation can be achieved in ModX through popular plugins, offering flexibility and customization options for users.
๐ŸŸข Static content generation : Support natively.
Pelican natively supports static content generation, making it efficient and reliable for creating static websites without the need for additional plugins.


Key features

ModX
Pelican
๐ŸŸก Content management : Supported via plugin.
ModX offers robust content management capabilities through plugins, but may require additional customization for comprehensive content management functionality compared to native platforms.
๐ŸŸข Content management : Support natively.
Pelican is a good platform for managing content as it offers native features specifically designed for content management tasks.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
While ModX can support blogging with plugins, it is not its primary focus. Consider platforms like WordPress for a more robust native blogging experience.
๐ŸŸก Blogging : Supported via plugin.
Pelican can be enhanced by third-party plugins for blogging functionality, offering flexibility and customization options for bloggers.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
ModX can be used for e-commerce with the help of popular plugins like SimpleCart or Commerce, offering flexibility and customization options.
๐ŸŸก E-commerce : Supported via plugin.
Pelican can be used for e-commerce with plugins like Pelican-Commerce, but it may require additional setup compared to dedicated e-commerce platforms.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
ModX can support a community/forum with plugins like SimpleCart and SimpleForum, but it may require additional setup compared to platforms with native forum features.
๐ŸŸก Community forum : Supported via plugin.
Pelican can support a community/forum with plugins like Disqus, but lacks native features for robust community engagement compared to other platforms.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
ModX does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions.
๐ŸŸก Content subscription : Supported via plugin.
Pelican does not natively support content subscriptions/paywalls but can be enhanced with third-party plugins for this functionality.


Other features

ModX
Pelican
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
ModX does not support multi-site natively but can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions for multi-site functionality.
๐ŸŸก Multi-site : Supported via plugin.
Support for multi-site in Pelican is typically achieved through third-party plugins, offering enhanced functionality for managing multiple sites within the platform.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Multi-language support in ModX is typically achieved through the use of third-party plugins/extensions, offering robust options for creating multilingual websites.
๐ŸŸก Multi-language : Supported via plugin.
Pelican does not natively support multi-language but can be enhanced with plugins like Pelican-i18n for multi-language functionality.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Support for XML sitemaps can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions in ModX.
๐ŸŸก XML Sitemaps : Supported via plugin.
Support for XML sitemaps can be enhanced by popular third-party plugins/extensions in the Pelican ecosystem.


Ultimately, choosing between ModX and Pelican depends on the specific requirements of your website. If you need advanced features and dynamic content management, ModX is the way to go. However, if you prioritize speed, simplicity, and security, Pelican may be the better choice for your project.