Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Sitecake VS ExpressionEngine

Compare Sitecake VS ExpressionEngine and see what are their differences

Sitecake logo Sitecake

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

ExpressionEngine logo ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a flexible, feature-rich content management system that empowers thousands of...
  • Sitecake Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-09-11
  • ExpressionEngine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-05

Sitecake features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    Sitecake offers a straightforward, drag-and-drop interface that is user-friendly and requires no technical knowledge, making it accessible for beginners.
  • No Database Required
    Unlike many other CMS platforms, Sitecake does not require a database, simplifying setup and reducing resource usage on the server.
  • Static Site Editing
    Sitecake edits static HTML pages which makes it a good choice for websites that do not need dynamic content or frequent updates.
  • Live Editing
    The live editing feature allows users to make changes directly on the webpage and see updates in real-time, enhancing user experience.
  • Cost-Effective
    Sitecake is relatively inexpensive compared to other CMS solutions, offering a cost-effective option for small businesses and personal websites.

Possible disadvantages of Sitecake

  • Limited Functionality
    Sitecake lacks advanced features found in other CMS platforms, which may not meet the needs of more complex websites.
  • No Dynamic Content Support
    Sitecake is designed for static site editing and does not support dynamic content such as databases or server-side scripting.
  • Smaller Community
    Sitecake has a smaller user and developer community compared to more popular CMS platforms, which can mean limited support and fewer third-party plugins or extensions.
  • Basic Design Tools
    The design customization tools in Sitecake are quite basic, which might not be sufficient for users looking for extensive design flexibility.
  • Manual Updates
    Updating a Sitecake site often requires manual intervention, making it potentially more labor-intensive compared to automatic updating systems in other CMS platforms.

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.

Analysis of Sitecake

Overall verdict

  • Sitecake is generally considered a good option for non-technical users looking for straightforward website editing capabilities. However, it may not be the best choice for more complex websites due to its simplicity and limited advanced features.

Why this product is good

  • Sitecake is a CMS designed for users who want a simple, drag-and-drop website editing experience without needing technical skills. It's aimed at small business owners, designers, and individuals looking for an easy way to manage and update their websites. Sitecake's interface is user-friendly, allowing for on-the-fly editing directly on the webpage, making it accessible for those unfamiliar with traditional content management systems.

Recommended for

    Sitecake is recommended for small businesses, freelancers, personal website owners, and anyone in need of basic website management without the need for in-depth tech knowledge.

Sitecake videos

Editing a Website with Sitecake CMS

ExpressionEngine videos

ExpressionEngine 2 Tutorials #1 - Installation

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Sitecake and ExpressionEngine)
CMS
51 51%
49% 49
Development
63 63%
37% 37
Blogging Platform
48 48%
52% 52
Blogging
49 49%
51% 51

User comments

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Reviews

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

Sitecake Reviews

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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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Sitecake should be more popular than ExpressionEngine. It has been mentiond 5 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.

Sitecake mentions (5)

  • Maintaining this site fucking sucks
    Use something like this? CMS that generates static html? https://sitecake.com/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Publii: Open-source local WYSIWYG static site CMS
    I think that user experience of website builders with wysiwyg and drag and drop UX won over time. Then, as time passed by, website builders become bloated and complex. Once again you needed a professional to maintain your site in site builder. So now simple solutions, static HTML, free or one-time fee CMSs are sexy again. (economy is not good, who wants another subscription?) I know because 14 years ago we have... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • Best solution that would give clients the ability to edit content on their extremely minimal/simple site?
    Https://sitecake.com/ works with simple html and PHP sites.... Veeeerrrry simple for client edits. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Conventional approach to allowing business owner to edit static site?
    May be a suitable use case for https://sitecake.com/. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Do you know any No-Code CMS or Data-Base for self-hosted Webflow Sites?
    Other than that: Inline Editing CMS examples: Coast CMS, all you need to do is make the html editable with some classes and you're done. The CMS is kind of outdated though. Other examples: simplyedit.io, surrealcms.com, jocms.net, inlinecms.com, sitecake.com. Source: over 4 years ago

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

What are some alternatives?

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

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

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.

ClassicPress - The WordPress fork. No Gutenberg. Great future!

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.

Anchor CMS - Free and lightweight blogging system

Textpattern - Textpattern is an elegant content management system that is free, open source software.