Contao
Contao: A free, self-hosted CMS with strong multilingual, workflow, and SEO controls. Ranked #10 of 164 in Content Management Systems by our editors (8.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for SEO-focused multilingual business websites.
At a glance
- Editor score8.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forSEO-focused multilingual business websites
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Editorial workflowsYes
- Founded2006 · 3250 Lyss, Switzerland
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Granular permissions and configurable editorial workflows
- Multilingual structures with language fallback
- Built-in SEO, media, forms, news, and calendar features
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires a PHP and MySQL-compatible environment
- Hosting, implementation, and support may require separate providers
- Extensions and custom content structures may require additional setup
Our verdict on Contao
Contao is a free, open-source content management system for agencies, companies, and organizations building professional websites and scalable web applications. It is designed for structured page and article management, multilingual sites, editorial permissions, scheduled publishing, SEO administration, media handling, forms, news, calendars, and extensions. The software runs on the web as self-hosted software in PHP and MySQL-compatible environments, with Contao Manager providing browser-based installation, extension management, and updates. Its strongest fit is for teams that need more control than a basic website editor provides, particularly for multilingual, SEO-focused business websites.
The published capabilities cover the core needs of structured content operations. Page and site-structure management supports manual or scheduled publishing, version restoration, and bulk editing. Permissions can be assigned across users, groups, modules, pages, files, and fields, while publishing permissions support configurable editorial workflows. Multilingual website structures include language fallback. SEO controls include metadata, redirects, schema.org markup, and XML sitemaps. A built-in file manager handles thumbnails, previews, and file operations, while custom content elements and front-end modules provide configurable fields. These features make Contao suitable for organizations with distinct editorial roles and content structures rather than a single-author site.
Contao’s pricing model is straightforward: the software is free and open source, with no paid product tiers described. The tradeoff is operational responsibility. A self-hosted deployment requires a compatible environment, and hosting, implementation, support, and extensions may be supplied separately by partners or third parties. Contao Manager reduces installation and update administration through a browser-based interface, but it does not change the self-hosted nature of the platform. Choose Contao when multilingual publishing, granular permissions, scheduled content, and built-in SEO controls matter more than a fully managed service. A hosted-first buyer seeking bundled infrastructure and service arrangements should consider a different CMS.
Your product? Our editors can test Contao in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Contao pricing
Contao fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Platform type | Self_hosted |
| Editorial workflows | Yes |
| Custom user roles | Yes |
| Multilingual content | Yes |
| SEO tools | Yes |
| Media library | Yes |
| Custom content types | Yes |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Compliance & security | GDPR, 2FA |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | contao.org |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Contao
- DrupalA mature CMS for complex content, editorial control, and custom digital architectures.9.4
- Webflow CMSA hosted visual CMS for structured content, dynamic pages, and integrated publishing workflows.9.3
- HubSpot Content HubA hosted CMS for teams that want personalization, localization, and marketing workflows together.9.2
Used Contao? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Contao for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Contao is listed in our Content Management Systems directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/contao/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/contao.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update