Backdrop CMS

Comprehensive CMS for small to medium sized businesses and non-profits.

GitHub stars
1,049
License
GPL-2.0
Latest release
1.35.1
24 September 2026
Last commit
25 September 2026
Runs on
PHP

Commits per month, last 12 months

156 commits

How to self-host Backdrop CMS

Backdrop CMS runs on PHP. The project's own install guide is the place to start; most people put it on a small server with Docker and a reverse proxy for HTTPS.

  1. Get a server: a home server, a VPS, or a managed app host.
  2. Install it the way the project's docs describe, usually with Docker Compose.
  3. Put it behind HTTPS and set up backups before you add real data.
  4. Update it regularly. Watch the project's releases.

New to self-hosting? Start with the beginner's guide.

Similar apps

  • Strapi

    Headless CMS that lets developers build content APIs fast while giving content creators a friendly editing interface.

    73.3k stars
  • Payload CMS

    Developer-first headless CMS and application framework.

    45.2k stars
  • WordPress

    World's most-used blogging and CMS engine.

    21.5k stars
  • Wagtail

    Django content management system focused on flexibility and user experience.

    20.5k stars
  • october

    CMS platform based on the Laravel PHP Framework.

    11.1k stars
  • KeystoneJS

    CMS and web application platform.

    10k stars

Questions

Is Backdrop CMS free?

Yes. Backdrop CMS is open source under the GPL-2.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Backdrop CMS?

Yes. Backdrop CMS runs on PHP. Follow the install guide in the project's documentation, or use a host that installs it for you.

Is Backdrop CMS still maintained?

The last change to Backdrop CMS's code was on 25 September 2026, with 156 commits in the last 12 months.

Topics

Content Management Systems (CMS)

App data from awesome-selfhosted (CC BY-SA 3.0), stars and activity from GitHub.