Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

TYPO3 VS ExpressionEngine

Compare TYPO3 VS ExpressionEngine and see what are their differences

TYPO3 logo TYPO3

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

ExpressionEngine logo ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a flexible, feature-rich content management system that empowers thousands of...
  • TYPO3 Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-29
  • ExpressionEngine Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-05

TYPO3 features and specs

  • Flexibility
    TYPO3 offers a high degree of flexibility and can be customized to meet the specific needs of various types of websites and applications.
  • Scalability
    Designed to handle everything from small sites to large enterprise-level projects, TYPO3 scales effectively with the growing needs of businesses.
  • Multilingual Support
    TYPO3 provides extensive support for multiple languages, making it an ideal choice for global businesses that require multilingual websites.
  • Integrated Digital Asset Management
    With built-in digital asset management, TYPO3 allows for easy handling of images, videos, and other media files.
  • Strong Community and Support
    A robust community and a wealth of documentation ensure that users can find support and resources when needed.
  • Security
    TYPO3 is known for its strong focus on security, regularly updating and maintaining the core to protect against vulnerabilities.

Possible disadvantages of TYPO3

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its extensive features and flexibility, TYPO3 has a steep learning curve, making it challenging for beginners.
  • Complex Setup
    Setting up and configuring TYPO3 can be complex and time-consuming, often requiring professional help.
  • Resource Intensive
    TYPO3 can be resource-intensive, requiring more server resources and hosting capabilities, especially for larger installations.
  • Limited Plugin Availability
    Compared to other CMS platforms like WordPress, TYPO3 has a more limited selection of plugins, which may restrict some functionality.
  • Higher Development Costs
    Due to its complexity and the expertise required, development costs for TYPO3 projects can be higher compared to 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.

TYPO3 videos

A basic introduction to the TYPO3 content management system (CMS) backend

More videos:

  • Review - TYPO3 through a beginner’s eyes @ TYPO3 Developer Days 2019
  • Demo - Content Publisher for TYPO3 - Workflow Demo

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 TYPO3 and ExpressionEngine)
CMS
58 58%
42% 42
Blogging Platform
62 62%
38% 38
Blogging
59 59%
41% 41
Development
61 61%
39% 39

User comments

Share your experience with using TYPO3 and ExpressionEngine. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare TYPO3 and ExpressionEngine

TYPO3 Reviews

19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
TYPO3 is a free, open-source Enterprise Content Management System (CMS) known for its scalability, security, and flexibility. It's a powerful platform suitable for complex websites with many features, but its complexity can be a hurdle for beginners.
Source: www.pixpa.com
Top 10 Web Content Management Systems
TYPO3 is the last pick in this list, so I thought it is appropriate to close the list with another option that can be considered as a jack of all trades, similar to Drupal and WordPress. TYPO3 is one of the oldest CMS systems on the web, dating back to 1998. TYPO3 is another candidate to be considered as one of the best free CMS platforms with an open-source CMS approach....
Source: cloudzy.com
11 Popular Free And Open Source WordPress CMS alternatives in 2021
Typo3 is an open-source, professional, flexible Content Management System for enterpries. With it, you can build websites, intranets, and online applications, make from small sites multinational corporations.
Source: medevel.com
CMS comparison 2018: The 5 most popular open source systems
Basically, theThe giant spectrum of functions offered by TYPO3 makes it possible to implement any kind of online project. But this comes at a considerable expense for installation, configuration, and maintenance. The prominence and good reputation of the software contribute to its use by comparatively small websites. In this case, users are usually expending much more effort...
Source: www.1and1.com

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, ExpressionEngine should be more popular than TYPO3. 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.

TYPO3 mentions (1)

  • Always try to focus on what you really Want to do, even if it takes Years
    But there was this TYPO3 CMS that I was actually always in contact with. Already at the very beginning when it was released I used it privately. In the first years of my second attempt as a freelancer, I used TYPO3 more and more, and got better and better at it. - Source: dev.to / about 4 years ago

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing TYPO3 and ExpressionEngine, you can also consider the following products

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.

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.

Craft CMS - Content management system built on Yii PHP Framework

Statamic - Build better, easier to manage websites. Enjoy radical efficiency. It's everything you never knew you always wanted in a CMS.

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

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