Wagtail alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave Wagtail: needs Django developers; no themes or one-click installs, and fewer ready-made plugins than PHP CMSs. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Wagtail, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Drupal currently ranks first.
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Show all 5 alternativesThe best Wagtail alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best Wagtail alternative for most people
DrupalSimilar audience of public-sector and university sites, on PHP.
Best Wagtail alternative for a free option
PayloadCode-first open-source CMS for teams working in TypeScript instead of Python.
Best Wagtail alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
DirectusInstant admin and API over any SQL database, without writing models in code.
Best Wagtail alternative for self-hosting
DrupalSimilar audience of public-sector and university sites, on PHP.
Best Wagtail alternative for working in the browser
ContentfulHosted headless platform if you don't want to run Django yourself.
Wagtail alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to Wagtail?
Drupal ranks first right now. Similar audience of public-sector and university sites, on PHP. Payload and Strapi follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to Wagtail?
Yes. Drupal (open source), Payload (open source), Strapi (open source) and Directus (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to Wagtail?
Yes: Drupal, Payload and Strapi. Drupal, Payload and Strapi can also be self-hosted.
Why do people switch from Wagtail?
The complaints we hear most: needs Django developers; no themes or one-click installs; fewer ready-made plugins than PHP CMSs; python hosting is less common and pricier than PHP hosting.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Wagtail, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.