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Textpattern VS Pulse CMS

Compare Textpattern VS Pulse CMS and see what are their differences

Textpattern logo Textpattern

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

Pulse CMS logo Pulse CMS

A simpler WordPress. The CMS for web professionals.
  • Textpattern Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16
  • Pulse CMS Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-22

Easy to setup

Pulse can be dropped into your live beautiful HTML site with copy and paste. You can use a Pulse template as a starter. You can convert any HTML site. Or you can use a website builder such as Blocs or RapidWeaver to make your site without coding. We also have a builder that works on PC or Mac - so plenty of options!

Host anywhere you like

To install, just upload some Pulse folders to your server. That's it. You can use any shared hosting and don't need to pay us any monthly fees to run your Pulse sites. Go from your idea to a live site in about 30 minutes and you'll have a secure and fast site editor. Plus, you don't need to keep updating it every week so for some projects you can "set and forget".

Easy to edit from anywhere

The Pulse site editor is easy for clients to use from any device (even mobile) and if they can use Microsoft Word, they'll be fine here. This means less hassle and training on your side. Plus with a fast and SEO-orientated site, they should see good rankings, performance and fast load speed.

Textpattern

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

Pulse CMS

$ Details
paid Free Trial $297.0 / Annually
Platforms
Browser PHP Mac OSX Cross Platform JavaScript Web
Release Date
2009 January

Textpattern features and specs

  • Flexibility
    Textpattern offers a high degree of flexibility for building custom websites, allowing developers to manage content in a versatile, structured manner.
  • Lightweight
    It is lightweight and fast, making it easier to run on smaller servers and ensuring quick load times for users.
  • Powerful Template System
    Textpattern features a straightforward yet powerful template and tagging system, giving users full control over HTML and CSS.
  • Built-in Textile Markup
    The built-in Textile markup language allows for easy content formatting directly within the editor, simplifying content creation.
  • Strong Security
    Textpattern has a strong focus on security, with a robust admin interface and frequent updates to address potential vulnerabilities.
  • Active Community
    The Textpattern community is active and supportive, providing a wealth of plugins, tutorials, and forums for user assistance.

Possible disadvantages of Textpattern

  • Learning Curve
    The flexibility and power of Textpattern can result in a steeper learning curve for new users unfamiliar with its syntax and structure.
  • Limited Themes and Plugins
    Compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress, Textpattern has a more limited selection of pre-designed themes and plugins.
  • Less WYSIWYG Editing
    Textpattern relies more on markup languages and less on WYSIWYG editors, which might not suit users looking for a more visual editing experience.
  • Smaller User Base
    The smaller user base means there are fewer third-party resources and less widespread knowledge compared to larger CMS platforms.
  • Custom Development
    For certain functionalities and custom features, more effort in custom development might be required compared to more out-of-the-box solutions.

Pulse CMS features and specs

  • Easy to Use
    Pulse CMS offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, which makes it accessible for users with minimal technical skills. This is beneficial for small businesses or individuals who want to manage their own websites without involving a web developer.
  • Flat-File Architecture
    Pulse CMS operates on a flat-file system, meaning it doesn't require a database. This can simplify deployment, speed up loading times, and reduce server resource usage, making it well-suited for small to medium-sized websites.
  • Responsive Templates
    The CMS comes with a variety of mobile-friendly, responsive templates that can help users quickly set up visually appealing websites that work on different devices without extensive design work.
  • Built-in Blogging
    Pulse CMS includes built-in blogging functionality, which allows users to easily integrate a blog into their website without needing additional plugins or custom development.
  • No Database Required
    Since Pulse CMS does not require a database, it eliminates complexities related to database management and reduces the risk of SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Possible disadvantages of Pulse CMS

  • Limited Scalability
    Pulse CMS may not be the best choice for large, complex websites due to its flat-file architecture, which can struggle with performance and management as the number of content files grows significantly.
  • Fewer Plugins and Extensions
    Compared to larger CMS platforms like WordPress, Pulse CMS offers fewer third-party plugins or extensions, which can limit functionality and customization options for advanced users.
  • Less Community Support
    Being a smaller platform, Pulse CMS has a smaller community, which could lead to fewer resources such as forums, tutorials, and user-developed extensions available to support users in need.
  • Limited Ecommerce Capabilities
    While Pulse CMS can be extended with e-commerce functionality, it does not naturally come with robust e-commerce tools and features, making it a less suitable option for online stores with complex needs.
  • Cost
    Pulse CMS is a paid platform, which might be a drawback for hobbyists or small businesses looking for free CMS options. This could pose budgetary challenges depending on the scope and needs of the project.

Analysis of Textpattern

Overall verdict

  • Textpattern is a good choice for users who prioritize simplicity, flexibility, and control over their website design and functionality. Its minimalistic yet powerful framework is suitable for developers and designers seeking an alternative to more complex systems like WordPress.

Why this product is good

  • Textpattern is a flexible and lightweight content management system favored by designers, developers, and bloggers. It is appreciated for its simplicity, clean design, and customization capabilities. Its tag-based template system allows for easy content presentation without extensive coding knowledge. Additionally, the CMS has a strong community and extensive documentation, making it accessible for those who prefer a straightforward approach to web content management.

Recommended for

  • Web designers seeking a customizable and lightweight CMS
  • Developers looking for a straightforward platform with flexibility
  • Bloggers who prefer a clean interface and simple content management
  • Individuals or small businesses who want a system with less overhead

Analysis of Pulse CMS

Overall verdict

  • Pulse CMS is good for users looking for a simple and efficient way to manage small to medium-sized websites. Its lightweight nature and ease of use make it a solid choice for those who do not need the extended features that come with larger CMS solutions. However, for more complex sites with heavy customization needs, it might not be the best fit.

Why this product is good

  • Pulse CMS is a lightweight content management system that is easy to set up and manage. It's designed for small websites and offers simplicity and speed, which is beneficial for non-technical users. It allows text editing, image handling, and has a simple admin interface, making it ideal for users who need a straightforward CMS without the complexities of more robust platforms.

Recommended for

    Small businesses, freelancers, or individuals managing personal websites who prioritize ease of use and quick setup over extensive features. It is also suitable for designers or developers who want a straightforward CMS solution to offer clients without technical knowledge.

Textpattern videos

Textpattern CMS Tutorial 1 install on local server

Pulse CMS videos

Pulse CMS Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Pulse CMS has horrible customer service and cares more about a little money
  • Review - Pulse CMS Pro REVIEW

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Textpattern and Pulse CMS)
CMS
66 66%
34% 34
Development
74 74%
26% 26
Blogging
0 0%
100% 100
Blogging Platform
68 68%
32% 32

User comments

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Reviews

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

Textpattern Reviews

Top 10 Web Content Management Systems
If you are looking for a simple, text-based, straightforward CMS, then TextPattern is the one you are looking for. TextPattern, focused mainly on your text content, is a great CMS option for bloggers and independent journalists. TextPattern also has a long development cycle dating back to 2003. Therefore, it has a credible ecosystem of text related plug-ins and extensions,...
Source: cloudzy.com

Pulse CMS Reviews

We have no reviews of Pulse CMS yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Textpattern seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 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.

Textpattern mentions (6)

  • Matt Mullenweg, Automattic's CEO, Seems Bound and Determined to Wreck WordPress
    There's ClassicPress. But a better alternative than sticking with WP is https://textpattern.com/ (which has better and more stable codebase that is as old as WordPress). - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • WordPress Alternatives
    TextPattern use to a thing like around the same time WP got started. It’s also PHP based. https://textpattern.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Modern WordPress – Yikes
    Checkout https://textpattern.com/ - its development started around the same time as WordPress, and still continues. Even though it didn't reach Wordpress' success, I've always felt that TextPattern is better coded than WordPress. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: For static HTML, what is your go to template?
    Depends on the need...I have a quick LibreOffice HTML template in light or dark. I include metas for mobile use in the document properties. I also have a PHP controller that can easily modify these if I need it to be more dynamic. Otherwise I use https://picocss.com/ for some things. For publishing I either drop the HTML file in a folder with or without a controller, or start a new endpoint by creating a new... - Source: Hacker News / about 3 years ago
  • Textile Markup Language
    Textile was the driving markup behind Textpattern (https://textpattern.com/), one of the better publishing/CMS tools out there on PHP. It had a nice object oriented approach that was less painful than Wordpress, and gave great flexibility to design aspects in ways that were easier to work with than Wordpress... But Wordpress won the popular marketshare, and TP was relegated to some diehards. Those diehards still... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
View more

Pulse CMS mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Textpattern and Pulse CMS, you can also consider the following products

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

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

Anchor CMS - Free and lightweight blogging system

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

Flextype - Flat-file content management system in PHP

Microweber - Microweber is an open source CMS for creating websites, shops or blogs.