Contao

Powerful CMS that allows you to create professional websites and scalable web applications.

GitHub stars
443
License
LGPL-3.0
Last commit
10 October 2026
Runs on
PHP

Commits per month, last 12 months

1,437 commits

How to self-host Contao

Contao 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.

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Questions

Is Contao free?

Yes. Contao is open source under the LGPL-3.0 license, so you can use it without paying for a license. You pay only for the server it runs on.

Can I self-host Contao?

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

Is Contao still maintained?

The last change to Contao's code was on 10 October 2026, with 1437 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.