MODX
MODX: A flexible, developer-focused CMS with strong content control and narrow integrations. Ranked #23 of 164 in Content Management Systems by our editors (6.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for developers needing resource-based CMS control.
At a glance
- Editor score6.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forDevelopers needing resource-based CMS control
- Free planYes
- Paid from$90/mo
- Editorial workflowsYes
- Founded2004
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Custom content types, fields, templates, snippets, and plugins
- Granular roles, permissions, staging, preview, publishing, and rollback
- Multilingual contexts, media management, and friendly URLs
Where it doesn't
- Integration coverage is limited to Amazon S3 and Flickr
- Managed Pro Site pricing starts at $90 per month on annual billing
- Its developer-focused model may exceed the needs of simple websites
Our verdict on MODX
MODX is an open-source content management framework for developers, designers, agencies, and organizations building custom websites and digital experiences. Its resource-based model supports custom content types and fields, reusable templates, chunks, snippets, and plugins. The platform is available as self-hosted MODX Revolution, with MODX Cloud providing managed hosting, backups, staging, upgrades, and related operational services. It fits teams that need control over content structures, permissions, URLs, and site behavior rather than a narrowly defined publishing workflow.
Content operations are a clear strength. MODX provides granular access policies, roles, and permissions alongside staging, preview, publishing, and rollback workflows. Multilingual configuration uses contexts, lexicons, and extras, while media sources support file and image management. Friendly URLs and alias transliteration address common publishing and SEO needs. These capabilities make MODX a strong match for agencies and development teams managing tailored websites with varied editorial requirements. Teams seeking a simple, prescriptive site builder may find its resource-based approach less suitable.
Pricing separates the self-hosted software from managed hosting. The published Pro Site Core plan is $90 per month with annual billing and includes a site tune-up and email service provider, selective staging through Backstage, and Cloud Edge CDN and WAF. Pro Site Plus is $145 per month and adds 24/7 monitoring plus proactive outage resolution during US and EU business hours. Pro Site Max is $225 per month with annual billing and adds data center failover and 24/7 proactive outage resolution. MODX supports web, self-hosted, and API use, but its listed integrations are limited to Amazon S3 and Flickr. Choose it for customizable CMS control; consider another platform when broad integration coverage is central.
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MODX pricing
MODX fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $90/mo |
| Platform type | Hybrid |
| 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 |
| Integrations | 2 integrations: Amazon S3, Flickr |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | modx.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
MODX integrations
MODX lists 2 integrations on its own site.
- Amazon S3
- Flickr
Alternatives to MODX
- 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
Also Ranked In
MODX is ranked in 4 of our directories.
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Featured on iTechGuides
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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