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# Craft CMS vs ExpressionEngine Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Craft CMSExpressionEngine[+ Add Product](#)

Reviews

**Craft CMS** [

4.2/5(50)

](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/reviews#reviews)

**ExpressionEngine** [

3.7/5(56)

](https://www.g2.com/products/expressionengine/reviews#reviews)

Pricing

**Craft CMS**
 **$199** per site · Client

**ExpressionEngine**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Time to Implement

**Craft CMS**
3 months

Based on 10 responses

**ExpressionEngine**
2 monthsFaster

Based on 22 responses

Return on Investment

**Craft CMS**
Not enough reviews yet

**ExpressionEngine**
10 months

Based on 19 responses

Perceived Cost

**Craft CMS**
$$$$$

**ExpressionEngine**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**Craft CMS**
Not enough reviews yet

**ExpressionEngine**
Not enough reviews yet

 ![Craft CMS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0afc1859bb16f9788307a0e4056c5ae3/craft-cms.jpg "Craft CMS")

 ![ExpressionEngine](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_d968d23b7965b25d1545a49c1f761431/expressionengine.jpg "ExpressionEngine")

G2 offers free advice on this comparison.

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Pros & Cons

**Craft CMS**
Not enough data

**ExpressionEngine**
Not enough data

Integrations

**Craft CMS**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_e8b7928d2e1cefffe2f9fb20febf2898/algolia.png "Product Avatar Image")

Algolia

](https://www.g2.com/products/algolia/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_b2231a414cb9f3f7c194f65af32b723e/cloudflare-application-security-and-performance.png "Product Avatar Image")

Cloudflare Application...

](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudflare-application-security-and-performance/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_7cbd4f077ed340005dc598a1bbac7f23/pardot-by-salesforce.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Pardot (by Salesforce)

](https://www.g2.com/products/pardot-by-salesforce/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_c7667c650c352acba4bfca38ee89457b/agentforce-sales-formerly-salesforce-sales-cloud.png "Product Avatar Image")

Salesforce Sales Cloud

](https://www.g2.com/products/agentforce-sales-formerly-salesforce-sales-cloud/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/integrations)

**ExpressionEngine**
Not enough data

Screenshots

**Craft CMS**
No screenshot available

**ExpressionEngine**
 ![ExpressionEngine screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/31293/ExpressionEngine_screenshot1.png)

Ratings

Meets Requirements

**Craft CMS**

8.6

8.640

**ExpressionEngine**

7.5

7.543

Ease of Use

**Craft CMS**

8.2

8.241

**ExpressionEngine**

7.2

7.244

Ease of Setup

**Craft CMS**

7.4

7.418

**ExpressionEngine**

8.0

8.030

Ease of Admin

**Craft CMS**

8.5

8.518

**ExpressionEngine**

8.1

8.130

Quality of Support

**Craft CMS**

8.3

8.327

**ExpressionEngine**

7.8

7.832

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**Craft CMS**

9.2

9.214

**ExpressionEngine**

8.3

8.320

Product Direction (% positive)

**Craft CMS**

7.3

7.339

**ExpressionEngine**

4.3

4.343

Features

Web Content Management[Hide 51 FeaturesShow 51 Features](javascript:void(0);)

7.9

33

7.5

43

Content

Content Authoring

8.8(won by 0.6)

30

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.2

39

|

Verified

Rich Text Editor

8.5(won by 0.5)

27

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.0

37

|

Verified

Versioning

8.3

24

|

Verified

8.4(won by 0.1)

15

Plug-ins/Widgets/Apps

7.1

25

|

Verified

7.2(won by 0.1)

35

Approval Process

7.1

24

|

Verified

7.2(won by 0.1)

9

Content Scheduling

8.5(won by 0.5)

24

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

8.0

30

|

Verified

Asset Management

8.2(won by 1.2)

29

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.0

37

|

Verified

Internal Search

7.9(won by 0.6)

25

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.3

36

|

Verified

Content Repository

8.1(won by 0.7)

24

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.4

34

|

Verified

SEO Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

eCommerce Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Forms Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Campaign Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Media Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

Audio Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

Design

Breadth of Pre-Built Templates

6.8(won by 0.5)

17

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

6.3

28

|

Verified

Mobile

7.2(won by 0.2)

19

7.0

30

Branding/Themes

7.9(won by 1.5)

19

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

6.4

33

|

Verified

Customization

8.7(won by 0.8)

26

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.9

38

|

Verified

Platform

User Community

7.8(won by 0.6)

21

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.2

31

|

Verified

SEO

7.8

24

|

Verified

8.1(won by 0.3)

32

|

Verified

Flexible Navigation Structures

7.7(won by 0.1)

25

|

Verified

7.6

36

|

Verified

User, Role, and Access Management

7.6

24

|

Verified

8.3(won by 0.7)

36

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

Enterprise Scalability

7.8

22

|

Verified

8.0(won by 0.2)

32

Internationalization

7.8(won by 0.6)

15

|

Verified

 (There is a greater than 0.5 difference between this product's rating and its competitors)

7.2

28

|

Verified

Dashboards and Reports

7.8(won by 0.3)

18

|

Verified

7.5

28

|

Verified

API

7.5

19

|

Verified

7.6(won by 0.1)

29

|

Verified

Agentic AI - Web Content Management

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Natural Language Interaction

Not enough data

Not enough data

Social Media Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

AI/Machine Learning

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Website Publishing Options

Not enough data

Not enough data

Chatbot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Publishing Options

Not enough data

Not enough data

Text Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Website Accessibility Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Delivery

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Personalization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configurable Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Video Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

Performance Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Monitoring

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Channel Distribution

Not enough data

Not enough data

Headless CMS[Hide 95 FeaturesShow 95 Features](javascript:void(0);)

8.4

6

Not enough data

Publishing

Automated Publishing

7.3(won by default)

5

|

Verified

Not enough data

Multi-language

8.7(won by default)

5

|

Verified

Not enough data

AR/VR Capability

Not enough data

Not enough data

Development

Image Management

8.3(won by default)

5

|

Verified

Not enough data

Unlimited Environments

8.3(won by default)

5

Not enough data

Form Builder

8.6(won by default)

6

|

Verified

Not enough data

Reuseable Content

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web Forms

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Forms

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Workflow Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Template Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Compliance Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Asset Lifecycle Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Website Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

SEO Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Channel Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Integrated Development Environment

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Management

Not enough data

Not enough data

Analytics

Personalization

9.2(won by default)

6

Not enough data

Content Performance

8.7(won by default)

5

|

Verified

Not enough data

Interactive Content

Not enough data

Not enough data

Agentic AI - Headless CMS

Cross-system Integration

Not enough data

Not enough data

Third-Party Integrations

Not enough data

Not enough data

Additional Functionality

A/B Testing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Full Text Search

Not enough data

Not enough data

Two-Factor Authentication

Not enough data

Not enough data

SDKs

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Publishing Options

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Channel Marketing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Image Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

API

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Library

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting/Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

AI Copilot

Not enough data

Not enough data

De-Coupled Front & Back Ends

Not enough data

Not enough data

Collaboration Tools

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Dashboard

Not enough data

Not enough data

Generative AI

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

Text Editing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Drag & Drop

Not enough data

Not enough data

Rich Text Editor

Not enough data

Not enough data

Scheduling

Not enough data

Not enough data

Tagging

Not enough data

Not enough data

Single Sign On

Not enough data

Not enough data

Configurable Workflow

Not enough data

Not enough data

Categorization/Grouping

Not enough data

Not enough data

Preview Functionality

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Channel Distribution

Not enough data

Not enough data

For Marketers

Not enough data

Not enough data

Version Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Approval Process Control

Not enough data

Not enough data

Filtering

Not enough data

Not enough data

For Developers

Not enough data

Not enough data

Website Analytics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Role-Based Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Historical Reporting

Not enough data

Not enough data

Access Controls/Permissions

Not enough data

Not enough data

Email Marketing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Loyalty Program

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customer Touchpoints

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customer Segmentation

Not enough data

Not enough data

Web/Mobile App Development

Not enough data

Not enough data

Product Catalog

Not enough data

Not enough data

Inventory Optimization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Location

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Synchronization

Not enough data

Not enough data

Inventory Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customer Database

Not enough data

Not enough data

Activity Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

Multi-Currency

Not enough data

Not enough data

Shopping Cart

Not enough data

Not enough data

Reporting & Statistics

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customer Accounts

Not enough data

Not enough data

Conversion Tracking

Not enough data

Not enough data

CRM

Not enough data

Not enough data

Search/Filter

Not enough data

Not enough data

Barcode/Ticket Scanning

Not enough data

Not enough data

SSL Security

Not enough data

Not enough data

Alerts/Notifications

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Login

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Review

Not enough data

Not enough data

Content Delivery

Not enough data

Not enough data

Customizable Branding

Not enough data

Not enough data

Secure Data Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Document Storage

Not enough data

Not enough data

Mobile Capture

Not enough data

Not enough data

Offline Access

Not enough data

Not enough data

Templates

Not enough data

Not enough data

File Sharing

Not enough data

Not enough data

Data Capture and Transfer

Not enough data

Not enough data

User Insights

Reviewers' Company Size

[![Craft CMS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0afc1859bb16f9788307a0e4056c5ae3/craft-cms.jpg "Craft CMS")](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/reviews)

Craft CMS

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

55.3%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

36.2%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

8.5%

[![ExpressionEngine](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_d968d23b7965b25d1545a49c1f761431/expressionengine.jpg "ExpressionEngine")](https://www.g2.com/products/expressionengine/reviews)

ExpressionEngine

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)

72.0%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)

20.0%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)

8.0%

Small-Business

(50 or fewer emp.)

55.3%

72.0%

Mid-Market

(51-1000 emp.)

36.2%

20.0%

Enterprise

(\> 1000 emp.)

8.5%

8.0%

Reviewers' Industry

[![Craft CMS](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_0afc1859bb16f9788307a0e4056c5ae3/craft-cms.jpg "Craft CMS")](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/reviews)
Craft CMS

Marketing and Advertising

17.0%

Internet

14.9%

Non-Profit Organization Management

8.5%

Information Technology and Services

8.5%

Computer Software

4.3%

Other

46.8%

[![ExpressionEngine](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_d968d23b7965b25d1545a49c1f761431/expressionengine.jpg "ExpressionEngine")](https://www.g2.com/products/expressionengine/reviews)
ExpressionEngine

Marketing and Advertising

16.3%

Internet

12.2%

Design

10.2%

Information Technology and Services

10.2%

Computer Software

6.1%

Other

44.9%

FAQs

## Craft CMS vs ExpressionEngine FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between ExpressionEngine vs Craft CMS?

Craft CMS stands out for higher reviewer satisfaction and a more modern user experience, while ExpressionEngine is recognized for its flexibility and security focus.

| [ExpressionEngine](https://www.g2.com/products/expressionengine/reviews) | [Craft CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 3.7/5 (56 reviews) | 4.2/5 (50 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Small-Business |
| 8.0 | 7.4 |
| 7.8 | 8.3 |
| Flexibility and security for custom sites | Modern, customizable editing experience |

### How do the pricing models of ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS compare?

Craft CMS is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to ExpressionEngine.

- **ExpressionEngine:** Reviewers note that ExpressionEngine was previously considered pricey for smaller projects, though it is now open source, which is seen as a significant improvement.
- **Craft CMS:** In recent reviews, Craft CMS is described as price-worthy for its performance and features, though some mention it can be costly for average users.
- **Switching reasons:** Reviewers have switched to Craft CMS from ExpressionEngine for a more modern experience and to avoid high add-on costs.

### What are the best alternatives to ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS?

The top three alternatives to ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS are Umbraco, Drupal, and Sanity.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [ExpressionEngine](https://www.g2.com/products/expressionengine/reviews) | 3.7/5 (56 reviews) | Small-Business | Open source, previously considered pricey | Flexibility and security for custom sites |
| [Craft CMS](https://www.g2.com/products/craft-cms/reviews) | 4.2/5 (50 reviews) | Small-Business | Price-worthy for features, can be costly for some | Modern, customizable editing experience |
| [Umbraco](https://www.g2.com/products/umbraco/reviews) | 4.5/5 (1,011 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Highly flexible and developer-friendly |
| [Drupal](https://www.g2.com/products/drupal/reviews) | 3.9/5 (425 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Extensive customization and scalability |
| [Sanity](https://www.g2.com/products/sanity/reviews) | 4.7/5 (926 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Modern headless CMS with strong API support |

### Which Web Content Management features should I prioritize when comparing ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS?

Buyers should prioritize flexibility, ease of use, security, SEO capabilities, and support quality when comparing ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS.

- **Flexibility:** ExpressionEngine 7.5, Craft CMS 8.6 (Meets Requirements)
- **Ease of Use:** ExpressionEngine 7.2, Craft CMS 8.2
- **Security:** Both products are frequently praised for security in reviewer comments, with ExpressionEngine highlighted for its security track record.
- **SEO capabilities:** Both products are cited for strong SEO features, with Craft CMS reviewers noting its tools for optimizing and indexing content.
- **Support quality:** ExpressionEngine 7.8, Craft CMS 8.3

### What are the pros and cons of ExpressionEngine vs Craft CMS?

Craft CMS’s headline strength is its modern, customizable editing experience, while ExpressionEngine is recognized for flexibility and security.

- **ExpressionEngine strengths:** Flexibility for custom sites, strong security focus, customizable user permissions, and adaptability for developers and content creators.
- **ExpressionEngine trade-offs:** Steeper learning curve, dated interface, reliance on add-ons for some features, and less robust third-party ecosystem compared to competitors.
- **Craft CMS strengths:** Modern and intuitive editing experience, highly customizable content models, strong support for headless architecture, and robust security.
- **Craft CMS trade-offs:** Higher cost for some users, significant learning curve for non-developers, and reliance on third-party plugins for certain advanced features.

### Is ExpressionEngine or Craft CMS better for small businesses?

Craft CMS is the better fit for small businesses, with higher reviewer satisfaction and a strong presence in the small-business segment.

- **ExpressionEngine:** Small-Business segment; reviewers note its flexibility and security but mention a steeper learning curve and reliance on developer expertise.
- **Craft CMS:** Small-Business segment; reviewers highlight its intuitive interface, ease of onboarding, and suitability for both small start-ups and larger organizations.

### Which Web Content Management platform has better integrations?

Craft CMS is favored for integrations, with reviewers highlighting its flexibility and ability to connect with a range of third-party tools.

- **ExpressionEngine:** Reviewers mention integration with CRM systems and dynamic content, but note a less extensive third-party ecosystem.
- **Craft CMS:** Reviewers cite integrations with HubSpot, Oracle Eloqua, Mailchimp, and Oracle Service Cloud, emphasizing its adaptability for various business needs.

### How do ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS compare on customer support?

Craft CMS scores higher on Quality of Support, with a 0.5-point advantage over ExpressionEngine, indicating a material difference in reviewer satisfaction.

- **ExpressionEngine:** Reviewers describe support as knowledgeable and responsive, with dedicated channels and paid support plans available.
- **Craft CMS:** Reviewers consistently praise Craft CMS for timely, helpful support and a strong, active community.

### Which is easier to implement, ExpressionEngine or Craft CMS?

ExpressionEngine scores higher on Ease of Setup, with a 0.6-point advantage over Craft CMS, indicating it is generally easier to implement.

- **ExpressionEngine:** Reviewers highlight quick setup, often under five minutes, and straightforward deployment for developers.
- **Craft CMS:** Reviewers note that while setup is intuitive for developers, it can require more up-front investment in content modeling and configuration.

### Which product has better SEO?

SEO is the most frequently mentioned feature across both ExpressionEngine and Craft CMS reviews, with both products recognized for strong SEO capabilities.

- **ExpressionEngine:** Reviewers highlight built-in SEO tools and content optimization features, with a Meets Requirements score of 7.5.
- **Craft CMS:** Reviewers cite robust SEO tools, live preview editing, and flexible content structuring, with a Meets Requirements score of 8.6.

Alternatives

**Craft CMS Alternatives**

 ![Umbraco](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/47781f40bcbf144905208205f4e2d632/umbraco.svg "Umbraco")

[
Umbraco
](/products/umbraco/reviews)

 ![Sanity](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/8ad945ed33d9d2bb3fd0fddbe8ce5524/sanity.svg "Sanity")

[
Sanity
](/products/sanity/reviews)

 ![Contentful](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b9b1b51e8da0cd8fb03bab3e24b9a565/contentful.svg "Contentful")

[
Contentful
](/products/contentful/reviews)

 ![Strapi](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/16e816aaabcf0c54044f5265cd6d1a7e/strapi.svg "Strapi")

[
Strapi
](/products/strapi/reviews)

**ExpressionEngine Alternatives**

 ![Drupal](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565542/drupal.svg "Drupal")

[
Drupal
](/products/drupal/reviews)

 ![WordPress.org](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/a8f8ad7b23d4f2a855b3e1fcdaec52e9/wordpress-org.svg "WordPress.org")

[
WordPress.org
](/products/wordpress-org/reviews)

 ![Contentful](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/b9b1b51e8da0cd8fb03bab3e24b9a565/contentful.svg "Contentful")

[
Contentful
](/products/contentful/reviews)

 ![Sitecore Digital Experience Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/770a3ce4f4ecfe957b22dae9bd132c26/sitecore-digital-experience-platform.svg "Sitecore Digital Experience Platform")

[
Sitecore Digital Experience...
](/products/sitecore-digital-experience-platform/reviews)

## Craft CMS vs ExpressionEngine

When assessing the two solutions, reviewers found Craft CMS easier to use and do business with overall. However, reviewers preferred the ease of set up with ExpressionEngine, along with administration.

- Reviewers felt that Craft CMS meets the needs of their business better than ExpressionEngine.
- When comparing quality of ongoing product support, reviewers felt that Craft CMS is the preferred option.
- For feature updates and roadmaps, our reviewers preferred the direction of Craft CMS over ExpressionEngine.