Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ExpressionEngine VS Sulu

Compare ExpressionEngine VS Sulu and see what are their differences

ExpressionEngine logo ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a flexible, feature-rich content management system that empowers thousands of...

Sulu logo Sulu

Sulu is a content management platform based on Symfony, ideal for business websites and web-based software.
  • ExpressionEngine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-05
  • Sulu Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-29

ExpressionEngine features and specs

  • Flexibility
    ExpressionEngine is highly flexible and can be used to create a wide range of websites, from simple blogs to complex web applications. It doesn't impose rigid structures, allowing developers to design content and data structures according to the project's needs.
  • Template Engine
    Its powerful template engine allows for both simple and complex designs. Designers and developers can create custom layouts and templates without having to delve deeply into backend code.
  • Security
    Known for its robust security features, ExpressionEngine prioritizes the safety of its users. It includes in-built security measures such as data encryption, secure form handling, and regular security updates.
  • Addon Ecosystem
    ExpressionEngine has a diverse addon ecosystem, enabling users to extend core functionalities easily. Many high-quality third-party plugins are available for various needs like SEO, eCommerce, and more.
  • User Management
    The platform offers advanced user management capabilities. It allows for intricate access controls and user permissions, making it ideal for membership sites and other applications requiring multiple user roles.
  • Documentation
    ExpressionEngine provides thorough and well-maintained documentation, helping developers and content managers navigate and make the most out of the platform.

Possible disadvantages of ExpressionEngine

  • Cost
    ExpressionEngine is a paid CMS. While it does offer significant advantages, the cost might be prohibitive for small businesses or individuals who are just getting started.
  • Learning Curve
    While its flexibility is a major advantage, it also means that there can be a steep learning curve for beginners. Those who are new to CMSs or coming from simpler systems may find the initial setup and customization challenging.
  • Performance
    ExpressionEngine can be resource-intensive, particularly for large, high-traffic websites. Without proper optimization and hosting, this could lead to slower load times and potential performance issues.
  • Complexity for Simple Sites
    For simpler websites, the extensive feature set of ExpressionEngine might be overkill. Users looking for a straightforward blogging platform or a basic company website may find it unnecessarily complex.
  • Limited Themes and Plugins
    Compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress, ExpressionEngine has a smaller library of pre-built themes and plugins. This may require more custom development work to achieve desired functionalities and aesthetics.
  • Community Support
    While there is a dedicated group of users, the community around ExpressionEngine is smaller compared to more widely-used CMS platforms. This could make finding community support, tutorials, and third-party resources more difficult.

Sulu features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Sulu offers a highly intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise. This ease of use helps teams quickly adopt and start leveraging the platform.
  • Flexible and Extensible
    Built on Symfony, Sulu is highly flexible and extensible, allowing developers to customize it to meet specific business needs. This flexibility makes it a great choice for businesses with unique requirements.
  • Scalability
    Sulu can efficiently handle a wide range of projects from small websites to very large-scale applications, making it a scalable solution as your business grows.
  • Strong Multi-language Support
    Sulu has robust support for multi-language content, which is beneficial for organizations operating in multiple countries and catering to diverse linguistic audiences.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source platform, Sulu allows for ongoing contributions and improvements by its community, ensuring security, regular updates, and a wide range of plugins and extensions.

Possible disadvantages of Sulu

  • Complex for Simple Projects
    Due to its extensive features and level of customizability, Sulu might be considered overkill for smaller or simpler projects, where a more straightforward CMS could suffice.
  • Learning Curve
    While Sulu is user-friendly for general content management, developers may face a steep learning curve initially, especially if they are not familiar with the Symfony framework.
  • Limited Out-of-the-Box Features
    Compared to some other CMS platforms, Sulu might require additional development work or the integration of third-party tools for features that are not available out of the box.
  • Community Size
    Although Sulu is open source, its user and developer community is smaller than that of other popular CMS platforms, which may affect the availability of immediate support and community-driven resources.
  • Complex Setup for Non-Developers
    For non-developers looking to deploy Sulu, the initial setup may be daunting and may require professional assistance to get started effectively.

ExpressionEngine videos

ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #1 - Installation

More videos:

  • Tutorial - ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #18 - Embedded Templates
  • Review - ExpressionEngine 3 Interface Changes

Sulu videos

Anupama Chopra's Movie Review of Tumhari Sulu

More videos:

  • Review - Tumhari Sulu - Movie Review
  • Review - Tumhari Sulu | Not A Movie Review | Sucharita Tyagi

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ExpressionEngine and Sulu)
CMS
71 71%
29% 29
Blogging Platform
65 65%
35% 35
Blogging
61 61%
39% 39
Development
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ExpressionEngine and Sulu

ExpressionEngine Reviews

11 Popular Free And Open Source WordPress CMS alternatives in 2021
It features: run multiple sites, live preview, one-click updates, with ExpressionEngine, your site content is stored in channelsโ€”flexible data containers with fields for any type of information, and more.
Source: medevel.com

Sulu Reviews

We have no reviews of Sulu yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Sulu should be more popular than ExpressionEngine. It has been mentiond 7 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ExpressionEngine mentions (2)

  • Expression Engine & HubSpot
    Does Expression Engine support integration with HubSpot? Source: about 2 years ago
  • What technologies for these requirements?
    PHP Headless Or you go with a Headless PHP CMS. Some options for that are Bolt CMS, Suru, Twill and ExpressionEngine. A Headless CMS doesn't have any frontend. It can provide you with a REST API or you create it in their template engine and integrate your JS stuff there. There are so many, I can't count them all. You can also search for Cockpit and Strapi. Source: over 3 years ago

Sulu mentions (7)

  • What's the best way to allow a non-developer to write landing pages for an application developed with Symfony 5?
    Https://sulu.io/ or https://kunstmaancms.be/ if you want to stay with symfony. Both solid options. Source: over 2 years ago
  • 2023โ€™s Challenging yet Achievable(?) New Tech Goals for my Symfony-based Sites
    I want to try Sulu first because it is Symfony-based. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • best php-based cms/tech choice
    Another usecase are Framework based CMS System. Beside Drupal, Typo3 using example Symfony components, still are not Full Stack Symfony and don't use Symfony based folder structure and are so very different then using Symfony Full Stack based CMS. In this area other CMS like Sulu, Bolt, .. Are placed which do not hide Symfony Full Stack and are more for the web applications which are not typical just a Website but... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • What technologies for these requirements?
    PHP Headless Or you go with a Headless PHP CMS. Some options for that are Bolt CMS, Suru, Twill and ExpressionEngine. A Headless CMS doesn't have any frontend. It can provide you with a REST API or you create it in their template engine and integrate your JS stuff there. There are so many, I can't count them all. You can also search for Cockpit and Strapi. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Modern php cms or ssg
    If you like Symfony Framework have a look at Sulu CMS: https://sulu.io/. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ExpressionEngine and Sulu, you can also consider the following products

Drupal - Drupal - the leading open-source CMS for ambitious digital experiences that reach your audience across multiple channels. Because we all have different needs, Drupal allows you to create a unique space in a world of cookie-cutter solutions.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Craft CMS - Content management system built on Yii PHP Framework

TYPO3 - TYPO3.com - Infos, SLAs, Extended Support Versions and more

HubSpot Website Platform - HubSpot Website Platform is a content management system that enables marketers to build websites personalized for every visitor.

Sitecake - Drag and drop CMS for HTML websites. It's flat file CMS so it's pretty fast.