PluXml
PluXml: A free, self-hosted CMS for simple blogs and small sites without a database. Ranked #104 of 164 in Content Management Systems by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for minimal flat-file blogs and small sites.
At a glance
- Editor score3.0 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forMinimal flat-file blogs and small sites
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Editorial workflowsYes
- Founded2006
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Stores content in XML files without requiring a database
- Includes scheduling, drafts, permissions, media, feeds, and metadata
- Supports themes, plugins, URL rewriting, and sitemap features
Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosting on a PHP web server
- Uses five predefined permission levels rather than custom roles
- Multilingual content may require a plugin
Our verdict on PluXml
PluXml is an open-source, self-hosted content management system for blogs, websites, and small publishing projects that do not need a database. It stores content in XML files and provides an administration interface for articles, static pages, categories, tags, comments, users, media, themes, and plugins. Its feature set covers core editorial needs, including draft states, scheduled publication, RSS feeds, URL rewriting, sitemaps, and per-article or per-page title and meta fields. It is distributed under the GNU General Public License and runs with PHP on Apache, Nginx, or Lighttpd.
For a compact publishing workflow, PluXml brings useful controls into a focused package. Editors can manage images and documents through the media manager, organize content with categories and tags, and publish either articles or static pages. The five predefined user permission levels support differentiated access, while customizable themes and plugins provide room for presentation and feature changes. The published capabilities also include responsive themes, SEO-related controls, and multilingual interface support. Multilingual content may depend on a multilingual-content plugin rather than being entirely part of the core system.
PluXml suits individuals, bloggers, and small teams seeking free, database-free publishing with straightforward editorial features and self-hosted control. It is a less suitable choice for organizations that require custom roles or a broader hosted platform ecosystem. The product's narrow, flat-file approach keeps the focus on lightweight websites, while its self-hosted model places server setup and administration with the site owner. Choose PluXml when XML-based storage, basic workflows, media handling, feeds, and metadata are the priorities; consider an alternative when custom permission structures or more extensive extensibility are central requirements.
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PluXml pricing
PluXml fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Platform type | Self_hosted |
| Editorial workflows | Yes |
| Custom user roles | No |
| Multilingual content | Yes |
| SEO tools | Yes |
| Media library | Yes |
| Custom content types | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | pluxml.org |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to PluXml
- 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
PluXml is ranked in 2 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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