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ExpressJS VS Wagtail CMS

Compare ExpressJS VS Wagtail CMS and see what are their differences

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ExpressJS logo ExpressJS

Sinatra inspired web development framework for node.js -- insanely fast, flexible, and simple

Wagtail CMS logo Wagtail CMS

Django-based Content Management System.
  • ExpressJS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14
  • Wagtail CMS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-04

ExpressJS features and specs

  • Fast Setup
    ExpressJS provides a minimal and flexible framework that allows rapid setup and development of web and mobile applications.
  • Middleware Support
    ExpressJS has a robust middleware system, allowing developers to add reusable functions to the request-handling pipeline.
  • Extensibility
    ExpressJS is highly extensible through third-party libraries and built-in functionality, catering to the needs of various applications.
  • Performance
    Due to its minimalist core, ExpressJS provides efficient performance and is capable of handling a high number of requests per second.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    A large and active community provides extensive documentation, support, and a wide array of open-source packages to extend functionality.
  • Flexibility
    Compared to full-stack frameworks, ExpressJS gives developers the freedom to structure their applications as they see fit.
  • Compatibility
    ExpressJS works seamlessly with various template engines, databases, and other frameworks, making it versatile for different project requirements.

Possible disadvantages of ExpressJS

  • Minimalist Core
    The minimalist nature of ExpressJS may require additional time and effort to integrate required plugins and libraries for specific features.
  • Learning Curve
    While ExpressJS is straightforward, mastering the middleware pattern and effective usage can have a learning curve for new developers.
  • Callback Hell
    Developers can encounter 'callback hell' due to nested callback functions, though this can be mitigated using Promises and async/await in modern JavaScript.
  • Lack of Convention
    Unlike opinionated frameworks, ExpressJS lacks conventions, which can lead to inconsistent code structure and maintenance challenges across different projects.
  • Security
    ExpressJS does not have built-in security features and relies on third-party solutions, requiring developers to be vigilant about applying best security practices.
  • Scalability
    While ExpressJS can handle high traffic, building and maintaining a highly scalable application might require significant additional effort, particularly in terms of codebase organization and resource management.

Wagtail CMS features and specs

  • Flexibility
    Wagtail provides a high level of flexibility, allowing developers to create custom content types and workflows tailored to specific needs.
  • User-Friendly Admin Interface
    The admin interface is designed with content editors in mind, making it intuitive and easy to use for non-technical users.
  • Strong Community and Support
    Wagtail has a growing and active community, providing a wealth of plugins, extensions, and documentation, along with strong support from developers.
  • Built on Django
    Leveraging the power of Django, Wagtail benefits from the robustness, security, and scalability of the Django framework.
  • SEO-Friendly
    Wagtail includes features such as customizable URL structures, meta descriptions, and easy integration with SEO tools which help improve search engine rankings.
  • StreamField
    This feature allows developers to create flexible and reusable content blocks, providing greater control over the layout and content structure.
  • Open-Source
    Being an open-source project, Wagtail is free to use and modify, with a transparent development process and no licensing fees.
  • Scalability
    Wagtail can handle projects of varying sizes, from small websites to high-traffic enterprise applications.

Possible disadvantages of Wagtail CMS

  • Learning Curve for Developers
    Due to its flexibility and customization options, new developers may face a steeper learning curve compared to simpler CMS options.
  • Limited Built-In Features
    Out-of-the-box, Wagtail may lack some features that are available in other CMS platforms, requiring additional development for certain functionalities.
  • Smaller Ecosystem
    Compared to more established CMS platforms like WordPress, Wagtail's ecosystem of themes and plugins is smaller, potentially requiring more custom development.
  • Hosting and Maintenance
    As a self-hosted solution, Wagtail requires users to manage hosting, updates, and maintenance, which could be a challenge for non-technical users.
  • Few Marketplace Integrations
    Wagtail does not natively support eCommerce or marketplace features, so integrating such functionalities requires additional plugins or custom development.
  • Performance Considerations
    For very large and complex sites, performance tuning might be necessary to ensure optimal speed and responsiveness.

ExpressJS videos

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Wagtail CMS videos

Wagtail CMS - part 1

Category Popularity

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Developer Tools
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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare ExpressJS and Wagtail CMS

ExpressJS Reviews

Top JavaScript Frameworks in 2025
Express.JS is used to create Restful APIs, which is useful for accepting requests from the front end and sending the appropriate response. Express.JS supports Node.js, which is one of the best reasons developers choose to use it. Moreover, debugging becomes faster and helps in finding errors in less time.
Source: solguruz.com
The 20 Best Laravel Alternatives for Web Development
Express.js — or Express for the cool cats — is Node.js’s minimalist wingman. It’s the train tracks for your web app, setting the path, defining the stops, but letting you drive the engine.
Top 9 best Frameworks for web development
The best frameworks for web development include React, Angular, Vue.js, Django, Spring, Laravel, Ruby on Rails, Flask and Express.js. Each of these frameworks has its own advantages and distinctive features, so it is important to choose the framework that best suits the needs of your project.
Source: www.kiwop.com
9 Best JavaScript Frameworks to Use in 2023
Additionally, Express.js v4 now comes with built-in middleware for handling AJAX requests from the client side, making it even easier to get started without having to worry about 3rd party libraries. Express.js is a great tool for quickly building out web applications and APIs in Node.js.
Source: ninetailed.io
JavaScript: What Are The Most Used Frameworks For This Language?
Express.JS is a popular open-source web application framework for Node.JS, which is a server-side JavaScript runtime environment. Express.JS provides a simple, flexible and scalable way to build web applications and APIs using Node.JS. It is known for its minimalist and unimposing approach, which means it provides a basic set of features and tools but allows developers to...
Source: www.bocasay.com

Wagtail CMS Reviews

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

Based on our record, ExpressJS seems to be a lot more popular than Wagtail CMS. While we know about 466 links to ExpressJS, we've tracked only 44 mentions of Wagtail CMS. 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.

ExpressJS mentions (466)

  • Reusable API proxy in just a few lines of JavaScript
    The basis of my small API proxy is the NPM package http-proxy-middleware from Steven Chim, which I utilized to build a system that can be used via configuration for various endpoints and that runs on a server under the Node.js framework Express. - Source: dev.to / 8 days ago
  • How To Fetch Image From Database and Display In React JS
    Express Documentation This site has comprehensive guides on setting up routes, handling requests, and working with middleware in Express. - Source: dev.to / about 1 month ago
  • Show HN: MetroJS – JavaScript HTTPS Client with Middleware
    Hi, I've made a javascript https client, based on the browsers Fetch API, with added middleware support. Prebuilt middleware includes JSON, OAuth2.1 and OIDC (OpenID Connect). Differences with for example Axios, is that middleware can capture both request and response in a single function. Middleware is stackable. It is also completely backwards compatible with the Fetch API. Direct inspiration came from Express... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Which Go Web Backend Framework Is Right for Your Next Project? A Detailed Analysis of Features and Performance
    Fiber draws direct inspiration from Express.js, a widely used web framework in the Node.js ecosystem. It is built on top of Fasthttp, known for its exceptional speed and low memory usage. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • How To Fetch (Get) HTML From Server 🛤️
    To do this, let's create an API route, through which we will receive HTML from the server. For the backend part, we will use Node.js. The framework on which we will do this is Express.js. It is one of the most popular today and it is perfect for the task we are solving. First, we specify the controller that will process the HTML:. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
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Wagtail CMS mentions (44)

  • Matt Mullenweg deactivates WordPress accounts of contributors planning a fork
    > Django with plugins could be made to look like and work similar to Wordpress I bet. https://wagtail.org/ is a solid CMS. - Source: Hacker News / 4 months ago
  • Wagtail on Docker
    Wagtail - is a leading open-source Content Management System built using Python. Read more here: [https://wagtail.org]. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago
  • Wordpress.org bans WP Engine, blocks it from accessing its resources
    I’m not GP, nor using PHP, but can highly recommend WagtailCMS: https://wagtail.org/ It’s based on Python/Django and has an excellent developer and user experience. They pay a lot of attention to detail, including a block-based content editor, similar to Gutenberg, and first class accessibility support. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Introducing Django Headless CMS: A Powerful and Flexible CMS Solution
    Why choose Django-headless-cms over alternatives like Wagtail, Django-CMS, Strapi, or Contentful? - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • A new beginning, with Google Summer of Code (GSoC)
    On the 1st day of May 2024, I got an announcement email that my proposal was selected and that I had made it to the GSoC community. I applied to a community I really liked (Wagtail), and my efforts over the months paid off. I quickly told my friends and family (who'd been supportive and encouraging throughout the application process). It was easily my biggest win of the year, but I knew I had a lot of work to be... - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing ExpressJS and Wagtail CMS, you can also consider the following products

Node.js - Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications

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.

Ruby on Rails - Ruby on Rails is an open source full-stack web application framework for the Ruby programming...

DEV.to - Where software engineers connect, build their resumes, and grow.

Laravel - A PHP Framework For Web Artisans

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.