Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ExpressionEngine VS Wagtail

Compare ExpressionEngine VS Wagtail and see what are their differences

ExpressionEngine logo ExpressionEngine

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

Wagtail logo Wagtail

Wagtail is a mobile community for dog lovers.
  • ExpressionEngine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-05
  • Wagtail Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-06

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.

Wagtail features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Wagtail offers a clean and intuitive admin panel that makes content management straightforward even for non-technical users.
  • Flexibility
    It provides developers with the flexibility to customize and extend functionality, enabling tailored solutions for specific project requirements.
  • Django Integration
    Built on Django, Wagtail inherits all of its scalability, security, and robustness, making it a powerful choice for developers familiar with Django.
  • Strong Community Support
    Wagtail has a growing community and active development, providing users with access to support, plugins, and regular updates.
  • SEO Friendly
    It includes features that assist with search engine optimization, such as customizable page titles and metadata.

Possible disadvantages of Wagtail

  • Learning Curve
    For those unfamiliar with Django, there can be a steep learning curve when first starting with Wagtail due to its reliance on Python and Django principles.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    While customizable, Wagtail doesn’t come preloaded with as many out-of-the-box features as some other CMSs, potentially requiring more development for complex sites.
  • Installation and Setup
    Setting up a Wagtail project can be more complex compared to some lightweight CMS options, particularly for developers without Python experience.
  • Performance Concerns
    For extremely large and complex sites, Wagtail may require additional optimization to maintain high performance.

ExpressionEngine videos

ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #1 - Installation

More videos:

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

Wagtail videos

Comparing Wagtail, Django CMS and Mezzanine

More videos:

  • Review - DjangoCon US 2018 - Wagtail CMS - Making Django More User (and Developer) Friendly by Sara Heins
  • Demo - Wagtail Demo & Ecover Review by Wayne

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ExpressionEngine and Wagtail)
CMS
76 76%
24% 24
Blogging Platform
63 63%
37% 37
Blogging
63 63%
37% 37
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 Wagtail

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 channels—flexible data containers with fields for any type of information, and more.
Source: medevel.com

Wagtail Reviews

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

Based on our record, ExpressionEngine seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 2 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: over 1 year 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: about 3 years ago

Wagtail mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Wagtail yet. Tracking of Wagtail recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ExpressionEngine and Wagtail, 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.

django CMS - Enterprise Content Management with Django The open-source CMS used by thousands of websites since 2007

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.

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

Craft CMS - Content management system built on Yii PHP Framework

Joomla - Joomla! is the mobile-ready and user-friendly way to build your website. Choose from thousands of features and designs. Joomla! is free and open source.